Spiritual exercise: Prayer
artist John August Swanson Psalm 85
Visio Divina (meaning divine vision, seeing with the eyes of your heart)
History: Visio Divina came from the Lectio Divina (divine reading, a slow reading of Scripture practice) which was an early 6th century monastic prayer practice begun by Benedict of Nursia.
The four part rhythm of the prayer was formalized in the 12th century by a Carthusian monk named Guigo II.
The movement of this prayer uses a visual to help guide and set our minds on prayer thus allowing God to speak into our hearts through the image. Enlarge the image Psalm 85 to use for this exercise, or choose one of your own.
Invitation. Find a quiet and comfortable place to be still with God. This can be practiced any time in your day where rest and refreshment may be desired. This may also be practiced with a friend.
Follow each of the four parts. Take as long as you can to sit with each portion of the prayer exercise. You may wish to journal as you pause, notice, and wonder.
When you’re ready to begin: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and clear your mind of distractions.
Lectio (read/see with the eyes): Open your eyes and scan the image. Note what draws your interest while continuing to scale the whole image. Close your eyes and rest.
Meditatio (meditate) Open your eyes and allow your eyes to be led. Focus on one part of the image and silently give it a name. Close your eyes again, holding that piece of the image in your mind’s eye.
Oratio (pray): Open your eyes and look again at the part of the image that caught your eye. Allow it to bring forth a word, image or emotion. What might God be speaking to you today through this image? Close your eyes and rest.
Contemplatio (contemplation): Open your eyes and gaze at the image. How would you like to respond to God today?
Artist's Notes by John August Swanson
More about the image:
"Justice and Peace shall kiss, Truth shall spring out of the earth. Kindness and Truth shall meet, Justice shall look down from the heavens."
“Each year when the verses from Psalm 85 were read in the liturgical service, I would visualize the poetry of the words, the hope they made me feel about living. The opportunity to hear and read these words each year, to revisit them, refreshes the spirit.”
