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Experiment with Light: A Quaker Meditation Practice for Inner Guidance and Discernment

Domains: Contemplative Practice, Collective Action

Are you seeking inner guidance for some issue or concern in your life? Might you be interested in a mediation practice that can help you see beyond your own ego, one that aims to get to the very bottom of issues in our lives and point the way forward? “Experiment with Light” is a contemporary Quaker practice based on an understanding of the profound spiritual transformation that the founding 17th century Quakers experienced by stilling the mind and focusing the heart on “the Light within.”

The meditation is quite simple, starting with deep centering and emptying the mind of thoughts, then proceeding for about 40 minutes through five questions, spaced out between 5-6 minutes each, letting the awareness be open to what is shown. With such an amazingly simple process, its power is all the more remarkable! Early Quakers spoke frequently of “the Light,” as in “the Light of God’ or “the Light of Christ,” which was available to everyone. In their silent worship, they experienced it as a search light that would reveal deep truths about themselves or about the world. Experiencing deep truth meant seeing how one’s ego may be blocking certain realities from view, and it could be quite disturbing. But if you stayed calmly with it, the Light would be transformative, and a deep peace and surrender would come, the peace, as Jesus said, “that passes all understanding.”

The practice is unusual because, although contemplative, it is more focused on everyday life, more open to communal sharing, and more intent on the possibility of putting the insights gained into action. There are “Experiment with Light” groups throughout England and among many Quakers in the U.S. The group takes time to journal their experiences and to voluntarily share what emerged for them. Many have reported life changing releases and awarenesses in the course of this practice.

Paulette Meier is a local Quaker who did a year-long residency at Pendle Hill, a Quaker study and retreat center near Philadelphia. There she first studied with Rex Ambler, the British theologian who proposed the Experiment with Light meditation as a support for modern Friends in accessing "the Light within." A long-time singer/songwriter for peace, justice and the earth, Paulette has recorded two albums of Quaker wisdom she set to song and chant. She has taught and led chanting at Quaker centers throughout the US and Great Britain, as well as at Wisdom School retreats with Cynthia Bourgeault, who has promoted her CDs widely among contemplative Christians.

Experiment with Light: A Quaker Meditation Practice for Inner Guidance and Discernment

Domains: Contemplative Practice, Collective Action

Your Zoom link will be sent with your registration confirmation. You can email any questions to Chris La Rue at chris@cincyhive.org

Experiment with Light: A Quaker Meditation Practice (Online)

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