Page 7 - The Characters of Christmas ~ Advent Study

Imagination As Spiritual Practice
On the Spirituality and Practice website Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat define imagination as spiritual practice with these words:
In the spiritual life, imagination has two meanings. First, it is a human faculty—the part of us that traffics in images, symbols, myths, and stories. It is the capacity we all have for innovative thinking and creative expression. Second, the imagination is an inner reality, a boundless realm not defined by our senses or reason, that we know from our dreams and can enter via certain exercises while awake. The practice of imagination encourages us to use this faculty and enables us to explore the realm.
Begin by learning the language of imagination. Keep track of the images that come to you spontaneously in association with your feelings and thoughts. Draw pictures of what you encounter in your dreams. Contemplate art and see yourself as part of the picture. Read myths and tell stories. Remember, through the ages spiritual pilgrims have found that it is possible to step into the inner realm of imagination. There you can find fuel for your journey and gifts of wisdom.
We invite you to journey alongside the characters of Christmas this Advent, imagining what it might be like to break all the rules, make outrageous choices, throw caution to the wind one moment and run for your life at another. We invite you to follow stars and listen to your dreams. We invite you to entertain heavenly hosts and drop everything that seems important to visit a baby you don’t even know. We invite you to venture into the glory-filled darkness of a long winter’s night. We invite you to gestate, birth, adore, bring gifts to and protect the sacred Christ that longs to dwell among us, between us, and within us.
This is the link to the Brussat’s website. Above quotation used with permission.
http://spiritualityandpractice.com
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