Tree of Life Rosary
A prayer and meditation based on the one decade rosary and
the Tree of Life of Kabbalah
To be prayed on a one-decade rosary (this can be a simple circle of ten
wooden or plastic beads with an equal-armed cross, or a more elaborate
pocket rosary as pictured here).
Begin with The Lord's Prayer on the bead nearest to the crucifix, or if
your one-decade rosary has an equal-armed cross and no eleventh bead,
then on the cross itself. You may choose to say The Lord's Prayer either
in the traditional language or in a gender-neutral version, as you prefer
(see below).
Then say:
"From that which is beyond naming, from nothingness, to endlessness,
through endless light, God reaches out to us in love."
On the first of ten beads: "From the brilliant light above me, God, the
Crown belongs to You, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of the
universe, and yet You challenge me, as Your own child, to feel the
Crown above my head."
On the second of ten beads: "When I cry out in protest that I do not
deserve Your love, Your Wisdom hushes me."
On the third of ten beads: "God, you are Understanding, for although I
do not understand You, I know that you understand me."
On the fourth of ten beads: "I look with wonder upon God's infinite
Mercy which gives us hope, knowing that our darkness can never be
stronger than God's light."
On the fifth of ten beads: "It is Severity which gives form to the formless,
which creates the structure of our separation from each other, so that we
can know one another as being other than ourselves, in order to learn the
necessary lessons of love."
On the sixth of ten beads: "The heart of the universe is the Beauty of
God's love, the vision of the harmony of all things."
On the seventh of ten beads: "God is my Victory, for all that I cannot
accomplish by my own power, God can accomplish, if it be God's will,
for me and through me."
On the eighth of ten beads: "I am surrounded by the glorious Splendor of
God, shining in triumph all around me."
On the ninth of ten beads: "I stand on the rock, on the firm Foundation of
God's unfailing love for me."
On the tenth of ten beads: "I know that the Kingdom of God is within me.
Let me feel the presence of God here with me in this moment."
Pause, and then thank God in your own words for God's presence with
you in this moment, recognizing the "Shekhinah," the immanent presence
of God.
Remain silent for as long as you are comfortable, giving your attention to
the presence of God around you and within you.
Conclude by saying: "I stand as a Tree of Life, rooted and grounded in
God, in the Kingdom which is within me, on the firm Foundation,
surrounded by Splendor, knowing that God is my Victory, seeing the
Beauty of harmony, the truth of Severity, the grace of Mercy, the depth
of Understanding, the greatness of Wisdom, and the Crown which is
God's gift to me as a beloved child of God."
An example of a gender-neutral version of the Lord's Prayer, from The New Testament and
Psalms: An Inclusive Version(Oxford University Press, 1995):
Our Father-Mother in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your dominion come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For the dominion and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.
A prayer and meditation based on the one decade rosary and
the Tree of Life of Kabbalah
To be prayed on a one-decade rosary (this can be a simple circle of ten
wooden or plastic beads with an equal-armed cross, or a more elaborate
pocket rosary as pictured here).
Begin with The Lord's Prayer on the bead nearest to the crucifix, or if
your one-decade rosary has an equal-armed cross and no eleventh bead,
then on the cross itself. You may choose to say The Lord's Prayer either
in the traditional language or in a gender-neutral version, as you prefer
(see below).
Then say:
"From that which is beyond naming, from nothingness, to endlessness,
through endless light, God reaches out to us in love."
On the first of ten beads: "From the brilliant light above me, God, the
Crown belongs to You, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of the
universe, and yet You challenge me, as Your own child, to feel the
Crown above my head."
On the second of ten beads: "When I cry out in protest that I do not
deserve Your love, Your Wisdom hushes me."
On the third of ten beads: "God, you are Understanding, for although I
do not understand You, I know that you understand me."
On the fourth of ten beads: "I look with wonder upon God's infinite
Mercy which gives us hope, knowing that our darkness can never be
stronger than God's light."
On the fifth of ten beads: "It is Severity which gives form to the formless,
which creates the structure of our separation from each other, so that we
can know one another as being other than ourselves, in order to learn the
necessary lessons of love."
On the sixth of ten beads: "The heart of the universe is the Beauty of
God's love, the vision of the harmony of all things."
On the seventh of ten beads: "God is my Victory, for all that I cannot
accomplish by my own power, God can accomplish, if it be God's will,
for me and through me."
On the eighth of ten beads: "I am surrounded by the glorious Splendor of
God, shining in triumph all around me."
On the ninth of ten beads: "I stand on the rock, on the firm Foundation of
God's unfailing love for me."
On the tenth of ten beads: "I know that the Kingdom of God is within me.
Let me feel the presence of God here with me in this moment."
Pause, and then thank God in your own words for God's presence with
you in this moment, recognizing the "Shekhinah," the immanent presence
of God.
Remain silent for as long as you are comfortable, giving your attention to
the presence of God around you and within you.
Conclude by saying: "I stand as a Tree of Life, rooted and grounded in
God, in the Kingdom which is within me, on the firm Foundation,
surrounded by Splendor, knowing that God is my Victory, seeing the
Beauty of harmony, the truth of Severity, the grace of Mercy, the depth
of Understanding, the greatness of Wisdom, and the Crown which is
God's gift to me as a beloved child of God."
An example of a gender-neutral version of the Lord's Prayer, from The New Testament and
Psalms: An Inclusive Version(Oxford University Press, 1995):
Our Father-Mother in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your dominion come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For the dominion and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.
