Visio Divina: How to Pray with the “Eyes of Your Heart”

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Praying through art is a multi-sensory way to connect to God through prayer. Visio Divina is one form of prayer using images – works of art, stained glass windows, icons, even images in nature. Learn how to pray with Visio Divina and be inspired to try it in your prayers!

What Is Visio Divina?

Visio Divina is translated as “divine seeing”. It is related to the prayer form Lectio Divina (divine reading), but instead of Scripture, this form of prayer uses visual elements to help set your mind on prayer. It allows God to speak into your heart through the image.

This form of prayer has been used throughout the centuries, more popular in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox communities where icons are often used in prayer. However, Visio Divina is growing in use across Protestant communities, as well.

Why Pray Visio Divina?

My childhood church was filled with beautiful, century-old stained glass windows. Intricate, elaborate, stunning – especially when the sun hit them just right. Each window told a story. The big ones on either side of the sanctuary told stories from Jesus’ life. Angels who proclaimed his birth, Jesus at the well, the shepherds receiving the news of Jesus’ birth. How I loved to look at those windows and soak in each detail.

I didn’t know it then, but viewing art can be a form of prayer. Visio Divina is one way to pray through art and can use any form of art – icons, paintings, stained glass windows, even scenes in nature.

Richest prayer life comes through multi-sensory connection with God

We are each wired in different ways. Some of us respond best to the written word, some to the spoken word, some to music, some to art, some to movement. We can connect to God in prayer through each of these ways. Though we may have a preferred sense through which to pray, the richest prayer life will come through experiencing God through all your senses.

I’ve personally found Visio Divina to be a unique way to engage God in prayer that allowed me to approach a conversation with Him I wouldn’t have otherwise had. If this method of prayer is new to you, I encourage you to give it a try.

How To Pray Visio Divina

1) Find an Image for Prayer

You can use any type of image for Visio Divina. You might use images found in your church – a religious painting, a stained glass window, or an icon.

You can look in art books or museum websites for works of art. Historical religious paintings are great choices and you can use the related Scripture passage to open your time in prayer.

Also try praying with religious images from other cultures, or even more contemporary or abstract art.

You don’t even need artwork for Visio Divina. Walk outside and use an image from nature.

2) Prepare Your Heart for Prayer

Before you begin, choose your image and have it visible – either be near it in person or have the image pulled up on your phone or computer.

You may want to begin your time in prayer with a scripture reading. If you’re using a religious image, use the scripture related to that image. Or, use a Scripture from the day’s lectionary reading or just a favorite you want to pray.

Close your eyes, breathe, clear your mind, and ask God to enter into this time of prayer with you. Ask God to speak to you through this image.

3) Allow the Image to Speak to Your Heart

Open your eyes and look at the image you’ve selected. Let your eyes pause and focus on the part of the image they’re first drawn to.

Gaze upon just that part of the image for a minute or two. The close your eyes, still seeing that part of the image in your mind.

4) Reflect on the Entire Image

Open your eyes and now look upon the whole image. Gaze upon all of the image, allowing it to draw forth a word, an emotion, or an image in your heart.

What do you hear God whispering into your heart? What thoughts or questions is this image raising? What emotions do you feel?

Continue to gaze and reflect as long as you need to, then briefly close and rest your eyes.

5) Pray Through the Image

Open your eyes. While looking upon the image, respond to God. Pray through the words, images, emotions, questions, and thoughts that are now on your heart.

Continue to look upon the image as you pray. Then, close and rest your eyes briefly.

6) Rest and Reflect in God

As you close out your time in prayer, open your eyes and gaze again upon the image. Rest in God’s presence as you reflect upon this prayer experience.

Consider how you’ll take this into your life. You may choose to journal about your experience.

Art for Visio Divina

Here are some sites where you can find images for Visio Divina:

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

The Vatican Museum

Self-guided Stations of the Cross at the Smithsonian American Art Museum from ArtandTheology.org (use the images for Visio Divina or follow the guide for stations of the cross)

The Online Collection of Christian and Liturgical Art @ ancient-future.net (I like this one because the art is indexed by church season and topic.)

Restored Traditions (This is a stock photo site, but you can just preview the images for your prayers.)

Christian Art on Wikipedia (This page will get you started, but there are images throughout Wikipedia you can use for your prayers.)

Religious Art Collection

Review of “The Vatican: All The Paintings” book on Huffington Post

PRAY DEEP CHALLENGE: Try out Visio Divina today. If you need an image, use Rembrandt’s “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee.” See how God can speak to you through an image – a painting, a window, an illustration. Journal your experience. If you need help experiencing Visio Divina with this painting, follow this Guided Visio Divina at SoulShepherding.org.

Resources:

If you’re intrigued by this form of prayer, below are some additional resources:

Visio Divina @ The Upper Room

A Guided Visio Divina Experience @ SoulShepherding.org

Praying with Art @ Patheos.com

Seeing the Word with the St. John’s Bible

{these books are affiliate links}

Like this post? Explore this and other forms of prayer through the Pray Deep prayer journals. Each book will lead you through a variety of prayer methods through 21 days of focused prayers. Get started with one today!

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This post is part of the “Pray Deep” series. For more information on the series, click HERE.