Two years ago I began what has now become an annual tradition at Abbey of the Arts during this time of new year reflection. I offer the same invitation this year, again with some prizes to give away on January 6th, and this time with a free gift for everyone who participates.
*Everyone* who shares their word for the year and a brief description in the comments below also gets a *free guided meditation recording* from the Abbey with an *Embodied Examen Prayer for the New Year.* It is a great way to reflect on the past year and tend your dreams for the next. To claim your free gift, read through the instructions below and when your word for 2012 emerges, share it in the comments (scroll to the bottom of the page) and then email Eveline, the fabulous Abbey admin at admin@abbeyofthearts.com and request the link.
Then share this invitation with others! Help spread the love and opportunity for reflection!
Read on for more inspiration:
In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to God and to their own inner struggles at work within them. The desert became a place to enter into the refiner’s fire and be stripped down to one’s holy essence. The desert was a threshold place where you emerged different than when you entered.
Many people followed these ammas and abbas, seeking their wisdom and guidance for a meaningful life. One tradition was to ask for a word – this word or phrase would be something on which to ponder for many days, weeks, months, sometimes a whole lifetime. This practice is connected to lectio divina, where we approach the sacred texts with the same request – “give me a word” we ask – something to nourish me, challenge me, a word I can wrestle with and grow into.
Last year my word was sanctuary. Sanctuary has multiple meanings: the sanctuary in a church is the place where the holy of holies dwells, but we also create sanctuaries for animals needing protection or for persons fleeing persecution. The layers to this word shimmered throughout my year, but especially the sense of finding sanctuary within my own heart, to feel at home in the world. This was the grace of this past year, its fierce lesson for me. This year my word is *savor* (click the link if you want to read more about its meaning for me). It came to me in a moment of silent prayer as I reflected on the call I am feeling these days to deeply savor each moment of my life, to immerse myself even more in the present moment. I am eager to discover what the word holds for me this coming year.
If you want help in letting a word choose you, scroll down for several suggestions.
- What is your word for the year ahead? A word which contains within it a seed of invitation to cross a new threshold?
- What word, phrase, or image is shimmering before you right now inviting you to dwell with it until it ripens fully inside of you?
Share your word in the comments below before Friday, January 6th
Leave your word for the year ahead in the comments below plus a couple of sentences describing your choice.
Letting a Word Choose You
For some of you the word may have come right away, but for some you may desire a word to ripen within your soul these coming weeks and months, but one doesn’t seem to be coming. So here are some suggestions for allowing a word to choose you:
- Release your thinking mind in this process, this isn’t about figuring out just the right word to improve yourself this coming year. The word comes as gift, often your sense of it being “right” is more intuitive, a more embodied sense of yes. The word (or phrase) is one that will work in you (rather than you working on it). Remember that a word that creates a sense of inner resistance is as important to pay attention to as one that has a great deal of resonance.
- Lectio divina is one of the primary practices we have in Christian monastic tradition for listening for a word or phrase that shimmers or calls to our hearts. Lectio is traditionally applied to scripture, but can also be engaged to pray with life experience. Allow some time for prayer and in your imagination review this last year, honoring it as a sacred text. As you walk through your experiences notice which ones stand out, call to you for more attention, or shimmer forth. There may be more than one, but for this time of prayer select one of them (and you can return to others in future times of prayer). Enter into it with all of your senses. Remember it in all of its detail. Experience it from this place you are in now. Notice if there is a word or phrase which rises up. Then allow that word to unfold in your imagination and welcome in images, feelings, and memories which stir in you. After a time of making space for these, begin to ask what is the invitation or call rising up from these noticings? Where is God calling you to a new awareness or action in your life? Close with some time of silence.
- Approach a soul friend, a spiritual director, or a wise elder for your word, as in the desert tradition. They might need some time to ponder this with you. It is always wise to consult with a soul companion or community when testing the fruits of prayer.
- Create a time of retreat for this holy time of year. A couple of hours is enough. Make space to sink into silence, journal, reflect on your experiences of the year past. Write about your dreams and deep desires for the year ahead. In the space of contemplation and stillness, notice if there is a word, image, or phrase which rises up.
- Go for a contemplative walk where you aren’t trying to get anywhere. Your sole purpose is to be as present as possible to each footfall. Listen for how your inner life is calling you forward with each step. Be present to the gifts of creation around you (even if it is the city pigeons and trees planted down the sidewalk). Listen if they might have a word to offer to you.
