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ยป Home ยป Finding Guidance

What is Lectio Divina? (Step-by-Step Soul-Centered Practice)

by Aletheia Luna ยท Updated: Apr 3, 2025 ยท 34 Comments

Image of a divine book used in lectio divina
lectio divina divine reading meditation

Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into anotherโ€™s skin, anotherโ€™s voice, anotherโ€™s soul.

โ€“ Joyce Carol Oates

Of all the practices available to us on our spiritual awakening journeys, reading is perhaps one of the simplest and most accessible avenues to deeper self-insight.ย 

Words and ideas are all around us: in the news, on the many websites we visit, in our social media streams, in advertisements, and in the odd book we purchase.

But not all reading is equal reading.ย 


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There is superficial, surface-level consumption of information โ€“ think of a bulbous-eyed frog that flicks out its tongue and ingests anything that comes its way.ย 

And then there is deep-level, contemplative reading โ€“ picture an elegant koi fish that rises briefly to the surface then glides down into the depth of the pond.

The koi fish is what weโ€™re aiming to imitate here!ย 

Enter: lectio divina โ€“ an old tradition that Iโ€™m seeking to reimagine and reawaken for modern spiritual practitioners.

Table of contents

  • What is Lectio Divina?
  • Four Stages of Lectio Divina
  • How to Practice Lectio Divina? (A Soul-Centered Approach)
    • Preliminary Step: Books and Lectio Divina
    • Intuitive Lectio Divina
    • Structured Lectio Divinaย 
  • Lectio Divina and Soul Work

What is Lectio Divina?

Image of a book with a candle in the background used for lectio divina

Lectio Divina is a Latin word that quite literally translates to โ€œdivine reading.โ€ Such a practice stems from the devotional practice of the Jewish people that was later adopted by Christian monastics in the early church.

While Lectio Divina is popular mostly amongst Catholics, I believe it is a practice โ€“ like meditation โ€“ that can enrich, nourish, empower, and inspire anyone regardless of their belief system (or lack thereof).ย 

Four Stages of Lectio Divina

Image of a book, candle, and tea

There are two ways to approach Lectio Divina. The first approach is intuitive and unstructured. In this method, we simply choose a book that weโ€™re intuitively drawn to and use it as our source of meditation and contemplation.


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The second approach is more structured and was outlined by a 12th century Carthusian monk by the name of Guigo II.

In a letter (known as The Ladder of Monks) he described and outlined a four-runged ladder to heaven defined by the following practices:

  1. Lectio (reading)
  2. Meditatio (meditation)
  3. Oratio (prayer)
  4. Contemplatio (contemplation)

Weโ€™ll explore both the intuitive and structured style of Lectio Divina next.

How to Practice Lectio Divina? (A Soul-Centered Approach)

Image of a woman doing lectio divina meditation

The highest purpose of Lectio Divina, in my perspective, is to reconnect with your Soul and the Divine.ย As such, it’s a potent soul work practice.

The beauty of Lectio Divina is that itโ€™s a practice that enables you to slow down and participate in an active form of contemplation that gives the Soul space to be heard, felt, and listened to.

If you’d like a sample of what it sounds like, Mateo recorded a demonstration of meditative lectio divina reading of The Tao Te Ching:

Preliminary Step: Books and Lectio Divina

Image of a pile of books

The book or text you select is a central part of your Lectio Divina practice.

In the words of Virginia Woolf:

Books are the mirrors of the soul.

And in the words of author Katrina Kenison:

Reading, reading actively, strengthens the soul.

Books play a sacred role in our evolution as a species: theyโ€™re not only at the heart of many religions, but they have also sparked the greatest realizations, inventions, and discoveries known to humanity.ย 

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Furthermore, books are there for us in times of need โ€“ they can shed light in dark places, guide us through Dark Nights of the Soul, and even play the role of nurturing companions and friends when all other support systems around us fail.ย 

Therefore, choose a book that calls to your heart and speaks to your Soul. That could be a traditional wise text (like the Tao Te Ching which is one of my favorites), poetry, some other book that you want to integrate the lessons of, or even a fictional book or kids story.ย 

Intuitive Lectio Divina

Image of a person doing lectio divina with a cup of tea

Intuitive Lectio Divina is mostly unstructured and focuses on reading as a form of active meditation, meaning that it may or may not include prayer or contemplation.

