Contemplation in Crisis
November Newsletter: slowing down, connecting to the Divine, letting go of self-interest
“I have always imagined that if every president, prime minister, and military commander on the planet could keep a copy of the Tao Te Ching on his or her bedside and read a stanza or two before going to sleep every night, peace would prevail. "The world is shaped by the Way." said Lao Tzu. "It cannot be shaped by the self. Trying to change it, you damage it. Trying to possess it, you lose it."
Teresa of Avila imagined that if kings and popes would cultivate a daily practice of contemplative prayer, all self-interest would fall away and they would want nothing more than to serve God by serving all that is.” ~ Mirabai Starr, Saint Teresa of Avila, Passionate Mystic
Contemplation may feel like the last thing we want or are able to do when the world is on fire. Yet is is essential. I realize it is easy to write that from my safe desk, in my safe neighborhood, where I have water and food and biked my children safely to school this morning. Yet even for those of us who have relative safety and are not in survival mode, we have a hard time choosing to let go, to enter into contemplation, to connect with our Source.
I am free, unbound, and yet I still have a hard time slowing down.
For those in the midst of terror, in forced stillness and isolation, connecting with the Source also arises in the desperation. Howard Thurman writes, "It is the turn toward the contemplative that loosens the 'psychological shackles.'"Barbara Holmes talks about Crisis Contemplation in her book by the same name, and in Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church. Check out what I wrote in February here:
The Center for Action & Contemplation offered this Communal Lament reflection a couple of years ago. They write: “It takes great trust and patience to remain stunned, sad, and silenced by the tragedy and absurdity of human events.”
Barbara Holmes affirms that stillness is important for all who want to transform their pain instead of transmit it: “Stillness is a state of wholeness, an antidote to the fragmentation of BIPOC people that comes with marginalization. . . . Sitting in stillness may allow the pieces of us to reassemble.” [1]
In the face of horrors visited upon our world daily, in the struggle to protect our loved ones, choosing to let in joy is a revolutionary act. —Valarie Kaur
As you read the news, or avoid the news, as you listen to neighbors, or avoid engaging in this topic, I invite you to engage in embodied practices that connect you to yourself, your community, and your Source.
To lament, create space for grief, read a poem or prayer (check out below Spirituality & Practice resources).
And as you are able to call your representatives if a US citizen and donate resources.
As much as possible, slow down, notice your breathing, what sensations you are experiencing in your body, how you are being impacted.
To remember that even the act of slowing down, letting go of your thoughts, and tuning in, is a powerful and transformative act.
In order to love, you have to slow down. ~ Barbara Holmes, Slowing Down Is the Solution
Join me this Thursday, Nov 2nd 11-11:30am for a time of Contemplative Silent Meditation together.
Lead us from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Let peace fill our hearts,
our world, our universe.
Let us dream together,
pray together,
work together,
to build one world
of peace and justice for all.
Anonymous in Prayers for Healing: 365 Blessings, Poems, and Meditations from Around the World by Maggie Oman
Resources
BURNOUT & RECOVERY RESOURCE LIST (Hay varias en Español también)
List includes: spiritual director search sites, counseling cooperatives, trainings, cohorts, apps, as well as some of the resources I use in my soul care groups.
If you have recommendations, I'd love to hear about them!
SPIRITUALITY & PRACTICE website has a lot of resources, For Such a Time As This. Scroll down and you’ll find practices, prayers, poems, and even ways to engage thoughtfully in protests.
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.
INSIGHT TIMER GUIDED MEDITATIONS
Follow me on Insight Timer to be notified when new meditations are posted.
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.
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: