Utilizing Imagination as an Expansion of Experience through the Ignatian Examin

MICHAEL DILLON, ED.D.

Our Path Today

I. Imagination

II. The Ignatian Examin

III. Let’s give it a try

IV. Your thoughts

Feb 6, 2015

Imagination

“Road from direct activity to

representative knowledge”

(Dewey, 1944, pp 246-247).

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Imagination – resolving the gaps

• Resolving gaps that are a result of biological and cultural-historical constraints.

• Pelaprat (2011) - “the process of resolving and connecting the fragmented, poorly coordinated experiences of the world so as to bring about a stable image of the world” (p. 399)

• Example 1 - Saccadic eye movement

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Imagination – resolving the gaps

• Resolving gaps that are a result of biological and cultural-historical constraints.

• Pelaprat (2011) - “the process of resolving and connecting the fragmented, poorly coordinated experiences of the world so as to bring about a stable image of the world” (p. 399)

• Example 2 –

Comic strips

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Imagination – loops out of the present

• Zittoun (2013) - “imagination can be seen as an excursion; we will say that imagination, as process, create ‘loops’ out of the present” (p. 306).

• The ruptures that prompt loops are typically described as either imposed or chosen.

Imagination – loops out of the present

The Ignatian Examin

• Ignatius of Loyola designed the Examin as a reflective exercise that utilizes imagination

• Born in Spain in 1491

• After a cannonball shattered his leg ending his career as a knight, he read a book pertaining to the life of Christ, and began a spiritual journey

• This path resulted in his development of The Spiritual Exercises (Ganss, 1991), and the formation of the Society of Jesus religious order, members of which are called Jesuits

• The Ignatian Examin is a reflective exercise included in The Spiritual Exercises

The Ignatian Examin

• In our fast paced world, adult learners move from action to action, often multi-tasking, neglecting time for pause and reflection

• The Ignatian Examin is structured to offer guidance, and open for imagination to flourish, offering imaginative space as an expansion of experience

• With Ignatian pedagogy, reflection is a significant link between experience and future action. Experience for St. Ignatius was to “taste something internally” (Duminuco, n.d., p. 14)

Let’s give it a try

The Ignatian Examin (Loyola Press, n.d.)

(1) Become aware of God’s presence

(2) Review the day with gratitude

(3) Pay attention to your emotions

(4) Choose one feature of the day and pray from it

(5) Look toward tomorrow

Let’s give it a try

(1) Bring back to mind your day. Try to review with appreciation. What worked? What was good?

Let’s give it a try

(1) Bring back to mind your day. Try to review with appreciation. What worked? What was good?

(2) Go a little deeper. What feelings arose? Consider details, context, people, senses, good and bad

Let’s give it a try

(1) Bring back to mind your day. Try to review with appreciation. What worked? What was good?

(2) Go a little deeper. What feelings arose? Consider details, context, people, senses, good and bad

(3) What patterns or themes did you see? What was your focus, intentions, motivations?

Let’s give it a try

(1) Bring back to mind your day. Try to review with appreciation. What worked? What was good?

(2) Go a little deeper. What feelings arose? Consider details, context, people, senses, good and bad

(3) What patterns or themes did you see? What was your focus, intentions, motivations?

(4) Did the day have a message for you? What does this mean for your today and tomorrow?

Let’s give it a try

(1) Bring back to mind your day. Try to review with appreciation. What worked? What was good?

(2) Go a little deeper. What feelings arose? Consider details, context, people, senses, good and bad

(3) What patterns or themes did you see? What was your focus, intentions, motivations?

(4) Did the day have a message for you? What does this mean for your today and tomorrow?

(5) What actions might follow?

Comments?

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References

Dewey, J. (1944). Democracy and education. New York: Free Press.

Duminuco, V. (n.d.). Ignatian pedagogy: a practical approach. Retrieved August 1, 2014 from http://www.sjweb.info/education/doclist.cfm

Ganss, G. (Ed.). (1991). Ignatius of Loyola: The spiritual exercises and selected works. New York: Paulist Press.

Loyola Press (n.d.). The daily examin. Retrieved from http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen

Pelaprat, E. (2011). 'Minding the gap': Imagination, creativity and human cognition. Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 45(4), 397-418.

Zittoun, T. (2013). Imagination as expansion of experience. Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 47(3), 305-324.