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A Midwinter God

I love the bare branches of winter trees spread across the muted sky. Those aching arms that have been stripped of encumbrance to reveal the bones. When autumn comes I am dizzy with delight at the release of fluttering jeweled prayer flags settling to the ground to become the compost for next spring’s flowers. There is an excitement I experience at the change of each day’s landscape, a parade of colors, always something new revealed. It can be easy to forget that this is also the heart of dying. Then winter arrives and brings with it an often profound stillness.

November 2, 2011

Midwinter God – SCI online class general registration now open!

Soul Care Institute online learning: January 9-February 19, 2012 Register now for A Midwinter God: Making a Conscious Underworld Journey (click the link for more details) Open to all soul care practitioners (spiritual directors, chaplains, counselors, pastors, etc). In a dark time, the eye begins to see. —Theodore Roethke Wisdom comes with winter. —Oscar Wilde Our western culture denies the reality of difficult feelings, demonizes the experience of darkness, and rejects the invitation of winter to move into a place of unknowing and mystery. Our religious institutions don’t leave any room for the experience of doubt and despair. Certainty, planning,

November 1, 2011

Free Book Winners

Announcing the winners of the random drawings for free signed copies of books by the guest teachers in the Advent online retreat: Becoming a *Monk in the World* with Paula Huston Jillian wins a signed copy of The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life Becoming a *Monk in the World* with Dana Reynolds Maureen at Writing Without Paper wins a signed copy of Our Turn Our Time: Women Truly Coming of Age Becoming a *Monk in the World* with Roy DeLeon Barbara Lindquist Miller wins a signed copy of Praying with the Body: Bringing the Psalms to Life. Becoming a

October 31, 2011

Becoming a Monk in the World with Paula Huston

I first met Paula Huston about five years ago when I took a nonfiction writing class she was teaching through the fabulous Glen workshop. The Glen is a really wonderful gathering of writers and artists wrestling with the questions of meaning and substance in life. Paula is a gifted teacher and also offers her wisdom for writers through the Image Journal‘s online manuscript critique in creative nonfiction. She is also a Camaldolese Benedictine oblate and the author of several books on the spiritual life. Leave a comment below for a chance to win a free signed copy of The Holy Way: Practices for

October 24, 2011

Love has come for you

A couple of weeks ago I traveled to Los Angeles for the day. Actually I was only in the “city of angels” for a total of six hours, long enough to get from the airport to the office of the Austrian Consulate where I could submit the paperwork I have been gathering for months now and apply for dual citizenship. My father was an Austrian citizen and remained so until he died in 1996. He is now buried in Vienna in the central cemetery with his parents. These last few years my husband and I have been returning to Vienna more frequently, it is

October 24, 2011

Ancient Wisdom for the Storms of Life

My latest Seasons of the Soul column at Patheos: Amma Syncletica said, “In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek (and it is said: “Our God is a consuming fire” Heb. 12.24): so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.” (Syncletica 1) -excerpted from The Sayings of the

October 23, 2011

Becoming a Monk in the World with Dana Reynolds

I first met Dana when she attended a contemplative art retreat I led a couple of years ago. I discovered not only a kindred spirit but a very wise woman with a multitude of gifts. Dana has created a beautiful website called Sacred Life-Arts which is an online sanctuary, classroom, and resource center devoted to bringing creative inspiration and spiritual illumination to women. Be sure to check out her free 7-day e-course on Living with Divine Awareness: Sacred Practices to Awaken the Senses. Leave a comment below for a chance to win a free signed copy of Our Turn Our Time:

October 20, 2011

Becoming a Monk in the World with Roy DeLeon

Roy DeLeon is a fellow oblate with me at St. Placid Priory in Lacey, WA. Roy is also trained as a yoga teacher and invites people into the physical poses of this practice as an embodied way of praying with the psalms and other scriptures. Roy will be offering a weekly movement prayer as a part of the Advent 2011–Birthing the Holy: Becoming a Monk in the World online retreat (November 27-December 24, 2011). Leave a comment below and enter for a chance to win a free signed copy of Roy’s wonderful book Praying with the Body: Bringing the Psalms to Life.

October 17, 2011

Early registration open for A Midwinter God online SCI class

A Midwinter God: Making a Conscious Underworld Journey January 9-February 19, 2012 This 6-week online class is a part of the Soul Care Institute offerings. *Early registration* is now open to those applying to complete a Soul Care Institute certificate. General registration for any soul care practitioners will open November 1, 2011. Stop by the course page for details and registration>> Please note: While we recommend that you begin the certificate with Live it to Give it (next offering April 16-May 27, 2012), if you are ready to jump in now we welcome you into the program.

October 13, 2011

Becoming a Monk in the World with Mary Earle

I got to know Mary first through her books and then later had the joy of meeting her in person at a Spiritual Directors International conference. She is an Episcopal priest and the author of several books on how Benedictine practice can be supportive of those living with illness. In her writing I discovered a wise companion and guide and a doorway into the gifts of balance monastic wisdom offers. Leave a comment below and enter for a chance to win a free signed copy of her latest marvelous book on Celtic Christian Spirituality. “What is a monk in the

October 13, 2011

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A Midwinter God

Midwinter God – SCI online class general registration now open!

Free Book Winners

Becoming a Monk in the World with Paula Huston

Love has come for you

Ancient Wisdom for the Storms of Life

Becoming a Monk in the World with Dana Reynolds

Becoming a Monk in the World with Roy DeLeon

Early registration open for A Midwinter God online SCI class

Becoming a Monk in the World with Mary Earle

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