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Monk in the World Guest Post: Janelle Harvey

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Janelle Harvey’s reflection, The Language of Feathers. On a cold winter day, after discovering the truth and severity of your daughter’s drug addiction, you might find yourself running into the woods seeking the comfort and presence and help of God in that place of solitude and solace. Desperate tears will freeze on your cheeks as you sob a prayer to God: Help! Please! Protection! The words won’t matter; you will have turned all your attention to God. Sorrow,

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November 29, 2017

Sacramentality of the Senses ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks and artists, The Catholic Mass, which is my own home tradition, is often described as “smells and bells.” A full liturgy will often meet and inspire every one of our senses: the scent of incense rising, bells ringing, stained glass windows, singing songs, embracing another at the kiss of peace, eating the bread and drinking wine. I have always loved the Catholic idea of sacramentality, which means that physical things participate in and reveal the presence of the holy. The liturgy with all of its sensual dimensions is sacramental, the marriage union between two lovers is sacramental, the

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November 26, 2017

Writing on the Wild Edges: Participant Poems (Tanya Stark Loretto)

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 Tanya Stark Loretto. Dreamscape The land of Éire has seeped into my being, Permeating my dreams. I wander through her paths, Surrounded by rocks, cliffs, fields, bogs, A multiplicity of hues- grays, greens, lavenders, and browns. I wander and wander, Often not knowing where I am going, And yet I am not afraid, To

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November 24, 2017

Monk in the World Guest Post: Pat Butler

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Pat Butler’s reflection, Thirsty Walls.  As veteran homeowners know, the work never ends. Nor does spiritual work. And as this novice homeowner discovered, one can inform the other in a monastic practice of restoration: renovations! Wall prep seemed to go on forever as I peeled wallpaper, cleaned and scrubbed glue, repaired cracks and spackled dings, sanded, preparing the walls to receive paint. I prayed through the work—for help, strength, knowledge, protection—in this new monastic cell, with a

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November 22, 2017

Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice ~ A love note from your online abbess

Dearest monks and artists, The United States celebrates the feast of Thanksgiving this week. I have always loved this time of gratefulness and sharing with loved ones. My heart overflows with gratitude for this beautiful community we have created together. I delight daily in knowing there are dancing monks all over the world. The 5th century monk and mystic Benedict of Nursia counsels in his Rule for monastic life an attitude of contentment among his community. Whatever the circumstances they find themselves in, they are to find some satisfaction with what is in the moment. In a world of self-entitlement and

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November 19, 2017

Writing on the Wild Edges: Participant Poems (Julia Morris-Meyers)

 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 Julia Morris-Meyers. Coming? ?home,? ?Christmas to? ?dusty? ?high? ?plains front? ?door? ?opening smells? ?of? ?turkey,? ?more stockings? ?bulge,? ?fire? ?lit smiling? ?parents,? ?happy? ?we’re? ?here. Twinkling? ?lights? ?beckon while? ?Dad? ?carves? ?the? ?bird dear? ?Aunt? ?Dot? ?samples Mother? ?juggles? ?pans. Table? ?set? ?with? ?best crowded,? ?we? ?don’t? ?mind cold? ?night? ?kept? ?at?

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November 17, 2017

Monk in the World Guest Post: April Brenneman

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World Guest Post series from the community. Read on for April’s reflection on becoming a monk in the world. When did I start living as a monk in the world? My journey began as a child in a divided and strife filled home where I knew God’s intimate whisper through writing and nature. Though I was too young to consciously understand, my inner being longed for a monastic life.  I voiced this inclination and asked a couple of adults how to become a nun. We were not

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November 15, 2017

Breath as Holy Pause ~ A love note from your online abbess

Every breath is a resurrection. —Gregory Orr (excerpt from poem “Concerning the Book that is the Body of the Beloved”) Dearest monks and artists, In the monastic tradition there is a practice called statio, which is the commitment to stop one thing before beginning another.  Imagine, instead of rushing from one appointment to the next, that between each one you pause, you breathe just five long slow breaths. Imagine how this might transform your movement from one activity to another. Or even when you move from one room to another, allow a brief pause on the threshold between spaces. God lives

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November 12, 2017

Writing on the Wild Edges: Participant Poems (Vivien Ray)

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 Vivien Ray. Seven Ways of Seeing a Thorn Tree (With thanks to Wallace Stevens) One Already you have shed summer’s story of leaves Two Moss binds your limbs Three I watch you from seed fall, shed by a passing bird To limb fall and decay And yet you are willing to allow

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November 10, 2017

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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November 8, 2017