Daily Devotional: October 2nd

Daily Prayer VI

Blessed are those who tend to their immortal soul,

Seeking its excellence, making it their goal.

Unconcerned for the mortal, sparing not if need be,

Prioritizing the eternal, their spirits free.

In the face of thoughtless attacks from mortal kin,

They stand unenslaved, their soul's fortress within.

Firm in resolve, above wickedness they soar,

Holding their essence steadfast, forevermore.

Blessed are they who do not grieve when fortune turns,

Heaven-sent trials borne with resilience, as it churns.

They mark as good only what's in their immortal core,

In serenity, they face what fate has in store.

Daily Meditation

"Those who are in the wrong in matters of supreme importance are objects of pity rather than of hate ...”

—Julian the Philosopher

We should not hate those who make serious mistakes on religious and spiritual matters. It is their own folly that brings misfortune upon themselves. They pull themselves further from God through mistaken beliefs and foolish actions. They deserve our pity and compassion as we do what we can to guide them toward the truth.

Monthly Ascesis: Breath and the Pneuma

“In the Western classical tradition, the words for spirit and soul - pneuma, psyche, anima, and spiritus hold profound significance. Interestingly, each of these words also carries the meaning of breath or to breathe. This linguistic connection underscores the belief that breath is the essence of life. In the myth of Prometheus, for instance, it was Minerva’s breath that animated the clay figures of man, giving them life.”

The breath is one of our most powerful tools for spiritual practice and is directly linked to our souls. When we speed up our breathing, our mind speeds up. When we slow it down, our mind slows. Controlling our breath is a leap forward for control of the self and our passions.

“Once you have fixed your breath, you can start to focus on it and use it as an instrument to still the mind. With each breath, there will be a slight pause at the top of the breath and a slight pause at the end of each exhalation. To increase stillness, we will let our minds come to rest in the pause following the exhalation. Breathe out and rest in that moment between breaths. When you feel the need to breathe in again, then do so and come back around to the rest point of the next exhalation.”

-Excerpts from, Ascesis: the Handbook of Platonic Practice

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