Practicum: 15 Controlled Burn Practices Inspired by the Rule of Benedict
Using Old Wisdom to Spark New Change in Ourselves and Our Communities
t's intriguing to consider how the Rule of Benedict's spiritual practices can dovetail into the concept of "controlled burn." The Rule has its own layers of shedding, gathering, and becoming—resonances that the controlled burn metaphor captures beautifully. Here’s a list that might speak to you:
1. Daily Self-Examination
- Like the nightly review in Benedictine practice, engage in a moment of evening reflection to recognize what needs burning away from your day.
2. Community Storytelling
- Gather a circle of people to share their stories and traumas. Collective vocalization can be a powerful burn.
3. Lectio Divina with Life Scripts
- Dig deep into the scripts—literal or metaphorical—that have governed your life. Find what needs to be revised or discarded.
4. Structured Silence
- Immerse in silence to let the unnecessary naturally burn away. Sometimes what doesn't serve us can't be seen but can be felt in the stillness.
5. Shared Meals
- The table isn't just for food. Share stories, burdens, joys. Breaking bread together can also break down barriers.
6. Mental Sabbatical
- Just as monks retreat from the world, take time off from your routines. Allow the interval to burn away the obsolete.
7. Active Listening
- Listen to others with your entire being. Their stories might illuminate what needs to go in your own tale.
8. Stewardship of Resources
- Evaluate what you truly need. Material excess can often mirror emotional or spiritual excess.
9. Embrace Change
- Benedictine monks vow stability, but also adaptability. To truly engage in a controlled burn, one must be open to the winds of change.
10. Balance in All Things
- Too much of even a good thing can smother your fire. Seek equilibrium.
11. Humility in Gathering
- Invite people into spaces where everyone can be both teacher and student. Share the embers, let each one ignite their own blaze.
12. Artistic Expression
- Channel your inner angst, joy, and ambiguity into creative endeavors. Art can be a beautiful residue of a controlled burn.
13. Guided Meditations on Loss
- It can be illuminating to meditate on what you’ve lost, not just what you aim to gain. The awareness could be the first step in letting go.
14. Sacred Reading of Others’ Experiences
- Books, articles, or any form of another's narrative can be a mirror, helping you see what parts of your own story you need to rewrite or let go of.
15. Invitation to Solitude
- Sometimes we need to be away even from beloved community to know what in us needs the flame. Make solitude an invited guest.
This list is open to addition and interpretation, a framework for individuals to imbue with their own meaning and needs. What are your thoughts?