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“'Celeste' isn’t just about climbing a mountain. It’s about overcoming the mountains inside us.”
Reflecting on these words, I realized something: the video game “Celeste” taught me how to pray—not with words or formalities, but with breath.
If you ever play “Celeste", you will find that its core is about navigating challenging platforming sections as the protagonist, Madeline, climbs the titular mountain. The controls are precise, and the difficulty is unforgiving. The game thrusts you into difficult situations where your patience and persistence are tested.
As someone who loves platformers (e.g., Super Mario, where the game's objective is reaching your destination via platforms), this was my bread and butter. As someone who isn’t as precise as I was as a ten-year-old with a Nintendo 64 controller… I was challenged.
I found myself stuck in tight, demanding moments countless times, my heart racing and my fingers stiff from tension. That’s when I discovered the game’s most unique mechanic—a simple breathing exercise.
Whenever Madeline finds herself overwhelmed with anxiety, players calm her by focusing on her breath.
It’s subtle.
It’s quiet.
And yet, it’s profound.
As I held down the button, matching her breathing to a floating feather on the screen, something clicked in me. This is prayer.
Breath as Prayer
It took several playthroughs before I recognized the deep connection between this breathing mechanic and prayer. Amid anxiety, frustration, and feeling stuck—whether in the game or in life—prayer, for me, has often been about finding stillness in the chaos. Like Elijah in 1 Kings 19, when he sought out the voice of God, we rarely find that sense of connection in the hubbub of daily life and the stressors that drag us down.
How often do we start praying without first quieting our hearts, without taking the time to breathe?
Maddy Thorson, the creator of “Celeste”, noted that the game’s story became a personal journey. Thorson shared that “Celeste” was more than a platformer; it became a tool for self-care. "The game taught me to be more mindful, to understand my own anxiety and mental health struggles," Thorson said.
As someone who has dealt with anxiety and ADHD, this sentiment resonated with me deeply. “Celeste” showed me how important it was to incorporate moments of calm into my spiritual life. It reminded me of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
As my life speeds up around me and my mind tries to find something to grab hold of, “Celeste” reminds me that there must be something before we take hold of our faith. Before uttering a word in prayer, I now focus on my breath—just like guiding Madeline through her own struggles.
The Act of Breathing in the Presence of God
Over time, I realized that breathing had become a form of prayer. Prayer doesn’t have to be filled with lofty words or elaborate petitions. Sometimes it’s just about being present and acknowledging God’s presence in the quiet. Madeline’s journey up the mountain is much like our spiritual journeys—both are fraught with obstacles and setbacks. But just as the game reminds players to breathe, I’ve found that prayer is about breathing with God and allowing God’s peace to fill the overwhelming spaces in my heart.
Thorson’s reflection on Celeste ties into this as well. They spoke of how the game was built to allow people to navigate anxiety and self-doubt through a narrative of resilience. While I’m not sure if the stressful challenge of the game itself is for everyone, this theme should be universally shared as a tool for anyone struggling with these mental roadblocks.
Practical Prayer Lessons from “Celeste”
As I embraced this new understanding of prayer, I realized that “Celeste” offers more than just gameplay tips—it provides a spiritual practice. Here’s what the game taught me:
1. Intentional Stillness: Before tackling any challenge, take a moment to be still. This looks like breathing in God’s presence before rushing into decisions or tasks.
2. Focus on the Feather: In “Celeste:, you keep the feather floating by matching your breath to it. In prayer, focus on God’s presence, letting distractions fade. Sometimes, finding a physical grounding point can be helpful. I even find that counting can be a helpful grounding point, using the box breathing method for centering.
3. Persistence in Prayer: Just as you fail multiple times in “Celeste” before mastering a section, prayer requires persistence. It’s not about perfection but about returning to God, breath after breath.4. Overcoming Anxiety: Madeline’s anxiety is a recurring theme in the game, and prayer has become my way of handing my anxiety to God. As I breathe, I remember I’m not alone in the struggle.
Conclusion: A New Way to Pray
In the end, “Celeste” reminded me that prayer shouldn’t be complicated. It can be as simple as a breath, as profound as being present in the midst of chaos. Thorson noted, "’Celeste’ taught me so much about myself, and it will always be a part of me." Games have a way of doing that–sticking with us in a deep part of ourselves. Through Madeline’s journey up the mountain, I discovered a new way to journey with God—one breath at a time.
So, the next time life feels overwhelming, whether in a game or IRL, stop, breathe, and let your breath be your prayer. After all, as Celeste teaches us, the mountain may be steep, but we are never alone in the climb.
Nathan Webb is a major nerd in just about every way. He loves video games, anime, cartoons, comic books, tech, and his fellow nerds. Hoping to provide a spiritual community for people with similar interests, he founded Checkpoint Church--"the church for nerds, geeks and gamers." Nathan can be found lurking on some visual novel subreddit, reading the latest shōnen entry, or playing the newest Farm Sim. Nathan is an ordained provisional elder in the United Methodist Church in the Western North Carolina Conference. He hosts a weekly newsletter podcast: To The Point.
