Reflections

O listen – Listen more carefully To what is inside of you right now. In my world All that remains is the wondrous call to Dance and prayer Rising up like a thousand suns Out of the mouth of a Single bird. —Hafiz Dearest fellow monks and friends, Where do I even begin? As many of you know, five months ago my husband and I made a life-changing decision. We sold our home, our car, most of our belongings, paid off all debts, my husband resigned from his job, we said goodbye to dear friends, we even found a new

Click on individual photos for larger views and a glimpse into your online Abbess’ new life in Vienna, Austria: 1st Row: L & R views of our beautiful historic apartment building near the center of Vienna 2nd Row: L – the view from the courtyard / R – the Naschmarkt is around the corner, a half mile of food stalls including meat, cheese, wine, vegetables, fruit, olives, spices, flowers 3rd Row – L & R a nearby flower stall 4th Row – L – the Hofburg Palace (10 minute walk away) / R – one of many beautiful statues 5th

The view from our ship back toward the Verrazano Narrows Bridge – our last view of the U.S. before heading across the North Atlantic to our new home. . .

The Moment The moment when, after many years of hard work and a long voyage you stand in the centre of your room, house, half-acre, square mile, island, country, knowing at last how you got there, and say, I own this, is the same moment when the trees unloose their soft arms from around you, the birds take back their language, the cliffs fissure and collapse, the air moves back from you like a wave and you can’t breathe. No, they whisper. You own nothing. You were a visitor, time after time climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming. We