SHARE YOUR WORD FOR 2016
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 January 6, 2016 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.
Subscribe to our email newsletter and you will receive a link to start your mini-retreat today. Your information will never be shared or sold. (If you are already subscribed to the newsletter, look for the link in today’s email).
WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ON JANUARY 6TH!
We are delighted to offer some wonderful gifts from the Abbey:
- One signed copy each of Soul of a Pilgrim, Eyes of the Heart, The Artist’s Rule, and Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire.
- One space in Sacred Seasons: A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
- 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 we will announce the prize winners!
If this is your first time commenting at the Abbey, or you are including a link, your comment will need to be approved before appearing, which usually takes less than 24 hours.
712 Responses
My word is Care. I wish to serve the Lord with all my heart, but I feel my body, mind and soul is so in need of ‘care’ and that I should realize that it is a Temple of the Holy Spirit that I am neglecting that which God has given me and I am tired and although almost 71 years feel there is still work for me to do in His service, be it Quiet Retreats. or whatever I may be lead to do.
My word is actually two words in one. It is RELEASE and EASE. For so many years I have struggled with getting beyond the trauma of my childhood. I’m looking for release and I am looking for peace. On my journey I have to learn a lot about God and reject many images and conversely bring other images close. I have been deeply touched by a women’s circle wherein we are reading The Soul of A Pilgrim. It has opened my eyes, heart and spirit to what shimmers for me and to look for it every day. And to realize that there is a Prescence, divine, wise and holy stepping over he threshold and going on the journey with me. The pilgrimage is back home to myself and to the Spirit that is only Compassion. In doing I have learned so much about the healing powers of art and creativity. Blessings!
My word is ‘offering’. It came to me this morning while watching the wild geese, proceeded by a Red Tailed Hawk, both flying overhead. They few with such earnest grace, offering their wings and flight heading into the wind and snow. The beauty of the world often offers me so much; in turn I wish to continue to offer my purpose, as well as nascent purposes to this world.
Breathe
My word is “free.” A few days ago while practicing Lectio Divina, the following phrase came to me: “…so you will know what it’s like to be free.” I would like to see what grace unfolds with the word “free.”
Word for 2016: Self-Mastery. Diving deep into my heart to commune with my Divine, allowing and receiving guidance directly from the Source of All; excavating my True Eternal Self and expressing that Self every moment.
For the last 4 weeks, the only word resonating with me is “joy” yet last week I had a strong image of Dancing with God. will continue to discern, I think though the word will be joy and the image will be the dance…
My word(s) is “breaking open”. As I get close to 70, the “Crone” has made her presence known in such a powerful and deep way. I cannot ignore her. . . she’s sassy and gentle at the same time and she is breaking me open in ways that I so want to resist but know I cannot. A whole new transition and way of being in the world I believe is what she has for me.
SATORI … Enlightenment … and the name of my dog … the state in which I already exist and the state for which I strive
My word is fearless! I have been empowered by love & grace in this year of mercy! I am grateful to our God for his eternal Love!