Awakening to Wholeness is a series of prompts, reflections, and teachings about how holding the tension of opposites can help us to heal division and experience wholeness. If you feel moved to share your own reflections, we invite you to email us with the subject line “Wisdom of Opposites” or tag us on social media with #EHoPWisdomOfOpposites.
In transitional times, such as the changing of seasons or the beginning of a new year, folks often take on the task of taking stock of their lives and grounding themselves in good intentions. In such times, a good portion of discerning technique can be especially helpful. More than 500 years ago, in Christian Spain, Ignatius of Loyola packaged up a surprisingly practical and enduring set of Rules for Discernment, which are still helpful today.
At the core of Ignatian discernment is a basic back and forth movement between consolation and desolation. Consolation, in simplest terms, is any interior movement that draws us closer to God; desolation is any interior movement that draws us away from God. While Ignatius provided a whole system of rules and examples, one particular pair of questions cuts to the core of discernment: is this pathway or choice before me draining me of life, or helping me to feel fully alive?
Core questions like these are necessary because as we find our way, the path can get muddy below our feet and foggy before our eyes. Something that seemed like a good idea suddenly takes a wrong turn. Two things seem equally good and are painfully difficult to chose between. Knowing whether we know enough yet to decide often remains unknown! Especially during times of change and good intention, we easily pile our plates up with fullness before slipping into frenzied busyness.
It is good to check in regularly: if I am feeling drained of life, does something need to be transformed or healed? If I am trying to discern a way forward, can I expect it to be life-giving, even if it is difficult or tentative?
Contemplative Questions
We offer the following questions as prompts to help you reflect on the presence of opposites in your spiritual practice and your life.
- In the past, when the path ahead was been unclear, what questions or tools have you used to discern the way forward? Did these tools draw you closer to God, or away from God?
- What does it feel like—in your heart or your body—when you make a choice that drains you? What does it feel like to make a choice that is life-giving?
- What decisions are you currently struggling with? Could Ignatian discernment help you draw closer to God as you take your next steps forward?
Join the conversation! If you feel moved to share your reflections, we invite you to email us with the subject line “Wisdom of Opposites” or tag us on social media with #EHoPWisdomOfOpposites.
You can now sign up to have every post in the Awakening to Wholeness series delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.