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Monk in the World Guest Post: Ray Tetz

I am delighted  to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series. Read on for Ray Tetz’s reflection, “Here We Go.“ UA 301 LAX to BWI, Early June The rather elderly couple in line behind me were worried about being in the right line. After listening for a few minutes, I turned and suggested that since he uses a cane, he could probably pre-board, and avoid the line entirely. “I hate doing that,” he said. “Like getting the senior discount, it’s a little bit embarrassing.” “Nah,” I said. “It will be so much easier for

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Writing on the Wild Edges ~ A love note from your online abbess

Dreaming of Stones In the world before waking I meet a winged one, feathered, untethered, who presses in my palm three precious stones, like St. Ita in her dream, but similarities end there, her with saintliness and certainty, me asking questions in the dark. All I know is I am not crafted from patience of rock or gravity of earth, nor flow of river, I am not otter with her hours devoted to play. I am none of these. At least not yet. The stones will still be singing centuries from now, made smooth by all kinds of weather. If

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Writing on the Wild Edges: Participant Poems (Evelyn Jackson)

This past October we led one of our Writing on the Wild Edges retreats on the beautiful island of Inismor off the coast of Galway. We will be sharing some of the writing which participants gave us permission to share here in the next few weeks. Up next are poems by Evelyn Jackson. (If you’d like to join us, we have our dates open for 2018 – August 26-September 1) The Knitting Place Bring your intention and a piece of yarn to the sacred hawthorn tree. Tie your intention there on one of its branches. Red berries wink between the leaves to remind you

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Upcoming online retreats at the Abbey

We have lots of wonderful opportunities for you to retreat online in the coming months. There is always a vibrant community that gathers, live sessions with Christine Valters Paintner, and materials stay available to you long after the retreat, so you can linger as long as you need. Birthing the Holy: Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine (Advent online retreat) December 3, 2017-January 1, 2018 Early registration discount when you sign up before November 6th! For Advent we have a beautiful retreat in the works for you exploring the wisdom of Mary and the sacred feminine. This retreat is

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Kathy Roy

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World Guest Post series from the community. Read on for Kathy Roy’s reflection, “The Gifts of Silent Retreat.” Every year, I go on a silent retreat as part of my commitment to living the contemplative path.  I always choose a place that is secluded and nestled into nature.  This year, I rented a home in Peggy’s Cove with beautiful walking trails and views of the Atlantic Ocean. I was entering the silence to prepare myself for crossing the threshold into ministry.  I had been studying the mystical

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Samhain Blessings and Feast of All Saints & Souls ~ A love note from your online abbess

Dearest monks and artists, Tuesday night and Wednesday in the Celtic seasonal calendar is the feast of Samhain and in the Christian liturgical cycle the Feast of All Saints (followed by All Souls). It is a very special time of year when the northern hemisphere is moving toward growing darkness and is time of preparation for stillness and rest. In the Irish imagination, this is a threshold time, when the veil between worlds feels especially thin. Darkness invites us to rest into the mystery of things. This is one of my favorite moments of the year’s unfolding. Three years ago

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Writing on the Wild Edges: Participant Poems (Anne MacDermaid)

This past October we led one of our Writing on the Wild Edges retreats on the beautiful island of Inismor off the coast of Galway. We will be sharing some of the writing which participants gave us permission to share here in the next few weeks. Up next are poems by Anne McDermaid. Dry Stone Walls Sea walls of boulders look invincible barricades constructed against the tides and forces of nature yet here and there I see breaks where fresh air and storm surges wash into sparse fields and change the patterns of survival once again. Stone can fence you in or protect

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Cheryl Bartky

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Cheryl Bartky’s reflection, “Eclipses and Shooting Stars.” The solar eclipse may be a forgotten memory for many of the millions of people who watched it on August 21st.  But for me, it is still alive: the slow progression of the moon’s shadow sweeping across the Sun.  The moments of complete darkness.   The shimmer of the Sun’s corona surrounding its now blackened center.  The re-emergence of the Sun’s light with a dazzling diamond flash.  The progressive unveiling of

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Earth is the Original Monastery ~ A love note from your online abbess

Dear monks, artists, and pilgrims, The following reflection is excerpted and adapted from an article that appeared in Presence: A Journal for Spiritual Directors International earlier this year. It speaks to what feels like the heart of the work I do in reclaiming an intimacy with creation and letting her wisdom guide our contemplative practice. The creatures and trees are spiritual teachers “Believe me as one who has experience, you will find much more among the woods then ever you will among books. Woods and stones will teach you what you can never hear from any master.”  — Bernard of

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