Well over half the spiritual direction sessions I run are online. I’ve found platforms such as: Skype, FaceTime and Zoom (amongst others) very helpful in facilitating space for spiritual direction conversations, and enables me to connect with people across the country and around the world. Perhaps you’re wondering if engaging with a spiritual director over… Continue reading Online Spiritual Direction
Author: Jonny N
Centering: Be Still
When we make time to rest, to pray and to meditate we can often find it difficult to simply stop. We notice an inner inertia — our thoughts, desires and activity seem to have an on going momentum. So, it is helpful to bring ourselves to pause in order for us to be able to… Continue reading Centering: Be Still
Psalm 127, a meditation (Lectionary, Lent 4)
This week as I settled into prayer I returned to the words of this Psalm. As you gaze and meditate on the words, which words stand out to you? This week it was the words “unless the Lord…” which seemed to have the most resonance for me. I allowed them to come into sync with… Continue reading Psalm 127, a meditation (Lectionary, Lent 4)
A prayer, after Psalm 29 (Lectionary, Epiphany 1)
You who carve canyons,You who brood over wild waters,We gaze on your creation in wonder.This your temple, in which we cry — Glory!Mighty and majestic; wild and untamed,Lightening and thunder have nothing on you.Yet, to what can we compare you? Give strength to your people today.To all who fast and pray, to all who sing… Continue reading A prayer, after Psalm 29 (Lectionary, Epiphany 1)
Visio Divina (baptised in gold)
I had the privilege of being able to spend some time in a couple of London’s galleries & museums this summer. Of all I saw, this sculpture particularly struck me, partly, I suspect because I was not expecting it. We stumbled upon it on the fourth floor of the V&A, tucked in the corner of… Continue reading Visio Divina (baptised in gold)
Songs of Lament (hold me now)
One of the many gifts of the Hebrew Scriptures are the expressions of lament which are given voice throughout. The Psalms record many of these — with cries of of “how long O Lord?”, “Why Lord?” … “when Lord?” Note these words from Psalm 6: Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal… Continue reading Songs of Lament (hold me now)
Half-Day Retreat
If you find yourself with a half-day to give to quiet and reflections, yet find yourself unsure how to use this time. Please use the following resource which has some helpful suggestions for you. It maybe you just need a break, downtime and rest — in which case simply give yourself time to do that!… Continue reading Half-Day Retreat
Slow work, patience and trust
Above all, trust in the slow work of God.We are quite naturally impatient in everythingto reach the end without delay.We should like to skip the intermediate stages.We are impatient of being on the way to somethingunknown, something new.And yet it is the law of all progressthat it is made by passing throughsome stages of instability—and… Continue reading Slow work, patience and trust
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is an ancient way of praying scripture. This practice has been used throughout church history and continues to be a nourishing discipline for Christians from all traditions. The Latin/Benedictine name, Lectio Divina, may sound unusual to us now — it essentially means: “sacred reading”. This engaging with scripture is reflective and done in the… Continue reading Lectio Divina
Examen (a variation with postures)
I’m grateful to the author Ian Adams for bringing this version of the Ignatian Daily Examen to my attention, in his book ‘Running Over Rocks’. This practice fits particularly well at threshold moments, such as the end of a day. The five stages correlate to fives gesture, incorporating our whole self into the prayer. Open… Continue reading Examen (a variation with postures)