Ignatian Meditation Instructions

These instructions for an Ignatian guided meditation may be used by an individual or a group. Depending on the size of the group, the facilitator might choose at the end of the meditation to invite everyone to share a word or phrase that expresses their experience of the meditation, or the facilitator might invite lengthier reflections on the experience if there is time.

Choose a scripture passage that tells a story that the listener will be able to visualize and place themselves within. Choose a passage long enough to tell a story, but not so long that the reader gets tired of reading aloud and the listener cannot remember it all.

Examples of scripture passages can be found here.

Begin by reading the scripture passage twice, with silence in between.

Then slowly read the following prompts, with long pauses so that the listener has time to visualize and enter into the story. It can be helpful for the reader to enter into the story as well, which will help the reader to know how long the pauses should be.

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Begin by reading the scripture passage twice, with silence in between.

Now, imagine that you are right in the story, as it is happening. The scene does not have to unfold the way it did in the reading, and you don’t have to worry about historical or physical accuracy. This is your meditation, and it can play out in whatever way you wish.

Take all the time you need to place yourself in the setting, in vivid detail, with all five of your senses. You may be one of the people in the story, or you may be someone who isn’t mentioned in the story.  Or you may be something in the story that isn’t a person. Who, or what, are you?

Where are you? Look around. What does the scene look like?

Pause for a minute or so.

Notice the weather. How does the air around you feel? What smells are in the air? What sounds do you hear? What draws your attention in this setting?

Pause for a minute or so.

Are there people near you? What do they look like? How are they dressed? How do you feel about them?

Pause for a minute or so.

What are you doing, or what would you like to do? What emotions do you feel in this scene? Notice and experience what happens as the situation continues . . . . 

Pause for 2 - 3 minutes.

Speaking with Jesus

And now, the others have all gone away, and only Jesus is left. He sees you, welcomes you, and invites you to sit down and talk with him.

If you could ask him or tell him something about your own life or about your experience in this scene, what would it be? Could you ask or tell him—now? And hear what he says to you?

Pause for a few minutes.

Now make whatever preparations you need to leave the scene. Say goodbye, knowing you can come back later if you choose. 

In a group setting you may choose to invite participants to share:

I invite you to share a word or phrase that describes your experience of the meditation.

~ Portions of these meditation instructions were developed by Mary Ann Archer and Anne Silver