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Stirring in the Belly: Listening for New Life

I am reposting my Seasons of the Soul column for Patheos from last year to honor this sacred day: The most important events make no stir on their first taking place, nor indeed in their effects directly. They seem hedged about by secrecy. It is concussion, or the rushing together of air to fill a vacuum, which makes a noise. The great events to which all things consent, and for which they have prepared the way, produce no explosion, for they are gradual, and create no vacuum which requires to be suddenly filled; as a birth takes place in silence, and

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February 1, 2012

THE MONASTERY retreats

I am posting this information to support the Sisters who lead these retreats.  I am not personally involved in the programs, so if you have questions, please visit their website and contact them directly: Deep in Iowa farming country, stands Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. Abiding by the centuries-old Rule of St. Benedict, this contemplative community of Cistercian nuns has left behind the clamor of the 21st century for a cloistered life of prayer based on the monastic values of silence, obedience and humility. But in 2006 the Sisters allowed television cameras inside their abbey along with five women

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January 25, 2012

More praise for The Artist’s Rule (from Benedictines to Baptists)

The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration publish a bi-monthly journal called Spirit and Life.  In the January/February 2012 issue they had this to say about  The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom: This author’s work is firmly rooted in Benedictine spirituality, making special note of the “ladder of humility” and Lectio Divina. Moving through the twelve weeks of experimentation with deepening artistic experiences, readers are guided into deeper and broader insights into many aspects of their work and life. They may find that the contemplative aspect of their lives, too, is blossoming. Rather than stressing “how to,” Paintner gives

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January 19, 2012

Visual Meditation: Winter Stillness and Delight

Seattle had another snowstorm today.  These images are from the one we enjoyed on Sunday.  Lots of play and frolicking happening here at the Abbey today.  And our dog Winter loves to play in the snow, who would have guessed?

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January 18, 2012

Abbey Bookshelf – Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit

*Leave a comment on this post in the comment section below and enter a random drawing for a free copy of Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit* I am a big fan of Paula Huston’s work.  Her book The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life is one of my favorites and I attended a writing workshop with her a few years ago through the Image Journal in Santa Fe.  She is a generous teacher and writer and when I received her newest book for the season of Lent for the Patheos book club, my heart felt

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January 17, 2012

Lectio Divina as a Life Practice

Lynda Chalmers is offering 40 days of contemplative practices at her blog and invited me to reflect on lectio divina: When I first was introduced to the practice of lectio divina many years ago I felt an opening inside of me, as if I was being met right where I was. I discovered in this ancient way of praying a mirror of my own inner movements and longing for contemplative depth. I felt supported in a way of savoring life and listening deeply for the voice of Spirit moving through sacred texts and the world. Lectio divina has four movements

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January 16, 2012

Make sure to visit this week’s Poetry Party!

Such aching beauty in the offerings at this week’s Poetry Party.  Have you stopped by yet?  Pour a cup of tea and then linger with the amazing poems gathered there.  Then write your own response to the theme or image and share it with the Abbey community.  If you share it before Sunday, you could win a space in my upcoming online art retreat for the season of Lent – Soul of a Pilgrim (February 22-April 7, 2012).

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January 13, 2012

Invitation to Poetry: The Gifts (and Challenges) of Winter

Welcome to the Abbey’s 54th Poetry Party (it has been long overdue)! I select an image and suggest a theme/title and invite you to respond with your own poem. Scroll down and add it in the comments section below. Feel free to take your poem in any direction and then post the image and invitation on your blog (if you have one), Facebook, or Twitter, and encourage others to come join the party! (permission is granted to reprint the image if a link is provided back to this post) On Sunday, January 15, I will draw a name at random from the

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January 9, 2012

Give Me a Word – reminder!

The Give Me a Word invitation ends tomorrow – stop by to see over 400 responses, share your own word and receive a free gift, and enter a drawing to win some lovely prizes! It has been an amazing gift to read the reflections coming in – it gives me a profound sense of hope and joy to know how many of you are reflecting on what will challenge you in the coming year, listening to what is calling forth your heart’s deep longing.  Thank you to everyone who has participated!

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January 5, 2012

More Winter Angels

It’s great to live by the spirit, to testify day by day for eternity, only what’s spiritual in people’s minds. But sometimes I’m fed up with my spiritual existence. Instead of forever hovering above I’d like to feel a weight grow in me to end the infinity and to tie me to earth. I’d like, at each step, each gust of wind, to be able to say “Now.” Now and now” and no longer “forever” and “for eternity”. . . it would be rather nice coming home after a long day to feed the cat, like Philip Marlowe, to have

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December 26, 2011