Reading Books Reflectively

 I've long been aware of a style of Bible or Scripture study named Lectio Divina (which is Latin for Divine Reading). It's a method featured in western Christianity, made famous in many monasteries, which involves more than merely reading a passage. You turn it over in your mind, considering every word, nuance and feeling evoked. Then you home in on the aspects that stand out most to you, since these are most likely to match whatever is going on in your psyche or deeper self. Several times over the past few years, I've taken turns sharing insights around the table with other ladies during sessions of Lectio Divina. We ponder a passage silently, then discuss what strikes us as most significant. It can be very interesting when the feedback is different, and that's partly what Lectio Divina is all about.

A novel I recently read called In this House of Brede was set in a convent and focuses on a group of nuns. The glossary at the back of the book describes how their founder, St Benedict, approved of Lectio Divina, so personal time was assigned for it across the board each day. But it wasn't confined to the Bible or even theological books. The Dames and Sisters were encouraged to practice a form of Lectio Divina on all sorts of books, including philosophy, comparative religion, music, art, poetry and even novels. And it's all geared toward the same end, which is spiritual understanding and increased wisdom.

Wow, you can bet I was pleased to see that such diverse reading was highly valued at Brede. Especially the mention of novels, which often miss out on the credit they deserve as mediums of great truth. Reading is basically my main hobby, and what this blog is all about. The books we read shouldn't pass through our minds and spirits without leaving residual traces of something good or beneficial. Grabbing a pen to nut out whatever that might be is one of my favourite parts of the process. It doesn't need to have religious overtones, like Lectio Divina in its purest, classical form. Books, and maybe even novels in particular, are some of the best sources of insight, epiphanies and a-ha moments. 

My fun extends from reading and forming my own opinions to reading those of others, in the forms of articles and reviews. If others' thoughts are similar to mine, I get a flash of something characters of Lucy Maud Montgomery might call kindred spirit feeling. If they're different, that can be very confronting and revealing. If I get really indignant by others' opinions, it might signify that self-examination could be handy. We can tell a lot about a person by the nature of their buttons and how easy they are to push. That includes ourselves. Sometimes, if we're open-minded enough, some understanding of the opposite point of view might just rub off on us, probably not enough to change our minds but at least to soften our edges. 

Reading books in the reflective style of lectio divina must be a great workout for the mind and soul. Long may it last.