Worldwide Prayer Circle for Animals
Circle of Compassion was co-founded by Dr. Will and Madeline Tuttle and Judy Carman to address the deep-seated cause of animal suffering.
Worldwide animal cruelty and exploitation are symptoms of a deeply embedded, speciesest world-view that maintains that certain human beings have the right to exploit, enslave and kill whomever they deem less than human. Both physically, through non-violent action and metaphysically, by spiritually encircling the world with compassion for all life, we can address the cause of animal suffering on Earth.
Prayer a Day for the Animals was written to offer a weekly schedule of prayers/meditation/focused intention to liberate all animals from human oppression by focusing our thought beams of love and compassion on these groups on the same day. We must never underestimate how powerful our thoughts and prayers can be.
It was a deeply emotional experience to write these prayers. I didn’t make it through without crying. It’s so hard to face the details of their suffering. Please don’t feel you have to use these prayers if you find them too painful. You certainly are welcome to make up your own or just read the titles. It is the intention that sends out the power of love from your heart.
However, if you can read them or parts of them, remember, your emotion and passion increases the power of your prayers because you are so focused on the subject. Please find comfort in knowing that your love alone, all by itself, without words, is more powerful than anything else in the universe.
Monday: Today, let us send our prayers to all farmed animals. May compassion and love reign over all of Earth for all farmed animals. Dear ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens, cows, pigs, lambs, bison, elk, deer, and all of you who are suffering today in tiny cages or crowded into feedlots, being beaten, fed poisoned and unnatural food, and for those of you languishing without water or food on trucks or entering the slaughterhouses. We bear witness to your suffering, we take action to permanently end it, and we continually send out an energy field of love and compassion to comfort you and to transform the hearts and souls of those who support this violent oppression. We send our tears and our prayers on wings of love to you. Divine love is all around you. Compassion encircles Earth for each of you and for all beings.
Tuesday: Today let us send our prayers to all the companion animals suffering homelessness, abuse, and/or lives in breeding mills. May compassion and love reign over all of Earth for all companion animals who are suffering at the hands of human beings. Dear dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes, mice, turtles, birds, ferrets, sugar gliders, frogs, and so many others. We pray for you that you may have peace and joy in this precious life of yours. Some of you want to live free of human interference, and some of you truly want to be part of your human family. We bear witness to your suffering; we do what we can to end your suffering and to encourage others to do the same; and we continually send out an energy field of love and compassion to comfort you and to transform the hearts and souls of those who support the cruelty and oppression of each of you. Divine love and our love is all around you. Compassion encircles Earth for each of you and for all beings.
Wednesday: Today let us send our prayers to all animals vivisected in laboratories and classrooms. May compassion and love reign over all of Earth for all animals used for experiments. Dear primates, dogs, cats, mice, rats, pigs, lambs, rabbits, frogs, and all of you who are imprisoned in cages, tortured in useless experiments, separated from your loved ones, and suffering constant pain, fear, and loneliness, sometimes for many long years. Dear ones, we bear witness to your suffering, we take action to permanently end it and we continually send out an energy field of love and compassion to comfort you and to transform the hearts and souls of those who support this violent oppression. We send our tears and our prayers on wings of love to you. Divine love is all around you. Compassion encircles Earth for each of you and for all beings.
Thursday: Today let us send our prayers and love to all aquatic animals. May compassion and love reign over all of Earth for all the water beings living in the seas, lakes, and rivers. Dear fish, whales, dolphins, crabs, lobsters, starfish, jellyfish, shrimp, coral, and all the other amazing beings who make the waters of earth their home. Your homes and your very lives are being devastated by huge fishing fleets, by trash, oil, sewage, runoff, and other poisons dumped into your waters, by cutting off your fins, and by capturing you and your loved ones for aquariums and the pet trade. Together, we bear witness to your suffering, take action to end it permanently, and send out an energy field of love and compassion to comfort you and to transform the hearts and souls of those who support this violent oppression. Divine love and our love is all around you. Compassion encircles Earth for each of you and for all beings.
Friday: Prayers for wild animals being trapped, hunted, caged and/or killed for fur, flesh, leather, trophies, the pet trade, and for wild animals being forced into stress and extinction due to loss of habitat.May compassion and love reign over all of Earth for all the beings of the wilderness. Dear bears, foxes, cougars, deer, alligators, wild horses, prairie dogs, primates, mink, bison, beavers, elephants, birds, fish, whales, and all the other magnificent beings born in freedom and suffering now at the hands of human beings, living in fear of human beings, and mourning the loss of loved ones who have been tortured, imprisoned or killed. Together, we bear witness to your suffering, take action to end it forever, and send out an energy field of love and compassion to comfort you and to transform the hearts and souls of those who support the violent oppression of all of you. We send our tears and prayers on wings of love to you. Divine love and our love is all around you. Compassion encircles Earth for each of you and for all beings.
Saturday: Prayers for animals enslaved in entertainment, such as zoos, circuses, rodeos, aquariums, theme parks, canned hunts, etc. May compassion and love reign over all of Earth for all the beings used in the human entertainment industry. Dear dolphins, whales, horses, bulls, elephants, bears, lambs, pigs, sea otters, fish, elks, deer, rhinos, hippos, alligators, snakes, polar bears, lions, tigers, gorillas, chimpanzees, and all of you who are incarcerated when you want your freedom so much; who remember your parents being killed so that you could be captured; who are forced often with whips, chains, and electric prods to perform unnatural tricks; who are treated without respecting the dignity of your true nature. Together, we bear witness to your suffering, take action to bring it to a permanent end, and send out our energy field of love and compassion to comfort you and to transform the hearts and souls of those who support the violent oppression of all of you. Divine love and our love is all around you. Compassion encircles Earth for each of you and for all beings.
Sunday: Prayers for the nations of insects and other small creatures.
May compassion and love reign over all of Earth for all the tiny beings who live in the soil, the trees, the water and the air, creating harmony and balance with your songs, your pollinating of flowers, your graceful flight, your mysterious transformations, and your miraculous ability to literally create soil in which new plants can take root. Dear dragonflies, bees, wasps, butterflies, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, cicadas, crickets, spiders, ants, and all of you who suffer immeasurably at the hands of people who do not understand the miracle of who you are, who poison you, stomp on you and destroy your homes. You are so small, and many of us who do care about you find ourselves bringing you harm. We ask for your forgiveness and your help and together we bear witness to your suffering, take action to permanently end it, and send out our energy field of love and compassion to comfort you and to transform the hearts and souls of those who support the violent oppression of all of you. Divine love and our love is all around you. Compassion encircles Earth for each of you and for all beings.
Judy Carman and Will Tuttle created www.circleofcompassion.org where you can find more prayers and learn more about how activism and spiritual work are inextricably linked with animal rights issues. Judy is author of Peace to All Beings and Will is author of The World Peace Diet, both published by Lantern Books.
