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
After much deliberation, my word for 2016 is OPEN.
My word for 2015 was COURAGE, and in many ways, intentional and not, I did take steps toward courage, though not without challenge. My courage led me to be more open to new experiences, but self-reflection and conversation with others (other than at a surface level) have remained elusive to me. My prayer is that I open myself up to the work of the Holy Spirit in healing old wounds and also to the possibilities inherent in each day and in my specific vocation/purpose.
My word for 2016 is Creativity in all it’s many forms.
My word for 2016 is Orientation – Orientierung – in the sense of locating oneself….
My word for 2016 is
DANCE……
An exciting and scary word for someone who sees herself more as a Clydesdale horse – strong and sturdy.
Looking forward to explore the more fluid and softer side of my being.
My word is surrender.
Humility so I can let go of anger and hurt, and heal old wounds.
My word came to me yesterday as I was walking in a contemplative manner right on my own property. It is loving-kindess. It’s a hypenated word in English, but I think it’s still just one word.
My word for 2016 is PONDER. Years ago I participated in Christine’s “Artists’ Rule “ online class and it was a fascinating experience. Right this moment I am pondering my intentions for the new year!
My sentence for 2016 is
The eternal now
I suspect that is where deep secrets are hidden and sure it is a focus for lifetime …
My word for 2016 is create. In thanksgiving to our Creator for the many blessings I have received I would like to use my hands to create in the fiber arts and with colored pencils during the year.