Category Archives: Prayer

Letting Go of My Peace

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I’ve never felt more at peace. For a while now, meditation, yoga, getting outside and eating well have been a part of my daily routine. I’m able to pause as I transition between activities with a subtle sense of returning … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Cynthia Bourgeault, Esther Hizsa, John 14:20, Josefina de Vasconcellos, Pema Chodron, Rathtrevor Beach, reconciliation, Revolutionary Love, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The People's Inaugruation, Thich Naht Hanh, Tonglen, Valarie Kaur | 4 Comments

Drawing a Path to the Centre

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I once found a labyrinth drawn on the sand at low tide. The couple who created it were delighted that someone came at the right time to enjoy it. I walked the winding path to the centre and out again … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Fred Hizsa, labyrinth, Living from the Heart, Mindfulness, present moment, Second Beach La Push Washington, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Thich Nhat Hanh, Yoga, Yoga with Adriene | Leave a comment

Why Welcome Our Feelings?

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“Welcome and entertain all your feelings,” Rumi says in The Guest House. Then he gets specific, “The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.” Why in the world would I want … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Brian McLaren, Esther Hizsa, feelings, Hans Thoma, Kinderreigen, Parker Palmer, Revolutionary Love, Richard Rohr, Rumi, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Guest House, Valarie Kaur, welcoming feelings, Welcoming Prayer | 3 Comments

What Would You Like to Do?

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“I don’t want to be here,” my insides were shouting. For months, I disregarded my feelings and kept doing what I should, what a good Christian would. Then in Advent, God, who hears my thoughts and feels my feelings, asked … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Coleman Barks, 紫流, Dog & Cat, Essential Rumi, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian prayer retreat, Let there be light, quatum bunny, Rumi, Sad_Creature, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Sassen, The Guest House | 8 Comments

In the Shadows

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Those who have sat in the darkness know how the shadows give way to desire. Without sight, without our heads swimming with the images of what others tell us we want, we can turn our gaze inward and search our … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Mystical, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged 3ter Advent, Annunciation, Esther Hizsa, Fra Angelico, grosskopf_photography, Illuminated Advent Retreat, Jan Richardson, myrealnameispete, Parker Palmer, shadow, shy soul, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 2 Comments

Safe

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“You are joy. You’re our hope. You are gen-tle-ness.” Then I heard the Poor Clares sing, “You are safe-ty” and teared up. I noticed the impact the word “safety” had on my body and remembered a similar sensation I’d had … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, community, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged Advent Retreat, EFT, Esther Hizsa, focusing, Illuminated, Jan Richardson, Just right she sighed, Matthew 11:28, Poor Clares, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Corey, Tapping, trauma | 1 Comment

Joyful Mysteries and Silent Dreams

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“Let there be Esther,” I heard God pronounce, speaking right into my life-long struggle to exist. During the Ignatian prayer retreat I was leading last week, I had a chance to pray with one of my “joyful mysteries.” As I … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Creation, Ignatian Spirituality, Poetry, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged Book of Genesis, Esther Hizsa, Father Elton Fernandes, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, JIm Kwik, Joyful Mysteries, Kei Miller, Let there be light, Pádraig Ó Tuama, silent retreat, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Sylvia Sassen, Zephaniah 3:17 | 5 Comments

When You Are In Over Your Head

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” I said to Sally after she shared the news that her mother was dying. “Don’t worry about the retreat. I’ll find someone to fill in for you.” She’d been looking forward to co-facilitating the … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Ignatian prayer retreat, Isaiah 43:2, John the Baptist, Living from the Heart, Poor Clares of Arundel, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

How the Light Gets In

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

On the afternoon before the opening weekend of Living from the Heart at Bethlehem Centre on Vancouver Island, I took a walk around Westwood Lake to allow my jostled soul to settle. That morning, I’d read the poem Vessel by … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Anthem, Autumn sunrise, Esther Hizsa, Kevin Brown, Leonard Cohen, Living from the Heart, Martin LaBar, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Unfolding LIght, Vessel, Westwood Lake | Leave a comment

What Stillness Needs and Offers

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

When this post is published, I will be at Bethlehem Centre for the opening weekend of this year’s Living from the Heart. Last year we had a new team, new format, new location, and a new intern. It was also … Continue reading →