Day 6: Connecting with arts and music

Welcome to Day Six of our 10 Day Spiritual Journey. Today's spiritual exercise explores how we can connect with art and music.

Today is a day to treat ourselves and step out into the world of nature and music. Let us enjoy the escape. 

We struggle, we grow weary, we grow tired. We are exhausted, we are distressed, we despair. We give up, we fall down, we let go. We cry. We are empty, we grow calm, we are ready. We wait quietly. A small, shy truth arrives. Arrives from without and within. Arrives and is born. Simple, steady, clear. Like a mirror, like a bell, like a flame. Like rain in summer. A precious truth arrives and is born within us. Within our emptiness. We accept it, we observe it, we absorb it. We surrender to our bare truth. We are nourished, we are changed. We are blessed. We rise up. For this we give thanks.

Michael Leunig A Common Prayer (Collins Dove, 1990)

A waiting person is a patient person. The word “patience” means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us. Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there. Waiting, then, is not passive. It involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing in her womb. 

Henri Nouwen The Path of Waiting (Crossroad, 1995).

Monks and Meditation

In this episode of BBC Radio 3's Slow Radio series, Benedictine monks from Pluscarden Abbey speak about how they find focus, against a background of chant and sounds that evoke the peace and serenity of the monastery. 

Beethoven’s Ode to Joy

Nothing like beautiful music and scenery to inspire the heart and soul. Enjoy!

Christian Meditation using art

Christian meditation using art is a powerful means of meditating and connecting with God. Christian meditation using art is also known as Visio Divina.  It is similar to the ancient meditation practice of Lectio Divina which uses passages from the Bible for personal interaction with God by focusing on details that capture your attention.

1. Choose a piece of Christian art that inspires you.
2. Think about what draws you to it. What feelings does it evoke? 
3. Look closer at the image. Consider the colours, facial expressions, hand gestures and symbolism.
4. Spend time in silence and form a prayer based on what has inspired you from this reflective practice. 

Adapted from How to Christian meditation using art by Karen Barber. 

Day 7: Furthering our appreciation of silence

Join us tomorrow