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Update on the Abbess

Thank you for the notes I have been receiving inquiring about the Abbess after her surgery last week.  She is recovering quite well, after a few days of extra sleepiness and soreness she returned to her usual spunky self.  Her stitches will be in for another week.  The medical report indicates that this tumor, like the one removed in late November, was indeed cancer.  But also like the previous one it is classified as low-grade with clean margins (meaning it looks like it was all removed).  My concern is, of course, that another mammary tumor developed so soon after the

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March 6, 2009

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 never belonged

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March 5, 2009

Creativity Resources

Two links worth pouring a cup of tea for and lingering over: The lovely Rachelle is writing about photography as a spiritual practice over at her weekly Blogher column.  She is featuring my post on the subject (which has been one of the most linked-to posts I have written recently) as well as a number of other soulful photographers.  Lots of great jewels to be discovered there. I have seen this video of Elizabeth Gilbert’s wonderful talk on creativity in several places , but first saw it at Tess at Anchors and Masts, and encourage you to watch it if you want

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March 4, 2009

Angels Ministering

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. -Mark 1:12-13 I was at the monthly gathering of Seattle-area Oblates yesterday afternoon and, as always, it was a rich and nourishing time.  We engaged in lectio divina together, as is our practice, and the scripture came from today’s Gospel reading.  (See above for the first half.) In my prayer, the phrase that struck me was “the angels ministered to him.”  As often happens in lectio, I will read a

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March 2, 2009

Embrace the Wavering

When my yoga teacher invites us into a balance pose, she reminds us to “embrace the wavering.”  She says that it is in the subtle movement that happens while trying to balance that actually strengthens our muscles and our pose. So rather than trying to remain absolutely still, balance is about embracing the small (and sometimes large) movements.  Balance is a dynamic, rather than static place.  It is in this wavering that we become stronger, in becoming fully present to the internal micro-movements of our lives. I find great comfort in this invitation, both in yoga practice and life practice.  I

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February 27, 2009

Prayers for Petunia

My sweet Abbess Petunia needs to have another surgery today.  Back in November she had a tumor removed that was cancerous but tested as low-grade and they thought it had all been removed.  We discovered another small lump near the same spot last week and so they are going back in to remove it.  I have been relishing the wisdom found in this week’s Poetry Party.  Be sure to go take a peek and share your own poem about the Lenten journey, where an awareness of our mortality and death bring us closer to the beauty of life.

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February 26, 2009

Ash Wednesday: Beginning the Lenten Journey

Lent What will you give up for the season, To help life along In its curious reversals? As if we had a choice. As if the world were not Constantly shedding us Like feathers off a duck’s back – The ground is always littered with our longings. You can’t help but wonder About all the heroes, The lives sacrificed In the compulsion toward the good. All those who dropped themselves Upon the earth’s hard surface – Weren’t they caught in pure astonishment In the breath before they shattered? Forget sacrifice. Nothing is tied so firmly that the wind Won’t tear

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February 25, 2009

Visual Meditation

Photos taken while in Sooke, BC, top photo is of course the lovely Abbess Petunia doing what she does best. (and yes, the Golden is for you lucy)

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February 24, 2009

Invitation to Poetry: From Dust to Dust

Poetry Party No. 32!  I select an image and suggest a title and invite you to respond with your poems, words, reflections, quotes, song lyrics, etc. Leave them in the comments or email me and I’ll add them to the body of the post as they come in along with a link back to your blog if you have one (not required to participate!) Lent begins this week.  During the imposition of ashes at the Ash Wednesday service some of us will hear the words “from dust you came and to dust you shall return.”  The ashes are a tangible reminder of our

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February 23, 2009

Photography as a Sacred Practice

A week and a half ago I participated in a Blog Meme Interview and I asked if readers had any other questions for me.  kigen asked me:  “Is it, and if so, what makes the doing of photography a sacred or religious practice for you?” The answer is, of course, an unqualified YES! :-) Mythologist and storyteller Michael Meade says the word “moment” comes from the Latin root momentus, which means to move.  We are moved when we touch the eternal and timeless.  There is a sense of spaciousness in moments.  Art and spiritual practice are how we find this moment

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February 19, 2009