Finding Strength for Court Days
Below are some tangible spiritual tools and practices that have been used by protective mothers in court and been found effective in keeping us calmer and more grounded and connected to God. These tools can help prevent panic and anxiety, soothe trauma responses, and foster a sense of peace and faith amidst the legal process. These are also effective spiritually during court proceedings. If you have other items to suggest, let us know!
Spiritual Tools and Practices for Court
Sacred Grounding Objects
Having an item or two that you can hold during court can be extremely grounding, help with focus, and serve as a reminder of God's presence with you. Below are some of the spiritual items we have found to be useful to have in hand (discreetly of course).
1. Small wooden hand cross
2. Prayer Beads (Anglican Prayer Beads / Rosaries)
3. Medals/Coins of Jesus and/or a saint/hero of the faith
4. Water bottles (remember the ice for sensory grounding!) to hold/drink that have a Bible verse, quote, or holy image/art
5. Rings and/or bracelets with Biblical images or themes
6. A small painted stone with a Bible verse or quote to hold
Spiritual Visual Tools
It can help to give yourself visual cues and images while you're in court to draw and focus your attention - particularly when you're listening to smearing, slander, or abusive rhetoric about you or your children. You are encouraged to pick a particular Bible verse to serve as your "guide" each day to focus on, in addition to other sacred imagery you find helpful.
1. A notebook and pen for taking notes in with Scripture quotes and/or spiritual artwork on them
2. Sticky note(s) with Bible verses and encouragement on them to "stick" wherever you will see them
3. Holy cards or small laminated images of Jesus or saints/heroes of faith (St. Joan of Arc the warrior, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Rita have all been particularly helpful and inspirational for protective mothers)
4. Bookmarks and tabs for your files with similar imagery/quotes
5. If using a laptop, create a background with quotes and spiritual imagery that will encourage you.
Breath Prayers and Other Practices
1. Find and pray/claim a particular passage from God's Word before court and/or at the breaks. Write, print, or place it on your phone.
2. In addition to deep breathing and typical breathing exercises, you can use "breath prayers" in which a word(s) from the Bible or other brief prayer is repeated (silently) on the breath upon exhale/inhale to keep you calm and grounded in Christ.
3. Choose a short Bible verse, quote, or phrase to repeat silently in your mind, almost like a mantra, as a point of focus when needed.
4. Bless (by giving God thanks) your water/water bottle and take a sip whenever you need grounding. You might also bring along blessed mints/lozenges/hard candies to have (silently) that will help ground you and your senses.
5. Before/upon entering the courtroom bid God's Holy Spirit to fill you and the room and see God's light fill the room in your mind's eye. You can invite friends/family that accompany you to do the same.
6. Invite and visualize Jesus and/or your guardian angel standing right behind you, guarding you throughout the proceedings.
7. When your attorney is speaking, mentally pray for him/her (if not too distracting to you) as well as for the Judge/magistrate throughout the proceedings. Invite your clergy, church, family, and friends to pray with and for you on court days as well.