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Monk in the World guest post: Valerie Holt

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Valerie Holt’s wisdom on encountering her inner monk on the labyrinth: A few years ago, I was on a sales trip to San Francisco, working at a convention center across the street from Grace Cathedral.  I was exhausted from my work and searching for a few moments of peace and quiet.  On the second day I stepped out of the convention center for some fresh air and caught sight of the cathedral set up on a hill, beckoning me to cross

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The Soul’s Slow Ripening (a love note from your online Abbess)

To receive this love note straight to your in-box, subscribe here (and also receive gifts!) Dearest dancing monks, I have had the great pleasure of exploring several new (to us) monastic sites over the last couple of months. We are in the process of creating a second pilgrimage itinerary out of Galway in 2016, as so many of our Ireland pilgrims have told us they want to come back again (we hope to have our 2016 dates confirmed soon!). The abundance of these sites is incredible, so much richness of history and tradition, prayers saturating the landscape. It gives us such a

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Invitation to Poetry: Hospitality – What will you welcome in?

Welcome to Poetry Party #83! Instead of selecting an image this month, we ask you to consider your Word for the Year as your poetry muse. We began this month with a Community Visio Divina practice with an image of a  threshold and the theme of hospitality, asking what you will welcome in this year and followed up with our Photo Party. (You are most welcome to still participate).  We continue this theme in our Poetry Party this month. What qualities or practices does your Word for the Year ask you to invite in as we continue to welcome in the new year? Feel free to take your poem in

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Monk in the World guest post: Edith Ó Nualláin

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Edith Ó Nualláin’s reflections about mindful writing as spiritual practice:   Mindful Writing as a Spiritual Practice Like many seekers who set out on a spiritual pilgrimage, I discovered that journaling as a spiritual practice took me to places only the written word could go. It was as if the word, my word, was the way, like a finger pointing to the moon. Falling in love first with those writers who penned their spiritual autobiographies, sharing the tales of their

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The Call to Obedience (a love note from your online Abbess)

Dearest dancing monks, Just before Christmas our local dog rescue group was looking for two-week foster homes to help give them a bit more space while the dog pounds close and a rush of new dogs came into their kennels. We have been longing for a dog again, so relished the opportunity to help the shelter out while also soaking in some canine love. We brought home Ginger Nut, an older terrier, sweet and snuggly as can be. She was a perfect companion over the Christmas season. But, much to my surprise, over that time with her we actually discerned this

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Invitation to Photography: Hospitality – What will you welcome in?

Welcome to this month’s Abbey Photo Party! I select a theme and invite you to respond with images. We began this month with a Community Visio Divina practice with our reflection on Hospitality with an image of a threshold, asking what you want to welcome in this year. If you have chosen a word for the year ahead, what qualities does it ask you to invite in? I invite you for this month’s Photo Party to hold this image in your heart as you go out in the world to receive your own images in response. As you walk be ready to see what is revealed to

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Monk in the World guest post: Bryan Berghoef

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Bryan Berghoef’s wisdom on finding your inner monk outside the boxes of your calendar: Letting Go of the Schedule “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” ~Lao-Tzu My usual mode of operation involves a certain amount of busyness. True for all of us, no doubt! We have a schedule. Appointments to keep. A certain amount of anxiousness occurs as we drive to the meeting or hop on the subway to arrive on time. Preferably we’ll

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Winners of the 2015 Give Me a Word Drawing!

It is truly amazing and inspiring to read through the words that have chosen you, our dear dancing monks, to guide and challenge for the year ahead. You can read them in the comments here. (And if you still need support for finding a word, the free 12-day mini-retreat is still available at this link). I am delighted to announce the winners of our random drawing for a whole host of wonderful prizes. To claim your prize, please email us and we will get you set up. One space in the upcoming online Abbey retreat Illuminating the Way: Epiphany and New Year

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Call for Submissions: Monk in the World Guest Post Series

We welcome you to submit your reflection for possible publication in our Monk in the World guest post series. It is a gift to read how ordinary people are living lives of depth and meaning in the midst of the challenges of real life. There are so many talented writers and artists in this Abbey community, so this is a chance to share your perspective. The reflection will be included in our weekly newsletter which goes out to more than 9000 subscribers. Please follow these instructions carefully: Details: Please click this link to read a selection of the posts and get a feel for the

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“Dwell” (a love note from your online Abbess)

To receive this love note straight to your in-box, subscribe here (and also receive gifts!) NEW! Listen to the love note in audio form or read below: Dearest dancing monks, I have been sitting and listening for my own word. It arrived first about a week or so ago. I have been blessed to have some quiet time over the holidays to reflect on the inner and outer movements of this past year. Reflecting on the significant shifts for me over the last year helped to open the door for where I am being invited to focus my love and attention for

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