- Companions, couples can decide whether they want common or individual examination of consciousness. Both possibilities have advantages and disadvantages. Individual examination underlines the unique relation of each person with God, while the common form might be helpful to know each other better. We preferred for ourselves the individual form; we do the prayer together in the same time but don�t share how it went, except the reconciliation part.
- We need to underline again the spontaneous character of this letting the contents of the background consciousness to emerge relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit; this is not a sort of wrestling out the repressed memories. We believe that also a sort of healing of memories occurs during this type of prayer.
This prayerful focusing of attention will touch all the levels of consciousness, it will extend to the reality of �automatic� thoughts and images which occur in the background of consciousness, the sphere of experiences Bernard Tyrrell defines as �twilight consciousness�; but it will embrace also the peak level, the God�-inspired thoughts, acts and the �super-consciousness�, the very high and intense consciousness of mystical experiences. The main purpose of the examination of consciousness is to prepare and aid the discernment process, and similarly, the next stages in the healing and education of feelings is the discernment or diagnosis of one�s feelings and finally to arrive to a positive decision to live according the precedent discernment. Indeed, we think that the examination of consciousness in itself is an excellent means of psycho-spiritual and moral healing.
- We see how often emotions or feelings are guiding, or determining my actions -and this is not too good. When trying to not let the guidance to the feelings I (Kris) find helpful a little �exercise�. It is: to recognize the emerging emotions, giving them time to evolve, and when identified, giving them the proper name: this is anger, fear, joy etc. Not to try to oppress, deny, or hide any of the emotions, they then continue working, and maybe being harmful. When I know it, I will be able to have a distance from that feeling, detach from it and be free to use my will in guiding my actions.
A little bit this exercise makes me remember on one method in the Psychosynthesis (Roberto Assaglioli�s school of psychotherapy) experience, called �disidentification�: one lets his/her feelings or thoughts emerge (maybe regarding a special record or person) and then tell �this is my feeling, but I am more then my feelings, my thoughts� etc. until arriving to the true identity of the person, which integrates and also transcends his/her body, mind and soul.
The freedom gained from the feelings is in the line of the freedom placed in front of us in the famous concept of �indifference� of the Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. It does not mean to be without feelings, but the freedom from the excessive influence of these, for a good discernment and decision-making, for the more and more authentic service of God. Also, we can think of Jesus, who casting out the evil spirits asked their name, and when they told it, they lost the influence on that person. Maybe this fact can be adapted on our "bad feelings", if we can recognize, identify them, and already they loose their harmful influence on our lives.
You might try out fruitfully this little exercise at this point.
If you see it works for you, continue it for the rest of your life and see the difference it brings to you.
If you feel hard to do it, don't give up but try it again and again, it needs time to see the fruits of it.
Of course, it is possible that you find that it is not for you at all. Then leave it without remorse, because it is necessary to choose between the many possible good means the right ones for you to better your life.