The Ignatius Examen

In Ignatius Spirituality (依納爵靈修), Examen (意識省察）is another important way to pray to God.

Examen refers to the process of reviewing one's own experience, say, in the previous one day or half, identifying a grateful and perhaps also an ungrateful experience, clarifying and understanding the associated emotions, and based on these, praying to God.   There follows a plan for the way forward for the next day.

This may seem like what we are told when we were little, to reflect one's own doings in the day and find ways to improve oneself in the near future.

In the spiritual context, it is perhaps part of the process of opening to God one's deepest feelings and emphasizes the togetherness with God during the reflection.

For both the Examen and the Contemplation of Gospel, there are two essential requirements.

First, as they are both a form of prayers, one needs to invite the Holy Spirit to guide the prayer.

Second, the prayer involves a conversation, or called "colloquy", between one who prays and Jesus, or the Father, or Mary, or any of the saints.  Because of the conversational nature, there needs to be the elements of both speaking and listening.  The former is to express one's emotions accurately, and the latter to give time for silence for listening.

Reference:
1. Ignatius Spirituality.  The Daily Examen.  (http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/)

2. Wright VH.  Three ways to pray Ignatian.  At Days of Deepening Friendship.  (http://deepeningfriendship.loyolapress.com/2014/07/30/three-ways-to-pray-ignatian/)

3. 依納爵靈修空間 (http://www.ignatian.org)