There are so many methods and techniques to focusing oneself during a time of prayer. One creative way is using Visio Divina, divine seeing. Not to be confused with its brother, Lectio Divina. Like Lectio Divina, Visio has a series of guided steps to best center your head and heart, but with imagery instead of scripture. There’s a contemplative nature to Visio Divina that allows your eyes to sit with the chosen image, moving around it, observing more than you normally would at just a glance, releasing any assumptions or natural inclinations to judge. In this process there is space made to let your mind wander into perhaps inward unopened rooms. The image triggers emotions, words, sensations, and thoughts. Which in turn lead to unique prayers and quite potentially new images that deserve to be worked out on your canvas…or page…or lump of clay.
STEPS:
Prepare - Close your eyes, breath, clear your mind. Ask God to enter your prayers and speak through the image.
Observe - Open eyes, scan image. Note what draws your attention. Close your eyes again and rest them for a minute.
Meditate - Open eyes and let them wander. Focus and identify on what is catching your eyes. Close your eyes, picture that same imagery in your mind.
Pray - Open eyes and look at that same spot again. Allow it to bring forth a word, image, or emotion. Close and rest your eyes.
Contemplate - Open eyes and gaze at the whole image. What is God speaking to you through this image? How will you respond?
The Descent of the Holy Spirit - Anthony Van Dyck (1599–1641)
oil on canvas (265 × 221 cm) — 1618-1620
This piece was inspired by Acts 2:2, the day of Pentacost, as Jesus’ followers were gathered together and the Holy Spirit descends upon them in the form of flames, bringing about the ability to speak languages of many foreign nations. I spent about 1 hour sitting with this painting, observing and meditating on that amazing day. I imagined how perplexing and frightening it must have felt to be in that room when the Holy Spirit wind came roaring through. Why is this room not on fire? Why is Simon speaking another language? What am I speaking? As I sat longer with the piece, I realized that I couldn’t take my eyes off of who I'm presuming to be Mary Magdalene(one of Jesus’ closest followers) in the center. She’s dressed in a bold blue robe; not only does she have a flame hovering but she’s also working a whole flame halo; and while the men surrounding her are a chaotic flurry of emotion, she has firmly planted herself in reverent posture in peaceful prayer and acknowledgement.
If you take a look below, you can see my visual processing as I began honing in on Mary Magdalene. The symbol of her blue robe reminded me of a blue flame and how the blue portion of the flame is closest to the source. It isn’t necessarily hotter than the other flames, but it is high-energy and has potential to get hotter. I felt that this focused part of the flame represented Mary’s faith and intimacy with the Lord quite accurately. Particularly during a crazy period of time where Jesus had died, resurrected, revealed himself, exited, and the disciples were trying to find their bearings. All the while, Mary was a steadfast fixture of remaining attuned to Jesus, whether that be at His crucifixion or at the empty tomb.
There’s so much symbolism in religious art that I’m sure Mr. Van Dyck intended to imply about each object in this piece that may not line up with what I personally experienced. But I have a feeling he would be alright with that, because the wonderful thing about art is that depending on the viewer, the meanings multiply and evolve from generation to generation.
Amidst the chaos and confusion, I hope I, we, take note from Mary Magdalene and delight in the gift of nearness to Jesus, with faith that he’s got things like fiery tongues of holy spirit in our future to once again, blow us all away.
