Here are different ways in which you may take Julian's words into meditation on your own time, in your own space:
* Choose one of the short Julian quotations listed below. Copy it out in your own handwriting in a journal or notebook, as if Julian had written it just for you. Go into a quiet place, with no electronic distractions. Read the quotation several times over, saying the words slowly under your breath until you know them by heart. Don't rush. Ponder each phrase and allow it to "speak" to you personally. Be aware of what thoughts, associations, or feelings the words evoke within you. Allow at least twenty minutes for the words to sink in and open up your heart. Near the end of your meditation, jot down any reflections you wish to make concerning the quotation, how it applies to your life, how it makes you feel, how it might help you view your life differently, alter your daily actions, and grow spiritually. To finish, allow your reflection to lead you into prayer.
* Go into a quiet space, away from noise and distraction. Turn off your cell phone and other electronic devices. Shut the door. Sit in a straight-backed chair or on a firm floor cushion, legs crossed in front of you. Make your back as long and straight as possible, shoulders even and relaxed. Rest your hands, palms open, one on top of the other, thumbs touching. Close your eyes gently. Begin to be aware of your breath. Follow the breath in and out for ten counts. Allow your focus on the breath to quiet the mind. Then choose a short phrase or just one word from Julian's writings that is most meaningful to you. Repeat the word interiorly, listening to it in your heart. Do not try to think or imagine anything, just listen to the word and let it reverberate throughout your body. Become the word. As thoughts or emotions arise (and they will) gently move past them by re-focusing your attention on the word. Keep returning to the word without annoyance at the distractions. In time (and with daily practice), sitting with the breath and the word will become easier. Repeat the word silently for twenty to thirty minutes twice a day.
* Choose one of the short Julian quotations listed below. Copy it out in your own handwriting in a journal or notebook, as if Julian had written it just for you. Go into a quiet place, with no electronic distractions. Read the quotation several times over, saying the words slowly under your breath until you know them by heart. Don't rush. Ponder each phrase and allow it to "speak" to you personally. Be aware of what thoughts, associations, or feelings the words evoke within you. Allow at least twenty minutes for the words to sink in and open up your heart. Near the end of your meditation, jot down any reflections you wish to make concerning the quotation, how it applies to your life, how it makes you feel, how it might help you view your life differently, alter your daily actions, and grow spiritually. To finish, allow your reflection to lead you into prayer.
* Go into a quiet space, away from noise and distraction. Turn off your cell phone and other electronic devices. Shut the door. Sit in a straight-backed chair or on a firm floor cushion, legs crossed in front of you. Make your back as long and straight as possible, shoulders even and relaxed. Rest your hands, palms open, one on top of the other, thumbs touching. Close your eyes gently. Begin to be aware of your breath. Follow the breath in and out for ten counts. Allow your focus on the breath to quiet the mind. Then choose a short phrase or just one word from Julian's writings that is most meaningful to you. Repeat the word interiorly, listening to it in your heart. Do not try to think or imagine anything, just listen to the word and let it reverberate throughout your body. Become the word. As thoughts or emotions arise (and they will) gently move past them by re-focusing your attention on the word. Keep returning to the word without annoyance at the distractions. In time (and with daily practice), sitting with the breath and the word will become easier. Repeat the word silently for twenty to thirty minutes twice a day.
Selected Julian Quotations:
I saw that he is to us all things that are good and comfortable to help us. He is our clothing, that for love wraps us and winds us, embraces us and totally encloses us, hanging about us for tender love, that he may never leave us. And so in this sight I saw that he is all things that are good, as to my understanding.
For our soul is so preciously loved by him that is highest, that it overpasses [transcends] the knowing of all creatures: that is to say, there is no creature that is made that may know how much and how sweetly and how tenderly our Maker loves us.
And therefore we may ask of our lover, with reverence, all that we will. For our natural will is to have God, and the good will of God is to have us, and we may never cease from willing nor from loving till we have him in fullness of joy.
And our good lord wills this: that we believe and trust, rejoice and take delight in, comfort and solace ourselves, as much as we may with his grace and with his help, until the time that we see it truly. For the greatest joy that we shall have, as to my sight, is this marvelous courtesy and homeliness of our Father who is our creator, in our lord Jesus Christ who is our brother and our savior.
