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
“Assurance”…it came silently then burst forth as I watched Aretha Franklin sing it on television. “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;….” It was as though an angel was singing to me and I was hearing it for the first time!
Wholeness –
I long for the various pieces of my life to be more connected, more whole. Too often I feel scattered and unfocused. Just thinking about the word “wholeness” gives me a sense of well-being. This is the word calling out to me.
My word (phrase) is “push the envelope”. I heard this a couple of weeks ago, and was searching for something a bit more poetic sounding…but my spirit confirms, this is it!
Grasping … the word that jumped out at me from a couple of books, and at a time when i was circuitously going over a mental-story of a seemingly “negative” experience….
Grasping cherished notions of reality,
my body closes off to truth around…
this new year, i pray for….
loosening up repetitive thought-patterns,
gently releasing continual mental chatter,
cleansing perceptions…..
so i can try being the truth as much as possible and not hurt others inadvertently…….
bowing to mother nature, & this lovely community of dancing monks, & Christine, & John who continually offer their gifts lighting up many a heart………….
The word that came to me is OPEN…I must be open to all that the new year brings, and try to count it all for joy
My word this year is CHANGE. Not sure why but I know there is a reason.
My “word” is a phrase: walk slowly, both physically (intentionally) and metaphorically (slow down my mind, heart, opinions and words). “Truth” and “trust” keep coming to mind, so as I “walk slowly” through this year I trust that the truth I need to learn will reveal itself to me.
RETREAT
This word chose me, I think, because not only did I go on one last year and should remember to make it a yearly occurrence, but I suspect that I must retreat from those things that no longer nourish me.
Discern. A word that allows me to reflect on changes in my life and how and what to do that is really important and life giving.
My 2016 word came early in a silent retreat: LOVE. As I worked my way through the 12 days a second word joined the first: LIGHT. Both words have brought synchronicities and confirmation through various readings and life itself. Have not written my poem yet but have ideas. Blessings everyone on your words & deeds in 2016, Maripat,