Spiritual Practices for Elders to Consider

A.    Introduction and path of the day

 

1.       Quieting Music

2.      Meditation time for focusing on our breathing, becoming present, here.

3.      The genesis of this day; the story of a conversation between a 68 and an 80 year old.

4.      What is it like to be an elder? 

5.      Three questions that will shape the day. 

a.      What have I wanted to try, and now with fewer responsibilities I can?

b.      What do I want to lay down, to stop doing?  Are they a distraction from my heart’s desire?

c.      What am I enjoying now but I want to explore different ways?

 

6.       Conversation:  What are your expectations for today?

 

B.    The design for each question.

Question One—What have I wanted to try, and now with fewer responsibilities, I can?

1.       Quieting Music

2.      Meditation time for focusing on our breathing and being here.

3.      Making a beginning that invites us inward, exploring our interior landscape

4.      Poetic readings/reflections that lead us deeper.

a.      No Path, David Whyte

b.      Sometimes, David Whyte

c.      The Journey, David Whyte

5.      Spiritual practice:  Walking, and asking the mysteries and unknown presences for clues and threads to follow.  Walking, Sauntering,

6.      A Break for journaling, walking, asking, reflecting.

7.      Returning to share, if we care to, what we are experiencing.

 

 

Question Two   What do I want to stop doing because it is a distraction from my heart’s desire?

 

1.      Quieting Music

2.      Meditation time for focusing on our breathing and being here.

3.      Poetic readings/reflections that lead us deeper.

a.       Sweet Darkness, David Whyte

b.      A Summer’s Day, Mary Oliver

c.       What to Remember When Waking

4.      Spiritual Practice:  Listening, paying attention, then journaling what has catch your attention:                   morning pages written in a beautiful book

5.      What is now past, obsolete, the Way Closing?

6.      Break for walking, journaling, listening.

7.      Returning to share, if we care to what we are experiencing.

 

Question Three     What am I enjoying, but I want to approach it in different ways?

 

1.      Quieting Music

2.      Meditation time for focusing on our breathing and being here.

3.      Poetic readings/reflections that lead us deeper; Believing Mirrors. 

a.      Mameen, David Whyte

b.      Second Sight, David Whyte

c.      Start Close In, David Whyte

4.       Spiritual Practice: the Artist’s Date with herself.

5.      Break for walking, journaling, listening

6.      Returning to share, if we care to, what we are experiencing.

Making one new commitment to ourselves

“Peace” by Elizabeth Von Trapp