Folding & Unfolding
Read under the eye of God
Until your heart is touched,
Then give yourself up to love.
-Guigo II
One of my favorite books is A Tree Full of Angels, Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary by Macrina Wiederkehr. I return to it often for wisdom, soothing words, and direction.
It’s a book about Lectio Divina in which she uses Monk Guigo the II’s description of Lectio Divina: " Read under the eye of God, until your heart is touched, then give yourself up to love.”
Guigo and Macrina offer more than just a way to read; They offer an approachable entrance to contemplative seeing and living.
Live under the eye of God/Love; notice what speaks to your heart; pause and give your attention to those smaller and deeper events.
When we “live under the eye of God,” messages of love, hope, grace, and kindness speak to us from tree leaves, budding flowers, calling birds, repetitive words, interesting conversations, Netflix shows, and Substack reads. The invitation to depth is hiding in plain sight.
Over the past week, a word and its variations caught my attention.
Fold.
Unfolding.
Enfolding.
Fold.
Fold. It’s such a common, ordinary word. Did I hear fold, enfold, unfolding more this week? I don’t know. But I know it shimmered and caught my attention in a way that it hasn’t before.
My heart was touched.
Is fold an invitation?
Is fold a practice?
I wonder what fold/unfold/enfold has to teach?
I’m not the best folder; sometimes, I’m more of a stuffer or a crumpler, but I fold clothes, towels, and pieces of paper and then unfold them daily. Folding and unfolding are unremarkable in their ordinariness.
I fold a hand towel and unfold it to use it. I fold my tee shirts and then unfold them to wear. I fold the bath towels one by one; then, they are unfolded to dry clean bodies. Items are folded for neat storage and organization.
When I unfold what I’m ready to use, I feel the care my past self had for my current self. I unfold mindlessly, yet, trusting my clothing won’t be too wrinkled and that the towel will be clean and ready to use.
How is folding, unfolding, and enfolding a spiritual practice? What does this most common chore have to teach us?
Folding as a chore demonstrates care and consideration for both the folded object and the person who will use it at some point in the future. Folded clothes are fresh, cared for, honored, and organized. There is an unspoken exchange in folding and unfolding.
The metaphor of folding and unfolding can inform our spiritual, reflective lives. Instead of crumpling up an idea, hope, dream, or part of myself, what if I lovingly folded them and placed them where they will be ready for use when the time is right? What’s folded is not forgotten; it is just lovingly stored for when it will be used.
I wonder what it means to fold, enfold, or unfold ideas, emotions, challenges, prayers, hopes, and dreams in our heads, hearts, souls, and minds.
What in your life needs to be folded with care?
What in your life is unfolding?
Where do you feel enfolded in love and care?
Some ideas for practice:
When you find yourself folding or unfolding an item, take a meaningful pause and notice what is asking to be folded or unfolded in your heart, soul, mind, and spirit.
Write a list of your nagging questions, doubts, fears, and worries, then fold the paper up. Let the movement of your hands and what you see with your eyes as your worries are enfolded speak to your soul about the power of letting go, of lovingly folding up for future use.
I love when the most ordinary parts of my day, through reflection and noticing become infused with deeper meaning.
What does fold invite you to?
What need to unfold in you?
Where do you long to be enfolded?
A Blessing For Folding, Unfolding and Enfolding
Next time you reach into a drawer or cupboard to pull out a folded towel, pause to consider the power of folding to organize, keep tidy, and remain fresh. Feel the loving care infused into the folds. When you unfold a towel, a tee shirt or a letter may it remind that someone (yourself or another) was offering you an ordinary blessing.
The following video is about a different use of the word fold, and I just have to share it! It’s delightfully quirky, and even (especially) delightfully quirky art can teach.
I’m also sharing a haiku I wrote several years ago. It turns out that fold is a word that comes back around for me.
As Guigo and Macrina teach, we can enjoy all things under the eye of God and let them be our teachers and guides.
“Fold” is a very funny word in a recipe. Loved the video scene! 😂 I also like your idea of folding as an act of care for the future self. That’s lovely.
Beautiful, Amy. Thank you.