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Monk in the World: Kinship with Creation 6 – Reflection Questions and Closing Blessing ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 4: I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish. Reflection Questions How are you being called to awaken this new day? Where are you being invited to embrace your own radiance in

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Featured Poet: Sofia M. Starnes

Last spring we launched a series with poets whose work we love and want to feature and will continue it moving forward. Our next poet is Sofia M. Starnes whose work is centered on God, as infinite mind and heart. Read her poetry and discover more about the connections she makes between poetry and the sacred. Listen to her read “The Soul’s Landscape” below. Intercession I A time for keeping quiet, A time for speaking … —Ecclesiastes: 3 Not the attic light, but the bricks that left us asking where the house was, and the widow-walk. Not the porch lamps, but

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Give Me a Word 2020 Prize Drawing Winners

Thank you to everyone for sharing your word for the year! The winners of the prize drawing are: Self Study Retreat of Your Choice Maryrose Coughlin – Divine Kat Dub – Transform Betty Cooper – Becoming Grace McGuire – Listen Donna Summerford Bennard – Healthy One signed copy of The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred by Christine Valters Paintner Segads – Nourish One signed copy of Dreaming of Stones: Poems by Christine Valters Paintner Crystal – Generous One signed copy of Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder & Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature by Christine Valters Paintner (this book will be

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Monk in the World: Kinship with Creation 5 – Suggestions for Practice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 4: I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish. Suggestions for Practice: Contemplative Walk Each time you go for your walk, see if you can begin with a sense that

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Feast of Epiphany – Follow the Star

(From the Abbey Archives – by Christine Valters Paintner) The story of Epiphany is one of my favorite scripture stories as it offers us a series of powerful invitations. The last few lines of the gospel text, offer a template for an archetypal journey, that is, one we are all invited to make. We can find ourselves in the text if we have ever longed to follow an inkling into the long night knowing there were gifts awaiting us. 1. Follow the star to where it leads The story begins with the magi calling upon the grace of night vision. 

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Embracing Mystery in the New Year: Ten Essential Practices

Let mystery have its place in you; do not be always turning up your whole soil with the plowshare of self-examination, but leave a little fallow corner in your heart ready for any seed the winds may bring, and reserve a nook of shadow for the passing bird; keep a place in your heart for the unexpected guests, an altar for an unknown God.  —Henri-Frederic Amiel   Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims,   Who doesn’t love the promise of new beginning the New Year offers? St. Benedict described his Rule as a Rule for beginners, reminding us to always begin

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Monk in the World: Kinship with Creation 4 – Guided Meditation + Audio

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 4: I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish. Read or listen to the guided meditation.   Contemplation is “a long, loving look at the real.” This is a slow

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Monk in the World: Kinship with Creation 3 – Reflection + Audio ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dear monks, artists, and pilgrims During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 4: I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish. Read on or listen to the audio version of the reflection.   Nature is such a source of solace for many

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Jen Arendt

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jen Arendt’s reflection, “A Whisper in the Wind.” As I sit in stillness in the sweet little oasis that I call my backyard, I am filled with joy to share the stirrings of my tender, grateful heart. Being outside, in God’s creation, has a magical way of calling forth the deepest parts of my being. It’s as if I truly come alive…it’s where I am most at ease welcoming even the parts of me that are not

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Monk in the World: Kinship with Creation 2 – Scripture Reflection by John ~ A Note from your Online Abbot

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle. Principle 4: I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish. Psalm 104:1-4, 14-23 God the Creator and Provider Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are

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