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masters today we are going to enjoy a
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meditation guided by St john of the
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cross a Spanish mystic and
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poet renowned for his deep understanding
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of the soul's journey towards union with
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please find a posture that allows for
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alertness let your body be at
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ease gently close your eyes turning your
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take a few slow calming
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breaths breathing in God's
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presence breathing out the clutter of
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day allow each breath to draw you deeper
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into the sanctuary of your own heart
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st john of the Cross teaches us about
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detachment of freeing our hearts from
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clinging to created things so that we
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creator he wrote with profound
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imagery "The soul that is attached to
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anything however much good there may be
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in it will not arrive at the liberty of
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divine union for whether it be a strong
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wire rope or a slender and delicate
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thread that holds the bird it matters
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not if it really holds it fast
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for until the cord be broken the bird
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fly reflect gently on the
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large that may be holding your heart
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desires even spiritual
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judgment simply notice
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them offer them up asking for the grace
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to loosen their hold so your soul might
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ascend freely towards divine love
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to hear the divine whisper inner quiet
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essential st john emphasized the
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importance of quieting our inner
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advised "What we need most in order to
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make progress is to be
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silent before this great God with our
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appetite and with our tongue for the
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language he best hears is silent love
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let go of the need to fill the space
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thoughts settle into the silence of your
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heart allow your presence to be a simple
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loving attention turned towards the
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rest in this silent love trusting that
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it is heard more deeply than any spoken
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st john offers a path to spiritual
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paradoxically leads to possessing all
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wrote to reach satisfaction in all
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desire its possession in
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nothing to come to possess all desire
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the possession of nothing
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to arrive at being all desire to be
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nothing consider the freedom that comes
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from releasing the desire to possess
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control or define yourself embrace the
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nothingness allowing yourself to become
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empty so that you may be filled with
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fullness rest in the humility of
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yourself trusting that in God you
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the path towards God often involves
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periods of dryness or
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darkness what St john famously called
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the dark night of the soul
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purification he encourages us live in
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faith and hope though it be in
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darkness for in this darkness God
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soul cast your care upon God for you are
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his and he will not forget you
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if you find yourself in a place of
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unknowing of spiritual darkness or
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despair trust that this is a hidden work
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of grace purifying your faith hope and
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love lean entirely on faith not on
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understanding cast all your anxieties
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beloved trusting you are held securely
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even when you cannot feel it
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purification this dark night is
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ultimately an inflow of God into the
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as St john described it purging
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imperfections to prepare it for a deeper
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union for divine intimacy
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it is a path paved with trust and
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ultimately the journey leads to love the
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detachment silence and purification is
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union with the source of all love st
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john reminds us of the essential
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measure in the evening of life we will
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let your focus rest now simply on
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love love for the divine love for
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others flowing from the heart softened
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and made spacious through detachment and
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trust abide in this loving presence
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now gently bring your awareness back to
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your physical surroundings
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notice the sensation of your body the
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support beneath you the air on your skin
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take a deeper breath breathing in
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gratitude for this time of quiet
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reflection wiggle your fingers and toes
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gently when you are ready allow your
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carry the spirit of loving detachment
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trust with you throughout your day
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remembering the soul's deep calling
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towards union with the divine beloved
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thank you for joining this meditation
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guided by the wisdom of St john of the
