Skip to content
Spiritual First Aidby WorldWise United
Back to the library
✨
SpiritOverview

Ignatian Examen

A 500-year-old Jesuit practice of daily reflection, noticing where you felt alive and where you felt drained.

Educational only
Format
Individual or group
Session
10 to 20 minutes
Touch
no
Cost
free

What this experience is like in depth

Ignatian Examen is a spiritual and contemplative practice. It is a short daily prayer method from St. Ignatius of Loyola that reviews the day for consolation and desolation. It works with the understanding that healing is not only about insight but also about what is felt, witnessed, and released in the body, relationships, and environment. In a session, you spend 10 to 20 minutes noticing where you felt God's presence and where you turned away. You will sit quietly, journal, breathe, review the day gratefully. This is offered either one-on-one or in a group setting, typically 10 to 20 minutes, and this is a touch-free experience. People often choose this when they are carrying Loss of Purpose, Spiritual Disconnection, Repeating Patterns, and Feeling Stuck. Over time, this work can become a way of relating to yourself with less fear and more capacity.

Who it may help

Loss of PurposeSpiritual DisconnectionRepeating PatternsFeeling Stuck

Overview

A short daily prayer method from St. Ignatius of Loyola that reviews the day for consolation and desolation.

What happens during a session

You spend 10 to 20 minutes noticing where you felt God's presence and where you turned away.

What you physically do

Sit quietly, journal, breathe, review the day gratefully.
Typical session length

10 to 20 minutes

Insurance

Rarely covered by insurance. Some sliding-scale options exist, ask.

Questions to ask before booking

  • ?Are you trained in Ignatian spirituality?
  • ?Do you offer the 19th Annotation Spiritual Exercises?

Talk with a professional first if this applies to you

Some conditions call for extra care before starting this practice. Please review the following and share what applies with your practitioner.

  • Psychosis or severe mental health history

    If you have a personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar I, dissociative disorders, or are currently in an acute mental health episode, please consult a licensed mental health clinician before this practice. Intense inner experiences can be destabilizing.

These are general cautions, not medical advice. Always share your full health history with the practitioner and your regular healthcare provider before starting something new.

In a crisis right now? See immediate support resources →

Licensing & who to search for

Spiritual director (Ignatian-trained) or self-guided

Try these search terms:

  • "Ignatian spiritual director"
  • "examen prayer app"
  • "Jesuit retreat center"

Related modalities

Spiritual DirectionInterfaith ChaplainSilent RetreatSound Bath

Full guide in progress

This entry has the essentials so you can start researching safely. A deeper guide, with history, common myths, FAQs, and further reading, is coming.

Not sure if this is the right fit?

Take the short assessment. It shapes a starting point for what to research first.