Sunday, March 28, 2010

Spring Retreat and Upcoming World Religions series

Scents tickle the nose,
Songs fill the moist, gusty air:
Spring Blooms mightily!

© TJM 2010

I wrote this haiku in the spur of the moment; sometimes this is the most effective crucible for letting a poem bloom! (Or for letting ourselves bloom ... in the joy of spontaneity!)

I will be on Spring Retreat next week at the Trappist Abbey. Over the Easter Break happened to be the best time to be away. I am celebrating one year down in South King County. I have not posted for a few week due to several transformative personal and professional changes taking precedence. Now underway are plans for a 9 month training for skills in "Spiritual Companioning" to begin in May.

I will host and convene the 15th World Religions series (since 2000) downtown Seattle next to St. James Cathedral Tuesdays from April 13 - May 18.

May 11 & 18 will be open to the public. May 11th I will facilitate a panel of women and men Muslims about their prayer and daily life, including a Sufi "Whirling Dervish" who will demonstrate prayer while turning. May 18 will be a kind of Spiritual Travelogue, an audiovisual of how people pray in Asia. See the website for the flyer and updated info ...

www.timmalone.org

Monday, March 1, 2010

Spiritual Exercising

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES 2010

A 10 WEEK SERIES To deepen your spiritual life / learn many prayer styles to use in daily life.

WEEK 1: (3/1) Overview of the Series & Format:
Prayer Experience: “Let your God love you” (handout)
Setting up a prayer practice – habit of 15 - 30 minutes a day
Ignatian Prayer Style: Setting up a prayer period – (handout)
Initiate Lenten-Easter faith sharing exp./ neighbor / encourage new each week
Prayer Partners/support (faith sharing guidelines) – prayer processing

WEEK 2: (3/8) The Movements and the Foundation:
Prayer Experience: Receiving God’s Love
Prayer Style: Praying the Principle & Foundation (2 versions – handout)
Movements of the Exercises (handout)

WEEK 3: (3/15) The First Movement: Obstacles to Receiving God’s Love
Ignatius’ recovery -- Prayer Style: Examen, pt. 2 (handout – 2 sides)
Discernment of Spirits: Consolation and desolation

WEEK 4 : (3/22) The Second Movement: Images of God
Prayer Style: Lectio Divina
Meditating with the life of Jesus – ministry of love and compassion
Looking at how he related and received God’s love and guidance

WEEK 5: (3/ 29) The Third Movement: Passion
Entering into the Suffering of the Holy One
Prayer Style: Ignatian Contemplation/
Praying with our Imagination in Gospel/ / Triduum

4/5 EASTER MONDAY: WEEK OFF …

WEEK 6: (4/12) From Death into New Life:
Praying our experience of Holy Week & Triduum
Prayer Style: Application of the Senses

WEEK 7: (4/19) The Fourth Movement: Resurrection
Praying with the Risen One through gospel encounters

WEEK 8: (4/26) Discernment in the Light
Listening & Responding to God’s call with the whole person/
Labrynth, Rosary and Chant as other ways to pray

WEEK 9: (5/3) Contemplation on Divine Love
Praying the Contemplatio: “Take, Lord, Receive, all”
Contemplative Prayer: Sitting in Silence with God

WEEK 10: (5/10) Closing night
(or 5/17 - if Tim in Costa Rica previous May weekend)

Continuing your “Spiritual Exercising” in Daily Life
Continuing Prayer Practice & Gratefulness Prayer
Resources for support: Spiritual Direction, SEEL, retreat, books