The Centaur Ignatian Examen

Part A These are the steps I followed from The Third Session  on Tuesday evening until this fourth session on Saturday evening. Step 1. Get to your Examen digital home. Step 2. Scan the morning (if it's noon) or the afternoon/evening (if it's approaching bedtime) of your calendar for about a minute. Step 3. Return to your Examen digital home.  Step 4.  Recite Your Breath Prayer Three Times Inhale: "Lord, you are here..." Exhale: "...and I am with you." "Holy Spirit, open the eyes of my soul to see the gifts you have put before me this morning/evening. Teach me to recognize Your love in the details."  Step 5. Close your eyes. Instead of reviewing your calendar mentally, let your mind settle on one or two moments that "flicker" or feel most significant. Savor (The Heart). Spend four minutes of eyes-closed prayer fully feeling the gratitude. Let it warm you. Talk to God about it. Step 6.  Save (The Hand): Only after the prayer is over, open ...

Today I read the first six chapters in David Fleming's  What is Ignatian Spirituality?   Fleming is making a great deal of warm and helpful sense on a heart level. I also read the first four chapters in  A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer by Jim Manney, hoping to find a basic and practical jump into the daily Examen. Manney's book will no doubt be helpful to many, but it hasn't turned out to be quite what I was looking for. Instead, I turned to Gemini AI for another coaching session. Here is the link to the complete thread: https://share.google/aimode/qhi6VznHQmTRnYxcf And here are my questions: Q1. What are the five steps of the traditional Ignatian Examen and does the order matter?    Q2.  Should the Examen ideally be prayed at the same place and time every day with the eyes closed? Q3.  Say more about first step of the Examen. Q4.  I'd like to stick with the original Ignatian system of gratitude first. What is the argument for starting that w...

I've been experimenting since Launch . Here is the thread of my second major Centaur Ignatian Examen session: https://share.google/aimode/2LBVbmgkv5POfXcGH Q1. Is it recommended to learn the discernment of spirits before the Examen in Ignatian formation? A1. Learn the Examen first. Q2. Is the Ignatian Spirituality website the most respected resource in the field on this topic? How do practitioners get training and is it restricted to Catholics or ecumenical? A2. It is one of several. Practitioners typically undergo several years of rigorous formation. While rooted in Catholicism, Ignatian formation is highly ecumenical and open to all. Q3. Is it ever too late to learn? A3. In Ignatian formation, it is never too late to learn.  Q4. I'd like to leave the door open to guiding others eventually but for now let's start with training for personal growth. What is the recommended sequence for a 50-something beginner? A4. Phase 1 (Months 1-3): Practice the Examen da...

Picking up from  Thursday After Ash Wednesday: Failure and Success , this is where my conversation with Gemini stands as of this Thursday night at 8:00 PM: https://share.google/aimode/ZmODKIONNjHCeRqmS   I rejoined the thread around 7:30 PM with this question: A while back on this thread, you recommended an index card to honor the Ancillary Intellect we've developed along with the Ignatian rhythm of my day. I've experimented with that for a couple of days, and what I would like to do now is prepare a paper print-out of 2-3 pages that I can review each morning to help me remember what I am doing and why. What do you recommend as headings for a 2-3 page morning review of my daily goal to protect the felt state of peace? Here is the Gemini output I am now considering: I followed up shortly after with this question: I am giving myself more time in the evening for Centering Prayer, the Examen, and AI-assisted feedback on my Examen process. 1 hour in total. What do you think about c...