Share your Word for 2013
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. The word which chooses us has the potential to transform us.
- What is your word for the year ahead? A word which contains within it a seed of invitation to cross a new threshold in your life?
Share your word in the comments section by Tuesday, January 8th and you are automatically entered for the prize drawing (prizes listed below).
A free 12-day online mini-retreat to help your word choose you. . .
This year I am offering all Abbey newsletter subscribers a gift: a free 12-day online mini-retreat with a suggested practice for each day to help your word choose you and to deepen into your word once it has found you.
Sign up here and you can start your mini-retreat today. Once you subscribe you will receive a confirmation email with access to the mini-retreat content (and you are free to unsubscribe at any time). If you are already a subscriber, the invitation will be in this week’s email newsletter.
Win a Prize – Random Drawing Giveaway on January 7th!
Some wonderful friends of the Abbey have offered fabulous prizes to be included in this drawing held from all of the names who participate:
- from Christine Valters Paintner of Abbey of the Arts: a space in the online Lenten retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
- from Kayce Stevens Hughlett of Diamonds in the Soul: a signed copy of her book As I Lay Pondering: Daily Invitations to Live a Transformed Life
- from Dana Reynolds at Sacred Life Arts: a space in her online class The Book of Wonderment and a signed copy of her brand new novel Ink and Honey
- from Ronna Detrick: a space in her online class Soulstice: Develop a Meaningful Spiritual Practice
- from Roy DeLeon of Now Praying: a signed copy of his book Praying with the Body and personalized body prayer for your favorite Psalm
- from Tess Giles of Pilgrim’s Moon: a print of the beautiful banner art by Rima Staines
- from Velma Frye: a copy of her CD “Seven Sacred Pauses” and “Take Heart”
- from Richard Bruxvoort Colligan: a copy of each of his Psalm CDs “Sharing the Road” and “Shout for Joy”
- from Trish Bruxvoort Colligan of River’s Voice: a copy of her CDs “Breath” and “Unfolding”
- from Mary Sharratt: a copy of her novel Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard of Bingen
- from Waverly Fitzgerald of Living in Season: a copy of her French Republican Calendar for 2013 and a copy of her New Year Dreams E-book
- from Betsy McCall of the Art Monastery: an original art print
- from Paula Huston: a copy of her latest book Season of Mystery: 10 Spiritual Practies for Embracing a Happier Second Half of Life
Pretty wonderful, isn’t it? Make sure to check out the links to their websites for all kinds of goodness and thank them for supporting the Abbey!
So please share your word (and a sentence about what it means for you) with us below. Subscribe to the Abbey newsletter for your free gift. Share the love with others and invite them to participate. Then stay tuned – on January 7th I will announce the prize winners!
844 Responses
My chosen word is “compassion”
For myself, for others, for all this year
Thankyou so much for the free online 12 day retreat, a wonderful way to embrace the new year.
My word for 2013 is discovery. I’ve just given birth 9 weeks ago to twin boys and everything is new. It’s an exciting and also scary time as I learn what it is to be a mummy for the first time, learn how to let go for my need to control outcomes, and learn how my little men will develop over the year. I will discover things about me, about my relationship with those around me, and my boys will be constantly discovering new things. Discovery helps me remember this sense of wonderment that my babies bring to this process as I may struggle at times to remain in the moment myself
Early on, in the guided process, of receiving/choosing a word, I had chosen the beautiful word – ‘community’. I still love the word and am not abandoning it. But, after two very powerful dreams, I now welcome (it wasn’t easy at first) the word – ‘careful’. Being careful is not always my strong suit. In my new life, in a new town/community and in a new year; I intend to be careful. Careful as in ‘watching my step’ but, also, as in being caring with others and myself. In many ways, the word ‘careful’ is similar to ‘mindful’ and I look forward to exploring the relationship between being careful and being mindful.
Thank you, Christine, for your guidance in choosing a word for 2013.
My word is ‘Enrichment’, which I invite into my own life and hope to add to other sentient beings lives.
(Thank you for your wonderful website and encouragement).
My word for this year is WILD.
I’m not sure where it is going to lead me. As I have been pondering over the last week, I wrote down, “Wild is enormous, but very inviting!”
“Ladder” – from the Ladder of Divine Ascent, St. John Climacus. 12-Step program on steriods…to attain theosis
Carrie, love this, I was given the audio book for Christmas/nativity….so wonderful….! Great choice!
Like you Christine, I had a word I was ruminating on for a while, it was ‘curious’ and I liked the idea of being more curious about everything in 2013 and allowing myself the freedom to express curiousity about everying. But quite unexpectedly, while reading something I felt a deeper call to the words ‘let go’, ‘release’ and ‘surrender’. I have been on a journey of ‘letting go’ over the autumn and I beleive this is a call to go further, so my word for 2013 is ‘release – let go’. Thank you for all you share with us. May you know many rich blessings in 2013.
~~ playfulness ~~~
May a spirit of playfulness infuse my life.
The word that has chosen me is “undulation”. This word has appeared over and over in the last few days–undulating through my life. I think I am learning that there are times of moving forward and growth and times of resting before the next wave of growth and forward movement. Sometimes I forget that resting is ok. It will be fascinating to see how undulation works in my life this next year.
Dear Christine,
Love this discipline. Your retreats help me so much. For 2012 my word was Suffering.
It was a very diffilcult year. I have cancer and it progressed to Stage Four. I discovered that my husband of 43 years was unfaithful to me. I had to quit my job due to the side effects of all the chemo. Yes, very tough.
2013 – the word that really spoke to me was Sanctuary. This word will be one I can work with all year…I need Sanctuary and have it in the Holy Trinity….I will run to my Sactuary every day to deal with my trials and tribulations. I have to create that sanctuary anew every day in order to protect my own soul….there is so much I can find in this word to nurture me for what lies ahead.
Please keep these mini retreats coming!
Dear Theodosia,
My prayers are with you. I am so happy that you have a Sanctuary … what a beautiful word.
Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer, I really appreciate your prayers and reply. I am finding I have to remind myself every hour to retreat to my Sanctuary, much better than New Years Resolutions ……I know this will stay with me every day this year, giving new insight every day. Today I was given new meaning for myword – that I also need to be, and can be – a sanctuary for others…….wow.
Dearest Sis, Theodosia, Teresa, Terry!
Thank you for introducing me to the online Abbess and all the treasures to be found here!
My prayers are with you, along with the prayers of many others, to help you to ‘feather the nest’ of your sanctuary.
Much love as always,
Sally/Sarah
Can you tell me why you have two names?
I do too.
Sally/Sarah