For several years now the Abbey has offered a regular Poetry Party and last year we added in the Photo Parties. These have been invitations into your own creative expression through a particular theme and then sharing it with your fellow monks. We took a break from them over the summer but are excited to be bringing them back now.
This autumn we are adding on two new features:
Community Lectio Divina: Each month I will be posting a scripture passage or poem (and eventually some art and music) which you will be invited to pray with using the ancient contemplative practice of lectio divina. Guidelines will be posted and an audio recording of Christine leading you in the prayer. Suggestions will also be offered for creative ways to respond to what arises in your prayer and you are invited to share the fruits of your discoveries with the wider community.
Invitation to Dance/Dance Party: I will also be posting a monthly invitation into a gentle movement practice so you can explore the body in prayer as sacred landscape and holy vessel and invite you to share what you discover.
Join the Conversation: You are invited to join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks Facebook page as a place to participate or in the comments below each blog post as they appear.
Below is a look ahead at the weekly themes. All are welcome to participate.
Our approach to the arts at the Abbey is one of exploration, discovery, and prayer. Our aim in art-making isn't to create a beautiful product and impress others, but to pay attention to the process of unfolding that leads to the creation of something that is an authentic expression of our experience in the moment. We welcome in the discomfort and resistance, as well as the ease and joy. When we create what is truly within us, rather than what we want others to see, we dance on the wild edges and expand our understanding of the Spirit's movement in our lives.
Art can be a journey of revelation and truth-telling. Creating from the heart (as opposed to the mind or ego) draws us closer to the Great Artist who is continuously at work in the world, and with whom we can collaborate on life's artistry.
Autumn 2013 Community Invitations
September 1: Community Lectio Divina
September 8: Invitation to Photography
September 15: Invitation to Poetry
September 22: Invitation to Dance
September 29: A chance to pause and savor
October 6: Community Lectio Divina
October 13: Invitation to Photography
October 20: Invitation to Poetry
October 27: Invitation to Dance
November 3: Community Lectio Divina
November 10: Invitation to Photography
November 17: Invitation to Poetry
November 24: Invitation to Dance
Upcoming Monk in the World Guest Posts:
Each of the Wisdom Council members shared a guest post this past summer about becoming a monk in the world and artist of everyday life. They were so well received, that we are continuing the series with some more wonderful writers and bloggers on the contemplative life.
September 9: Tara M. Owens, CSD, spiritual director and supervisor with Anam Cara Ministries and Senior Editor of Conversations Journal.
September 16: Carl McColman, author of Answering the Contemplative Call: First Steps on the Mystical Path and The Big Book of Christian Mysticism: The Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality
September 23: Claudia Mair Burney, author of God Alone is Enough: A Spirited Journey with Teresa of Avila
September 30: Claire Bangasser of A Catholic Woman's Place
October 7: Lacy Ellman of A Sacred Journey
October 14: Kent Ira Groff, author of Honest to God Prayer: Spirituality as Awareness, Empowerment, Relinquishment, and Paradox and Writing Tides: Finding Grace and Growth through Writing
October 28: Paula Huston, author of Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit and The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life
November 4: Ken Peterson, author of Prayer as Night Falls: Experiencing Compline
November 11: Wil Hernandez of CenterQuest and author of Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities: A Life of Tension and Henri Nouwen and Soul Care: A Ministry of Integration
November 18: Mary Sharratt, author of Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen
November 25: Edward Sellner, author of Finding the Monk Within: Great Monastic Values for Today, Wisdom of the Celtic Saints, and his most recent book The Double: Male Eros, Friendships, and Mentoring-From Gilgamesh To Kerouac
December 2: Mary Earle, author of Celtic Christian Spirituality and Marvelously Made: Gratefulness and the Body
December 9: Judy Smoot, founder and executive director of Always We Begin Again
*Please note: The book links above are Amazon Associates links which provides the Abbey a small percentage of your purchase price at no additional cost to you. These funds go to support the Earth Monastery Project and our scholarship fund.