Category Archives: Mindfulness

As You Step into the New Year

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

As 2021 comes to a close, I’m becoming more aware of what I’m leaving behind and what I want to take with me into the New Year. This year we’ve all had significant losses of one kind or another. We’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, compassion, Mindfulness, Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections, Resource | Tagged breath prayer, centering prayer, chair yoga, compline, Contemplative Outreach, Esther Hizsa, Michał Koralewski, New Year, New Year meditation, New Year reflection, Pema Chödrön, Rachael Moore, RAIN, Revelation 21:5, self-compassion, Sherry Zak Morris, snow angel, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tara Brach, Tonglen, Valarie Kaur, vegan food, walk away, Yoga with Adriene | 1 Comment

A Quarter Turn

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I suddenly knew I was looking at it from the wrong angle, and I gave the cloth in my hand a quarter turn. Immediately I saw a beautiful and coherent golden pattern…. In wonder, the pattern had emerged, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Mindfulness, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Advent, Esther Hizsa, Helen Luke, James Finley, Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:46-49, Matthew 1:18-25, Quarter Turn, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. John of the Cross, Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On, The Dark Night of the Soul, Tristan Unrau, Weaving | Leave a comment

Horizons

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

What happened was so subtle I almost missed it. Every once in a while, I’m asked to preach at my church. After I finished writing my homily for Sunday, I joined Fred for a walk. I shared with him what … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Adam Hinett, Bishop John Stephens, CUPE, Esther Hizsa, Horizon, Likely Hills, patrice photographiste, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Trans Day of Remembrance, Transgender flag | Leave a comment

I Want to See

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“If a man [or woman] born blind were told about the nature of the colour yellow, he would understand absolutely nothing, no matter how much instruction he received. Since he never saw these colours, nor their like, he would not … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Climate change, Esther Hizsa, Fr Lawrence Lew O.P., Fr.Marko Rupnik, Jesus healing the blind man, Katharine Hayhoe, Krista Tippett, On Being, Saving Us, spiritual director Burnaby | Leave a comment

Doing Things that Don’t Spark Joy

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I tend to avoid doing things that don’t spark joy. These jobs end up at the bottom of my To Do list and don’t make a fuss until a deadline pinches them and they squeal. I groan. Oh bother. Do … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Mindfulness, Reflections, Songs, Stories, Writing | Tagged Carrie Newcomer, Esther Hizsa, Holy as the Day Is Spent, Housework again, Jesus collecting the disciples, Luke 5:2, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, the Italian voice | Leave a comment

Astonishing Things Can Happen

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

How might this moment be a gift to me, just as it is? I asked in last week’s post. I fingered that question like a smooth stone in my pocket while I put on my jacket and shoes. “Okay then,” … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, False Self, Mindfulness, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Aftab Uzzaman, Cam Miller, David Whyte, Esther Hizsa, present moment, rest, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Winter Bench at the Strip Mall | 3 Comments

Listening to My Fear

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“I got out my old calendars and checked. We used that Groupon. I didn’t lose three hundred dollars, afterall,” I told Fred, and he gave me a hug and a kiss. It was a sunny Friday, and we’d just gotten … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Overeating, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Artotem, Esther Hizsa, Father Thomas Keating, focusing, Giving Hands, Insights at the Edge, living in the moment, No Bad Parts, Richard Schwartz, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tami Simon, Welcoming Prayer, welcoming your feelings | 4 Comments

Borderline

Posted on June 4, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

On a run, I wondered what I would share for my check-in that afternoon at the peer supervision group I attend with other spiritual directors. Typically when we check in, we don’t just share what’s at the surface of our … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, compassion, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Borderline, Devil's Backbone, Dr. Shaun Murphy, Esther Hizsa, Gustave Thibon, Katherine May, Kristin Neff, Mitch Barrie, self-compassion, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Electricity of Every Living Thing, The Good Doctor | 3 Comments

With Christ, I Die

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.— Colossians 3:3 In the silence,I close my eyesand die. I releaseall I loveall I desire,all I wanted to doall I wished to becomeall that is not resolved.My … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Mindfulness, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Acts 17:28, Centre for Action and Contemplation, Colossians 3:3, death, Earl, Esther Hizsa, extinguished, fear of death, Good Friday, James Finley, Mechthilde of Magdeburg, Psalm 23, Silence, silent prayer, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Turning to the Mystics | 4 Comments

Will I Enter This Holy Week?

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

As Jesus pauses before he enters Jerusalem,I pause here. In the silence we share, I descend from head to heartand pass through the doorwayof Loveinto Oneness and rest in my Beloved,the Ground of our being. As Jesus opens his eyes and … Continue reading →