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

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 Kathy Marsh Morning Blessing Lilting through the air, The full-hearted song of bird Weaves into the air, Braiding into a joy That touches the landscape and Tapestries into The crevassed walls; The

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June 3, 2019

A Celebration of Poetry ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, I hope you have enjoyed the series of poetry videos we have produced in collaboration with Morgan Creative. One of our great joys here at the Abbey is bringing artists together whether through these videos, the albums we are creating, or the icon series we commissioned. When time and resources allow we hope to continue these video offerings. For now, I thought I’d share links to all eight of the poems in case you have missed any of them over the last few months: How to Be a Pilgrim Requiem for Myself Take My Hand

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June 2, 2019

Monk in the World Guest Post: D.G. Hollums

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for D.G. Hollums’ reflection on carving space for the nourishing Sacred Heart. I love.  I love passionately and deeply as a self proclaimed contemplative extrovert and neo-friar.  But I’ve also found that loving deeply and passionately also means hurting deeply and passionately sometimes.  Life has taken me on some very desolate and dark times.  Times that have rocked me to my core and have tried to rob me of that passionate love and joy, both of which are

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May 29, 2019

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

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 Cyndera Quackenbush Wind You came in Spring What seed survived your incessant stirrings? Plenty – Yet you swept away all falsehood A wind-whipped cleansing Of all not Rooted Branches, no longer reaching,

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May 27, 2019

Jubilee Time (John’s reflection) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, In honor of our upcoming sabbatical year, this week we hear from John Valters Paintner about the scriptural roots of Sabbath and Jubilee: The biblical Jubilee is a big, if rarely discussed topic. So, we’re going to back up a bit and get a good running start at it from a point that is far more familiar with all of us. One of the Ten Commandments is to “keep holy the Sabbath” (Exodus 20:8-11 & Deuteronomy 5:12-15). There is controversy, or at least vigorous debate, over the most basic of details. Catholics and Protestants don’t

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May 26, 2019

Monk in the World Guest Post: Jan Blencowe

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jan Blencowe’s reflection “Drawing the Book of Creation.” The quietest pond edge, the still winter woods or the silent desert floor are never really quiet, though it does take a certain kind of listening and seeing to become aware of the life there. I have always had a very strong and sacred connection to nature, even (perhaps especially) as a child. In those younger years it seemed easy to converse and commune with the aliveness of nature.

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May 22, 2019

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

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 Cathy Roby Benedictions… Blessed be the birds that sing God’s glory Blessed be the flowers waking up to Spring Blessed be the land that grounds my spirit Blessed be the stones that

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May 20, 2019

How to Be a Pilgrim (new poetry video) ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

How to Be a Pilgrim Air travel is like ancient pilgrims walking on their knees, flight delays and narrow seats offer their own kind of penance. You jettison excess baggage, leaving behind the heavy makeup case, knowing the rain will wash you free of artifice. Books you wanted to carry left too, no more outside words needed, then go old beliefs which keep you taut and twisted inside. Blistered feet stumble over rocky fields covered with wildflowers and you realize this is your life, full of sharp stones and color. Red-breasted robins call forth the song already inside, a hundred

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May 19, 2019

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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May 18, 2019

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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May 15, 2019