Exercise 27: The Examen

Background: St. Ignatius is closely tied to the Catholic Tradition.  His work still guides many spiritual retreats.

One of his practices is an exploration of those things which bring us closer to God– consolations, and those things which bring us further from God– desolations.

It should be noted that The Examen might be written or practiced by thinking and saying the words.

Spiritual Exercise:

1.  Find your center by placing your feet flat on the floor.  
2. Breathe and relax, as best you can.
3. When you are ready, bring the last 24 hours to your mind.  Continue to breathe slowly, in through the nose and out through the mouth.  Begin by reliving where you were 24 hours ago.  Gradually, bring yourself through the last day of your life.  Do your best to deeply engage your senses as you relive this day; feel the events on your skin, hear them, taste them, even recall the smells.
4. Consider your desolations:
   1. What are you least thankful for?
   2. Where can’t you see God?
   3. What seems to be moving you away from God?
5. Release your desolations by breathing slowly and calmly.
6. Consider your consolations.
   1. What are you most thankful for?
   2. Where can you see God?
   3. What seems to be moving you toward God?
7. Release your consolations by breathing slowly and carefully.
8. As you consider the last 24 hours in their fullness, are there any things you would like to consider: was God, perhaps moving in things you initially labelled ‘desolations?’  Is it possible that God was not present in things you initially labelled ‘Consolations’?
9. Release the word-based part of the practice.  Enjoy a moment with God.

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