For God is all that is good, as to my sight, and God has made all that is made, and God loves all that God has made.
For God wills that we believe that we see him continually, though we think that it be but little, and in this belief God makes us evermore to gain grace. For God will be seen, and God will be sought, and God will be waited for and God will be trusted.
For the soul may do no more than seek, suffer, and trust. . . . And the clearness of finding, it is because of God's special grace when it is God's will. The seeking with faith, hope and charity pleases our Lord, and the finding pleases the soul, and fulfills it with joy.
For it is his will that we know that he shall appear suddenly and blissfully to all his lovers. For his working is private, and he wants to be perceived, and his appearing shall be very sudden. And he wants to be believed, for he is very pleasant, homely, and courteous.
And I saw truly that nothing is done by good fortune nor by bad accident, but all by the foreseeing wisdom of God. If it be good fortune or bad accident in the sight of mankind, our blindness and our lack of foresight are the cause.
For I saw that, when or at what time that a man or woman is truly turned to God for one day’s service to fulfill his endless will, he shall have all these three degrees of bliss. And the more that the loving soul sees this courtesy of God, the readier he (or she) is to serve him all the days of his (or her) life.
Julian's Prayer:
God of thy goodness, give me thyself. For thou art enough to me, and I may ask nothing that is less that may be full worship to thee. And if I ask anything that is less, ever will I be wanting. But only in thee do I have all.
NOTE: All quotations are from the Author's translation of Julian's Middle English Long Text, Copyright © 2013 by Veronica Mary Rolf. All rights reserved. No reprints allowed without the express permission of Veronica Mary Rolf and Orbis Books.
I saw that he is to us all things that are good and comfortable to help us. He is our clothing, that for love wraps us and winds us, embraces us and totally encloses us, hanging about us for tender love, that he may never leave us. And so in this sight I saw that he is all things that are good, as to my understanding.
For our soul is so preciously loved by him that is highest, that it overpasses [transcends] the knowing of all creatures: that is to say, there is no creature that is made that may know how much and how sweetly and how tenderly our Maker loves us.
And therefore we may ask of our lover, with reverence, all that we will. For our natural will is to have God, and the good will of God is to have us, and we may never cease from willing nor from loving till we have him in fullness of joy.
And our good lord wills this: that we believe and trust, rejoice and take delight in, comfort and solace ourselves, as much as we may with his grace and with his help, until the time that we see it truly. For the greatest joy that we shall have, as to my sight, is this marvelous courtesy and homeliness of our Father who is our creator, in our lord Jesus Christ who is our brother and our savior.
For God is all that is good, as to my sight, and God has made all that is made, and God loves all that God has made.
For God wills that we believe that we see him continually, though we think that it be but little, and in this belief God makes us evermore to gain grace. For God will be seen, and God will be sought, and God will be waited for and God will be trusted.
For the soul may do no more than seek, suffer, and trust. . . . And the clearness of finding, it is because of God's special grace when it is God's will. The seeking with faith, hope and charity pleases our Lord, and the finding pleases the soul, and fulfills it with joy.
For it is his will that we know that he shall appear suddenly and blissfully to all his lovers. For his working is private, and he wants to be perceived, and his appearing shall be very sudden. And he wants to be believed, for he is very pleasant, homely, and courteous.
And I saw truly that nothing is done by good fortune nor by bad accident, but all by the foreseeing wisdom of God. If it be good fortune or bad accident in the sight of mankind, our blindness and our lack of foresight are the cause.
For I saw that, when or at what time that a man or woman is truly turned to God for one day’s service to fulfill his endless will, he shall have all these three degrees of bliss. And the more that the loving soul sees this courtesy of God, the readier he (or she) is to serve him all the days of his (or her) life.
Julian's Prayer:
God of thy goodness, give me thyself. For thou art enough to me, and I may ask nothing that is less that may be full worship to thee. And if I ask anything that is less, ever will I be wanting. But only in thee do I have all.
NOTE: All quotations are from the Author's translation of Julian's Middle English Long Text, Copyright © 2013 by Veronica Mary Rolf. All rights reserved. No reprints allowed without the express permission of Veronica Mary Rolf and Orbis Books.