Belong to a Poem with Ashley M. Jones: A Guided Reflection for Writers, Journalers, and Creative Souls
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 40 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes
“Poetry expands creativity, faith, and the ability to inhabit this world. By providing words, images, metaphors, empty space, truncated lines, and pauses of all kinds, poems are bells that ring true for our inner worlds and reverberate throughout our experiences in more external realms.”
-Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life
Pause.
Sit in silence while taking three deep breaths. Use the words below for a breath prayer or breath meditation on each of the inhales:
Inhale: Expand my creativity.
Exhale.
Inhale: Expand my faith.
Exhale.
Inhale: Help me inhabit this world.
Exhale.
Repeat the full cycle if you like.
Prompt.
Read “God Made My Whole Body” by Ashley M. Jones
Then read the words below.
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How Poetry Saved Ashley M. Jones
Ashley Jones describes her experience like this:
“Poetry made me feel like I belong here. And here means a lot of different places. Here on earth, here in Alabama, here in my Black body. I think the poets who instruct me like Lucille Clifton, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nabila Lovelace—those people kind of let me know that I could enter the room. And again, the room is many places. It’s the planet. I could enter the planet and I feel I belong. I could enter my Blackness and feel like it was enough.”
-Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life
Practice.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and take notes or journal in response to the poem and words above and the questions below.
What is your relationship with poetry like?
If you don’t read much poetry, how could you incorporate more poetry into your daily and weekly rhythms?
If you read poetry, which poems and poets help you feel less alone in the world?
How does “God Made My Whole Body” stir your creativity, intersect with your faith, and expand your ability to inhabit this world?
Want More?
Read Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life.
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Flourish Anyway with Rhythms, Rituals, & Retreats
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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