Today’s Excerpt:

Visio Divina, or ‘divine seeing,’ is a meditative practice that uses imagery to connect to something transcendent. It’s seen in a variety of wisdom traditions (think of the architecture of Islam, the mandalas of Hinduism and Buddhism, the stained glass of Cathedrals, etc.), though the formal Latin name—Visio Divina—comes from the Catholic tradition.

Here’s one way to do the practice:

1. Look at a piece of timeless art. Gaze at it for about a minute, noticing what stands out to you — and what emotions it stirs up, if any.
2. Read some information about the image, if it exists, to understand the context.
3. Reflect on anything the image inspires in you. You might write in a journal, talk to someone about it, or draw something in response. Do you feel a spark of something new?

Discuss:

• What inspires you?
• If you have time, gather some images or objects that bring you inspiration and share why.

Consider using the images below.

The Great Wave of Kanagawa, Katsushika Hokusai, Japanese 1760–1849

Almond Blossom, Vincent Van Gogh