The Transforming Power of Collective Prayer

There are mighty rivers flowing on this Earth—the Nile in Africa, the Amazon in South America, the Mississippi in the United States. But when we speak of the River of Creation, we’re referring to something deeper: a metaphor for the life force moving through each of us and this planet. That creative current is present even now, as you read these words.

Wherever we are, the river is flowing. The question is: Shall we gather at the river and jump in?

Last night, I joined our beloved community, Riverdell, in Australia for a virtual service. The river was flowing there, passionately. This week, they celebrated their 46th anniversary. When Cheyne Morris shared reflections about the celebration, she was visibly moved. Many people expressed how their lives had been touched by their connection to Riverdell over the years. That’s the impact of dedicated souls offering the invitation again and again: Come join the river.

We often forget how much our way of life matters—how deeply it can affect others. Yet places like Riverdell, Sunrise Ranch, Gatehouse, and Edenvale are living testaments to the power of people choosing to live from the River of Creation.

Jesus once said, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Clearly, he wasn’t referring to his physical form but to his spirit. When people gather in conscious connection to the river—in living rooms, kitchens, places of worship—they amplify the river’s flow. It becomes easier to hear the rushing waters of life, to feel the mist in the air. That presence stirs us into remembrance. And from remembrance, people can choose to be in the River of Creation and participate in a lifegiving way.

Margaret Mead famously said, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” When a group aligns in spiritual agreement, the effect is exponential. One plus two doesn’t equal three anymore—it creates a large radiant field. Agreement to live from the mighty River of Creation generates light in the darkness.

In my book club, we’re currently reading The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew – Three Women Search for Understanding. These three mothers originally set out to write a children’s book about the commonalities in their religions. Instead, their conversations evolved into a deep and sometimes difficult journey through differences, challenges, and discovery—enough to inspire a full-length book.

In a recent meeting, we discussed a chapter on prayer. I was surprised by how many of the men in the group (the group is all men except for me) believed prayer’s only purpose was personal: calming the mind or easing stress. They saw little value in its outward or transformative power. “All those rosary beads—for what?” one asked. “All that praying for what you want? Is God really listening to all those requests?”

I shared that this hasn’t been my experience at all. In fact, there is scientific research supporting prayer’s effectiveness. Years ago, I met Dr. Larry Dossey, who authored books such as Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine and Prayer Is Good Medicine. His work presents compelling evidence that prayer can be a healing tool, much like medicine or surgery.

Dr. Dossey describes prayer as having “nonlocal effects,” meaning it can influence others regardless of physical distance. He emphasizes love, compassion, and intention, describing prayer as an attitude of the heart, a way of being that connects us to something greater than ourselves.

Why is this important? Because for many, prayer is a way of stepping into the mighty River of Creation. It links our personal current to the collective source. And when shared collectively, prayer becomes even more powerful. Not just in traditional rituals like services or masses, but in simple daily acts—blessing a meal, saying goodnight prayers with a child, offering appreciation for a life passed.

I also know the power of Attunement, when shared with another person or in a group. Recently, I found an old notebook filled with writings from past workshops. Several entries were about things I was asked to reflect on, to choose an issue I wished to release or transform. What struck me was that, for years, I had written about the same issue.

But recently, that issue resolved. I didn’t do anything magical or new. I believe it was the collective spiritual current we’ve been generating together that finally broke through. Others have shared similar experiences with me. When we come together in conscious alignment, change happens.

Sometimes we realize we’ve built a dam in our own river. The issue becomes a blockage, restricting the creative flow. But when we’re willing to address it, when we allow ourselves to be immersed in the collective river of spirit, those dams begin to dissolve.

As a collective group generating spiritual substance together, we are impacting humankind. When we allow the design and flow of life to move through us, it radiates out into our world. Ancient ignorance begins to dissolve. Wrestling with ignorance only feeds it. But leaping beyond it into the River of Being transforms everything.

Jumping into the river is thrilling. It is refreshing and nourishing. I want to close with a poem, Take the Leap, from my friend Carol Robertson, who offers this beautiful invitation:

 “Take the leap.”
The murmurings grow louder.
“Come home. Be home. Stay home.”
That quiet voice has become a crescendo.
“Stay home in the river of life.
Work in the world from here.”
Stay home in Being.
Courage and dedication are needed,
Both at home and abroad.
Let us join together.
Let the flow of love increase
Because we do this.
Watch the ignorance melt,
Not because we batter it
But because we leap beyond it,
Into Being,
Into knowing,
Into pure holy Love.

Come home. Stay home. Let’s jump into the creative River of Life and bring sanity and wholeness to our world. And in the process, we will find ourselves transformed.