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Call for Submissions: Monk in the World Guest Posts

We welcome you to submit your reflection for possible publication in our Monk in the World guest post series. It is a gift to read how ordinary people are living lives of depth and meaning in the midst of the challenges of real life. There are so many talented writers and artists in this Abbey community, so this is a chance to share your perspective. The link to the reflection will be included in our weekly newsletter which goes out to thousands of subscribers. Please follow these instructions carefully: Please click this link to read a selection of the posts

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Featured Poet Series: Barbara Crooker

We are launching a new series this spring with poets whose work we love and want to feature! Our next poet is Barbara Crooker, whose work is deeply inspired by paying attention to how God whispers in the world.  You can hear Barbara reading her poem “Sanctus” below and read more about the connections she makes between poetry and the sacred. Peeps In those last few months my mother didn’t want to eat, this woman who made everything from scratch, and who said of her appetite, I eat like a bricklayer. Now she listlessly stirred the food around her plate, sometimes

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Writing on the Wild Edges Participant Poem: Patia Carque

At the end of April, 15 creative souls gathered with us for our retreat on Inismor – Writing on the Wild Edges of the World. We had a wonderful group with participants from all over the U.S., Canada, and South Africa. I am delighted to share some of their poems over these next few weeks. Pour a cup of tea, imagine yourself on a windswept limestone island in the Atlantic, and savor for a while. From Patia Carque Inismore Embraced by waves, winds, anion the Isle will do the work. She’ll lift, kiss, nourish you while cows graze her hilly breasts.

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Please Help Support Our Jubilee Year ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, Contemplative rhythms are essential here at Abbey of the Arts, both in terms of what we teach as well as what we practice. Each week we try to take a Sabbath day as a time to celebrate the lavish gift of rest. Each summer we take a month of sabbatical time to refresh and renew our bodies and spirits. We both long for a longer time of sabbatical. If we still worked in a university or church setting this might be built in to the financial support, but since we are entirely self-supporting taking this

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Adam Webber

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World Guest Post series from the community. Read on for Adam Webber’s reflection, “The Lady Loves Me.” Tuesday morning, I wake up grumpy. I don’t want to go to work. Lying in bed, I recite the Breastplate of Saint Patrick to myself: “I arise today through a mighty faith….” I don’t know whether I have a mighty faith this morning or not, but I arise anyway. In my church office I go over the lectionary readings for next Sunday. I am the pastor of this church, and it

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Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea and Stone: Participant Poems

In April, 18 creative souls gathered with us for our retreat on Inismor – Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea and Stone. We had a wonderful group with participants from all over the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia. I am delighted to share some of their poems. Pour a cup of tea, imagine yourself on a windswept limestone island in the Atlantic, and savor for a while. From Katharine Kane: Inishmore fairies Passing the leaf bare brambles Glimpse the fiery sun Stone etching welcome Misting from selkies haven Ancient rebirthing Waking Up in the City In praise of the city noise

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Requiem for Myself ~ Poem Video: A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Requiem for Myself When I die plant a pinwheel in an open field where winter’s wind and rain march forcefully across in battalions, and you can stumble out there to meet me one late afternoon when you feel the world must surely be ending. You, soaked from tears and storms, kinship with dark sky. Me, rainbow axis whirling, an orbit of joyful defiance. You then, inspired, tumble gleefully across grass, pirouette, forgetting for a moment grief’s burden, knowing the world will be with you for many years to come. Never think this brief sojourn wasted as you head back to

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Featured Poet: Rabbi Rami Shapiro

We are launching a new series this spring with poets whose work we love and want to feature! Our next poet is Rabbi Rami Shapiro, whose work is deeply inspired by the happening of God.  You can hear Rabbi Rami reading his poem “The 23rd Psalm” below and read more about the connections he makes between poetry and the sacred. After Psalm 93  The earth is secure; it is I who imagine her frailty. The earth stands firm; it is I who plot her downfall. She is greater than me, and includes me in a larger scheme. I am her child though

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Mary Van Denend

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read of for Mary Van Denend’s post “Girls in the Trees.” My granddaughters are playing “jungle,” scrambling up branches as high as they dare go, in a leafy playground tree, fat as a hot air balloon.  We’ve exhausted the slides, the swings, the merry-go-round, the balance beams, and me. It’s only April but the day has turned unseasonably warm.  The tree’s shade offers coolness. Lucia, the youngest, screeches from her perch in a red and purple peasant dress we just purchased at

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Easter Blessings + Take My Hand (new poetry video) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Take My Hand Please don’t plant me neat rows of rosebushes and tulips at attention, no manicured gardens or crystal vases of cut stems. Instead, take my hand, lead me onto rain-softened grass which undulates like a boat on a summer lake, lie down with me in a quilt of sunlight and shadows among yellow petals, violet trumpets, a feast for hares and bees, let’s linger and forget ourselves until even the tiled sky above is cracked open by stars and all that is restless and wild within us can roam the heavens howling the moon aloft. —Christine Valters Paintner,

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