27 Palamas, a 14th-century Orthodox saint who greatly influenced its development. Traditionally, a monk seeking to experience hesychia would seclude himself in a cell. This practice is rooted in scripture: “Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:6-7). 1 Corinthians 14:19, and I Thessalonians 5:17, and Psalm 46:10 additionally underscore the essence of this practice. How might one apply hesychia today? Is it necessary to lock oneself away in a cell, or must one be a monk or nun to engage in this practice? Over a thousand years ago, Abba Isaiah answered this question, stating that hesychia simply means to humble oneself in the presence of God and to resist every distracting thought instigated by the enemy. This, he said, is how one flees from the world. Building Self-Awareness Self-awareness is essential for staying attentive to our thoughts and filtering out distractions. To cultivate self-awareness, we should start by identifying which thoughts are unnecessary or disruptive. We can do this by asking ourselves questions like, “What else is there? Is it good to be with God alone?” The desert monks recognised that human thoughts are often unpredictable and restless. Germanus, a disciple of Abba Isaac, observed that the mind tends to wander aimlessly, even during sacred moments like prayer. This constant mental drift makes it challenging to focus deeply. Abba Rufus advised us to be vigilant, reminding us to let go of grudges and pride, which can cloud our inner peace. In their teachings, the desert monks encouraged watchfulness, advising us to remain aware of the steady stream of memories, desires, and fears that frequently fill our minds. Evagrius Ponticus, another desert monk, suggested ignoring thoughts that stir up concerns or anxieties. By resisting these intrusions, we can ‘deafen’ the mind to distractions and quiet it, creating space for a more profound focus on God. This practice of watchfulness calms both the intellect and emotions, allowing worries to fall away. As we learn to set aside unnecessary thoughts, self-awareness naturally grows. We become more centered, experiencing a state of calm, silence, and stillness. This focus not only enhances our prayer life but also enriches our everyday experiences, allowing us to be more intentional and discerning about what truly matters in life. Being Aware of God’s Presence God is always present, but we often overlook God’s presence in our busy lives. Building awareness of God’s presence begins with self-awareness, but then
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