Krzyż w zadymce (Cross in the Blizzard) by Józef Chełmoński

You must descend from
your head into your heart.
At present your thoughts of God
are in your head. And God Himself is,
as it were, outside you, and
so your prayer and other spiritual
exercises
remain exterior. Whilst you are still
in your head,
thoughts will not easily be subdued but
will always be whirling about, like snow
in winter or
clouds of mosquitoes in summer.

— Theophan the Recluse

A lectionary text to practice on:

I remember the days of old,
    I think about all your deeds,
    I meditate on the works of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.  Selah

— Psalm 143:5-6

Read it to yourself–and do what it says.

Read it out loud–and do what it says.

Read the poem again. Read the text again. And do what they say.

Rest a soft gaze on the painting while observing your thoughts. Are they still gusting and storming? Regulate them with your breathing and by gently guiding them back to the words of the psalm:

[inhale]: Teach me to do your will,
    [exhale:] for you are my God;
[inhale:] may your good Spirit
    [exhale:] lead me on level ground. 

— Psalm 143:10

Let the words descend from your head to your heart.