Synopsis "Open Hands Open Eyes Fullness of Heart with Grace: Visio Divina Prayer"
Why Visio Divina? A divine or sacred seeing method of prayer. It takes four ancient principles of Lectio Divina but it brings into visuals as an alternative meditative method to pray. The photography is original work placed in a collage form with a bible verse in a word cloud to the left. If you wish at some point to read the bible verse, it can be found in the bible from the word cloud as Name of book, Chapter number (John1) with a free floating number (5) as the verse number. This book is meant to jump start your meditative prayer with pictures of open hands holding an image, (giving and receiving), open eyes to meditate on the picture collage and a word selected from the cloud to the left (if you wish). There is open space around the artwork for you own notes/personal reflection. The images are meant to be used in any order you wish. There are enough reflective pieces for 30 days and they can be used over and over for as many times as you wish. Each time the photographic collages and word clouds appear and speak to you differently. Visio Divina is built upon the same principles as Lectio Divina; slow, careful pictorial interaction with scripture through meditation and prayer. The photography is meant as a focal point/grouping. The word clouds were produced from scripture selections intended to evoke a word from a scripture verse closely partnering with the pictorial images.How do you use Visio Divina?Pick a photographic collage from one of the pages in Open Hands, Open Eyes, Fullness of Heart with Graces.1. Look at the picture. Pick out the first part of the image that catches your eyes. Let your eyes rest on the image. Stay with it, gaze at it. Look at the image, its colors, its brightness, its lines, its texture or simply the image and how it is held in the hands. Engage your imagination. Can you walk with it, through it, around it or just sit with it. Take a deep breath and continue to gaze at the part of the image that caught your eyes. Reflect upon what stirs in you. Excitement, graciousness, disturbance or even friendship with God.2. Now look at the entire collage on the page. Reflect on the images for a few minutes. Consider how it makes you feel, emotions that may stir.3. If you wish, look at the word cloud to the left of the photo collage. The word cloud can be used or not used for your reflection. If you chose the word cloud, use the first word that catches your attention and use that word as you continue to meditate on the collage photo images.4. Let the images, thoughts, imagination lead you into prayer with God. Does it evoke gratitude, sorrow, praise, questions?Some questions to consider as you reflect:1. What draws your eyes and stirs your heart?2. Is there some feeling or emotion that is stirred within you? What does it bring forth.3. Does it evoke prayer?4. Write down what is stirred in you, feelings, emotions and/or prayer.5. Journal how God is speaking to you, what is He saying to you today?6. How does your reflection make you in communion with God? 7. How do you view the world with God?8. As you sit in reflective silence, offer your prayers up to God.9. If your mind wanders look again at the picture and/or word you have been meditating.10. Be attentive to the presence of God.Susan Strickland teaches at the College of Dupage. She has been an associate member of the Felician Franciscan Sisters for almost 30 years. She is a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church parish council and a Eucharist Minister of Holy Communion for the parish and neighboring hospital. She is a volunteer at Northwestern Home and Health Hospice (Central Dupage Hospital) and a minister aide at Glen Oakes Hospital. She currently is in her third year of study in the Biblical Institute of Diocese of Joliet (BIDJ) and first year of study at the Christos Center, Tending the Holy Program for spiritual directors. She resides in Glendale Heights, Il with her husband of 28 years and 4 children.
