Updated on May 2, 2024
Epiphany: Guiding Star Meditation
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This is a 20-minute meditation with the magi, who studied the stars, and followed a star whose rising signified the birth of the King of the Jews.
This mindful meditation gives you space to prayerfully reflect on Matthew 2:1-3 & 7-12, the visit of the magi, and to consider what insights the account may have for you. I find this a particularly helpful new year meditation, though it is by no means specific to a particular time of year.
We don’t know that the bearers of gold, frankinsense and myrrh were kings, or how many of them there there were. What we do know is that they brought three gifts, that they were astrologers, likely Zoroastrian, and that they came from the east.
I am reminded in my annual reading of Elizabeth Goudge’s children’s book I Saw Three Ships, that gold, frankincense and myrrh may represent wealth, worship and death, three profound gifts we may offer to the Giver of all.
Blessings on you.
Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.
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All music by Pete Hatch.
Dear Lissy, I am so extremely grateful to have found you on Spotify. What an absolute gift your work is. I recently became ordained as an interfaith minister … and post-ordination has been nothing short of a dark night of the soul for me. Your guided meditations; with your soothing voice, huge compassion and gentle holding have been a huge support for me and is helping me to navigate these choppy waters and return me /remind me I am always held in the gentle embrace of the one great heart. This Guiding Star meditation is just exquisite. May you always remember what a blessing and an inspiration you are and know your work is a true gift to the world. Thank you.
The story of the magi’s visit was such a blessing, My words from the reading were ” they paid Him Homage”. Lissy. I combined your mediaitation with one I had begun yesterday at the beginning of Retreat in Daily life at Breathing Space. There I choose a picture of a new Father looking with adoration at his child of maybe 3 months who was looking back in wonder with his arms outstretched towards Father, wanting to discover more about him. The star had led me there.These images linked so beautifully together. I paid Him homage. So beautiful, so true! Thank you so much Lissy for your part in this
Fey, lovely to hear from you, I’m so pleased the Lord was able to use this to bring you near his heart. What a precious image you were praying with. I hope the retreat goes really well for you and all taking part. Much love 🙏🏽
Wow Tania, thank you so much for these encouraging words. I’m sure that your own navigation of the wilderness will become a guiding light for others. I’ve been thinking about Jan Richardson’s poem Beloved is Where We Begin a lot this year, do you know it? After Jesus’ baptism it was straight into the wilderness. May you know yourself attended by ‘strange graces’. Blessings.