Evening Examen

An evening examen from the Ignatian tradition. Best done just before, or even when laying on your bed at night before you go to sleep.

Transcript

For this guided meditation,

We're going to practice an examen,

Most frequently found in Ignatius spirituality.

An examen is a reflection back upon the day to see where the Divine Presence was with us.

This is an evening examen,

Best done just before you go to bed at night.

So find yourself a comfortable position,

Perhaps even laying on the bed.

Close your eyes and just begin to breathe.

Gently breathing in and out.

In and out,

Both through your nose.

Causing your body to become restful with a nice,

Easy breathing rhythm.

And as you lay and rest,

As your body becomes restful,

As your mind begins to settle,

We're simply going to recall the past day.

The day will be set into periods of time.

We'll go through the day more than once,

Focusing on different things each time.

Firstly,

We'll simply go through the day.

So draw your memory back to rising from sleep this morning.

Where you woke up.

When you got up.

How you began your day.

What were the first things that you did?

What were your first actions?

Continuing to play the day through your mind right up until lunchtime.

Where you went.

Who you saw.

Who you spoke to.

Who you encountered.

Whether you were alone.

Allow the day to simply unfold in your mind throughout the morning.

Bell.

Bell.

Now continuing through the day,

Through lunchtime,

Recalling the lunch you had,

Whether you were with anybody,

By yourself,

Where you were,

And through the early hours of the afternoon.

Recall as best you can what you did,

Where you were,

Who you encountered.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

Now recall the later afternoon into the evening,

Up until dinnertime.

The time when perhaps you came home from work,

If you work.

Or your family arrived home from school or work or college.

Or perhaps simply a time that led you quietly on your own up to dinnertime.

Or maybe you travelled home from work,

Recall the journey that brought you home from work.

Keeping all this in your mind's eye as clearly as you can.

Bell.

Finally through dinner into the late evening,

Right up until this moment as you rest before bed.

Recall what you were doing,

Where you were,

Who you encountered.

Bell.

And so we begin the second journey through the day.

Recalling the same things that you've just recalled.

But this time,

In each time period,

Recalling as best you can what was your most dominant emotion.

What was the most dominant emotion within you in these different parts of the day.

So once again,

Recalling the time you woke and rose from bed through to lunchtime.

Recalling the same things that you've just recalled.

And remembering those same things.

What was the most dominant emotion?

Did it change?

Or did it remain the same throughout your whole morning?

Bell.

And now passing through lunch into the early afternoon.

Recalling those same memories as you did the first run through the day.

But this time becoming aware of the most dominant emotion within you at that period of the day.

Bell.

And now through the late afternoon until dinner.

Recalling the same memories of becoming aware of what was the most dominant emotion.

Bell.

And now passing through lunch into the early afternoon.

Bell.

And finally for this section,

The last part of your day.

Leading through dinner up until this moment as you lay at the end of your day.

Passing through the memories and become aware of the most dominant emotion within you.

Bell.

And now the third and final run through of the day.

Recalling the same memories in the same chunks of time through the day.

But this time trying to be aware of where the divine presence was.

Perhaps you were aware of it during the day or perhaps you may become aware of it now as you recall the day though you weren't aware of it at the time.

And now for the final time,

Recalling rising from bed,

Waking this morning through the first part of the day.

Trying to see where was the divine presence.

Where was it active?

Where did it work in you?

Where did it work through you?

Bell.

Bell.

And now through lunch and the early afternoon,

Where was the divine presence during that time?

Where did you encounter it?

When?

Bell.

Bell.

And now through the latter part of the afternoon and into the evening.

Recalling those same memories from the first time we did this.

The first run through of the day.

Where was the divine presence?

In all that you did,

Where was it present?

Bell.

Bell.

And now for the final time,

Through the last period of the day that's brought you to this moment.

Recalling what you did,

Where you were and where the divine presence was,

Where it interacted,

Where it was present.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

And now we'll spend some time simply being in silence.

Becoming aware that the divine presence is here in this place,

At this time,

Where you are.

This time will end with the sound of a bell.

But just lay in the awareness of the divine presence surrounding you and flowing through you at this time.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

Bell.

May you be blessed with a deep and peaceful sleep.

May you be aware of the divine presence with you.

As you can't go through the night.

And may you be aware of the divine presence with you.

In all you do tomorrow.

Reviews

Loved it! I really identify with your meditations. Thank you! God bless you.🙏🏾🙏🙏🏻✝️🛐🕊🕯👼🏾👼👼🏻🙌

Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this with us

Thank you for this splendid reflection and beautiful way to end the day.

Thank you for sharing this meditation 🙏🏻

Very calming thank you

Total recall is what I’m naming this. Thank you so much for this relaxing meditation

Very moving. Thank you!

Great meditation. A really lovely way to unpack your day.

Clearness of vision and perception of how we live the minutia of our days.

An interesting exercise

One of my absolute go-to's at night. Lovely, affirming and deeply relaxing.

This meditation expanded my awareness in a new and interesting way, namaste 🙏🏼

A peaceful way to look back on the day and to see where the Divine was with me and where I could open up more. A lovely way to end my day. 🙏

Wonderful.....very helpu

The Ignation Examen is a great reflection process of mindfulness of spiritual experiences through out your day. With a conscience practice, your mind opens to everything in your day and recognition when they actually occur.
Namaste

Thank you very reflective

Love this meditation for Lent and will try to do it regularly. Thank you!!

Wonderful to take notice of where and when I am most in touch with divine presence. Thank you.

Effective fell asleep before the end. Thank you