Have you tried using ancient prayers to form the basis for your morning meditation ritual?

The following four beautiful, short prayers are meant to be said when we awake in the morning. There is a real transition that happens when we say these prayers with intention and make them a part of our day.

1. Moda/Modei Ani מוֹדָה/מוֹדֶה אֲנִי

By saying this short prayer of gratitude upon wakening and opening our eyes each morning we acknowledge our body-soul harmony and the Divine Essence that we are rooted in. Since it does not include one of the divine names it may be said before the ritual hand washing and is most often said while lying in bed. 

Grateful am I before your presence, Source of all that lives and exists, for restoring my soul within me with compassion. How great is your faithfulness.

 מוֹדָה/מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מלך חַי וְקַיָּם שֶהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ  

Modah/modei ani lefanekha melekh chai vekayam shehecḥezarta bi nishmahti b'cḥemlah, rabah emunatekha.

2. Netilat Yadaim  נְטִילַת יָדַיִם


We ritually wash our hands immediately upon rising before we touch anything, including our own body, to signify that we are merging back fully into the world of the living.

Baruch are You, Adonai, our Elohim, Cosmic Majesty, who sanctifies us with Your mitzvot/points of connection, and connects with us through the lifting up of our hands.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.

3. Asher Yatzar אֲשֶׁר יָצַר

After ritually washing our hands and using the restroom we express our thanks to the Endless One for our wondrous bodily functions and acknowledge our dependence on the healing and miraculous qualities of the Divine Oneness.

Baruch are You, Adonai, our Elohim, sovereign of the cosmos, who formed humankind with wisdom and created within us many openings and many hollow spaces. It is apparent and known before Your Seat of Honor that if even one of them would be opened, or if even one of them would be sealed, it would be impossible to exist and to stand before You. Baruch are You, Adonai, healer of all flesh working wondrously.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּחָכְמָה, וּבָרָא בוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים .גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ, שֶׁאִם יִפָּתֵחַ אֶחָד מֵהֶם, אוֹ יִסָּתֵם אֶחָד מֵהֶם, אִי אֶפְשַׁר לְהִתְקַיֵּם וְלַעֲמוֹד לְפָנֶיךָ . בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה, רוֹפֵא כָל בָּשָׂר וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת

Baruch ata adonai, elohaynu melech haolam, asher yatzar et ha'adam b'chochma, uvara vo nikavim nikavim, chalulim chalulim, galui v'yadua lifnei kisay kevodecha, sheim yifateach echad mihem, o yisatei echad mihem, iefshar lehitkayem ve la'amod lefanecha. Baruch ata adonai, rofei chol basar umafli la'asot.

4. Elohai Neshama אֱלהַי נְשָׁמָה

This beautiful prayer expands on the words of the Moda/Modei Ani to make sure that our first conscious act of the day is an acknowledgment of our body-soul harmony. It's use of personal language emphasizes our fundamental relatedness to Hashem expressing that all humans have a pure soul and Divine essence at our core. This is a reminder to emplace our Divine connection in the forefront of our consciousness as we go about our day.  

My Elohim, the breath/soul You have given me is pure. You created it, You formed it, and You breathed it into me. And You guard it while it is within me. And one day You will take it from me, and restore it to me in the time to come. As long as the breath/soul is within me, I will be thankful before Your prescence, Adonai my Elohim and Elohim of my ancestors. Maker of all that happens, creater of all souls. Blessed are You, Adonai, who restores breathing/souls to lifeless bodies.

 אֱלהַי. נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בִּי טְהורָה הִיא. אַתָּה בְרָאתָהּ. אַתָּה יְצַרְתָּהּ. אַתָּה נְפַחְתָּהּ בִּי. וְאַתָּה מְשַׁמְּרָהּ בְּקִרְבִּי. וְאַתָּה עָתִיד לִטְּלָהּ מִמֶּנִּי. וּלְהַחֲזִירָהּ בִּי לֶעָתִיד לָבוא. כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה בְּקִרְבִּי מודֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלהַי וֵאלהֵי אֲבותַי. רִבּון כָּל הַמַּעֲשים אֲדון כָּל הַנְּשָׁמות: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' הַמַּחֲזִיר נְשָׁמות לִפְגָרִים מֵתִים:

Elohai neshama shenatatah bi t'hora hi. Ata b'ratah, ata y'tzartah, ata n'fachtah bi. V'ata m’shamrah b'kirbi. V'ata atid litelah mimeni ulehachazirah bi leatid lavo. Kol z'man shehaneshaman b'kirbi, modah/modei ani lefaneicha, Adonai Elohai v'lohei avotai, Ribon kol hamaasim, Adon kol haneshamot. Baruch ata Adonai, hamachazir neshamot lifgarim metim.