Prayer and Meditation

Chanting, prayer, and meditation are part of Rastafari ceremonies. Meditation is a way to be in communion with Jah, and through which they come to realise what is true or false in the Bible and what has been omitted in the Babylon translations. Rastafari meditate through ‘head resting with Jah’. It is a way of knowing their inner self, understanding the ‘book within’ that contains divine revelation. Prayer begins and ends meetings. Prayer and meditation are accompanied with smoking ganja for heightened spiritual sensations. Rastafari go into a deep trance like state after smoking a spliff or chillum pipe. There is a specific prayer that accompanies ganja smoking: “Glory be to the Father and to the maker of creation As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be World without end: Jah Rastafari: Eternal God Selassie I”. There is a specific prayer to Haile Selassie: “So we hail our God, Selassie I, Eternal God, Ras Tafari, hear us and help us and cause Thy face to shine upon us, Thy children” used on a daily basis to petition him. Women cover their hair to pray.