On Knowing
How do we recognize and honor what we know?
AN INVITATION
There are many ways of knowing. There is the enfleshed knowing of lived experience. There is the deep knowledge of Ancestors. There is the fleeting knowledge of quick encounters. “We know what we know.” And yet, we might have been encouraged to distrust our knowing, to ignore our own wisdom.
How do we learn to recognize and honor what we know? How do we learn to say ‘yes’ to our wise selves?
Keeping in mind that “to know” is a verb, alive and evolving, it is vital that we remain open to change. There are times when fear might call us to cling too tightly to what we think we know even in the face of a necessity for change. This clinging can cause us to feel stuck or keep us unaware of the ways that we limit our own growth and freedom.
We invite you to claim your own knowing through your senses, memories and experience.
Celebrate what you know. Wrestle with what you know.
Hang on to what you know … or let it go as you discover something new.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
A journal
Grab a notebook, journal, or drawing paper, somewhere to write or draw.
A way to spark knowledge
Ready yourself with an image, a scent, a flavor that elicits a memory or knowledge.
A timer
If you prefer timed writing, grab a timer or set a writing limit using your phone.
THE PRACTICE
1. Watch this short video
“Knowing” will give you a brief introduction to the purpose of this meditation.
2. Spark your inner wisdom
Find a place that encourages your inner wisdom to arise. It can be a quiet place in your home, or a busy public cafe. It might be outside in nature or inside at your kitchen table.
Engage with the flavor, scent or image, if you are using one, to bring yourself into your wisdom. Sit quietly for a few minutes, allowing yourself to really taste, smell, see and feel.
3. Tap into your inner wisdom
Using the journal prompts below, tap into your inner wisdom.
This is what I know…
With my heart…
With my mind..
With my Soul…
Take a moment…
In this moment…
My feelings are telling me…
I hear, feel, smell, taste…
I am thinking…
I am feeling…
I am imagining…
I am hoping…
Write or draw
When I was a child I knew….
My future self will look back and see….
One thing I know is…
REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE
What did you discover through this exercise?
What knowledge do you want to continue to embrace? What do you want to revise?
What do you want to continue to wrestle with?
Ways to use this meditation
As a tool for self exploration
As a method to clarify beliefs and values
As a process for making decisions