*80 Prayer. Many treatises contain the motto "Ora et labora" (Pray and work), and the laboratories of alchemists also included prayer rooms. Prayer has a unique place in the Alchemist archetype and is an act uplifting the mind to God.  It is considered to be a very effective form of suppressing earthly experiences and excitement influencing our inner nature. If we cease to succeed in meditation, then prayer is an effective form of calming a mind distracted by the world. Prayer is mocked by materialists as a weakness, but it is actually a strength since in prayer we surrender ourselves and accept our human helplessness. Prayer diverts our mind from all that is earthly and leads us to lasting devotion, which, like morality, clearly belongs to alchemy. The alchemist must realize that power and strength only exist in the presence of God. Only in this was will he avoid putting his ego into his Work and can the Work be performed, since a blessing will only be given to the devout.