Blackout Poetry as a Spiritual Practice

Discover how easy it can be to get out of your head and connect with the wisdom of the heart. In the mid-1500’s, St. Ignatius of Loyala developed a series of prayers and imaginative exercises anticipating some of the most important findings of depth psychology – that our inner lives are composed of many different parts, and that getting to know these parts and their influences on our lives and the world around us is the creative project of a lifetime. Any time we turn our attention to the irrational experience of accessing our creativity, we open ourselves to this soul-searching project. But a blank canvas or empty page can sometimes create an anxiety that makes it difficult to hear our quiet inner voice. Come learn how the process of creating “blackout poetry” – where words are removed from a page of printed literature, with the remaining words carrying a completely new and unexpected meaning – can be an accessible route to connect with our inherent wisdom. Experience how easy this 10-minute practice can be, get a taste for the the powerful of effect incorporating this practice into everyday life, and leave with your own beautiful and illuminating work.