Engaging with Sacred Story Through Movement

In the contemplative Christian tradition of St Ignatius of Loyola, there is a practise called Imaginative Prayer. This is where you imagine a story as if you were in it. Ignatius used stories with Jesus of Nazareth in them, because for him Jesus was a figure of devotion and wisdom. However, you could use the same technique with any story. It could be a story of a figure who is special to you, or you could use a story you like and ask the Divine, your Inner Wisdom, or your Higher Self to be present with you while you engage in the exercise.

Normally, this practise is performed like this:

• Read through the story several times, slowly.

• Go to a separate place where you will do the imaginative exercise.

• Become comfortable and close your eyes.

• Imagine being in the story.

  • Imagine the environment. What can you see, hear, feel, smell and taste? Where are you placed in regards to what is happening in the story?

  • Are you yourself, one of the characters, or someone else in this story?

  • Imagine the events of the story and notice how you feel about them.

  • Do any of the characters of the story have anything to say to you? Do you have anything to say to them?

  • What happens after the events of the story are over? Is there more to it? Was there something else going on in the background you didn't notice before?

• After you have finished imagining, go back to where you were originally and take some time to write down or make art about what you experienced.

To engage with this process through conscious movement:

• Open with a few moments or one song's worth of movement to bring yourself into the practise. You may have an intention, or a question you want to bring to the text, that you can move with at this time.

• Read through the story slowly several times. Notice any images that stand out.

• Go to your place where you will do the imaginative exercise. You may want to move for a moment again to usher in the time of imagination.

• Do the imaginative exercise.

• Once you are done, respond with conscious movement in the same place you did the imaginative exercise. Do this for as long as you like. Work with your intention or question, any images that stood out in the story, and anything that happened for you within the story, as you dance.

• Go back to your original spot to write down any insights.