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
ALCHEMY – A medieval chemical philosophy having as its asserted aims the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the panacea, and the preparation of the elixir of longevity.
A allusive
L learning
C charged with
H heavy
E emotions
M manifesting
Y yammer
I begin this year challenged by this word, for I am part of a community where this word is central for it is the theme of a conference to be held later this year. I am taking this weekend to prayerfully consider if I want to continue to serve on this committee. Is it any wonder that the word the word I see as I write this is PURGE – to become clean, clear though whispers of “you have to finish me before you can go out and play” initially attracted me. Yes, the answer it right in front of me. Will I have the courage to make that choice? Letting go of my ego and trusting transformation is possible, I open myself to a new alchemy…
A attracting
L love
C changing
H hearts
E each day
M mindfully
Y yearingly
When we meet in person or spiritually, “Namaste” embraces each of us, wherever we are on our journey. So much expressed in a single word.
A blessing…hope…promise…friendship…oneness…eternity……..
It was first expressed in a less complex world. My journey starts there. When shared, it is a gift most precious. “That which is holy within me, bows to that which is holy within you. When you are in your holy place, and I am in mine, we are as one.” Once uttered we connect with humanity and the divine.
My word is really a phrase, or several phrases: a TSUNAMI of joy, hope compassion, love, contentment. (I had a dream: I was on the North Shore of Lake Superior—a favorite place—heading for a friend’s house, when I spied a tsunami coming from directly in front of me. I braced, and then let go, and when I opened my eyes, it had dissipated. I felt that grace had descended on me. (And, interestingly, a mini-tsunami—which does occur with some regularity on the Great Lakes—is called a seiche.)
My word for 2013 is “current,” as in, fluid; the magnitude and direction of flow. Wikipedia describes it as “a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, Coriolis effect, cabbeling, temperature and salinity differences and tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun.”
My word is “breathe” , vital to life and a reminder of the spirit which gives us life, how we breathe slowly when we are at peace, rapidly when excited or scared. A capacity essential to all life on earth.
My word is Peace. It is what I need now, and at the end of my life.
It will help me trust God.
The word that slipped into my consciousness and stayed there with certainty is “Transformation.” The wheels of that had already started to turn in late 2012, but it’s starting to move into its real momentum now. I think it is going to be an exciting year!
In recent months I have struggled with too many things at once – all of my choosing. Recently I’ve decided to de-clutter my life, lighten the load – most of which is unnecessary, both in material things and in complicated relationships. I’ve been thinking of de-clutter being my word but I think SIMPLIFY sits better at this point. It feels right for me right now. My daughter, whose been living in my home, is married now and moving away, my partner and I are speaking of changes in our relationship that will encourage our spiritual growth, and my art and photography continue to ask me to spend more time doing what I love. So Simplify, I believe will help with all.
NATURE – it represents God to me.
A word popped out at me this year when I was taking stock of many things that I am grateful for and that word is UNLEARNING. I am very grateful for the things I am unlearning in my life… and there are many more to come. The word unlearning describes the beginning of the second half of my life and I will embrace it’s call to paradox, wisdom and freedom this year.