Category: Spiritual Practices
The Spiritual Neuroscience of Revenge: Choosing Freedom Over Retaliation
Neuroscience research reveals that revenge activates the same reward circuits in our brains as addictive drugs, keeping us trapped in what Ignatian spirituality calls the “false self.” Faith-based practices like prayer and meditation literally rewire the brain for mercy over retaliation, offering a path to the spiritual freedom that comes when we choose forgiveness over the ego’s demand for revenge.
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Yes, And: How Improv Teaches Radical Acceptance and Love
Improvisational theatre and Ignatian spirituality share profound connections through their emphasis on radical acceptance, presence in the moment, and collaborative co-creation. The principles of improv—particularly “yes, and”—mirror spiritual practices of detachment, discernment, and finding the sacred in unexpected places.
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The First Virtue: St. Ignatius on the Power of Gratitude
Gratitude forms the cornerstone of Ignatian spirituality, establishing the proper relationship between the gift-giver God and humans as recipients rather than takers. This fundamental orientation shapes our entire spiritual life, fostering virtues like humility and generosity whilst providing a powerful antidote to anxiety and negativity.
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Beyond Busy: A Theological Vision of True Leisure
Our culture commodifies time, but moments of genuine rest can become encounters with true reality. Through five theological principles—gift, freedom, contemplation, Sabbath, and anticipation—we discover that leisure isn’t about escaping reality but about entering more deeply into it, where we encounter our true identity as beloved children of God rather than mere productive units.
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The Right to Silence: Preserving Quiet in a Noisy World
Silence, once abundant, has become an endangered resource in our noisy world, impacting our spiritual, mental, and societal well-being. The power of quiet as a spiritual practice and its unequal distribution in society underscore the need to cultivate and protect moments of silence in our daily lives and communities.
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In the Beginning, God Welcomed: A Biblical View of Hospitality
Hospitality is a sacred, transformative practice rooted in God’s own welcoming nature, echoing from creation to Christ, and inviting us to embody divine welcome in our daily lives.
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Discerning Authentic Reverence
Ignatius says reverence is part of our purpose in God. But is reverence about how you dress in church or your posture in prayer? Yes and no.
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Ignatian Resilience: Navigating the Tumult
Ignatius offers tools for us to stay resilient in the storms and uncertainties of life.
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The Greatest Gifts: An Ignatian Journey Through Advent
What are we going to get God for Christmas? Let’s explore the four gifts of Advent, their Ignatian connections, and how they become gifts for God.
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Unhurried and Inefficient
Haste can be a mark of the evil spirit, while an unhurried—even inefficient—pace is often a mark of God’s kingdom.
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Guiding Principles
What are you prioritising in life? In other words, what are the big principles and values around which you organise your life? These principles will inform almost everything. Here are some ways to intentionally discern your life’s guiding principles.
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Cura Personalis
How do we practically understand and live the Ignatian concept of ‘cura personalis’? This is a talk I recently gave for the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Seattle.
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Kids Journal
This guide will offer you a process and framework for discerning a particular decision using the approaches and prayer methods in the Ignatian tradition.
