Bloch, J. (2021). Self-created, heartfelt embodied prayer in times of uncertainty: Effects and potentials. A heuristic inquiry [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Liverpool John Moores University.

Can prayer offer a tool to enhance life-circumstances? One assumption about prayer is that it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. This paper investigates prayer practice and its effects and potentials for transpersonal states of consciousness, embodiment and transformation of inner feeling-states. An experiential study on self-created heartfelt embodied (SCHE) prayer was conceptualized and conducted with eight research participants over the course of six weeks during the uncertain times of COVID-19. SCHE prayer is a prayer practice designed to be used as a creative psychological tool and access point to transpersonal experience. Participants were provided with optional guideline materials and two group prayer webinars. They documented their experiences through 1) a preparation and response prayer workbook and 2) two open-ended questionnaires. The present study falls into the field of qualitative research and applies a heuristic inquiry methodology. This method provides a loose creative framework beneficial for investigation of unexplored territory. Gained insights along with a descriptive analysis and various representations of data are presented. Contemporary evidence-based studies are used to examine and compare results. With this pilot study, the researcher aimed to understand the effects of SCHE prayer with regards to spiritual and psychological well-being, on both personal and collective levels.