To practice intuitive Lectio Divina, here are some simple tips:

  1. Hold your chosen book in your hand, close your eyes if that feels comfortable, and mindfully connect with your in-breath and out-breath.ย 
  2. When youโ€™re grounded and centered, open intuitively to a page in the book or if you prefer, find a passage youโ€™ve bookmarked or highlighted to read.
  3. As you read the quote, passage, or page/s, go slowly, savoring each word.
  4. A few meditative techniques you can use in your Divine Reading are to:
    • Slowly read and focus on the space between each word, pausing every now and then.ย 
    • Linger on a word or phrase that calls to you, pause, and let it sink into the depths of your being.
    • Focus simultaneously on your breath and the words that are entering your conscious awareness.
    • Expand your focus not just on the words youโ€™re reading, but also your body, the sounds around you, and the surrounding environment.
    • Observe and meditatively take in the whole page, let your eyes drift across the words, and stop when they find a particular word or phrase that โ€œjumpsโ€ out. Imagine breathing in this word or phrase into your deepest being and transforming your inner self.ย 
  5. At any point during your Lectio Divina, you might like to say an intuitive prayer based on what youโ€™ve read (internally or out loud). For example, if youโ€™ve just read about the value of letting go, you might pray something like, โ€œDear Divine/Source/God, please help me to let go, trust, and surrender. May I learn deeply from this text and integrate its lessons. Thank you.โ€ย 
  6. When you feel ready to finish your Lectio Divina, close your eyes, connect with your breath, mindfully close the book, and then offer gratitude to the Divine (if that resonates).ย 

If you have any other ideas for intuitive Lectio Divina, I invite you to comment them below.ย 

Structured Lectio Divinaย 

Image of an old book

Here are some tips for practising structured Lectio Divina:

1. Lectio (reading)

Choose a specific book and passage that speaks to you. Read the words slowly, meditatively, and carefully, taking as much time as you need.

2. Meditatio (meditation)

As you slowly read the text, mindfully notice which words or phrases โ€œpull you inโ€ or activate some kind of inner response in you (comfortable or uncomfortable). Let your conscious awareness meditate on these words by letting them sink in and noticing what happens in your mind and body. Meditating on the words might also involve simply letting them sit in your open awareness, without trying to understand them.

3. Oratio (prayer)

After meditating on the text and allowing it to penetrate further into your consciousness, you may like to say a spontaneous (or pre-existing) prayer to deepen your connection with, and ability to integrate, the words.

For instance, you might choose a pre-existing prayer such as the Hoสปoponopono prayer/chant of forgiveness and reconciliation: โ€œI love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.โ€ย 

Other prayers might be religious in nature (if you subscribe to a particular religion) or could be spontaneously created by you in the moment.ย 

Why pray? Prayer helps to open the heart, invite in grace, and facilitate closer connection with the Divine.


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4. Contemplatio (contemplation)

Contemplation can be thought of as an active form of meditation โ€“ it helps us to access spiritual guidance that we may otherwise have not had access to.ย 

When we contemplate something โ€“ in this case a passage from a book โ€“ we simultaneously open to it and ask reflective questions.

In the case of Lectio Divina, we might come across the word โ€œsynchronicity,โ€ for example, and then allow that word to sink into our consciousness. We then contemplate that word in the sense that we ponder what relationship we have to synchronicity. Have we experienced any notable synchronicities lately? What might the Divine be communicating to us through such synchronicities? Etc.ย 

Another example would be taking a book about Self-Love and using it in our Lectio Divina. Perhaps we stumble across the word โ€œold soulโ€ within the text, and for some reason that word stands out to us. We then contemplate the meaning of โ€œold soulโ€ by reflecting on our relationship with such words. Are we an old soul? Can a soul be old? How does being an old soul influence our life? And so on.

I would recommend having a journal nearby if you decide to incorporate contemplation into your Lectio Divina practice. Journaling is a wonderful way to record your discoveries and go deeper into them if you wish.

Lectio Divina and Soul Work

Image of a book used for lectio divina surrounded by red roses

Soul work, or the path of doing the Soul’s work, is at the heart of the Lectio Divina practice.ย 

In the words of writer Jeanette Winterson,

Reading is a rendezvous with your soul.

And Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading, is simply a mindful and intentional way of invoking, evoking, and mirroring our own deepest knowing.

For those who struggle with traditional forms of meditation, Lectio Divina is a unique way of helping you to quiet the mind, open the heart, and be open to the voice of the Divine.

***

I hope this article has inspired you to refresh, enliven, and reawaken your relationship with reading.

You donโ€™t need to be religious to practice Lectio Divina and you donโ€™t even need to be that interested in reading to do it. Simply find a book โ€“ or perhaps even an article on your phone or computer โ€“ that speaks to you in a deep way, and use it as a basis for Divine Reading.

If you have any further ideas about, or even experience with, Lectio Divina, Iโ€™d love to hear it in the comments!

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About Aletheia Luna

Aletheia Luna is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and intuitive guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. As a survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. [Read More]

(34) Comments

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  1. John Ambrose says

    July 11, 2022 at 5:55 pm

    Divine reading is like food for the soul and often can spark a change in life direction, or produce deep calm taking the mind out of the pity party patter of the outer world and into the deep calm of oneness and no thought. Within this range are some of the great religious and non religious authors of the past, where words are eloquent and gifted of experiences and hardship or loss in ancient times.
    They can come to you in synchronicity, seeming to just come to you while your on the verge of new Spiritual discovery or in need of deep felt nourishment of the soul. Some are to be savoured and kept to read over and over again as they help to re connect us to the that very humanness of life dramas we all share, or are creative gems out on a limb to tantalise the senses and hold us in awe of the creative genius taken to the tenth degree of that time and place.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:45 pm

      Beautiful first sentence, “Divine reading is like food for the soul and often can spark a change in life direction, or produce deep calm …” Thank you John!

