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Monk in the World Guest Post: Bart Brenner

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Bart Brenner’s reflection on filling the cup. You are the wine, / I am the cup. I can yield nothing till I am filled up. (O Sun, Earth Our Original Monastery Prayer Cycle: Morning Prayer, Day Six) The pandemic brought illness and death, and a strange way of living—lock down, masking, and social distancing. Living in a cloistered community was was not welcomed by many. As an octogenarian, living alone since the death of my wife six

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Lift Every Voice Book Club

Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color – November Video Discussion and Book Group Materials Now Available

Join Abbey of the Arts for a monthly conversation on how increasing our diversity of perspectives on contemplative practice can enrich our understanding and experience of the Christian mystical tradition.  Christine Valters Paintner is joined by author Claudia Love Mair for a series of video conversations. Each month they take up a new book by or about a voice of color. The community is invited to purchase and read the books in advance and participate actively in this journey of deepening, discovery, and transformation.  Click here to view this month’s video discussion along with questions for reflection.  Soul Care in African American Practice

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Monk in the World Video Podcasts (Sabbath)

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, I am delighted to share the next in our Monk in the World Video Podcast series – morning and evening prayer exploring the principle of Sabbath. Sabbath is a contemplative practice found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is also at the heart of a yoga practice when we rest into “corpse pose” at the end and allow everything to integrate. Cultivating this rhythm of rest in our lives is part of our commitment to relishing joy.  The following reflection is excerpted from Imam Jamal Rahman’s recent co-authored book The Teachers of Spiritual Wisdom: Gaining Perspective on Life’s

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Nancy Agneberg

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Nancy Agneberg’s reflection “Contemplative Driving: Noticing, Wondering, Returning.” Although my father’s death was not unexpected—after all, he was 96 years old, I miss him. A lot During the eight weeks of Dad’s dying, I drove the same round trip every day. Thirteen miles in the morning and then again later in the day. My destination was my widower father’s home where he had lived easily and contentedly for several years. Even though I wasn’t walking the Camino

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Breath Prayer Book Launch Recording Available

I was delighted to be joined by Simon de Voil and Jamie Marich to celebrate the launch of my latest book, Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred. We gathered with many of you to share song and movement and breath as a way to deepen into this practice. I invite you to join us for the Advent Breath Prayer Retreat: A Companion to the Book which begins November 29th.

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Monk in the World Video Podcasts (Work)

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, We have our newest Monk in the World Prayer Cycle video podcasts available for you this week on the principle of meaningful work. Follow the links above for morning and evening prayer.  I am also hosting a book launch tomorrow (October 25th) for my newest book Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred. I will be joined by Simon de Voil who will be offering his gift of music and Jamie Marich who will lead us in a short dancing mindfulness practice connected to breath. I will be talking about the roots of breath prayer and leading us

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Monk in the World Guest Post Series

Monk in the World Guest Post: Robert Walk

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Robert Walk’s reflection “Do Dancing Monks Retire?” One of our monk manifesto principles is that of silence. Silence is an attribute I come by naturally. Silence as in quiet, particularly in a group, be it in family gatherings or otherwise. However, being quiet or silent as a personality trait does not equate to the practice of silence that defines part of our “monkdom” qualities, although it may contribute to its development. For fifty-three years I have participated

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Monk in the World Video Podcasts (Community) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, We continue our exploration of the Monk in the World Prayer Cycle Video Podcasts with morning and evening prayer for Day 3: Community. The reflection below comes from my new book Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred which was released in the US and Canada on Oct 12th.  I see you with love gifted, cherished. Grateful for who you are. How often do we really see another person as the beautiful gift they are? Perhaps this happens sometimes with those we love, where we are caught in a moment of grace and see them

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Kristine Schnarr

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Kristine Schnarr’s reflection on the labyrinth. During the majority of my 71 years on this beautiful earth, I have lived in the suburbs of various sprawling cities around the United States. However, born in Chicago, I am very much a city-girl at heart. I am also very much an introvert and very much a contemplative. Over the years, I have always gravitated towards places and spaces, that offer opportunities for quiet prayer and contemplation in the midst

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Monk in the World Video Podcasts (Hospitality) + Breath Prayer ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, We continue our exploration of the Monk in the World Prayer Cycle Video Podcasts with morning and evening prayer for Day 2: Hospitality. Hospitality invites us to welcome the stranger both within and without. The ancient practice of breath prayer is a lovely way to engage with the principle of hospitality. The reflection below comes from my new book Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred to be released in the US and Canada on Oct 12th.  I surrender the ache, and the worry. Breathe in stillness, breathe out anxiety. Monks used to awaken

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