Contemplative Curiosity: John O’Donohue on Awakening to Your Life

June 23, 2023 Kirsten Harrison

NOTICING AND WONDERING AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

For this practice, settle into your space for 10-ish minutes of presence. Sometimes we can connect to the present moment by noticing what comes up in us as we read, listen, or view a “third thing” and reflecting on it. We may discover insight there, too, but we aren’t approaching the practice with the intention of an outcome. This practice is about entering into what’s happening right now, whatever that is.

Instructions (use them or skip them!):

What is it like inside you and around you in this moment?
What do you notice about your breath?
What do you notice about the physical space you are in?
Is there anything you’d like to attend to before you begin?
Read the following quote (either silently or aloud) 1-2 times. Imagine the words being poured out into your hands. There are so many words; you can’t possibly catch them all. Maybe a couple of words or phrases land in a way that you can turn toward with curiosity.
What do you notice? Are there words or phrases that linger? Or perhaps you have a felt sense of the entire quote.
Read the quote again.
What do you wonder? As you hold what you noticed, or the entire O’Donohue quote, is there a question that comes up in you? Is there a cascade of questions? Sometimes writing these down helps us gently excavate our inner landscape.
Bookmark it. Is there a word, phrase, or question you’d like to carry with you (in a journal, to explore in a conversation with a friend, to spiritual direction)?
Savoring & Appreciation. You took some moments to be present. This was the invitation. Whether or not you experienced something that sticks with you, consider savoring the experience and appreciating yourself for showing up.

When your life begins to dawn on you or awaken within you, when you trust it, it actually comes into balance of its own accord. This is the relief of giving up the driven external agenda of the ego. When you allow your soul to direct you, then the ancient knowing that is within you, when it slowly and fully begins to surface or to come ashore, will balance all the different parts of your life, so you don't have to look around your inner world like a demented shop keeper or a scrupulous secretary wondering have you all the bits in the right places. You don't have to do that. Your soul, as it yields your inner riches and gifts, will find the different places to actually posit them. And the most trustable form of soul balance is when you trust it to happen of itself. Anything that's too small for you will hurt you and limit you and cripple you. Like, if you wear shoes that are too small, you’ll ruin your feet. Wear clothes that are too small and your body will never relax. And in the same way, if you wear thoughts that are too small for you, you will hurt, bruise, and cripple your own mind.

John O'Donohue in a lecture called The Inner Landscape

Contemplate the image. You may try a similar exercise with the image above. What do you notice? What do you wonder? Are you drawn to the image? Do you resist it?

Would you like some company or gentle guidance as you listen for wisdom and explore new ways of engaging with your soul? Kirsten offers spacious accompaniment and trauma-informed spiritual direction. I’d love to hear what’s stirring in you and meet with you for a free exploration session.