Those of us in the Western world have forgotten a lot of what we once understood about visual pathways. Before written language became the focal point of communication, people used symbols, signs, and objects to express their needs, their memories, and their prayers. Now I can go to some ancient site and look at pictorial stories done in sketches and carvings—and have no idea what they mean. I am somewhat illiterate when it comes to visual cues.
Thanks to computer technology, the younger generations are reclaiming some of their visual abilities. They can see icons scattered across a screen and intuit which image will help them do the task they need to do. I still need a drop-down menu with words on it; even icons that are obvious to most teenagers remain meaningless to me. And, as much as some of us complain about the quality of movies, television, and social media, thank God for the artists who continue to explore transcendence through film, visual storytelling, and mixed-media presentations.
One thing I know for sure: I have spent most of my life quite dependent on words for any sense of spiritual growth or understanding. There are entire religious cultures, mainly the fundamentalist ones, that have turned sacred writings into idols, rejecting any other means through which God might speak to us. In my view, this is a serious problem. What are we missing because we look past visual signs and wonders? What might this gap in our spiritual literacy mean for prayer?
Certainly Catholicism loves words: Scripture, literature, and writings of our fathers and mothers in theology, mysticism, and catechesis. But the Church has kept alive the sensual aspects of faith, including visual riches: icons, frescoes, sculpture, architecture.
This week, look for spiritual nourishment in something that does not use words. Please report back on what you discover.
Thanks Vinita for this hugely illuminating piece. Indeed ‘Visual Prayer’ has a long history in the evolution of the prayer-life culture of humankind.
For instance around 600 AD, the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist monks meditating, serving, carving and residing in the caves at Ellora in Central India have left behind several remnants of “Multi-Faith Sacred Spaces” – in the form of pictures and inscriptions carved on the inner walls and ceilings of several caves.
Huge crowds of devotees, pilgrims, historians, social scientists, and material/spiritual culture lovers visit those caves to minutely observe and carefully study the human prayer life culture of those bygone eras.
Hello! Happy Fall! Thank you so much for the invitation to seek out prayer in new ways and share with one another! I was praying the rosary outside today by a Marian statue and the area was just filled with so many beautiful, pink flowers, which is also my favorite color 🙂 Some white and purple flowers were mixed in as well. I found so much gratitude, joy, and comfort from this beautiful scene even without any words.
Thank you God for bringing the visual beauty of creation to prayer and I pray that others can find the goodness of God in creation as well! Saint Francis of Assisi loved creation! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Jesus, we trust in You! 🙂
I’ve just returned from a 20 minute silent prayer period sitting on ancient an anciengg tv primal rock, watching a seal and the sun on the water, with the wind on my face being warmed by the passion. It was an elemental and sacred space.
These comments and your words serve to emphasise what I have been learning, starting during the covid lockdowns in 2020,when I discovered how many great walks there are in my neighbourhood, and continuing … The wonder of nature, the fact that God speaks in so many ways.
I have recently been reading a fascinating book: : Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell, former warden of Iona Abbey. It talks about Celtic spirituality, listening to the sacred around us
and how we have lost so much of the spiritual insight that those people knew. A lot of detail, but really interesting.
Between my and my neighbors home is a small patch of dirt. He took some seed packets and grew magnificent sunflowers. I watched them grow all season, but now they are almost bloomed out. The seeds from the flowers pecked out by cardinals finches and other small birds. Each morning and at dusk I hear the twitter of them as they enjoy the harvest. I think of Jesus words, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” — Matthew 6:26 It is a living reminder of how precious all life is loved
I went on a prayer retreat as the first step into Seminary and met some fellow disciples who love bird-watching! I had never really thought about the fascination, but the school is starting a bird watching club and want to use the medieval symbol of the Pelican as the logo. Looking to the pelican symbolism and seeing Christ, it’s something I’m reflecting on this week ahead 🙂
Walking in the woods and any of nature is a visual prompt for me always. I’ve learned to explore when an Icon strikes me …literally get a physical feeling.
Thank you Vinita. Every morning I receive an email from “Christian Art – Daily Gospel Reading and Art Reflection.” It’s such a beautiful way to visio divina.
Visio Divina — LOVE IT !!! AMDG
Yesterday I skipped mass (Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned) and instead went to find God in golden aspen, crisp blue skies, fluffy white clouds and peace. It was true spiritual nourishment.
Vinita, thank you for expressing value in visual prayer. I’m blessed that this comes easily to me. The view from my prayer room windows is of a giant oak tree across the street from me. Every morning I thank God for this piece of nature so visible, alive with squirrels, birds, the occasional balloon or kite, and just once with toilet paper the night prior to a high school graduation. This tree is a neighborhood with which I check in every morning. I love to see the breath of God gently stir it awake just before dawn, listen to the birds chirp and sing as the sky lightens. I watch it weather the seasons, as do I, emerging each spring somewhat older and altered. It speaks to each season of life – birth, growth, death, sorrow, and always renewal. It has been the inspiration of much prayer and reflection to the greater glory of God.
Thank you for this! I really appreciate your pointing out that there are other ways of embracing the sacred. Thank you for opening the door on this new way of approaching faith.