Lesson 6 – Part 2: Three Meditative Approaches – Internal, External, and Imaginative
Original journal entry from August 7, 2025 – Response to Lesson 6: Introduction to Meditation (Part 2: Three Meditative Approaches). This was my personal exploration of three ways to meditate: internal focus (Lectio Divina with breathing), external awareness (walking in nature), and imaginative journeying (Ezekiel’s temple river as a metaphor for surrender and provision).
Internal:
Since learning about it in 2018, I have spent a fair amount of time practicing a form of (biblical) scripture reading called Lectio Divina which in its simplest form is a way of reading and meditating on the words as if they are presently and directly being spoken to me straight from the mouth of God. I’ve decided to try combining it with practicing the 4-7-8 calming breath meditation before I begin Lectio Divina since they seem to work well together.
The first time I tried it, I used a YouTube video to help me get started and my body got very relaxed. I'm not trying to give too much information but I was surprised that my body decided to have a bowel movement right after doing the exercise for about 5 minutes. I found that I had to find the rhythm a little with the 4-7-8 count and then it felt more natural after a few times. And I noticed that I had to be careful that I didn’t let my thoughts wander too much or it made me feel anxious on the 7 count.
External:
Right now, the weather is cool enough in the mornings for me to walk to work so I tried a walking meditation on my way to work. My thoughts kept going to the sunrise as I was walking towards the light that was just beginning to appear in the sky. I started asking myself, how do I know that the sun is rising? I decided that I can discern the signs of it with many of my senses. I see the light appearing on the horizon, I hear the birds chirping and the roosters crowing, I smell the flower blossoms opening up and releasing their fragrance, and I can feel how the air is getting warmer on my face.
There was this thought that I’ve heard somewhere that the night is darkest right before the sunrise so I was encouraged in that way that as I go through difficult or dark times I can have the hope that when it feels darkest, that the light is approaching and things will get better. It’s not the end but a new beginning, a new day. Yesterday is gone, now, focus on today.
Miscellaneous:
This is actually an active imagination meditation that I regularly do which is based on Ezekiel's vision of a future temple, detailed in the Book of Ezekiel (chapters 40-48), which I walked through again for this lesson. I listened to a recording of a guided “tour” by one of my inner healing mentors. The actual visualization is in 47:1-12 but it's good to have at least skimmed through chapters 40-46 to get one’s bearings.
The meditation is meant to help me discern where I am in relationship with God and His direction in my life. There is a river, connected to the presence and the voice of God that flows from the temple to the sea and depending on how far I go in the journey, the water level gets deeper. I’m challenged to ask, am I trying to stay in the ankle, knee or waist deep water where it’s still relatively stable and I can to some extent still resist it and do my own thing? Or am I ready to let go of what I want and go with the flow of the river, regardless of where it takes me? What am I still holding onto, what discomfort am I trying to avoid, what am I afraid will happen if I let go and let the river guide me?
For me, it’s been a journey of learning to trust God with the trajectory of my life. On the one hand, I believe that He is the one who created me uniquely for the purpose that I am to fulfill in my life. On the other hand, I’m afraid of not having the resources I need to get there. My wife and I have been in a season of transition for over a year now, where our income has been very unstable – but provision has also surprisingly been showing up right when we really need it. This meditation reminds me that as I go with the flow of the river, my needs are met. There are fruit trees along its banks and their leaves are for healing, which I have access to. I’m pleasantly surprised that I can live in this river.
Umalohókan
House of Twin Suns
TM: Carlos Martinez
"You don't have to see the whole staircase just to take the first step."
(Signature links to IP Journal, Apprentice Journal, A.div Journal, and Degree Tracker omitted for brevity — these were forum navigation links at the time.)
The following user(s) said Thank You: RosalynJ
Looking back now: This entry brought the meditative practices to life through three personal approaches — internal scripture breathing, external walking awareness, and imaginative Ezekiel river journey. It highlighted surrender, trust in provision, and how meditation bridges body, mind, and spirit in daily life.