Ignatian Contemplation: Praying with Your Imagination

6 days ago

3 min read

Updated: 9 hours ago

This month at Contemplation Lab, we're putting our imaginations to work.

What is Ignatian contemplation?

Ignatian contemplation (sometimes called imaginative prayer) comes from Ignatius of Loyola, the 16th-century Basque soldier-turned-mystic who founded the Jesuits. Recovering from a cannonball injury with nothing to read but lives of the saints, Ignatius noticed something: when he imagined himself into those stories, something in him moved. He came to trust that God speaks through the imagination as readily as through reason or memory, and he built that conviction into his Spiritual Exercises.

The practice is simple. You take a short Gospel scene (e.g. Jesus asleep in the boat, the woman at the well, breakfast on the beach) and you enter it with your senses. What's the light like? What do you smell? Who else is standing there, and where are you among them? What does Jesus's face look like when he turns toward you? You let the scene play, you let it go where it goes, and at some point you talk to God about what happened.

A few things worth pointing out:

It's not about getting it historically right. You are not reconstructing first-century Galilee. You're letting a living God meet you in a story you already love.
You don't have to be a "visual" person. Plenty of people don't see much of anything and still pray this way richly. They sense the scene, or hear it, or just know they're there.
It's a different kind of contemplation than you may expect. In many traditions, contemplation means emptying the mind of images. Ignatian contemplation goes the other direction: it fills the mind, on purpose, and trusts the Spirit to work through what surfaces.

How to practice Ignatian contemplation

You can try this on your own any time. Set aside 20–30 minutes and a quiet spot.

Pick a short Gospel scene. Stories with action and people work best. Good starting places: Jesus asleep in the boat (Mark 4:35–41), the woman at the well (John 4:1–26), or breakfast on the beach (John 21:1–14).
Settle and offer the time to God. Take a few slow breaths. Ask simply that this time be for God and that you'd be open to whatever comes.
Read the passage twice, slowly. The first time, get the story. The second time, notice the details: the setting, the people, what's said.
Ask for what you want. Ignatius called this "asking for the grace." Keep it honest and specific: to know Jesus more closely, to feel less alone, to trust him with something you're carrying.
Step into the scene. Close your eyes and let your senses fill it in. Where are you standing? What do you hear and smell? Are you a disciple, a bystander, someone in the crowd?
Let it unfold. Don't script it. If the story drifts from the text or you find yourself in an unexpected spot, go with it. If nothing much happens, that's okay too; just stay present.
Talk with Jesus. When the scene winds down, speak with him about what you noticed, the way you'd talk with a friend. Then listen.
Close and look back. Take a minute (or a journal) to note what stirred you, what surprised you, and anything you want to return to next time.

Practice Ignatian Contemplation in Community

Contemplation Lab is a weekly gathering for anyone who wants to slow down and practice making space for God. There's no curriculum to catch up on and no expectation that you've done any of this before. Every week follows the same simple rhythm:

Centering prayer: We settle into silence together for a few minutes and learn to notice and let go of thoughts.
A guided practice: Rooted in the month's focus. In September, we'll practice Ignatian Contemplation. That means someone will read a Gospel passage aloud and walk you through entering it, with real silence in between.
Reflection and sharing: As much or as little as you like. We learn from others.

On the last Monday of the month we take the practice outside and walk the labyrinth together.