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A 19-minute guided meditation blending gentle physical movement (yoga), breath and the Ignatian Examen.

Ignatius of Loyola taught his followers that the one prayer they could never eliminate from their daily practice, is the prayer of review, or the Examen.

As Teresa of Avila (who for some time had a Jesuit confessor) said “I’ve gone on and on, here and elsewhere, about the damage we do to ourselves by failing to cultivate humility and self-awareness. Just remember: it is your most important task.” – The Interior Castle, First Dwelling, translation by M Starr

The Examen invites us to look back over the day, to notice when we felt most alive in Love, and when we felt least alive in Love, to see how God was travelling with us throughout the day, and to intentionally ask God to be near us tomorrow.

I personally find end of day prayer so difficult. I am usually well past the point of attentive concentration by the time I’ve settled the house and the teenagers and am getting myself in the direction of bed.

What does help me, however, is bringing some physical movement or embodiment to my prayer.

Here for the first time, I am incorporating some simple yoga postures into an audio meditation.

So this mediation is a little bit different. It is yoga asana (postures), breath awareness and the prayer of examen all folded together. This is something like my own personal practice, and I hope you find it helpful.

You may be helped by a couple of rolled or folded blankets to hand, and I recommend moving through these postures on the floor rather than on your mattress. You don’t need special clothes or a mat, just come as you are.

This prayer is traditionally prayed at the end of the day, but if the end of the day doesn’t work for you, feel free to pray it at noon, or 4pm, or just before or after dinner, or in the morning. Find what works for you in this particular season and go with that.

Blessings, blessings, blessings.

And much love

Lissy

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. Lissy Clarke is a Spiritual Director and yoga teacher (200CYT).

Sign up for Lissy’s monthly-ish newsletter “The Contemplative Window” for more contemplative nourishment, and to find out about any upcoming retreats.

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All music by Pete Hatch. 

Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash