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!)
If you want to be notified of more Abbey gifts and offerings, consider subscribing to our email newsletter (which includes another free gift just for signing up!)
458 Responses
My word “NIMBLE” came only this morning. As I skipped up the six steps into our building I noted I may not be as nimble as I used to be. So that is my word for the year. It is all too easy to become too heavy, too comfortable, too physically and spiritually sluggish. This year’s vision is to lose a few pounds, quicken the step, become lighter on the feet and less resistant to change and serendipity. Nimble!
Wow! Quite an informal word, true enough. And yet this simple word is used to express wonder and awe. And so, this is my word and my prayer for 2012. Help me Lord to keep my eyes wide open so that I may see the wonder and awe in all of creation. Help me to love all, without exception and to know everything belongs, just as it is. Help me to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Guide me as I accept your invitation to be fully present to the wonder of wonders in all of life. WOW !
Mother.
I feel my resistance to this word, even as I recognize Her call. I have no children, yet in this last year particularly I have come to see how often I am called on to mother: to mother other people’s children, the child in other adults, new and developing projects, groups I participate in, and myself.
My father died this past year, and my own mother and I have been on our journey of forging a new relationship together.
Mother carries all experience, through birth and life and death and birth again. She holds us. She holds the mystery.
Riches
Riches reminds me of so many other words like blessings, abundance, prosperity, love, gratitude. My intent is to focus on the riches that envelope my life. What I see, hear, taste, smell and feel is the vehicle that connects me to my riches.
Stillness. I know the strength that stillness offers me and I have been intentional as 2012 begins to clear the clutter out of my schedule so that I will be freer to listen to the still small voice. It’s ever a challenge though, so I choose this word to guide me … into deep places … where I long to go.
yield your hearts…my word is yield. It has so much promise and trepidation. For me. to yield signifies a giving way to make a way for the Other and for others. A year of giving up control and joyfully, yet with difficulty embracing the changes that this brings. It’s going to be a challenge to live this word in my community.
The words “awaken to the sacred possibilities” caught my attention just on Christmas. I had written them out with the rest of the words “being birthed deep within” and stuck them on a door in my home. Reflecting with them I realised that these words actually meant I was pregnant with “sacred possibilities” and the way to allow them to come to birth was to allow myself to do what Mary did and ponder. To sit in the silence, in the Presence and allow the Spirit free reign to bring to birth within me whatever is God’s desire. My daily prayer, attentiveness to daily life, spiritual reading, being in nature will be the sources of ‘things to treasure and ponder as Mary did. So the word that has called me through all of this is PONDER though I sense that PREGNANT also has a call for me. I believe that I am PREGNANT with much but it is only in allowing myself the time to PONDER that my pregnancy will bear fruit as I wait within the place of Mysterious Unknowing allowing the Spirit to work with in me and use me as a channel of God’s Presence in the world.
I call on Mary and ask her to assist me and show me how to PONDER and wait with patience. I just realised how many P words I have been using. Maybe there is something for them to share with me also. Possibilities, ponder, pregnant, presence, patience – I continue to ponder these.
“Fluid Balance”
These are my words for this year. Finding balance in action, in transformation, in spirited growth – this is my goal. To remain fluid as life’s current sweeps me up and into my deepest core – this I welcome with gratitude, love and deep appreciation.
Intentionality.
In a busy life, intentionality is essential to not lose my way in spiritual discipline.
This word has resonated in me as last year came to a close and has only strengthened since. It is not a word I would have chosen. In fact, I am usually quite wary when I hear it used. The word is favor. I am eager to see the fulness of it unfold.
For now I remain curious as to what true favor in Father’s Kingdom looks like.