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
The touching and most delicate word I have been thinking of today is”KINDNESS!” I think of it because kindness can melt an icy heart. I think of because their is an honest interest in others when it is displayed. With the love of kind voices I state that I too am proud of myself and the stictuitiveness this years difficulties have brought out in me. From art to music to poetry it’s wonderful to have the expression, the audience and the friendships. With love.xo MELANIE
As I prepare for open-heart surgery on January 5th, the 12th day of Christmas and the celebration of the Epiphany, it became clear and like an epiphany that my word for 2012 is ‘open-hearted’. I want to become more ‘open-hearted’ in my life, to be more generous, to be less guarded, to be more joyful, to let go of old hurts and resentments, to welcome Love and all the opportunities to love.
I feel much gratitude for the heath care system in Canada that has connected me with one of the finest cardiac surgeons in our country. He practices at St. Michaels Hospital in downtown Toronto, a hospital known as the ‘urban angel’ that is reaching out to me in rural Owen Sound. My family doctor is a Lutheran, my cardiologist is Muslim, and my surgeon is most likely Hindu … it is wonderful to consider how God works through all peoples.
Please keep me in your prayers and share with me where I can pray for you.
Namaste,
Jennifer
My word for 2012 is “window.” This is important to me in many ways.
In 2009 I changed jobs and was moved into a small room without a window. I loved the work but hated the enclosed feeling; it felt like a punishment for 2 years.
Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to move to a new space with TWO (2) windows. It’s on the third floor of an old building and I glory, glory in the light, the views, the rain, the birds and squirrels.
And my husband had cancer treatment this year. We are looking forward from a sad and bad year to a new and healthier, happier one. We are looking into the window of the new year for our future.
What will we see?
My word this year is ‘presence.’ Too often I’m pulled in too many directions living as a fragment of myself in each one. One definition of presence that I found is that it’s defined by tracing the path from Presence to Feeling to Thinking to Creation and finally to Experience. I’ve been working on going back to my thoughts and feelings in a moment so I can make a better choice, catching myself heading in negative or limiting or habitual directions before I’m too far gone. As well as making time to full inhabit my writing and reading and the creative process. There’s a spaciousness and clarity to this idea of presence that calms me down and makes me feel that there is plenty of time.
My word “star gift” this year was goodness. I somewhat dismissed it as easy when I first looked at my star gift. Yet, it was a reminder to me to see the goodness all around me and to be in touch with the goodness of God. This year I was enveloped in goodness, despite challenges. The goodness of finishing an interim and the goodness of the good bye I received. The goodness of moving back home full time. The goodness of spending a week with my sister and enjoying the summer off to tend my garden and to read and to get the house back in order and clean. The goodness of my dear grey, Jett, whom we had to ease his way over Rainbow Bridge. The goodness of a few more months with him. The goodness of an unexpected trip to Switzerland to attend my last aunt’s memorial service and to share what made her so special to my sister and I. The goodness of time with extended family and a week in Tessin with my closest cousin. The goodness of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly who drank from my butterfly and fluttered over me three times in gratitude. The goodness of a very part-time interim helping a congregation to heal and to move forward. The goodness of LH’s congregation to pick up our health insurance. I have been saturated with God’s goodness this year and it has been a wonder and delight.
I won’t know my star gift word for the new year until Jan. 1st, when I invite the congregation to select a star upon which is written a word. I am already anticipating what this new word will be and how God will slowly reveal the fullness of its meaning in my life.
My word is “wonder” and for me it means I will let the amazing nature of every experience come through and not hold back. I also plan to “wonder as I wander” and let things unfold, divinely. Everything is just as it should be.
My 2012 word is PRESENCE. It is my goal for the coming year to be present and welcoming to all experiences that present themselves to me.
Two nights ago I dreamt of a bird but when it flew away I realized it was a turtle. I have been drawing images of sea turtles. Loving woking with what that image might have to tell me. A creature with weight and gravitas that knows how to fly. thinking of it as a Solstice Angel at the moment
My word for 2012 is SILENCE.
Silence my mind hear the voice of God
Silence my body to experience the excercise I need
Silence my heart to rid the negative garbage
Silence my eyes to see the gratitude given me through Creation
The word I chose this year is :”seeker”. I am seeking Christ like the Magi of old. I have seen signs but I am not always on the right path so I need to stop and ask for help. I have been on this journey before but I begin again.