Bev Robertson, Team Vicar in Bromsgrove has been using guided meditation as a key
part of her ministry for the past 30 years. She moved to Bromsgrove five years ago and
now has two thriving groups meeting in the vicarage.
She explains: “My sessions are based on Ignatian meditation techniques and allow
people to meet with Christ in a sacred space. A former spiritual director of mine was a
Jesuit Priest who trained me in meditation which I’ve then developed further. I’ve also
studied psychology so I can spot any issues.”
Everyone’s sacred space is different and the meditation always begins by walking down
a pathway towards the space. This tends to be somewhere outside – either somewhere
participants have been that they love or somewhere in their imagination where they’d
like to be. Some time is spent using all the senses to explore the space – touching
trees, smelling earth and seeing colours. Then Christ is pictured in the space and
people go to greet him – taking the time to be with him walking and talking together.
“It’s an opportunity to completely relax,” says Bev. “A time and space where you are
held and supported by Christ – it promotes a deeper sense of trust and enables people
to let go of burdens. I see it as a type of prayer which doesn’t require a list of words
or requests.”
Around 25 people attend Bev’s sessions, in two groups. Some are members of the
church and some are non–churchgoers. The meditation is not written in advance – Bev
just lets it happen.
“If anyone is interested in running something similar,
I’d suggest they come along and experience it before
trying it for themselves. You need a good imagination,
but also an awareness of people’s needs to pick up any issues.”
Dudley Deanery – Rural Dean:
Dominic Melville; Lay Chair: John Layton
Diocese of Canterbury: Archbishop Justin Welby with
Bishop Trevor Willmott (Dover)
Diocese of Down and Dromore (Ireland):
Bishop Harold Miller
