Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Reflections

Filter

Abbey Bookshelf: Illuminated Manuscripts

Today I am continuing our theme this week of illumination.  Several weeks ago I did my Sacred Artist Interview with Jan Richardson.   I shared the kinship I have felt with Jan because of her love of illuminated manuscript and the way they serve as inspiration for her own work.  Several years ago Phil Cousineau edited these two wonderful books (which you can still find used copies of) — The Soul of the World: A Modern Book of Hours and The Soul Aflame: A Modern Book of Hours, which was really the first place I had ever seen anyone create a contemporary version of

Read More

Invitation to Poetry: Illuminated from Within

Poetry Party #16! 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!) I spent this past weekend leading a parish women’s retreat at a beautiful place with a wonderful group.  On Saturday we had *perfect* spring weather, brilliant warm sunshine, and daffodils blooming in abundance.  In honor of the luminous

Read More

Visual Meditation: “To Face the Strange New Earth”

Adam Marveling he stands on the cathedral’s steep ascent, close to the rose window, as though frightened at the apotheosis which grew and all at once set him down over these and these. And straight he stands and glad of his endurance, simply determined; as the husbandman who began and who knew not how from the garden of Eden finished-full to find a way out into the new earth. God was hard to persuade; and threatened him, instead of acceding, ever and again, that he would die. Yet man persisted: she will bring forth.   Eve Look how she stands,

Read More

Sacred Artist Interview: Laurie Mika

I first encountered Laurie Mika‘s work when I saw one of her mosaic classes offered.  While paper arts and photography are my primary art forms, I sometimes like to extend myself into the world of mosaics, where broken pieces are transformed into something of beauty.  Her class was full, as most of them are, but I visited her website and was entranced by her work of creating her own tiles out of polymer clay. This edition of the Sacred Artist Interview also serves as an edition of the Abbey Bookshelf, because Laurie has also published the wonderful Mixed Media Mosaics: Techniques and Projects

Read More

Into the Wild

I am still living into the gifts of my 12-day trip down the East coast in March re-visiting family and friends, walking in familiar places with new eyes, tending to memories of formative times. In the last couple of days of my trip I watched the film Into the Wild from my hotel room one evening.  (Spoiler alert — if you do not know the ending of the film, I do give it away further down in the post).  It is the story of Christopher McCandless’ journey away from the dysfunction of his parents toward the solitary promise of Alaska. 

Read More

Visual Meditation: Winged Delight

As Once the Winged Energy of Delight As once the winged energy of delight carried you over childhood’s dark abysses, now beyond your own life build the great arch of unimagined bridges. Wonders happen if we can succeed in passing through the harshest danger; but only in a bright and purely granted achievement can we realize the wonder. To work with Things in the indescribable relationship is not too hard for us; the pattern grows more intricate and subtle, and being swept along is not enough. Take your practiced powers and stretch them out until they span the chasm between

Read More

Sacred Artist Interview: Marilyn Russell

I first encountered Marilyn Russell virtually when we were each asked to write an article on spirituality and artistic expression for the UCLA Spirituality in Higher Education Newsletter.  Marilyn’s article was on “The Empowering of Art & Spirituality.” Read her article to gain even more insight into her vision as an artist.  (you can read my article here). She is a member of the Ojibwe tribe, an artist, a scholar and the Library Director at Haskell Indian Nations University. In her article she shares this beautiful Ojibwa prayer: “Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to everyone,

Read More

Returning: Some Highlights

I went on a journey for 12 days down the east coast which you can read more about.  I have lots to process, but here are some initial offerings of things for which I am grateful (both silly and sublime): renting the cheapest car level possible and ending up with a Ford Mustang convertible wandering through Edgell Grove cemetery where my mother is buried and sensing the peace of her resting visiting with my uncle’s ex-wife, the mother of one of my cousins who so graciously shared stories with me stopping in the town of Wiscasset, Maine on my drive up

Read More

Invitation to Poetry: Book of Life

Our 15th Poetry Party! 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!) I’ll add your contributions all week and then I will draw a name at random on Saturday morning from everyone who participates and will send the winner a copy of my newest zine What is Blossoming

Read More

Visual Meditation: Last Vestiges of Winter

“The Light Comes Brighter” The light comes brighter from the east; the caw Of restive crows is sharper on the ear. A walker at the river’s edge may hear A cannon crack announce an early thaw. The sun cuts deep into the heavy drift, Though still the guarded snow is winter sealed, At bridgeheads buckled ice begins to shift, The river overflows the level field. Once more the trees assume familiar shapes, As branches loose last vestiges of snow. The water stored in narrow pools escapes In rivulets; the cold roots stir below. Soon field and wood will wear an

Read More