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Celtic Spirituality and the Spiral Way ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks and artists, On my first trip to Ireland in 2007 with my husband John, I read Thomas Cahill’s now-classic book How the Irish Saved Civilization, in which he describes the essential role of the Irish monks and their work on illuminating manuscripts during the Dark Ages. I was captivated especially by the idea that Ireland was outside the Roman Empire and a form of Christianity developed early on that was more indigenous and localized. Because Christianity was introduced into Ireland without violence, it also preserved older traditions and practices of the pagan culture and the Druids. Eventually, Irish

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January 24, 2021

Hildy Tales 3: Ní heolas go haontíos ~ by John Valters Paintner

Hello, gentle readers! This series of 12 essays were composed during John & Christine’s Jubilee Year (which began pre-pandemic, but some of which was written during varying degrees of lockdown). They were dictated to John by the Abbey’s mascot, Hildy the Monk-ey. Hildy is a bit of a free spirit who likes to entertain and doesn’t normally feel constrained by conventional story structure . . . or grammar, in general. She lives by the motto that “all stories are true; some actually happened.” We wanted to share them with you, our wider Abbey community, to give you a small monkey-sized

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January 20, 2021

Humility + Join us today for live prayer! ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

The Way of the Hermit with Kayleen Asbo from Abbey of the Arts on Vimeo. Dearest monks and artists, * * * * * Please see the note below about joining us today for our live prayer service (we love gathering together in real time). The video above is from Dr. Kayleen Asbo who is offering a retreat on The Way of the Hermit next weekend. * * * * * This year of pandemic, political instability, and continued climate crisis has shaken most of us. We feel unsteady, overwhelmed, perhaps struggling to find hope in the midst of continual difficult news,

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January 17, 2021

Hildy Tales 2: Tús maith leath na hoibre – by John Valters Paintner

Hello, gentle readers! This series of 12 essays were composed during John & Christine’s Jubilee Year (which began pre-pandemic, but some of which was written during varying degrees of lockdown). They were dictated to John by the Abbey’s mascot, Hildy the Monk-ey. Hildy is a bit of a free spirit who likes to entertain and doesn’t normally feel constrained by conventional story structure . . . or grammar, in general. She lives by the motto that “all stories are true; some actually happened.” We wanted to share them with you, our wider Abbey community, to give you a small monkey-sized

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January 13, 2021

New Book Club for 2021: Lift Every Voice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle: Day 7 Evening Prayer from Abbey of the Arts on Vimeo. Listen to the Audio Podcast Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle: Day 7 Evening Prayer Dearest monks and artists, We have lots of wonderful things in store for you this year! Lift Every Voice Book Club One of our new offerings will be a monthly book club called Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color. The Christian contemplative tradition is largely dominated by the European mystics. With the rise in awareness around the rich diversity of voices available to us, we wanted to explore what our understanding

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January 10, 2021

Hildy Tales One: Dia dhuit, is mise Hildy! by John Valters Paintner, Your Online Prior

Hello, gentle readers! This series of 12 essays were composed during John & Christine’s Jubilee Year (which began pre-pandemic, but some of which was written during varying degrees of lockdown). They were dictated to John by the Abbey’s mascot, Hildy the Monk-ey. Hildy is a bit of a free spirit who likes to entertain and doesn’t normally feel constrained by conventional story structure . . . or grammar, in general. She lives by the motto that “all stories are true; some actually happened.” We wanted to share them with you, our wider Abbey community, to give you a small monkey-sized

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January 6, 2021

Celebrate the Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle podcast with us!

Our final episode of the Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle will be available Sunday, January 10th! We are so thrilled to now have a full week of morning and evening prayers Abbey-style available for you to pray with on your own or with your community as a free resource. I am especially grateful to Betsey Beckman, Simon de Voil, and Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, without whom these audio and video resources would not be possible. We are hosting a live event Sunday, January 17th at 8 pm Ireland/UK time (3 pm Eastern / 12 noon Pacific) to celebrate the completion of this

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January 5, 2021

Join us for A Midwinter God & Epiphany! ~ A Love Note from Our Online Abbess

Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle: Day 7 Morning Prayer from Abbey of the Arts on Vimeo. Day 7 Morning Prayer: Earth Monastery Pray Cycle Audio Podcast Day 7 Morning Prayer: Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle Dearest monks and artists, Happy New Year! We begin our Midwinter God online retreat tomorrow. I offer you this reflection on the spiritual practice of being uncomfortable which is at the heart of the journey of descent: Part of my daily contemplative practice these last several years has been yin yoga. In yin yoga, the poses are held for long periods of time (anywhere from 3-20 minutes).

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January 3, 2021

Solstice and Christmas Blessings ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle: Day 6 Evening Prayer from Abbey of the Arts on Vimeo. Day 6 Evening Prayer: Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle – Audio Podcast Day 6 Evening Prayer: Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle Please note that we are taking a 2-week break from our weekly love notes (including next Sunday) and we will return on January 3rd. Dearest monks and artists, It has certainly been a disorienting year for us all. So much grief and loss. So much change. So much uncertainty. It is challenging to make room for it all when we likely just want to hold onto

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December 20, 2020

Monk in the World Guest Post: Jenine Baines

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jenine Baines’ reflection, “Hail Mary, Full of Grace and Surprises and Smiles.” When I was twelve, I wanted to be a movie star or a nun. And while, outwardly, I’ve become neither, I carry the spirit of both within me. I believe with the fervor of a nun (or Monk in the World). Except when I don’t. When the doubts return and the ghost of the late renowned atheist Christopher Hitchens haunts me. Then I take a

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December 16, 2020

Upcoming Programs

Seven Gates of Mystical Wisdom: A Pilgrimage to the Heart’s Deep Core Lent Retreat
Seven Gates of Mystical Wisdom: A Pilgrimage to the Heart’s Deep Core Lent Retreat
5 Mar 25
Contemplative Prayer Service: Sabbath
Contemplative Prayer Service: Sabbath
10 Mar 25
Earth Psalter
Earth Psalter
21 Mar 25

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