Sunday July 2: The Journey Beyond

To Practice

• Awaken to and explore your edges. Practice the Welcoming Prayer, noticing and sinking into any sensations of resistance, resentment or triggered emotions, and let them go. If you have a history of trauma, a “sandwich” practice is good; welcome the pleasant, welcome the unpleasant, and then welcome the pleasant again. Practice only as long as it brings more ease rather than intensity; many people mistake intensity for healing.
• A regular practice of Centering Prayer exercises the muscle of letting go, of detachment to attitudes, preferences, old stories, fear. Eventually the practice bears fruit off the cushion in the sacred pilgrimage of everyday life. Each prayer period, recommit to your intention to consent to God’s presence and action and return to your sacred symbol when all manner of thoughts arise.

If you would like to re-read this week’s reflection, you may do so here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/word-of-the-week-july2

Of course I’m caged.  Can’t go on retreats anymore, can’t do solo retreats where it’s me and God.   I need to stay close to home Cause my best friend has balance issues and falls.

There’s a high cabin on a mountain near here run by Appalachian mountain club.  I used to fantasize about booking it so I could hike up there and be alone. But that’s out of the question.

But some of that desire to get out there and get lots of spiritual consolation is spiritual gluttony.  I don’t get a lot of thst spiritual consolation doing my Cp here in the house.      So caged in a way, but then maybe not.  Of course self examination is necessary to look out for self pity and the bondage of self.

 

The details of the image this week are the Welcome Prayer becoming a spontaneous and integral living out of my day. When I awake,  the welcome prayer  begins my day. When my opinion, though valid,  turns someone off; when my memory bank reveals having hurt someone; when I am jus a tad feeling sorry for myself; when a moment of joy is unleashed I savor the moment; when I awake to a disturbing dream; when I fear being forgotten, like the cab I reserved; …… thus my day is being knit together……….. detaching me more and more from myself.

 

Dear Adeline: thanks to your sharing here and last week in the live prayer group, I’m now waking up each day and practicing the Welcoming Prayer before I get out of bed.  I’m grateful for your inspired witness to the depths of practice and Presence.

Hi Adelne, just wanted you to know that I have used the Welcoming Prayer before, but the idea of saying it on awakening was a new idea to me.  I’ve been trying it and love it!  Thank you for your sharing.

 

The energy of prayer- be it movement, dance, song or silence knows no boundaries of time or space or preference. And that energy can give us individual and communal courage to go to the edge and beyond.

Michael Singer is spot-on when he writes “You end up loving your edges because they point your way to freedom.” Centering prayer is the method to learn how to explore and accept my edges, and a continuing practice moves me beyond them. “Relax through my edges” is my newest breath prayer. <3 linda

Hello N, McInnes,  wonderful that the Welcome Prayer is a way for you to begin your day. Much of our unconscious “work” goes on during the night. I find praying the W.P. the last thing as my day closes is a further consenting to the Indwelling Spirit whose work is going on all the time even when I sleep. Blessings to you, dear WoW companion.

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