A Spring Blessing & Contemplative Practice
May Newsletter: “Deep trust in unseen growth is absolutely necessary." Waiting, expecting, nourishing tender shoots of growth and holding on to hope.
Thank you for reading!
For those of you who are new here, I write a monthly Burnout & Recovery newsletter with resources, events, and guided practices or reflections. You can access others in this series here: https://bethanydearbornhiser.substack.com/s/monthly-burnout-and-recovery-resource
I just finished a weekly series titled From Wounds to Wisdom, more on that below, and last fall Returning to our Soul Home. Both can be accessed with a paid subscription to protect for copyright and publishing.
Upcoming Soul Care for Wounded Healer Events
Contemplative Silent Meditation: Thur, May 23rd 10-10:30am PST
Soul Care Groups: 10-11am PST
Tues May 14th
Tues June 4th
Tues August 13th
From Wounds to Wisdom
Last week I wrapped up my Wounds to Wisdom series, which started in the beginning of January. It has been a beautiful journey and I’m so honored to facilitate the time and experience for people, witnessing vulnerability and tender shoots of growth, healing, and hope in my closed Soul Care group and newsletter.
Here’s a poem that one participant wrote in an invitation I offered to close our time:
I am whole, and healing.
I am learning to listen and wait.
I am noticing the inflammation;
Noticing when I feel both invisible and exposed.
I am learning I am human after all,
Learning to like that I am strong wind and fierce fire.
I see my tendency to hide it.
I am learning that I need fertile earth and living water.
Today I will honor this need by catching a breath;
To allow my brokenness to grow into beauty redefined.
I am seen and understood.
I am learning grace again.
-Brit Eaton (shared with permission)
Spring Reflection: Meditative Reading
As you consider your own learnings and desire for change, I invite you to engage in a contemplative reading and reflection.
Read the below quote slowly noticing what thoughts, emotions, sensations arise in you.
“Deep trust in unseen growth is absolutely necessary.
Beneath the seeming ugliness and deadness, Earth's life is awakening. Inside the thick darkness of predawn, the sun is getting ready to rise. Within the pregnant woman, unborn life is receiving some finishing touches.
Why do I get so impatient for my inner springtime?... Each year I see more clearly that I must be willing to pay the price of awakening:
to wait without control of the process,
to trust without seeing the face of the secret life that stirs,
to hope without happy feelings,
and to work with what seems to be little fruition.
The land waits. The dawn waits. The pregnant woman waits. I, too, must wait.”
~ Macrina Wiederkehr, The Circle of Life
Pause and read it again slowly.
Consider the invitation toward deep trust in unseen growth, toward hope without happy feelings.
As it feels right to you, bring the wait, the longings, the lack of fruition to God in conversation, through art, silence, music or movement.
When you are ready, continue by reading this blessing:
A Spring Blessing,
by Macrina Wiederkehr, The Circle of Life
“Blessed are you spring,
You invite us to sing songs
To the frozen regions within
And to bless the lessons of winter
As we become your partner in a new dance.
Blessed are you, spring.
Like Jesus, standing before the tomb of Lazarus,
You call to us: ‘Remove winter’s stone, come out,
There is life here you have not yet tasted.”
Journal Prompts:
How have you experienced feeling connected to your inner world, God with you?
In what areas do you feel stuck or not seeing much growth? How do you feel towards that stuck place?
What tender shoots are growing in you?
What blossoms are yet to come that you are hoping for?
I always welcome your comments and reflections!
Grace and hope to you,
Bethany Dearborn Hiser
RESOURCES
BURNOUT & RECOVERY RESOURCE LIST (Hay varias en Español también). If you have recommendations, I'd love to hear about them!
INSIGHT TIMER GUIDED MEDITATIONS:
I’ve recorded some of my soul care group meditations for your listening and prayerful contemplation on-the-go. I welcome your rating and sharing of the meditations.
SOUL CARE FOR WOUNDED HEALER: CUSTOMIZED NON-PROFIT WORKSHOPS
Based on the book, From Burned Out to Beloved, workshops integrate discussion questions, grounding activities, trauma research, recovery tools, contemplative practices, and other spiritual disciplines. They seek to improve the overall well-being of individuals, enhance organizational culture, and improve sustainability and effectiveness in work.
Workshop topics can be combined or tailored specifically for your group. Contact me to start the conversation.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Centering Prayer Practice. I recently shared this with my contemplative meditation participants and thought it was a helpful description of Centering Prayer:
Internal Family Systems Practice: IFS Guided Meditation: Connect to Self Energy
If you’ve been reading my newsletters, you know I’ve been in to IFS! Here’s a practice to continue your own awareness and growth.
Bethany Dearborn Hiser is the Director of Soul Care for Northwest Family Life, a network of therapists trained to work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma.
She is the author of From Burned Out to Beloved: Soul Care for Wounded Healers. For more about her, her book, or workshops she offers, visit: