Robustness.

Good day, good people,

Throughout this lenten season, we have been focusing on partnering with the four cardinal virtues. As we move through Holy Week, accompanying Jesus and Mary Magdalene as they accompany us, we can continue to engage these virtues and be at their service. The more we engage with these virtues, the stronger and more self-reinforcing they become, creating robust complex systems.

When robustness is present in systems, such as ourselves and the daily collective contemplative pause, it allows us to maintain stability in complex environments where unpredictability is inevitable. Complexity science suggests that the quality of robustness is a critical attribute within us, enabling us to function reliably over time, adapt to changing conditions, recover gracefully from disturbances, and ensure long-term stability. Thus, it is a cornerstone of suppleness and sustainability in our Work.

As robust systems, we can uphold our short-and long-term aims across a wide range of conditions, including internal and external disturbances or unexpected changes. Ultimately, robust systems absorb disturbances without utter collapse. Our collective Work alongside one another supports the development of robustness within our own system, our circle’s system, and the broader systems we participate in and engage with.

Some of the key characteristics of a robust system we can consciously feed in ourselves, and one another, on behalf of the Whole are,

Tolerance to Disturbances: We reinforce in ourselves and one another that we are grittier than we think. As Cynthia Bourgeault says, we need “grittier contemplatives” right now. We remind ourselves that we can withstand missteps, inner and outer perturbations, and environmental stresses without significant deviation from our short- and long-term aims as human beings committed to consciously holding our post.

Graceful Experimentation: We are committed to trying small experiments in service of the Work and when we extend out beyond our capacity to maintain our center, we allow this to happen with grace and acceptance rather than criticism or catastrophe. We observe ourselves with curiosity, allowing growth to unfold naturally. 

Adaptability and Consistency Across Conditions: We trust in our ability to evolve and adapt to changes in our stimuli/environment, making micro-adjustments while maintaining our Work across diverse life circumstances and demands. This ensures long-term capacity to responsibly meet the moment as it is with presence. 

Moving toward this sacred Triduum closely upon us, let us consider the ways we are already perceiving these characteristics of robustness currently present within ourselves, in the collective who reads these emails and/or participates in the collective contemplative pauses, and any other systems we are a part of who wish to be in service to the whole. We can stand inside this inner robustness, right alongside Jesus and Mary Magdalene, as an offering to the whole in these days through Easter.

With Courage, Temperance, Prudence, and Justice, 

Heather

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Readings from last week's Daily Contemplative Pauses

*All previous readings & reflections can be found here*

Monday, April 7th & Tuesday, April 8th

A MEDITATION by Thomas Keating in Open Mind, Open Heart

"We begin our prayer by disposing our body. Let it be relaxed and calm, but inwardly alert. 

"The root of prayer is interior silence. We may think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words. But this is only one expression. Deep prayer is the laying aside of thoughts. It is the opening of mind and heart, body and feelings-our whole being-to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond words, thoughts, and emotions. We do not resist them or suppress them. We accept them as they are and go beyond them, not by effort, but by letting them all go by. We open our awareness to the Ultimate Mystery whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing—closer than consciousness itself. The Ultimate Mystery is the ground in which our being is rooted, the Source from whom our life emerges at every moment.

"We are totally present now, with the whole of our being, in complete openness, in deep prayer. The past and future—time itself—are forgotten. We are here in the presence of the Ultimate Mystery. Like the air we breathe, this divine Presence is all around us and within us, distinct from us, but never separate from us. We may sense this Presence drawing us from within, as if touching our spirit and embracing it, or carrying us beyond ourselves into pure awareness. 

"We surrender to the attraction of interior silence, tranquility, and peace. We do not try to feel anything, reflect about anything. Without effort, without trying, we sink into this Presence, letting everything else go. Let love alone speak: the simple desire to be one with the Presence, to forget self, and to rest in the Ultimate Mystery. This Presence is immense, yet so humble; awe-inspiring, yet so gentle; limitless, yet so intimate, tender and personal. I know that I am known. Everything in my life is transparent in this Presence. It knows everything about me—all my weaknesses, brokenness, sinfulness—and still loves me infinitely. This Presence is healing, strengthening, refreshing-just by its Presence. It is nonjudgmental, self-giving, seeking no reward, boundless in compassion. It is like coming home to a place I should never have left, to an awareness that was somehow always there, but which I did not recognize. I cannot force this awareness, or bring it about. A door opens within me, but from the other side. I seem to have tasted before the mysterious sweetness of this enveloping, permeating Presence. It is both emptiness and fullness at once.

"We wait patiently; in silence, openness, and quiet attentiveness; motionless within and without. We surrender to the attraction to be still, to be loved, just to be. 

"How shallow are all the things that upset and discourage me! I resolve to give up the desires that trigger my tormenting emotions. Having tasted true peace, I can let them all go by. Of course, I shall stumble and fall, for I know my weakness. But I will rise at once, for I know my goal. I know where my home is." 

Wednesday, April 9th

Practice: Working with the Collective False Self

Thursday, April 10th

Body Prayer: Four Virtues by Ben Walter

I open to Courage (arms up and hands open in a V, head looks up)

I receive Courage (hands come in front of chest with palms together, head down)

I offer Courage (arms stretched out in front with palms up, head looking forward)

I open to Temperance (arms up and hands open in a V, head looks up)

I receive Temperance (hands come in front of chest with palms together, head down)

I offer Temperance (arms stretched out in front with palms up, head looking forward)

I open to Prudence (arms up and hands open in a V, head looks up)

I receive Prudence (hands come in front of chest with palms together, head down)

I offer Prudence (arms stretched out in front with palms up, head looking forward)

I open to Justice (arms up and hands open in a V, head looks up)

I receive Justice (hands come in front of chest with palms together, head down)

I offer Justice (arms stretched out in front with palms up, head looking forward) 

Friday, April 11th

Chant: Gaze, consider, contemplate, as you decide to imitate Him/Her by Poor Clares of Arundel

Icons by Theophilia to meditate with:

Courage & Temperance

Prudence & Justice

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