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Monk in the World Guest Post: Laurie vandenHurk

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Laurie vandenHurk’s reflection Mindfulness of everyday life – caring for children. Quote: Thich Nhat Hanh, “If you touch one thing with deep awareness you touch everything.” (1.) “Look out,” said the sign, so Jasper stopped to look out at the view. I stopped too. As I waited for Jasper, I felt a call to wake up and look out, to come out of my interior funk/fog and be present, mindful and fully embodied in the moment. Last

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Advent Christmas Epiphany

A Spirituality of Blessing for Advent ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

A Blessing for Paradise*Sacred Source of Joy,help us to see glimpses of heaven all around us, in the urgency of each spring’s blooming,in the simple gifts of water to bathe in and drink,in our morning tea or coffee,steam rising in prayer,in the dog’s pleading eyes,or the warm embrace of a friend,in the food which nourishes usand the herbs given freely for healing. May we behold the way sunlight illumines and moonlight glows,may we treasure moments of laughter.May we see Paradise shimmering forth wherever we look, savoring moments of ease and hope in whatever forms they take, to strengthen and nourish

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Give me a word

Give Me a Word 2025

In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to the divine and to their own inner struggles at work within them. The desert became a place to enter into the refiner’s fire and be stripped down to one’s holy essence. The desert was a threshold place where you emerged different than when you entered. Many people followed these ammas and abbas, seeking their wisdom and guidance for a meaningful life. One tradition was to ask for a word – this word or phrase would be something

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Monk in the World Guest Post Series

Monk in the World Guest Post: Sharon Dawn Johnson

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Sharon Dawn Johnson’s reflection Body and Beading As Sacred Texts. Reading and Listening “You need to create your own recipe.” The orthopaedic doctor’s counsel follows the news that my fractured tibia has healed. After seven weeks of wheelchair confinement—mostly indoors—and almost total dependence on others, I no longer need to wear the bendable brace nor avoid weight-bearing. Amidst a surge of emotions, outdoor walking floats to the top of my multi-ingredient list.  The walker and I make

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Gratitude Blessing + The Love of Thousands Prayer Cycle Day 7~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Gratitude Blessing*Spirit of Generosity,we come to you with hearts overflowing with gratitudefor your abundant creation.As we awaken each morning, help us to remember this day is a gift,this breath is grace,this life a wonder. Remind us with every flower we see,every act of kindness,every moment of connection to something so much biggerthan ourselves,to whisper thank you. Cultivate in us a sense of aweand trust in your lavish grace. Let each word of thanks we offer expand our heartsuntil delight inhabits usand we know loveas our sustenance. Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, The 5th century monk and mystic Benedict of

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Janeen Adil

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Janeen Adil’s reflection and poem on home. Home. In any language, it’s among the most evocative of words. My own memories and associations of home are deeply positive; for others, alas, they are breathtakingly sad. In either case, the word has a universal pull. I see that tug at the heartstrings, for what home was or could be or should be, as leading us all into a contemplation of our yearnings. While home will naturally look different

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Spirituality of Blessings and The Love of Thousands Prayer Cycle Day 6 ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

A Blessing for Creativity*Spirit of Holy Imagination,we ask you to bless our visionwith the wisdom to see what is possible. Help us trust our desire to createthrough color, word, shape, gesture, and song. When our fingers trembleat picking up a pen or marker,connect us to the joy of playing on the white page, drawing,doodling, dabbling, dreaming,letting our livesbe a canvas for expression. When judgments ariseand the inner critic yells, guide us to hear our intuitionswhispering the way aheadwith quiet confidence. When our feet feel restless,inspire us to play music and dance freely until peace descends again. Connect us to the

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Monk in the World Guest Post Series

Monk in the World Guest Post: Michael Moore

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Wisdom Council member Michael Moore’s reflection on Sabbath and Silence. I am thankful to Christine and the Abbey community for this opportunity to pause and reflect on our Monk Manifesto and its intersection with my spiritual life and work. Sabbath and Silence have been a part of my life and work for many years now, but they have both been revealing fresh insights as I enter this next stage of life. It’s been just over a year

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What I Know + Love of Thousands Video Prayer Cycle Day 5 ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest dancing monks, There is much uncertainty and unknown right now. Many of us are in deep grief and I encourage you to bestow lavish hospitality on all of your feelings – let your rage, sadness, despair, confusion, and more have space in you. Move your body, let her speak its wisdom, and give yourself the gift of as much rest as possible.  What I do know is that our commitment to a contemplative path does make a difference. Keep showing up with presence to what is real and true. Cherish what is beautiful and kind. Commit to the slowness

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Monk in the World Guest Post Series

Monk in the World Guest Post: Sharon Fabriz

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Sharon Fabriz’s reflection “A Jigsaw of Light: Hildegard’s Gift.” Spirit of Mercy and Grace, born from the infinite womb of creationteach this vessel its song… (1) With the help of my psycho-spiritual companion and my own intuition and path, a two-month pilgrimage in place came into view as a vehicle for personal contemplation as I approached my sixty-sixth birthday. Winter had been long and dark, wet and cold. February promised more of the same. A pilgrimage in

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