Rituals and Personal Space Installation: Starlit Prayers

Over the course of five days, I spent my late evenings praying and meditating over the same prompt in different ways, and seeing how my thoughts and prayers changed. 

Day One: I sat by myself on the rock by the library, under the stars, keeping my focus on a specific set of questions, rather than just let my thoughts wander like I've done before. 

Day Two: I looked to see how my prompt might have changed by answers the questions in the prompt through drawing.

Day Three: I was completely silent while mulling over the questions set in the prompt, creating a playlist of songs that either answered the questions or inspired a greater train of thought about it.

Day Four: I spent time responding to the prompt through poetry, which in turn made the night more prayer focused. My poem transitioned into a prayer about my life and surrounding this experience.

Day Five: I had a friend join me in the space, answering the prompt together. Having someone else answering these questions with me gave me new insights about myself, and made the experience extremely enjoyable, but in a new way. There was a lot of laughing, a lot of building-each-other-up in our conversation, and random observations (of people walking by, animals, the meteor shower we caught by chance). It relieved stress and anxiety in a more lively manner.

Spending five days mulling over the same questions made me think much more about my life journey and who I have come to be. Laying on the rock under the stars has been a very calming and anxiety relieving experience. It calms my thoughts and allows me to experience more of the beauty of nature.