Not only is visualization a powerful tool that anyone can learn to use, but also there is now a growing body of science proving the validity of such 'esoteric' ideas and practices. This isn't a marginal or fringe concept either, mainstream press are devoting whole magazine editions to the subject, like Newsweek who ran a "Spirituality" Issue Aug 29 - Sept 5, 2005.

There are numerous studies also that support a growing American movement towards acceptance of prayer and it's powers to heal. According to Dr. Hollowell from WoldNetDaily,

"one of the best-known studies was conducted by Randolph Byrd in the cardiac-care unit of San Francisco General Hospital. All subjects were given routine standard care, but prayer groups prayed for half of the patients. Patients who weren't mentioned in prayers were nearly twice as likely to suffer health complications as those who received prayer.

Another study of 1,000 cardiac patients conducted at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., concluded "the group receiving prayers fared 11 percent better than the group that didn't."

Researchers at Columbia University and Cha Hospital of Korea reported that women undergoing in vitro fertilization had higher rates of pregnancy when groups of strangers anonymously prayed for them."

One of the best-known studies was conducted by Randolph Byrd in the cardiac-care unit of San Francisco General Hospital. All subjects were given routine standard care, but prayer groups prayed for half of the patients. Patients who weren't mentioned in prayers were nearly twice as likely to suffer health complications as those who received prayer.

Another study of 1,000 cardiac patients conducted at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., concluded "the group receiving prayers fared 11 percent better than the group that didn't."

Researchers at Columbia University and Cha Hospital of Korea reported that women undergoing in vitro fertilization had higher rates of pregnancy when groups of strangers anonymously prayed for them.

This is mainstream attention to the subject of prayer, spirituality and meditation. The problem, of course arises when we get mired into a discussion of semantics - to one person prayer is religious, while meditation is not - or worse; it is pagan. Apparently this is also the core of the inflammatory argument that has broken out all over American culture. In the end it is not just semantics, it is a question of who has the right and power to control our beliefs and tell us what to do and how to do it.

Those who call themselves religious, as well as those who call themselves spiritual (and this is a semantic debate that has broken families apart) can both agree that the power of prayer/meditation works. It works because it harnesses a spiritual energy and makes a spiritual request for assistance from, dare I say it - God (in whatever form you like him or her).

I personally am not so concerned with the words that a person uses to convey their faith - but rather with the true intention in their heart - an absence of malice, control, and desire to be right or dominant, is benevolent. Anything else is malevolent. If we all know that meditation, visualization and prayer works, no matter what you call it, then let's get busy actually doing it!

My own experience of meditation, visualization and prayer is that it may or may not turn out as you plan or as you expect, because there is a greater force at work in the world, and it has a much broader view and more benevolent plan than can be understood by those of us trapped in the illusion of duality that is so present in our current world. And it is precisely this force that we need to connect with, through prayer, visualization and meditation -- in order to overcome this heated debate and restore love -- not semantics to our daily discussions.

Actually, mediation is just the fist step in a series of tools and techniques that we can each learn to use that allow us to tap into -- and actually use -- the dormant 97% of our brain power. These keys are effective and, even better, they actually work. Now science is beginning to catch up and understand that there is, in fact, more to us humans than meets the eye.