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The Slender Thread

I am heading off for a few days of retreat this week. The idea began with an art class I wanted to take down in Portland over the weekend, knowing it meant I could also have a chance to see an old and dear friend from my doctoral program who teaches down there now. Then I realized after teaching my class Tuesday morning, there were only a couple of appointments I was able to reschedule to give myself a little window of retreat mid-quarter. I am longing to be out in the autumn splendor and have never been to the Columbia River

October 17, 2006

Sabbath Feasting

Hazelnut Chicken Breasts with Cranberry Cherry Sauce Prepare the sauce at least 3 hours ahead. For the cranberry cherry sauce, bring 2 cups marsala wine and 1/2 cup dried tart cherries to a boil in a saucepan. Simmer about 8-10 minutes to reduce the liquid. Stir in 12 oz cranberries (fresh or frozen) and 12 oz cherries (fresh or frozen), 1 cup light brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons fresh minced rosemary. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for about 8-10 minutes while sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Let cool and refrigerate. At least two hours ahead, prepare 4 boneless skinless chicken

October 16, 2006

Falling and Meditative Making

Friday was a wonderful and very full day. Crystal Sygeel led us in our morning gathering and I want to share here the process she led us through. We gathered together and welcomed everyone there and then introduced ourselves and answered the question, “what are we letting go of?” or “what are we making space for?” as a way of becoming present to each other. Crystal offered some lovely reflections about being the leaf falling from the tree, and asked us to imagine what the tree we are holding onto represents, the desired trajectory of our falling (what do we

October 14, 2006

Unfolding, Bridges, and Openings

I want to live life surprised by the ways my life continues to unfold. I want to delight in the simple offerings of each day. I want to live in awe of the beauty of the world. I have been having lots of dreams lately. One is of a bridge crossing where the road ahead loops upside down like a roller coaster, so you have to drive fast enough and hold on to get across. I’ve had two others where I am living in a house that is right at the edge of the ocean line, the waves crashing onto

October 12, 2006

Lectio Divina Unleashed: Part Four (Music)

To find the previous entries on lectio divina with scripture, poetry, and icons, just click on the “lectio divina” tab under the title. To the Trinity be praise! God is music, God is life that nurtures every creature in its kind. Our God is the song of the angel throng and the splendor of the secret ways hid from all humankind, But God our life is the life of all. -Hildegard of Bingen, Antiphon for the Trinity Hildegard believed that music was an essential part of her community’s formation. In fact, at the end of her life she was in

October 11, 2006

Just a few simple offerings

Michelle has left a comment under my previous post of her Litany for the Wounded with ways to help support the work she is doing, so please click here to go read! (scroll all the way down)She is doing such meaningful work and Michelle is a woman with a passion for justice and being present to those on the margins. And once you have read that, go over to Story Midwife and read the incredible post Trish has written about creating an Altar of Attending for women who are dying. I drink in great writing about grief and dying like wine and

October 10, 2006

Living Between the Ancient and the New

A simple post tonight as I am very tired from two full days of teaching. Our first session of Awakening the Creative Spirit was wonderful with twelve holy women participating. This first session focused on an overview of all the arts and we had everyone use a collage process to focus on the question “What does your soul long for?” Such richness revealed in that exploration. As I made mine, a very simple one weaving together images of rootedness and the flow of ocean, I was tempted to add more images to it. But, it felt done with all that spaciousness and simplicity. While

October 8, 2006

I live my life in widening circles. . .

I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world. I may not complete this last one but I give myself to it. I circle around God, around the primordial tower. I’ve been circling for thousands of years and I still don’t know: am I a falcon, a storm, or a great song? -Ranier Maria Rilke Round and Round the earth is turning Turning always round to morning And from morning round to night. -Song Lyrics (source unknown) The rain I am in is not like the rain of the cities. It fills the woods with an

October 5, 2006

Trafficking and Prostitution: A Litany for the Wounded

My friend Michelle and her partner had to take a spur-of-the-moment trip into Seattle today and are staying the night with us. A treat to see her since we don’t get to spend time together very often. She works up in Vancouver for the rights of women who have been trafficked into the sex industry. Below is a prayer she wrote for a gathering. I invite you to pray for these women, to spread wide your imagination, and to live into freedom and possibility for all those who have been oppressed. Opening Prayer Scripture For a long time I have kept silent,

October 4, 2006

Celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis

I went looking for images of Saint Francis in honor of his feast day tomorrow (October 4th) and found some lovely ones above (see below for the links to the artists). Francis is known for many things, his life of poverty, his commitment to peace, and especially his great love of animals and all creation. He is often depicted with creatures at his side and this feast day is celebrated with a “Blessing of the Animals.” I remember attending such a service when we lived in Berkeley with Duke. There in the pews were cats and dogs, rabbits and birds, pot-bellied pigs and guinea

October 3, 2006

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The Slender Thread

Sabbath Feasting

Falling and Meditative Making

Unfolding, Bridges, and Openings

Lectio Divina Unleashed: Part Four (Music)

Just a few simple offerings

Living Between the Ancient and the New

I live my life in widening circles. . .

Trafficking and Prostitution: A Litany for the Wounded

Celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis

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