When Prayer Meets Meditation

Some days, I meditate to clear my mind and find inspiration. Other days, I pray to connect to a greater power. Often, I’ll end my meditation with a prayer - a thought for someone I know, or a manifestation of something I’m trying to bring into my life. As I honour both practices, and acknowledge their roots and intentions, I’ve started to blur the lines more and more, realizing it’s all one and the same for me.
Michelle Morgan
Actor

Religious ceremony was very much a part of my upbringing. I remember my friends would call and I’d look over at my family gathered at the kitchen table and tell them, “I can’t talk right now, we’re praying.” Most mornings, I’d come downstairs and find my mom in a kind of silent meditation. This was her quiet time - she lit a candle, had the bible next to her, and seemed very peaceful. My parents had 6 kids and it was sometimes a very chaotic household, yet she always seemed calm - I think it’s because she’d wake up early and centre herself every morning.

When my husband and I became parents, our lives got busier and busier. Suddenly, we were spinning our wheels, trying to get our kids fed and ready for the day. I remembered my mom’s practice, and so I started getting up early and doing a morning meditation for myself. I would light a candle, burn some incense or palo santo, and follow a guided meditation on Headspace. It really started to shift things for me to have that time to myself.

Religious ceremony was very much a part of my upbringing. I remember my friends would call and I’d look over at my family gathered at the kitchen table and tell them, “I can’t talk right now, we’re praying.” Most mornings, I’d come downstairs and find my mom in a kind of silent meditation. This was her quiet time - she lit a candle, had the bible next to her, and seemed very peaceful. My parents had 6 kids and it was sometimes a very chaotic household, yet she always seemed calm - I think it’s because she’d wake up early and centre herself every morning.

When my husband and I became parents, our lives got busier and busier. Suddenly, we were spinning our wheels, trying to get our kids fed and ready for the day. I remembered my mom’s practice, and so I started getting up early and doing a morning meditation for myself. I would light a candle, burn some incense or palo santo, and follow a guided meditation on Headspace. It really started to shift things for me to have that time to myself.

I was raised religious, and while I’ve never left the church, I have questioned it a lot. I’m always trying to learn as much as I can about different faiths and beliefs, and I’ve started to explore more metaphysical ideas and the origins of practices like meditation. It wasn’t until my meditation coach commented on my connection to Mother Mary that I realized how interconnected it all was. For me, religion and meditation are connected. With both, I try and bring myself into a space where it’s not about facts, it’s about feelings. The act of meditating or praying is very calming. Having a candle helps me focus on what I need to release, and it helps me be present. 

Some days, I meditate to clear my mind and find inspiration. Other days, I pray to connect to a greater power. Often, I’ll end my meditation with a prayer – a thought for someone I know, or a manifestation of something I’m trying to bring into my life. As I honour both practices, and acknowledge their roots and intentions, I’ve started to blur the lines more and more, realizing it’s all one and the same for me.

Now, it’s about bringing ceremony into my children’s life. They love rituals. After I’m done my morning meditation, I like to sit with them for a few minutes. I’ll bring them to the window and while we cuddle we might say a little prayer. It’s often me asking them what they’re thankful for. Every night before bed, we read a book together and then we say a prayer to our guardian angels. I tell them that they each have an angel who’s there for them anytime they need to talk.

Our family is happier when we live ceremonially. We are in flow. When we don’t, it’s usually because we get too busy and then we fall out of alignment, and often argue and fight. It’s a reminder to bring us back to ceremony. Rituals around meals, especially using that time to talk to my kids about their day, that’s so important - it’s our time of connection.

When I take my kids to mass, my husband goes into the mountains for a bike ride - nature is our church too. He’s respectful that I want to raise my kids in the church, and he’s always adding his own twist. Like when we say grace, he’ll add “and thank you for the scientific method and critical thought.” We’ve realized the two things don’t have to be at odds.
Our family is happier when we live ceremonially. We are in flow. When we don’t, it’s usually because we get too busy and then we fall out of alignment, and often argue and fight. It’s a reminder to bring us back to ceremony. Rituals around meals, especially using that time to talk to my kids about their day, that’s so important - it’s our time of connection.

When I take my kids to mass, my husband goes into the mountains for a bike ride - nature is our church too. He’s respectful that I want to raise my kids in the church, and he’s always adding his own twist. Like when we say grace, he’ll add “and thank you for the scientific method and critical thought.” We’ve realized the two things don’t have to be at odds.

My understanding of ceremony is that it’s used to mark an event. There are specific ways of doing a ceremony – a structure or a way that makes it yours. Whereas, rituals are more everyday, simple things. Ceremony and ritual come into my life in many different ways. Meditation is for when things get hard or I get stressed out. It’s an opportunity to bring gratitude. I’ll lie in bed in the morning and think of three things I’m grateful for. I have to switch my headspace from worry to appreciation. When I’m scared, I immediately go to prayer. 

As an actor, I love rituals. There are always lots of ceremonies and rituals built into the process. I feel out of sync if I don’t do my 15 minutes of yoga stretching and 5 minute meditation before I go on camera. Depending on the scene, I may include other rituals, like if I’m having a romantic scene, I’ll touch my partner’s hair before starting and I’ll always find a way to touch the set itself. The physicalness of those actions helps ground me. 

My ceremonies often come back to the church, helping me mark important events or explore different meanings. But I do other things too. I’ve been bringing women together a few times a year to honour the full moon. We’ll sit in mindfulness, maybe follow a guided meditation, and write a list of stories we need to stop telling ourselves or people we need to forgive. Some people share, some don’t. Once we’ve written down what we want to release, we go outside and burn them. It’s a safe space for emotion, and I’ve learned how rare that can be. 

It all comes back to energy, and the kind of energy you’re sustaining and what you’re letting control your life. If you’re just living life without noticing things, the grief and the stress will catch up with you. It’s important to find your centre – it all begins there. 

About Michelle Morgan

Michelle is an actor and filmmaker. She's the fourth of six children from a Chilean-Canadian family. Born in Calgary, she grew up in Toronto and Vancouver. She's been in numerous television series and feature films, including Heartland. Most recently, she wrote, directed, and produced the short film, Mi Madre, My Father.

Michelle's a mother of two and can often be found surfing in Tofino or snowboarding at Cypress Mountain with her family. She's a passionate advocate for women’s rights and has volunteered at women’s shelters across Canada for the past 15 years.

Photos by Lulia Agnew

About Michelle Morgan

Michelle is an actor and filmmaker. She's the fourth of six children from a Chilean-Canadian family. Born in Calgary, she grew up in Toronto and Vancouver. She's been in numerous television series and feature films, including Heartland. Most recently, she wrote, directed, and produced the short film, Mi Madre, My Father.

Michelle's a mother of two and can often be found surfing in Tofino or snowboarding at Cypress Mountain with her family. She's a passionate advocate for women’s rights and has volunteered at women’s shelters across Canada for the past 15 years.

Photos by Lulia Agnew