Is the Welcoming Practice the same as Centering Prayer?

No. Centering Prayer is a practice of silence done while sitting. The Welcoming Practice is done in the midst of daily life when difficult emotions arise. It is often called 'Centering Prayer in motion.'

Am I welcoming bad things to happen to me?

No. You are not welcoming the external event (like an illness or injustice). You are welcoming your internal physical and emotional reaction to it. This allows you to process the energy without getting stuck in victimhood.

What is The Welcoming Practice? | A Guide to Letting Go

Q: What is The Welcoming Practice?

The Welcoming Practice is a spiritual method of 'active surrender' developed by Mary Mrozowski. It involves noticing physical and emotional reactions in daily life and welcoming the sensation rather than resisting it.

The Contemplative Society
8 hours ago
3 min read

Religious icon of a haloed figure in blue and brown robes with raised arms, set against a blue background. Greek letters are visible. — "Fresco of Virgin Orans in conch of apse in Church of the Theotokos Peribleptos in Ohrid, Macedonia", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Centering Prayer teaches us how to release thoughts in the safety of silence. But what happens when we leave the chair? How do we maintain that sense of surrender when life hits us with frustration, pain, or even overwhelming joy?

This is where The Welcoming Practice begins.

At The Contemplative Society, we view this as the essential companion to Centering Prayer. It is a method of "active surrender"—a way of engaging with the raw energy of our emotions not by repressing them, but by welcoming them.

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What is Welcoming Practice?

The Origins of The Welcoming Practice

How to Practice

Resources

What is The Welcoming Practice?

The Welcoming Practice (often called the Welcoming Prayer) is a spiritual discipline designed for the trenches of daily life. It is "Centering Prayer in motion."

While Centering Prayer asks us to ignore thoughts to return to God, The Welcoming Practice asks us to feel our reactions to find God within them.

As Cynthia Bourgeault emphasizes, it is important to identify this as a practice and not just a prayer. It is not about passively acquiescing to bad behaviour or injustice. It is an energetic tool to dismantle the "false-self" programs (our needs for security, affection, and control), that get triggered by daily events. By welcoming the sensation of an emotion (rather than the story behind it), we dismantle its power to control us.

Origins of the Practice

The practice was developed in the early 1980s by Mary Mrozowski, a lay contemplative and close associate of Fr. Thomas Keating. A spiritual pioneer, Mary drew from three distinct sources to create this method:

Biofeedback Training: Understanding how the body physically holds stress.
17th-Century Spirituality: Specifically, the classic Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade.
Modern Psychology: Integrating Thomas Keating’s teachings on the "false-self system" and emotional programming.

She designed it as a way to "let go" in the heat of the moment, turning obstacles into opportunities for union with God.

How to Do It: The Three Movements

The practice follows a simple three-step process: Focus, Welcome, Let Go.

Step 1: Focus (Feel and Sink In)

When you feel a strong emotion (anger, fear, anxiety) or a physical upset arise, stop. Do not repress it. Do not "fix" it.

The Action: Focus entirely on the physical sensation in your body. Is your chest tight? Is your stomach churning? Is your jaw clenched?
The Discipline: Sink into that sensation. Do not think about why you are upset (the story). Just feel the energy of the upset itself.

Step 2: Welcome (The Turning Point)

This is the counter-intuitive step. Instead of pushing the pain away, you invite it in.

The Action: Say internally, "Welcome, pain" or "Welcome, anxiety."
The Nuance: You are not welcoming the external situation (e.g., "Welcome, car accident"). You are welcoming the physical and emotional response inside you. By embracing the sensation, you disarm the resistance that keeps the emotion locked in place.

"‘You’ as pure consciousness have trumped ‘you’ as the victim of any story... connected to sensation but separated from story, the inner shift can be extremely powerful." — Cynthia Bourgeault

Step 3: Let Go (Freedom to Choose)

Once you have welcomed the sensation and felt the energy begin to shift or dissipate, you offer it to God.

The Action: Gently say, "I let go of my desire for security, affection, control."
The Result: You are not forcing the feeling to leave; you are letting go of your attachment to it. This creates the inner space for "skillful means"—the ability to respond to the situation with clarity rather than reaction.

Summary: The Goal of the Practice

Cynthia Bourgeault sums up the power of this practice best:

"By the power of the Divine Indwelling active within me, I unconditionally embrace this moment, no matter its physical or psychological content. And by this same indwelling strength, once inner wholeness is restored, I then choose how to deal with the outer situation... bearing the right force and appropriate timing."

Resources for the Journey

Books

Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Cynthia Bourgeault: Contains a definitive chapter on the Welcoming Practice.
The Heart of Centering Prayer by Cynthia Bourgeault: Further explores the non-dual theology behind the practice.