A Blessing for Rest and Beauty: A Guided Reflection for Writers, Journalers, and Creative Souls
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 40 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes
“May God grant you the imagination for what could be. May your creative spark be renewed in the presence of rest and beauty, that you would not destroy yourself in order to create. And may your craft be honed with the gentle passage of time. Go in peace to create without burden. Amen.”
-Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies
Pause.
Sit in silence while taking four deep breaths. Use the words below for a breath prayer or breath meditation on each of the inhales:
Inhale: My mind and body know.
Exhale.
Inhale: My gut and soul know.
Exhale.
Inhale: My mind and body know.
Exhale.
Inhale: My gut and soul know.
Exhale.
Repeat the full cycle if you like.
Prompt.
During this morning’s co-writing session, two participants shared recent experiences of listening to their bodies, minds, guts, and souls in ways that will help them inhabit the coming week, make their art, do their work, and show up how they want to show up for themselves and others.
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Our brief conversation brought to mind a blessing by Cole Arthur Riley that we’ve been using during the SDW Co-Writing Liturgy for the past few months. I return to these words daily—sometimes multiple times during a day—as I pray for myself and the writers and creative souls in my life. The blessing is above, but I’ll share it here again:
“May God grant you the imagination for what could be. May your creative spark be renewed in the presence of rest and beauty, that you would not destroy yourself in order to create. And may your craft be honed with the gentle passage of time. Go in peace to create without burden. Amen.”
-Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies
Even if you don’t believe in God, or if you aren’t entirely sure what you believe, I hope this blessing still brings you comfort and hope, while helping you imagine a better way of making your art and doing your work.
Practice.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and take notes or journal in response to the words above and the questions below.
What comes to mind when you read the blessing above? Where do you feel it in your body?
What do you want more of for your creative life?
What do you want less of? What do you want to say no to or let go of?
Take a few minutes to imagine the week ahead. Take a mental walk or visualization through each day and the items on your calendar. Notice the energy around each appointment and obligation, any free time or small pocket of blank space. What do you want for yourself and others in the coming week?
What would it look like for you to have more peace in your life? What would it look like for you to create without burden?
Want More?
Read Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life.
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Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon. You can explore more of Charlotte’s work and offerings at Flourish Anyway®.
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