1. Where is your art expressed in the world? At work? At home? In a hobby or creative practice?

2. William Blake referred to imagination as “spiritual sensation.” Share experiences of this.

3. Where has your imagination been inspired by an everyday activities such as visiting a museum or hearing a youth concert?

4. What creative activity in your life has felt inspired by God or the Divine?

5. Which segments on the DVD expanded your imagination, such as the talking photograph or the old woman who wanted to live in the tree?

6. What in nature inspires you such as Monarch butterflies? Share examples of this.

7. Where might you consider expanding your imagination a bit such as talking to a tea kettle or another household object about your struggles?

8. What gives you a sense of your place in the “family of things” that poet Mary Oliver refers to?

Possible Practices

1. Notice where you use your imagination in your life right now. Try expanding it this week.

2. What can you implement in your life to remember to trust your imagination more, such as "I hope for this or something even better!"

3. Try drawing in your journal instead of writing in it.

4. Experiment with using the clouds in the sky as a cue to practice using your imagination.
Visit the Imagination homepage for more ways to practice this spiritual quality. Follow the links in the left column to:

  • a collection of quotations on compassion
  • book recommendations
  • book excerpts and teaching stories
  • film recommendations
  • music and art meditations
  • a daily cue, reminder, vow, and blessing for compassion
  • a prayer or mantra
  • personal explorations including imagery and journal exercises
  • practices and spiritual exercises
  • questions for discussion, storytelling, sharing
  • take action with household, group, and community projects
  • and more

Prepared by Persephone Zill with contributions from Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat