Discernment of Spirits

1
Discernment of Spirits

• Asking what and why about our thoughts and
  feelings resulting from and leading to our
  activity in the world.

2
Discernment of Spirits

• Ignatius thoughts and feelings have three
  different sources

3
Discernment of Spirits

• Ignatius thoughts and feelings have three
  different sources
• Myself

4
Discernment of Spirits

• Ignatius thoughts and feelings have three
  different sources
• Myself
• Dark Spirit temptation or ego.

5
Discernment of Spirits

• Ignatius thoughts and feelings have three
  different sources
• Myself
• Dark Spirit temptation or ego.
• God

6
Discernment of Spirits

• Ignatius thoughts and feelings have three
  different sources
• Myself
• Dark Spirit temptation or ego.
• God
• Sift through to find patterns and vulnerabilities.

7
Consolation

• What is consolation?

8
Consolation

• Positive or creative moods, desires or feelings.

9
Consolation

• Positive or creative moods, desires or feelings.
  
• When in thought, feeling, word or deed, we move
  closer in relationship to God.

10
Consolation

• An experience of out inherent goodness.

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Consolation

• An experience of out inherent goodness.
• This movement has repercussions in our affective
  life our conscious feelings, moods, and desires.

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Examples of Consolation

• A sense of confidence in God and in the love of
  God for the world and for me.

13
Examples of Consolation

• A sense of confidence in God and in the love of
  God for the world and for me.
• Any experience which leads to a deepening and
  strengthening of confidence.

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Examples of Consolation

• A sense of confidence in God and in the love of
  God for the world and for me.
• Any experience which leads to a deepening and
  strengthening of confidence.
• An appreciation of my life and all that it
  contains as Gods gifts.

15
Examples of Consolation

• A sense that a person or event in my life is a
  gift.

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Examples of Consolation

• A sense that a person or event in my life is a
  gift.
• An epiphany.

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Examples of Consolation

• A sense that a person or event in my life is a
  gift.
• An epiphany.
• An event where I meet God.

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Examples of Consolation

• An attraction to the greater good.

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Examples of Consolation

• An attraction to the greater good.
• A movement or desire toward God.

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Examples of Consolation

• An attraction to the greater good.
• A movement or desire toward God.
• A sense of being at peace and in harmony with
  God, others and myself.

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Examples of Consolation

• An awareness of ones inherent spiritual poverty
  and natural dependence on God.

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Examples of Consolation

• An awareness of ones inherent spiritual poverty
  and natural dependence on God.
• An experience of personal freedom and interior
  liberation.

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Examples of Consolation

• An awareness of ones inherent spiritual poverty
  and natural dependence on God.
• An experience of personal freedom and interior
  liberation.
• A desire to love and serve others for their good
  rather than your own.

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Examples of Consolation

• A longing to be part of the reign of God,
  whatever the cost to myself.

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Examples of Consolation

• A longing to be part of the reign of God,
  whatever the cost to myself.
• A felt knowledge or intuition of the presence of
  God in creation and history.

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Painful Consolation

• What is painful consolation?

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Painful Consolation

• Feelings of proper shame, guilt, humiliation,
  sorrow or confusion.

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Painful Consolation

• Feelings of proper shame, guilt, humiliation,
  sorrow or confusion.
• Sorrow, anger and fear when we see the injustice
  all around us.

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Painful Consolation

• Feelings of proper shame, guilt, humiliation,
  sorrow or confusion.
• Sorrow, anger and fear when we see the injustice
  all around us.
• Often present in these experiences is an obscure
  sense of peace, joy and serenity on a deeper
  level.

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False Consolation

• What is False Consolation?

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False Consolation

• Feelings of consolation that are not movements
  towards God.

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False Consolation

• Feelings of consolation that are not movements
  towards God.
• Example feelings like inner-peace or
  complacency or relief can be false consolation.

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False Consolation

• Feelings of consolation that are not movements
  towards God.
• Example feelings like inner-peace or
  complacency or relief can be false consolation.
• In pursuit of the greater good, we find ourselves
  deceptively drawn to what turns out to be a
  lesser good.

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False Consolation

• Key When you catch yourself in false
  consolation, trace back your thoughts, feelings
  and choices.

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Desolation

• What is Desolation?

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Desolation

• When in thought, feeling, word or deed, we turn
  away in relationship to God.

37
Desolation

• When in thought, feeling, word or deed, we turn
  away in relationship to God.
• Rather than opening us to God, it seems to set a
  block between us and God.

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Desolation

• When in thought, feeling, word or deed, we turn
  away in relationship to God.
• Rather than opening us to God, it seems to set a
  block between us and God.
• Desolation closes us in on ourselves and begins a
  downward spiral.

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Desolation

• Desolation occurs when we resist the activity of
  God in our lives.

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Desolation

• Desolation occurs when we resist the activity of
  God in our lives.
• The tendency of desolation is to hinder the
  greater good.

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Desolation

• Desolation occurs when we resist the activity of
  God in our lives.
• The tendency of desolation is to hinder the
  greater good.
• Desolation has destructive consequences if it is
  acted upon.

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Examples of Desolation

• A sense that ones life is empty and meaningless.
  

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Examples of Desolation

• A sense that ones life is empty and meaningless.
  
• A state of self-disgust or self-hatred.

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Examples of Desolation

• A sense that ones life is empty and meaningless.
  
• A state of self-disgust or self-hatred.
• A weakening or loss of confidence in God and in
  Gods love, with a resulting feeling of profound
  discouragement.

45
Examples of Desolation

• A movement of love or desire which takes us away
  from God. A sense of being at odds with God and
  with oneself.

46
Examples of Desolation

• A movement of love or desire which takes us away
  from God. A sense of being at odds with God and
  with oneself.
• A feeling of the absence of God.

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Examples of Desolation

• A movement of love or desire which takes us away
  from God. A sense of being at odds with God and
  with oneself.
• A feeling of the absence of God.
• Feeling trapped in a circle of remorse or guilt
  at ones own weakness or sinfulness.

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Examples of Desolation

• An attraction to what is less good.

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Examples of Desolation

• An attraction to what is less good.
• An inability to accept trust in Gods
  forgiveness.

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Examples of Desolation

• An attraction to what is less good.
• An inability to accept trust in Gods
  forgiveness.
• A reluctance or real unwillingness to love and
  serve others. An aversion from whatever has to
  do with the reign of God.

51
Examples of Desolation

• An experience of being not free, of being
  paralyzed by fear, anxiety, attachments and
  addictions.