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!
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712 Responses
Present….keeping my senses alert to be present to the now
When I began my search for a word to guide me through the new year I put a lot of thought into it. It became difficult. I finally said enough! What will be will be. Then magically the phrase appeared to me. I saw it in my readings. I heard it in a song. So perfect. LET IT BE.
The words from the Beatles song, “there will be an answer, let it be, let it be” have become my guiding phrase. Peaceful, calming words.
I think my word for 2016 in “Unknowing”.
Love. Realizing that God, Humanity, and all Creation are interconnected and that the union that connects all can be called Love.
My word for this year is Paradise. It came to me out of nowhere but I know it has some deep meaning for me.
My word for 2016 is “Complete”. This word is significant to me as I have always left a trail of unfinished things in my life. I see this year as a time to look back at those things I have abandoned and see what pieces I can pick up and finish. Dreams have been left unfulfilled out of fear, paintings half finished, books started but now staring back at me with blank pages, friendships unreturned, and faith placed on a shelf in the corner. I know my word is right, as i feel the yearnings of my heart wishing to know the feeling of completeness, to know what wholeness and fullness feels like, to find a place where emptiness no longer exists.
The word that found me is “kindle.” And the word was followed by the tune and words of a Taize chant…”Within the darkest night, you kindle a fire that never dies away…” Feeling called to surrender to this kindling of a fire within that will burn away some things and ignite others.
Regarding MY WORD 2016: Self-Nurture has found me. I am called to create a home within myself through the arts. Each self-nurturing decision I make and act on, is creating a lovelytapestry stotched together with elegance.
Walk with God
Recollection is my word this year. I feel invited to extend my interaction with my ancestors — gathering stories and pictures, writing in response, and passing their wisdom forward to my extended family.