Belong, Become, Behold, Bestow: Four Movements of Creativity and the Spiritual Life
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 45 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 10-15 minutes
"Imagine writing to belong, become, behold, and bestow as four points along an immense bright spiral of light rays extending in all directions along the curving trajectories, each resplendent and brilliant…”
“Each point along the golden spiral of light serves as an invitation into this continuous cycle. You can enter any time through any posture of belonging, becoming, beholding, or bestowing, then dart and pulse along the spiral—upward or downward, inward or outward—as you find your way to whatever comes next.”
-Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life
Pause.
Sit in silence while taking three deep breaths. Use the phrases below for a breath prayer or breath meditation on each of the inhales.
Inhale: Belong
Exhale.
Inhale: Become
Exhale.
Inhale: Behold
Exhale.
Inhale: Bestow
Exhale.
Repeat as many times as you like.
Prompt.
Read the words below that expand on my framework for noticing the intersection of creativity and the spiritual life:
Belong: “To belong is to be ‘at hand, together with.’ We are present to ourselves, to others, to the divine, to our places, to the world. It’s finding our narrative in the great conversation of literature while adding our voice to the chorus of those who write to understand and make meaning.”
Become: “Writers are always in the process of becoming. To become is to enter the sacred space of transformation, where, through the act of writing, who we are meets who we’re not yet. Becoming requires both surrender and trust in the process of change. Each word we write, each revision we make, each story we tell shapes not just the work but the writer.”
Behold: “Writers are called to be beholders, keeping watch over the details others might miss. We notice how light falls through winter branches, how grief settles in the shoulders, how joy arrives unexpectedly during a morning run. This attentive presence enriches both our writing and our spiritual selves, helping us find meaning in the entire scope of our daily lives.”
Bestow: “Much like ‘beholding’ is a multifaceted way of seeing, ‘bestowing’ is a more complex view of giving. Sometimes we bestow through published works, sometimes through letters to friends, sometimes through journal entries that may never be read. Each placement carries its own purpose, its own potential for transformation.”
-Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life
Practice.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and take notes on the quotes above and questions below.
What do you want more of in your creative practices and spiritual life? How do the words above help you understand your desires for more?
Want More?
Read Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life.
*
Become an SDW Insider and reserve your copy of Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Ritualsfor Your Writing Life AND receive access to the All of Life Is the Writing Life Deep Dive online course—a preorder perk that explores how the mantra “All of life is the writing life” shows up in the Spiritual Direction for Writers book.
SDW Book Notes—A place for book preorder links, updates, resources, notes, and musings
Flourish Anyway with Rhythms, Rituals, & Retreats
Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.
*Please help us protect our intellectual property, our creative process, and the integrity of our work. Spiritual Direction for Writers® Daily Nourishment is covered under the Spiritual Direction for Writers® trademark. You are welcome to share this link with others, but any other use (written or spoken) is prohibited without written permission from Charlotte Donlon.