Strictly speaking, nothing external is needed for a Centering Prayer period or any contemplative practice. All that is needed is a willingness to be open and present to the Presence and Action of God, and for Centering Prayer, the practice of the four guidelines (see contemplativeoutreach.org for more information on these guidelines). Nevertheless, Centering Prayer gatherings typically include music or chimes, and often a verse of scripture or some other form of spoken prayer to transition into and out of silence. Many practitioners use similar supplements as part of their personal practice. As every individual’s prayer practice is as unique as their relationship with God, many people will likely adopt their own particular variations to standard methods of contemplative practice. They keys to deciding whether a particular piece of music, spoken prayer, or other supplemental practice is right for your prayer periods are simple: for supplemental practices preceding the prayer period, those practices which raise your awareness of the Presence of God or help you transition to an interior state of silence are helpful. After a prayer period, consider those practices which help you bring your lived experience of the Presence of God from your prayer period in to every moment of your life.