- Listen to your dreams in these coming days. As you go to sleep, lay a piece of paper and pen by your bed as a sign of your willingness to receive the wisdom that comes in dreams. Consider strong dream images as possible words calling to you. Pay attention to synchronicities through the day. Are there images or words which seem to repeat themselves? If so, take note.
- Allow time for the word to ripen. This may be a slow process. If you hear a word calling, sit with it for a couple of days. Listen attentively to the stirrings of your heart in response. Eventually there will be a tugging inside of you, where you feel yourself drawn again and again to this word. Allow yourself to be in a space of unknowing with this and practice being present to your anticipation knowing that things of the soul unfold in their own time. This is a journey of transformation and the word may not make immediate sense to you, but trust that over time more of its meaning will be revealed.
When the word emerges, please share it with me and others in the comments section below. I am truly blessed by the sharings offered there – it is such a gift of hope in this time of holy darkness (and if you share by Friday, January 6th you are entered into a random drawing for a chance to win one of several prizes!)
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458 Responses
Hi Christine; I have been reading all of the other posts and the wonderful words and ideas that everyone has been putting forth out of their contemplation and prayer. It struck me that everyone was expressing what was indiviual for them or unique to them. I wanted my word to be uniqueness. Then I also considered that while we each have a unique word that speaks to the heart of each one of us, we are still all interconnected, a family. My word for this year is “resplendence” which speaks of the shining of each individual soul expression, but the brilliance of all of us will come forth as we come together as a world family expressing a common purpose of compassion, peace and love
My word is “surrender” – surrender to Love.
Right now I am feeling quite overwhelmed by too much work and too many responsibilities. I have always made myself “do” more – accomplish more – not give up. But, that has put me on a spiral that is life-sapping. It is hard to give up control – admit I cannot “do it all”.
My word for 2012 is RELEASE. I am drawn to letting go this year, old beliefs, limiting patterns, fears, stuff, and the illusion of “control”. I am standing on the edge of that high cliff and ready jump…to fly!
My word is “ease”. Almost all of my life I’ve been “trying hard”. I try hard to do all I can, I try hard to do my best. While I still believe in the great value of goals, it’s too easy to become overwhelmed by the “more, more more” of trying ever harder. The words “grace” and “ease” have a restful fullness that I would much rather live with than such efforting. Ease.
I think my word is “Grace”. But I’m abit worried maybe I just want that to be my word, since I’m looking for grace and feel in need of it. I will sit it this a few more days and get back to you before the 6th.
Yes. My word is GRACE. (I guess it just seems too good to be true). Thank you, Christine, for this invitation to pay attention to our “word” for the year, and let it work in us. I look forward to pondering this more and remembering to be open to grace.
My word for 2012 is “REMEMBER”, as in re-member, or re-attach a member of the body that has become disconnected. I’m taking a course in narrative as healing, and as I write scripts about my personal story, and record my dreams to see if they offer any wisdom, I’m learning that “remembering” does bring new clarity and healing. I wonder what else the Spirit will reveal to me about this word?
My word is SURRENDER…
recently, different writings have found their way into my life, guiding me to notice my fierce devotion to defining my sense of self, my personal identity…while this time for self has been serving and healing me at many levels, I also find myself with a deeper longing to return , to increase my awareness of the universal connection shared with others, with Spirit, with the Divine, as ONE…this return requires me to let go, to open, to trust, ultimately, to SURRENDER to the love of the Divine…
…and so, my word is SURRENDER…xo xo xo
My word came to me just before I got up to preach. I was listening to a Michael Card song about Joseph and the word “nurture” came to me. I will nurture my relationship with Jesus as a mother does her child: with play, read, work, and hold cloe to my heart my precious Jesus.. A couple of days after the word chose me, I was on FB when I saw that my daughter’s friend, who is an artist, had a print for sale called “Nurtured.” Ah, a God moment. The print should be here any day!
My word for this year is *FREEDOM* – being free to be ‘me’.
Accepting myself and being OK with who I am. Allowing myself to do the things that I have not allowed myself to do, because of all the restrictions I have placed upon myself. Challenging my fears and doing it anyway. Living instead of existing. Being free. Being free to be me.
Blessings to all for a truly wonderful 2012 ?
Flourish – I want to grow beyond strength this year and stretch out with blossoms for life – blossoms that bloom simply for the sheer beauty of life.