Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Go read these. . .

Published: November 3, 2006
Categories: Links & Resources

. . .Monastic Mumblings has the funniest post on “How People of Faith Read a Stop Sign” — definitely good for a hearty laugh. . . and the author David James Duncan has a great article on writing advice (that I found over at Kristin’s blog) where he claims having fun became for him the key to the door of the literary kingdom. Enjoy!

You might also enjoy

Loving Into Justice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, We are delighted to begin our 2025-2026 program year and our 20th year of ministry this Friday, August 15th with a retreat on Loving into Justice led by the wonderful Coke Tani. Coke offers this reflection and introduction to what we will

August 10, 2025

Monk in the World Guest Post: Rachel Grandey

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Rachel Grandey’s reflection on bringing the heart of contemplative practice to research and opening to the questions. In 2023 I left my

August 6, 2025

The Year Ahead at Abbey of the Arts ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, We hope you have had a restful and inspiring summer. We always cherish this time of quiet reflection and dreaming into the new academic year of programs. I have savored having some time to simply be and deepen into the sacred

August 3, 2025

img:is([sizes="auto" i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px;}img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#fff;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#fff;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#fff;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#09c;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#cbddeb;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#95bedd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#95bedd;}:root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square:1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3:4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4:3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2:3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3:2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9:16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16:9/16;--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small:13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20:.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30:.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40:1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50:1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60:2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70:3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80:5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural:6px 6px 9px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep:12px 12px 50px rgba(0,0,0,.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined:6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255,255,255,1),6px 6px rgba(0,0,0,1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,1);}:root{--wp--style--global--content-size:800px;--wp--style--global--wide-size:1200px;}:where(body){margin:0;}.wp-site-blocks > .alignleft{float:left;margin-right:2em;}.wp-site-blocks > .alignright{float:right;margin-left:2em;}.wp-site-blocks > .aligncenter{justify-content:center;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}:where(.wp-site-blocks) > *{margin-block-start:24px;margin-block-end:0;}:where(.wp-site-blocks) > :first-child{margin-block-start:0;}:where(.wp-site-blocks) > :last-child{margin-block-end:0;}:root{--wp--style--block-gap:24px;}:root :where(.is-layout-flow) > :first-child{margin-block-start:0;}:root :where(.is-layout-flow) > :last-child{margin-block-end:0;}:root :where(.is-layout-flow) > *{margin-block-start:24px;margin-block-end:0;}:root :where(.is-layout-constrained) > :first-child{margin-block-start:0;}:root :where(.is-layout-constrained) > :last-child{margin-block-end:0;}:root :where(.is-layout-constrained) > *{margin-block-start:24px;margin-block-end:0;}:root :where(.is-layout-flex){gap:24px;}:root :where(.is-layout-grid){gap:24px;}.is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}.is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}.is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width:var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width:var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*,div){margin:0;}body .is-layout-grid{display:grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*,div){margin:0;}body{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){text-decoration:underline;}:root :where(.wp-element-button,.wp-block-button__link){background-color:#32373c;border-width:0;color:#fff;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);text-decoration:none;}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}:root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6;}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important;}@media screen and (max-height: 1024px){.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important;}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+3):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important;}}@media screen and (max-height: 640px){.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload),.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *{background-image:none !important;}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+2):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important;}}.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload).nitro-lazy,.e-con.e-parent:nth-of-type(n+4):not(.e-lazyloaded):not(.e-no-lazyload) *.nitro-lazy{background-image:none !important;}.css-events-list thead{display:none !important;}.css-events-list table.events-table td{border:hidden;padding-left:10px;padding-bottom:20px;}.css-events-list table.events-table h4 a{margin-bottom:-2px;line-height:1em;color:#71963d !important;font-family:"Alegreya Sans",sans-serif;}.event-image .attachment-100x100{border-radius:100px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 768px){.event-image{width:110px;}}#em_widget-3{color:#e0d09e;}.content-box-green{background-color:#71963d;padding:15px;border-radius:10px;}.tb-button__link{color:white !important;background-color:#71963d;}.wp-block-verse{font-family:"Alegreya Sans",sans-serif;}

Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Go read these. . .

You might also enjoy

Loving Into Justice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Rachel Grandey

The Year Ahead at Abbey of the Arts ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Upcoming Programs

Recent Reflections

Monk in the World Guest Post: Callie J. Smith

Loving Into Justice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Monk in the World Guest Post: Rachel Grandey

The Year Ahead at Abbey of the Arts ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Connect with Us