Spirituality and prayer are well known as a means of strengthening people during times of challenge.

I came across this whilst researching my cancer treatment, and wondered what other members think about it?

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/..._and_Prayer.asp

NB - I also think there is a world of difference in "prayer" as petitioning, and as creating a point of contact woth deity.

There may be some for who prayer brings about divine intervention but I'm sure that for most people it is the belief in the power of prayer that helps rather than the power of prayer itself.

Prayer, or spirituality of any kind can only help, imo. Whether it is in effecting a cure, which most of us have heard about, or in reducing stress and helping to deal with the illness and the treatment. And asking for Their help and support for loved ones is also worthwhile. You already have a good relationship with your gods Tas, so asking for their help in whatever way feels right to you is in a way what you have been doing all along.

Visualisation is also something worth considering:

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neur...2/Shayhorn.html

Tas although this can be quite a contentious subject amongst pagans, probably because anything with even the merest hint of a christian "flavour" fills them with dread, I think petitioning our gods, or even praying to them if thats what you feel is right, can be enormously helpful especially in times of need.

When I nursed it was often those with a strong feeling of faith or connectivity with God/Gods/spirit who seemed to have the most comfort.

Now whether thats the placebo effect I dont know and actually doubt it matter, but I am certain it helps.

I have a couple of illnesses which whilst not being comparable to cancer, often leave me in a lot of pain and also emotional turmoil. But if I am able to feel my gods with me during those times, I know it makes me feel better

Go for it and good luck

It can't hurt can it? Does it matter if it's a placebo or the gods helping you, as long as it works, who cares?

I don't consider what I do as "praying" mainly due to the connotations attached to the word re the mainstream faiths, I suppose, but rather as a means of chatting or meditating. The interface between me and Them is almost a constant part of my life - as HR notes, I've got a pretty decent relationship going on!

Living without that closeness is inconceivable - as I suppose, life without prayer would be for anyone of faith. There's also the undoubted psychological factors too - autosuggestion being one.

The old adage of "if you don't ask, you won't get" holds true IMO. I'm sure I read someplace of a series of trials run using prayer directed at patients. Some received prayers, others had the placebo, and the ones who were prayed for healed better and faster. Wish I'd kept a note of the link now!

I've seen that too. I wasn't saying it WAS a placebo, but more even if folks are sceptics, it doesnt matter

For me even living a healthy life without that connectivity would be unthinkable, so when we are ill its even more important, in my not so humble opinion

I think prayer has got to be a good thing on several counts:

Firstly, if there is help available for the asking, why not ask for it.

Secondly, even if it's a fantasy, it makes you feel like you're doing something, which changes your mindset from negative to positive. When you are positive you are relaxed and you release endorphins to fight pain etc.

Thirdly, it relieves you of the burden of mistakenly believing you have to solve every problem and keep everything under control. You especially don't need this burden when you are ill.

And because of this, it frees up more of your energy to actually fight the illness.

Now THAT sounds like a well thought through and expressed POV!
But are you quite sure you didn't squeeze that answer out of the Invisible Pink Unicorn?

Curiously there was a big study results released in America recently where they took three groups of people (several hundred) suffering from the same ailment (I forget what it was - possible cancer). They told the first group that they were being prayed for by some church groups (which they were). They told the second group that they were being prayed for (which they weren't) and they told the third group nothing. Over a course of three years (if memory serves) they monitered the progress of the three groups. Something like that.

At the end they found that the group that recovered the quickest was the third group. The second group came second and the group that were actually prayed for had the worst recovery rates. They then looked at other studies that had been conducted previously and found most had the same results.

They concluded that the problem was that when people knew others where praying for them then those people actually subconsciously stopped trying themselves and that made things worse. Apparently.

Interesting

Maybe I should just stick with the tried and tested methods - dried frog pills anyone?

The gods help those who help themselves (i.e. 'on you go, but keep taking the tablets').

Recently read about a 'blind test' concerning prayer and its healing effects, two groups of hospital patients were selected for this test, none of them were aware of this test. So prayers were said for the one group and not the other, and apparently the group that was prayed for got better a lot quicker than the other group. Me I have an open mind on the matter, but it would seem from this test that prayer may make a difference, and if it can, then why not try it.

I've written about these stories before in another thread somewhere. There have been 2 cases where both men were diagnosed with cancer in its advanced stage. One was inoperable and there was nothing more that they could do. His wife prayed daily asking the help of Padre Pio. Her husband whilst in hospital had a vision of him. The cancer went into remission and it completley disappeared.

The other man did not want any treatment and he strongly believed that with praying and willing his body to fight the cancer on its own was enough. His cancer went into remission.

Call it prayer, healing thoughts, a miracle or even will power, I think that these things can be effective and are possible.
I don't go by studies much when they concern prayer,spirituality or magick.