Category Archives: Resource

I Love You. I’m Listening.

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

We cannot live our lives constantly looking back, listening back, lest we be turned to pillars of longing and regret, but to live without listening at all is to live deaf to the fullness of the music…. Listen for him. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Best Friends, Desmond Tutu, Esther Hizsa, Frederick Buechner, Insight Timer, Julian of Norwich, Loving and Listening to Yourself, New Year's, Sarah Blondin, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Tara Brach, The Sacred Journey, Thomas Leuthard | Leave a comment

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 | Leave a comment

What Brought You Here?

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

“What brought you here?” you may ask. How was I able to finally lose weight and take better care of my body? Now that’s a long story, and you’d need to read my books and blog posts to follow my … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Overeating, Reflections, Resource, Spiritual Direction, Stories, Writing | Tagged alicia.kowalski, Anthony de Mello, arriving, Brad Yates, Brene Brown, Cheryl Richardson, Crispin Semmens, Donna Varnau, Esther Hizsa, Food Revolution Network, Glennon Doyle, Hafiz, Ignatius, Jessica Ortner, Journey's End, Justin Michael Williams, Kristin Neff, Mary Mrozowski, Nick Ortner, One year nearer to heaven, Pema Chodron, perfect peaches, plant-based diet, Radical Compassion, Redeemed & Forgiven, Richard Rohr, Rosie the Riveter, Rumi, Sounds True, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stephen Pougas, Steve Bell, Tara Brach, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas keating, Thomas Quine, Valarie Kaur, weight loss, Yoga with Adriene | Leave a comment

Using Our Imaginations to Be with Christ in Holy Week

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

In the past few posts (and in my upcoming Good Friday post), I have shared how Christ has shown compassion for me in my suffering. Now I want to be with Jesus in his suffering. The best way I know … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Easter, Holy Week, Ignatian Spirituality, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Father Richard Soo, Jesus at Gethsemane, Jesus on his way to be crucified, Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet, Jesus’ arrest. Luke 23:26-27, John 13, John 20:11-18, John 20:24-29, John 21, Living from the Heart, Luke 24:13-35, Mark 14:43-49:, Matt 26:36-45, Matthew 27: 33-56, Matthew 27:32, Matthew 27:57-61, SoulStream, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Burial, The Crucifixion, The Last Supper | Leave a comment

A Meditation for These Uncertain Times

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Esther Hizsa

Pause with me. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then take another. Continue to breathe slowly and deeply. Notice where your body feels tense and send your next breath there . . . to your shoulders, neck, … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Lent, Mindfulness, Prayer, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Adriene Mishler, anjan58, Artotem, Blue Skies of Scottsdale, Christine Valters Paintner, coracle, David Wise, Dru Bloomfield, Esther Hizsa, Giving Hands, It is well with my soul, Lamentations 3:22-23, Mike Prince, Nashville Cell Phone Choir, Parker J. Palmer, Pema Chodron, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, uncertainty | 1 Comment

Say No

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Esther Hizsa

I don’t like saying no. I don’t like disappointing people, missing out on opportunities, and not being where the action is. Saying yes gives me a sense of purpose and solidifies my identity as a valuable person. It can also … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Reflections, Resource | Tagged descision making, disappointing people, discernment, Esther Hizsa, indecision, Jim Manney, madamepsychosis, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

DIY Prayer Retreat #11: Releasing Reality

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

Hi everyone, I led our contemplative groups’ monthly retreat in June and this is what I used. For instructions and guidelines to help you lead a DIY, check here. May you be blessed as you open yourself to God in … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Alana Levandoski, Anthony de Mello, awareness, Bark Cabin Natural Area, Coco Love Alcorn, Esther Hizsa, Felix Culpa, John Philip Newell, Nicholas A Tonelli, pilgrimage, Reza, Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Steve Bell, Sunrise, Susanne Nilsson, The River, Vulcan Stream | Leave a comment

DIY Prayer Retreat #6: Praying with Our Senses at the Beginning of a New Year

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Nearly every month I gather with friends for a silent retreat. It has been a rich experience. I explained how it works here. Thanks to Ann Green, who helped me put this retreat together. Supplies needed: Jelly Bellies (5 per person) … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer, Prayer Retreat Outline, Reflections, Resource | Tagged Abbey of the Arts, Anne Yungwirth, Beau Considine, Christine Valters Paintner, Esther Hizsa, First Bird Back, Gemma Rest, Gemma Trust, Gerald Manley Hopkins, Goldfinch, House Finch, Isaiah 43:16-19, Jelly Bellies, leaf, Living from the Heart, Lulu Lovering, Matthew 4:18-22, Pied Beauty, Psalm 34:8, seved mostafa zamani, SoulStream, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, Splash, The Artist's Rule, Visio Divina, Wicked Sushi | 1 Comment

DIY Prayer Retreat #4: A Basket of Fresh Bread

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

A few weeks ago, I gathered with friends for our monthly silent retreat. It was my turn to lead, and this is the outline I used. If you’d like to try one yourself, here’s how we do it. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayer Retreat Outline, Resource | Tagged 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:14, A Basket of Fresh Bread, Abba Moses, Augustine, Bram Cymet, Christ in you, Coleman Barks, Colossians 1:27, Confessions, Desert Fathers, Esther Hizsa, Go and sit in your cell, Holy Spirit in you, prayer retreat, Psalm 46, Rumi, Rumie: The Book of Love, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Coquitlam, spiritual director Vancouver, Stories of an Everyday Pilgrim | Leave a comment

DIY Prayer Retreat #3: Meeting Jesus in Scripture and in Daily Life

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Nearly every month I gather with friends for a silent retreat. It has been a rich experience. I explained how it works here and introduced Ignatian prayer here. Joy Richardson, a spiritual director living in Coquitlam, prepared and led this retreat. An … Continue reading →