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This is what it is like to yield (a love note from your online Abbess)

To receive this love note straight to your in-box, subscribe here (and also receive a free gift!) To hear Christine read the poem and love note to you, listen below (you do need flashplayer for it to work) or download the file here: [audio:http://www.mediafire.com/download/lned8f3di2n220f/This_is_what_is_it_like_to_yield_-_July_1%2C_2013.mp3] This is what it is like to yield: to finally feel that place of tightness – your left shoulder, the crick that has been in your neck for as long as you can remember, the hard point between your eyes – soften, and all that is left is the overwhelming desire to dance, to stop resisting the

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Wisdom Council: Guest Post from Stacy Wills

I am delighted to introduce our next member of the Wisdom Council to you: Stacy Wills.  I first met Stacy through the Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist online class.  She continued on with the community for several classes, and I had the pleasure of meeting her (and her delightful husband) in person when I went to Mississippi to lead a workshop for spiritual directors in the arts.  Stacy now brings her monk, artist, and spiritual director gifts in service to the Abbey through co-facilitating the Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist classes (along with Cheryl Macpherson,

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Beside the Sea . . . on the wild and sacred west coast of Ireland. . . (a video and a pilgrimage)

Ireland is calling so many hearts, souls, and bodies to dwell in her landscape.  In my last newsletter I put a small note at the bottom of the calendar that I was planning a Monk in the World pilgrimage to the west coast of Ireland and to drop me a note if you wanted advance notice.  I received many responses, and last Saturday we opened advanced registration for 11 pilgrims to come May 20-28, 2014, and yesterday – just three days later – we have filled those dates!  That is amazing (and please email me if you want to be on

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Wisdom Council: Guest Post from Ronna Detrick

I am thrilled to continue this weekly series of summer guest posts from each of the Wisdom Council members, with their reflections on what being a monk in the world and an artist in everyday life means for them, in the context of their own work and ministries. I first met Ronna Detrick in person as I was in the throes of selling my home in Seattle a year ago and preparing for this great life adventure I am on now.  I had seen Ronna’s work and felt a kinship to her spirit, so I am grateful for our chance to

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How to Feel the Sap Rising (a love note from your online Abbess)

How to Feel the Sap Rising (a poem for summer) Walk as slowly as possible, all the while imagining yourself moving through pools of honey and dancing with snails, turtles, and caterpillars. Turn your body in a clockwise direction to inspire your dreams to flow upward. Imagine the trees are your own wise ancestors offering their emerald leaves to you as a sacred text. Lay yourself down across earth and stones.  Feel the vibration of dirt and moss, sparking a tiny (or tremendous) revolution in your heart with their own great longing. Close your eyes and forget this border of skin.  Imagine

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Wisdom Council: Guest Post from Dana Reynolds of Sacred Life Arts

I am so delighted to be starting a weekly series of guest posts from each of the Wisdom Council members, with their reflections on what being a monk in the world and an artist in everyday life means for them, in the context of their own work and ministries. It is with great pleasure that I host Dana Reynolds of Sacred Life Arts for our first installment.  I have worked with Dana as both a participant in Abbey retreats, as well as a collaborator and co-creator of Abbey programs (she helped to create the Advent 2011 retreat and the wonderful Women on the Threshold program. 

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Wisdom Council: The Illumination of Words

About a month ago I was inspired to invite several friends and long-time supporters and participants in the Abbey to join me in forming a Wisdom Council.   To my great delight, all 12 of those I invited offered me an enthusiastic yes in response.  I am looking forward to drawing on their wisdom and insight as the Abbey continues to grow and thrive, and to have others with whom to reflect on the best ways to sustainably serve this community. I asked each of them to send me three words that came to them spontaneously when they thought of the Abbey’s

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Virtual Book Tour: Spring Roundup!

Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice was published in April by Ave Maria Press, and I have been so grateful for the wonderful reception! I embarked on an almost two-month long Virtual Book Tour (ah, the wonders of the internet!) and am so grateful to everyone who participated, wrote reviews, hosted guest posts, and conducted interviews.  I am really in awe at the generous response. I have compiled the whole tour below broken down by category so it is easier now to find what you might be looking for.  Several guest posts from me on the

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The winner of this week’s drawing is. . .

. . . Beckie Boger!  Beckie, email me with your snail mail address and I will get a signed copy of Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice directly from me in Ireland! Such a delight, as always, to savor the poems from this past week’s Poetry Party on the wisdom of creatures.  Pour a cup of tea and linger a while.  My heart is full of gratitude for all of our Abbey poets!

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Being a Monk in the World Through Wilderness Rites of Passage (Guest Post)

I am delighted to share this guest post from Nancy Wiens about being a monk in the world through wilderness rites of passage.  Nancy and I were in the doctoral program at the Graduate Theological Union together many years ago and shared much kinship in our passions then, as well as now.  Back when I was studying Hildegard of Bingen and viriditas, Nancy was exploring discernment within the context of the natural world.  Read on for more of her insights: I am not a monk in the classical sense and thus do not live in a traditional monastery.  But very often

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