      Reply
  2. John Ambrose says

    July 11, 2022 at 5:36 pm

    Thanks for all the hard work and effort you both put into making this website a truthful reality. It breathes life into us all on many levels.
    What you are both sowing now will I am sure reap full benefits in the future. As your wisdom and youthful energy both educates, inspires and helps to heal some of us old cranky ones with Spiritual and personal truths that have laid dormant forgotten or repressed for years.
    While the youthful ones will often find your web pages like an anchor for a ship in the storms and changes of this present life. So please do not feel that the seeds sown here are wasted, useless or lost on hard ground as this is far from the case. You are much needed and wanted for this new age of the multiverse and become aware of the many star nations and cultures we are yet to meet very soon. As this Earth is a jewel in the crown of our solar system, a great training house for the Spirit as Source now deems it.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:48 pm

      I deeply appreciate your words of support, John, they are nourishing and meaningful to me. This can be a strange medium to connect through, sometimes feeling very remote and even isolating, yet it is my passion to write and share the Soul’s truths. Hearing that this work can serve as an anchor or burst of inspiration is all I could ever wish for when working on and publishing these blog posts, articles, and essays. โ™ก

      Reply
  3. Dorothy Batten says

    July 11, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    Synchronicity. I just became a reviewer for OBC. I have as my first experience a book which is about a man who was an athiest and now has discovered his very strong and spiritual abilities including empathy to a very heightened level.
    This book is really speaking to me on a level equal to the spiritual Awakening process.
    To come to my email and find this guidance on lectio divina is giving me an absolutely delightful awareness of synchronicity
    Thank you. You are very much appreciated by me

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:49 pm

      Thank you Dorothy โค

      Reply
  4. Susan Stephens says

    July 11, 2022 at 5:17 am

    I’ve been using this technique for years, without knowing the label, “Lectio Divina.” Amonst many books, I enjoy the Tao by opening it up to a random page, so as to focus on one particular idea at a time and not get stuck on persevering the understanding of other details within the book.

    I also enjoy “God’s Breath, Sacred Scriptures Of The World.” This is a collection of texts from the great books that look at spiritual commonalities between 7 major religeons. Super commentaries and insights preceeding each scripture by the world’s top spiritual teachers and writers.

    If the world could be compelled to take the time to practice Lectio Divina, it would be a better place with happier people.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:50 pm

      I use the same technique as well Susan! And I very much agree with your last statement. :)

      Reply
  5. Cybertycoon says

    July 10, 2022 at 11:01 pm

    Deep insight. Majority of my books are now in pdf or epub extensions and they can only be read from my mobile devices. My question is can this practice be comfortably done with ebooks? now that tasks are fast moving from papers to the screen.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:51 pm

      Yes, absolutely cybertycoon! So long as the meditative intention is there, I can’t see why not. I personally have a preference for paperbacks, but I know that others prefer digital, and that’s totally fine. ;)

      Reply
  6. Diana A. says

    July 10, 2022 at 10:57 pm

    Thank you Spirits of my guide’s
    Love you n your n Australia Land Always appreciate of Respect First.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:51 pm

      Thank you Diana โ™ก

      Reply
  7. Randy says

    July 10, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    Very timely article. I’ve used this technique for years intuitively, and never thought previous generations have used it as well. Then to find it has a name as well is eye opening. Thank you!

    For those that have never used it, give the technique a sincere trial. It will change your life, as it has mine. Keep your mind open, and use all parts of the technique. Yes, it might lead you down some rabbit holes, but they will be educational. Most importantly, remember to do the contemplation part in particular. It just might change your mind about things you were sure about. As I’ve done the work, my thoughts and therefore my life has changed. For the better, by the way.
    Blessings to you all who are searching the path along the way!

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      I appreciate you sharing your experience with this beautiful practice, Randy! Much love โ™ก

      Reply
  8. L says

    July 10, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    It is a very good article!!!

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:53 pm

      Thank you L!

      Reply
  9. Philile says

    July 10, 2022 at 9:58 pm

    This is beautiful and is a step in the right direction for my current journey, thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:53 pm

      It’s a pleasure to help and educate, Philile :) โ™ก

      Reply
  10. Dallen says

    July 09, 2022 at 2:01 am

    Great article. I am an avid reader and book worm so I love this concept. The majority of my spiritual growth, awakenings, and epiphanies have come from reading/meditating/praying/and contemplating things I’ve read. I whole heartedly recommend this technique.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 12, 2022 at 3:52 pm

      Thank you for recommending this technique, Dallen! May your reading continually evoke the deep insights you long for โ™ก

      Reply
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