Divine heart, shine bright
Springtime bliss, the soul's delight
Calming seas within.
~Thomas Maples
The Divine Image
What shapes our divine presence, that image of being that we ultimately create? Questions like this have often surprised me, even at a professional level. The book of Genesis offers a divine answer. It states:
“God created man in his own image. . . . male and female he created them.
And God blessed them, saying: “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.”
(Gn 1:27 & 28)
As I read this, I see a host of imagery present. Pathos is there, if we appeal to the literal. “God created man in his own image… male and female he created them.” Are we likened in the image of God? I can sense where a degree of ego-centrism can arise from this ideal. However, I can also see a point where ethos and logos can arise to curb the ego’s pull. As we all understand at some level, the brighter the light, the greater the shadow that is cast.
As I reflect upon this, I understand that I am engaged explicitly in a philosophical quandary. However, I wonder if this is the very means by which the genius of God’s plan fashions humanity. Does this represent an invitation from God to harness a more holistically divine state for our inner well-being?
A Divine Heart, or Philosophical Meanderings
Henry David Thoreau wrote extensively on ways nature can bring out the inner divine essence of the soul.
Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.
When I think of the beauty present in the snowflake, I understand something profound. Even at a molecular level of water, there is something purely divine within each of us. We can realize this divinity if we only take the time to nurture its course.
Like weaving together the threads of reason and emotion, Descartes’ res cogitans and res extensa, the union of philosophy and art is a tapestry. It is richer than either strand alone. This dance of thought and feeling unveils a splendor that transcends individual experience. True philosophy embodies an artistic essence. It is a poetic expression. The meeting of mind and heart allows the full genius of being to blossom. It shares its fervent spirit with the host, and expresses itself in one’s interactions with the world at large. However, the act of fully opening the heart for this expression is a delicate and often difficult undertaking. It relies on quieting the mind, so that the heart can open the currents of feeling to nuture nascent sparks of interest into those divine passions that ultimately create the tapestry of life.
The Divine Nature of Quiet Mind
From a psychological level, there is great difficulty in quieting the mind. Yet, when one engages in the practice of mindfulness, meditation, or prayer, one can create the quiet space needed. This space allows the soul to escape its meanderings and gives it room to permeate, absorb, and grow. This is like a spring. Here, the torrents of winter rains can cease. The peaking sun can shine its nurturing life force upon the growing nature within.
Yet, it takes an open heart to reach this place. One should not discount this phenomenon, even though the mind may wish to do so. For in its meandering nature, the mind cannot help but sway itself by those meanderings that may sway our attention. Yet, it is in this very act, that when we learn to redirect the focus, the heart may just expose itself to a spark that creates a new passion for which the life drama can unfold and a divine sense of purpose emerges.
The Heart-Mind Connection 2 Foster that Inner Divine State (Bliss)
Duration: 5-10 minutes
This meditation guides you to gently observe your breath, heart space, and thoughts. Through a unifying visualization, we will encourage a harmonious blend of these aspects of consciousness, fostering a deeper level of internal communication.
Instructions:
Settle In:
Find a comfortable posture, sitting or lying down. Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Breath Awareness (1-2 minutes):
Bring your attention to your natural breath. Notice the gentle rise and fall of your chest or abdomen. Don’t try to control it, just simply observe.
Heart Awareness (2-3 minutes):
Shift your focus to the area of your heart in the center of your chest. You might notice physical sensations like warmth, a gentle pulsing, or simply a sense of presence. Breathe gently into this space. Imagine your breath softening and opening this area. Allow warmth to permeate through your chest and expand with each inhale. Allow any tension or coldness to expell itself from your body with each exhale. Relax into the motions of just breathing.
Thought Awareness (1-2 minutes):
Now, gently expand your awareness to include your thoughts as they arise and pass. Observe them without judgment, like clouds drifting across the sky. Don’t get caught up in their stories. Simply notice their presence and let them go with your exhale.
Uniting Visualization (1-2 minutes):
Now, lets focus on fusing the two models of consciousness. Imagine a gentle stream of light flowing from your mind’s eye (the space between your eyebrows). Follow this light as is moves gently down into your heart space. As this light reaches your heart, feel a sense of warmth, peace, and connection. Visualize this light expanding from your heart, radiating outwards to fill your entire being. With each breath, feel the wisdom of your mind and the love of your heart merging. Let it illuminate your your entirety. Let it radiate upon your inner divine nature.
Rest and Reflect (1 minute):
Gently release the visualization and rest in the feeling of integrated awareness. Notice any sensations or insights that arise.
Gentle Return:
Slowly bring your awareness back to your surroundings. Wiggle your fingers and toes, and gently open your eyes when you feel ready.
The intention of this meditation is to:
- Acknowledge both intellectual and emotional centers.
- Create a gentle pathway for communication between them.
- Visualize the inherent light and love within as the divine nature.
- Foster a sense of inner harmony and connection to something greater.
Final Blessings
“Life is a practice, not a perfect” – a yoga class reminder that struck me as profoundly true. Daily stresses, stemming from within and without, are a constant. Yet, the consistent practice of disciplines like prayer, mindfulness, or meditation allows us to become familiar with an inner spring of divine knowledge. This resource, always available but perhaps not always our first choice, can become a crucial tool in building our daily happiness habits.
What discipline calls upon you? What nuances of being is your soul placing before you, even if it is in the stresses of the day? When we look at these, and learn to navigate their currents, then, we may just see, that calming seas were always present.
May blessings find you on your journey to calm those inner seas, as you envision, chart a course, and advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.
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