<P> Various spiritual traditions offer a wide variety of devotional acts . There are morning and evening prayers, graces said over meals, and reverent physical gestures . Some Christians bow their heads and fold their hands . Some Native Americans regard dancing as a form of prayer . Some Sufis whirl . Hindus chant mantras . Jewish prayer may involve swaying back and forth and bowing . Muslims practice salat (kneeling and prostration) in their prayers . Quakers keep silent . Some pray according to standardized rituals and liturgies, while others prefer extemporaneous prayers . Still others combine the two . </P> <P> Friedrich Heiler is often cited in Christian circles for his systematic Typology of Prayer which lists six types of prayer: primitive, ritual, Greek cultural, philosophical, mystical, and prophetic . Some forms of prayer require a prior ritualistic form of cleansing or purification such as in ghusl and wudhu . </P> <P> Prayer may be done privately and individually, or it may be done corporately in the presence of fellow believers . Prayer can be incorporated into a daily "thought life", in which one is in constant communication with a god . Some people pray throughout all that is happening during the day and seek guidance as the day progresses . This is actually regarded as a requirement in several Christian denominations, although enforcement is not possible nor desirable . There can be many different answers to prayer, just as there are many ways to interpret an answer to a question, if there in fact comes an answer . Some may experience audible, physical, or mental epiphanies . If indeed an answer comes, the time and place it comes is considered random . Some outward acts that sometimes accompany prayer are: anointing with oil; ringing a bell; burning incense or paper; lighting a candle or candles; See, for example, facing a specific direction (i.e. towards Mecca or the East); making the sign of the cross . One less noticeable act related to prayer is fasting . </P> <P> A variety of body postures may be assumed, often with specific meaning (mainly respect or adoration) associated with them: standing; sitting; kneeling; prostrate on the floor; eyes opened; eyes closed; hands folded or clasped; hands upraised; holding hands with others; a laying on of hands and others . Prayers may be recited from memory, read from a book of prayers, or composed spontaneously as they are prayed . They may be said, chanted, or sung . They may be with musical accompaniment or not . There may be a time of outward silence while prayers are offered mentally . Often, there are prayers to fit specific occasions, such as the blessing of a meal, the birth or death of a loved one, other significant events in the life of a believer, or days of the year that have special religious significance . Details corresponding to specific traditions are outlined below . </P>

Saying grace—or any prayer—before every meal is an example of what supernatural function the