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Saturday, March 15, 2025

Tripping = Meditating

 When people in prison have a lot of time being alone, they often go tripping.  Inmates do interact with others, but if you are in the SHU or the "hole," you are alone.  SHU is Special Housing Unit.  

The inmates there have a developed a coping mechanism called "tripping."  This is an adjustment coping mechanism.  The person actively imagines trips outside of the prison.  Perhaps it is something from their past, or something they would love to do when or if, they ever get out.

This takes practice, perhaps years.  It starts with pacing, back and forth, because if you are sitting and still, too many distractions will interfere with your trip.

I do this too, in my meditative walks.   Only, I don't have to imagine things and places I'd like to go, because I can.  That's called planning.  Like my "cloistered brothers and sisters," however, I can "trip" by imagining putting myself in Christ's life.  

I've been on the trip the Holy Family went when they fled into Egypt.  Matt 2: 13-15  Who hasn't walked the Via Delarosa?  

This isn't anything new.  Ludolph of Saxony in his commentaries of the Life of Jesus talks of doing this.  Ignatian Contemplation is also, the same.



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Tripping = Meditating

 When people in prison have a lot of time being alone, they often go tripping.  Inmates do interact with others, but if you are in the SHU o...