Share your Word for 2015
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 below by Tuesday, January 6, 2015 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. . .
As in past years, 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. Even if you participated last year, you are more than welcome to register again.
Sign up here and you can start your mini-retreat today. Once you subscribe you will receive the first email within an hour and then one email each day for 12 days. Your information will never be shared or sold.
Win a Prize – Random Drawing Giveaway on January 6th!
I am delighted to offer some wonderful gifts from the Abbey and friends and supporters of the Abbey’s work:
- One space in the upcoming online Abbey retreat Illuminating the Way: Epiphany and New Year Retreat with Monks, Mystics, & Archetypes (a fabulous way to begin the year!)
- A copy of Dana Reynolds‘ fabulous gold medal winning novel Ink and Honey
- A 6-week self study course from Dana Reynolds: Your Sacred Life Artisan’s Book of Wonderment
- A New Year Sacred Reading from the Ronna Detrick (let a woman from scripture accompany you into the new year!)
- A copy Betsey Beckman’s fabulous dance of The Creation on DVD (be inspired to dance into the new year)
- A copy of As I Lay Pondering from Kayce Hughlett (a wonderful book of daily reflections to accompany you into the new year)
- A 2015 calendar from Stacy Wills featuring her alcohol ink paintings (be blessed with Stacy’s stunning images each month)
- A copy of Richard Bruxvoort Colligan’s new album Love Stands With, with songs based on justice-oriented Psalms (be moved by powerful music to inspire your heart to prophetic action in the coming year)
- 4 people will win a copy of Sick and You Cared for Me: Homilies and Reflections for Cycle B with one reflection by Christine, plus also Richard Rohr, Rob Bell, Jan Richardson, and many more!
- 4 people will win their choice of self-study online classes from the following: Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert: A Self-Study Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen, Soul of a Pilgrim: An Online Art Retreat, Seasons of the Soul, Lectio Divina: The Sacred Art of Reading the World, or Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice.
So please share your word (and it would be wonderful to include a sentence about what it means for you) with us below. Subscribe to the Abbey newsletter to receive ongoing inspiration in your in-box. Share the love with others and invite them to participate. Then stay tuned – on January 6th I will announce the prize winners!
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804 Responses
Balance:
This word chose me a decade ago. It may be my “lifelong word.” Origin of the word: from bi – twice, two and from lanx – scale. For me perfect balance is a stillpoint that disappears.
“ArtLaunch,” a hugely surpising word (am used to getting yearly words like “surrender” and “grace.” I am being called to step into the world as an artist, and this word reminds me that this is a spiritual journey at its essence, even though it comes cleverly disguised as a vocational/professional one. God/dess as Trickster…!!!
Since early November, “listening” has been welling up inside of me. I am a very verbal, extroverted individual, but listening is a skill and gift that is growing in me with haste every year. For some reason, however, this word is rooting itself deeply and reaching outward with a sense of mission and integrity I’ve not experienced before. I believe I need to listen to the wisdom of the “other”, the voice of the earth, and the whisper of the Divine through the most unexpected people and places. Thank you.
Create. In the midst of it all, create.
Nice!
DANCE
The Divine Mother has invited me to DANCE with her around the fire pit! For me the fire is symbolic of the inner passion that awaits expression in my life in 2015!!
“Grace” is the word. It is and has been ever present but in 2015 I am called to be more aware of it.
‘Abracadabra’ – I will create as I speak.
I love that! :-)
Breakthrough. The word jumped out at me from an online text and I knew it was going to be my word for 2015.
My word for 2015 is FUSION. It arrived at the beginning of Advent as a gentle summons to integration, to sorting and shifting, releasing and connecting pieces of what has been, what is known, and what is in place with the surprises of what is yet to be given. It is a word brimming with the breath of life. It promises journey into new combinations. Martha
My word is revitalization. As I approach retirement age but without the financial ability to retire – and as I have some new, exciting possibilities before me – I seek new energy for the new stages of life ahead.