Spirituality has been a high part of our development here at Space to Breathe. We are grateful for the insights of spiritual movements both ancient and contemporary and for the language they bring to us about living well and living deeply.
Spirituality is one route into ‘the other’, the third point of our Wellbeing Triangle. As well as realising our wellbeing grows through self-awareness and authentic connection with others, we also believe a healthy sense of ‘the other’ - whether looking in wonder at nature, a sense of awe or beauty, moments of inspiration or a sense of the soul or spiritual are vital. Here we explore the world that is much bigger than us.
One of our inspirations in this area is St Ignatius, a 16th Century mystic who founded the Jesuits and developed a series of tools called the Spiritual Exercises.
One of these exercises considers discerning our goals and vocations and uses two key words: consolation and desolation.
In Ignatius’ thinking the emotions proved a powerful indicator about our hopes and dreams. At times of loss these emotions can be huge but also insightful. Considering our desolations and consolations is a wonderful way of becoming aware of who we are, what we feel and the direction we are orientated towards.
When we experience desolation, pain, difficulty and anxiety can grip us. How can we move forward from these places and learn the lessons they bring to us? Consolation is often the answer to this question. Consolations enable us to be hopeful and to look forward. They don’t remove the pain but they do bring us energy and comfort.
When confronted with the desolations of death or grief we can be helped by the consolations of gratefulness, hope and community.
Commentator Margaret Silf explains that the two words help us judge which direction our life is taking us in —toward hope, to the light [consolation] or away from hope or light [desolation]? Both these experiences are common to us but have very different results.
Exploring consolations
On a piece of paper draw a line down the middle and then write ‘consolation’ on one side and ‘desolation’ on the other.
Write a list of all the things that console you and the desolations that affect you. Then consider how they speak to you about your sense of travel in your life.
What affect are your consolations or desolations having on you?
Are you focusing on hope or away from hope?
How do your consolations help or support the loss of your desolations?
These consolations can be the most wonderfully simple things but they help us in extraordinary ways.
"The most life-giving elements of our human existence are not the heart transplants or moon shots. They are the unnoticed conversations with the lonely ones; the listening ear we offer to the hurting ones; the word of affirmation that lifts a veil of fear. These are the things that lie well within the range of our personal currency. How we spend that currency makes a great deal of difference."
— Margaret Silf - Ignatian Spirituality for Everyday Living
To Ignatius, and consolation have the following results …
Desolation
Turns us in on ourselves
Drives us down the spiral ever deeper into our own negative feelings
Cuts us off from community
Makes us want to give up on the things that used to be important to us
Takes over our whole consciousness and crowds out our distant vision
Covers up all our landmarks
Drains us of energy
Consolation
Directs our focus outside and beyond ourselves
Lifts our hearts so that we can see the joys and sorrows of other people
Bonds us more closely to our human community
Generates new inspiration and ideas
Restores balance and refreshes our inner vision
Shows us the landmarks of change in our lives
TRY THIS …
Take a sheet of paper and list consolations and desolations.
Compare them and ask how they inter-relate.
How do your consolations point you beyond yourself and towards light and hope?
How can you release the energy of these consolations in your life, particularly in time of desolation?