contemplative practice – Beguine Again

Dec282014 by lana19672 Comments

Word of the Year for 2015

Spirituality

I'm sure some of you have seen the different ways to find your Word of the Year. People believe it is a more positive use of energy than listing resolutions that will most likely be broken by the middle of the second week of the year. I like Susannah Conway's process, so this is what I will go through to find my word for 2015. She asks you to visualize your perfect day in 2015...what you were doing....how you felt....what you were looking forward to. Then she asks you to think about the following questions: -- What is definitely happening in 2015? -- What are you hoping will happen in 2015? -- What dreams would you like to nurture in the new year? -- What area(s) of your life is/are asking to be supported in 2015? -- What qualities do you want to develop in yourself? -- What does y...

Lectio Divina–Inspiration Sunday

Spirituality

I've long been fascinated with the concept of lectio divina (divine reading) of sacred texts as a means of becoming closer to God and learning more about the Scriptures. Lectio divina was established as a monastic practice by the Benedictines in the 6th century and was formalized into a 4-step process by Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, in the 12th century. Its 4 parts--reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating--do not have to be used on Christian scriptures, though. All faiths can use this way of reading their own texts or even books that don't have any "spiritual" connotation. Do you love to read current fiction? Read it with a lectio divina mindset. You may be surprised at where you find God's presence. How about poetry? Even the most "secular" of poets has a creative spirit, which...

What if? From Roy DeLeon OSB

spiritual practice, Spirituality

Roy is an artist, writer, and yoga teacher. He authored, "Praying with the Body," one of my favorite books on prayer. I keep buying this book and giving it away and then buying it again! An endless, perfect cycle. He wrote this on Facebook and is allowing me to share it here.What if my desires and longings are simply echoes of God's desires and longings? How will it affect my life?Me:O God, come to my aid.O Creator, make haste to help me.God:O beloved one, come to my aid.O child, make haste to help me.Shalom and Amen!