Getting Started: Building a Daily Gnostic Practice

I occaisionally get mail here from people who aren't close to a Gnostic parish and want to know what to do to develop a regular Gnostic practice. Below are a few of my suggestions:

1) The Prayer of the Heart (daily) - Get a copy of The Way of a Pilgrim and some prayer beads or a prayer rope and begin practicing the Jesus Prayer. Pick a regular time every day, set a definite number of prayers, and stick to it. Five minutes every day is better than nothing, so pick something doable for you.

2) Lectio Divina (2 or 3 times a week, daily is better) -

• Read a passage from the Gnostic Scriptures--pick a passage that's a couple of sentences long. Read it slowly and deliberately. Read it out loud if possible. Re-read it, savoring each word.
• Meditatio - Ask what this selection means to you. Chew on it. Analyze it.
• Ask Sophia to help you understand the passage. Sit quietly. Listen. This isn't a time for analysis, this is a time to get out of your head and listen for that "still small voice." Just relax--don't struggle to "get something out of the passage."

3) Self-Observation (daily, all day) - Try to be actively be aware of your actions, sensations, emotions, thoughts, reactions. Where do these phenomenon come from? Are they things that you want to identify with and own? Are they things that need to be set aside in order to be the sort of person you want to be? Are you impatient, or angry? Where does this impatience and anger come from? Is this you? What role does your need for ego-gratification play in your social interactions? As you begin to try to practice this, you will notice throughout the day that you continually forget to practice this mindfulness. That's okay, noticing that you forgot is part of the process.

4) Acts of Devotion (daily) - It's best if you can set aside a small space to do this, where you can put an image or small statue--something that turns your thoughts to the Divine. Every day, light a candle or oil lamp and say a brief prayer, dedicating yourself to the acquisition of Gnosis.

5) Active Meditation (daily) - I prefer Dancing Cathartic Meditation, detailed here.

6) Centering Prayer (daily) - there are lots of local groups that can help you get started with this. See contemplativeoutreach.org for links to a group near you. Also check out Centering Prayer - A Gift From the Desert ; The Guidelines for Centering Prayer; and Explanation of the Guidelines for Centering Prayer.

Looking over this list, this sounds like a lot. Start with what you can do, and don't worry about what you're not able to do.

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