Ora, lege, relege, labora, et invenies (Pray, read, reread, work, and you shall find) [1].
Introduction
This article outlines two methods for participating in a profound understanding of cybernetics and systems, based on the religious practice of Lectio Divina [2].
Preparation
Materials
Location
Find a place and time where-when you can think and feel quietly and without distraction. If LDC is to be practiced regularly, it may be best to practice at the same place and/or time every day.
Transition
Do something to move from an ordinary state to an extraordinary one, such as a banishing ritual, no-form exercise, or just center yourself and take several deep breaths.
Invocation (optional)
Traditional LD practice was intended as a deepening relationship between the participant, God, and the Word of God i.e. the the Holy Bible. For LDC, it may be necessary (particularly for the last two phases of the first method) to invoke a deity with which you have strong intuitive associations of being generative and/or nutritive of cybernetics and systems.
First Method
Lectio Divina has been likened to “Feasting on the Word.” The four parts are first taking a bite (Lectio), then chewing on it (Meditatio). Next is the opportunity to savor the essence of it (Oratio). Finally, the Word is digested and made a part of the body (Contemplatio). [3]
Spend about 15 minutes each or one hour total on the following four activities.
Lectio (reading; the eyes)
Choose an article from the book and read it slowly and carefully, several times. Remember that such an article is a passage: it takes you somewhere.
Meditatio (reflection; the head)
Meditate on the meaning of the read article.
Oratio (prayer; the heart)
Open a dialog with your invoked deity, about the intuitive meaning of the read article.
Contemplatio (contemplation; the gut)
Rest joyfully in the presence of the invoked deity, allowing those things which have perturbed your heart and mind to permeate your gut and throughout your body.
Second Method
This is based on John Uebersax’s “A Method for Lectio Divina Based on Jungian Psychology” [4]. See the article for suggestions on how to successfully operate in each phase.
Sensing
Read the chosen article as a sensual experience, i.e. without trying to make sense of it, without trying to comprehend its meaning.
Thinking
Re/read the article again, slowly and carefully, playing with the words and making mental associations.
Intuiting
Re/read the article again with intent to bypass your intellectual mind and gain an intuitive experience of the words’ meaning(s). Do not focus much on the words themselves, unless one calls to you intuitively.
Feeling
Re/read the article again, and as with the previous phase (Intuiting), do not attend much to specific words. Experience the text emotionally, and rest joyfully and gratefully in the presence of Greater Good.
Notes & References
1. Isaac Baulot (?), Mutus Liber.
2. Luke Dysinger, “Accepting The Embrace Of God: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina,” http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html (1990).
4. John Uebersax, “A Method for Lectio Divina Based on Jungian Psychology,” http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jsuebersax/lectio.htm (2007).