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
Amongst the ancient Greeks, a threshold was a place of the unexpected spiritual manifestations, a place to be approached with care and ready protection. It is a sacred space, a transitioning space.
The word I choose is NUMINOUS, from the Latin numen, numinis meaning the spirit at work, the divine will impacting our lives “out of left field” when we pause moving from one place to another and offer our willingness to listen and risk.
Hi Christine,
Blessings on your new journey. Ireland is on our list of places we desire to visit.
As for my word for 2013, it came to me in that wonderful place between sleep and awakening after seeking it for weeks ~ “Wonder”. My words for the previous three years have been colour, beauty and paint.
2013 holds a lot of wonder and Wonder, a beautiful word to accompany me on this creative journey.
May your breakthroughs be filled with wonder …
Wholeheartedly…
My word for 2013 is “hospitality”. This word definitely found me at the end of 2012 and into 2013. I look forward to exploring its many meanings, including “hospitality for the soul.”
Thank You for changing my word from “Abundance” to “Allowing”…..
I love the sound and feeling of this word….and it opens me to Allowing mystery, transformation, being fully alive in every moment……and it allows things to fall apart with Grace.
In 2013 I will RECEIVE. The gifts of silence, Divine presence and all that is.
My word is : NOW
I was given this word to remind me that everything God gives me now is enough….to remind me that He wants me to be present to today…not the regrets of yesterday or the urgent planning for tomorrow….that He holds me in His hands now….
This word continues to unfold more meanings as I dwell with it.
Joanna
noticed a few typos so here’s a corrected copy:
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 I see as I write this is PURGE – to become clean, clear. Whispers of “you have to finish me before you can go out and play” initially attracted me. Yes, the answer is 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 yearningly
After time spent first trying out another word, EMBRACE choose me during a walk along the bluffs above the ocean several days ago. Yes! It feels right to embrace what the moment brings. I am ready for the journey.
My word is “daring” – it challenges me to take risks in all kinds of ways, be braver, open to change, maybe a bit feisty, speak out my truth.