Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Invitation to Photography: The Deer’s Cry

invitation-photographyWelcome to this month’s Abbey Photo Party!

select a theme and invite you to respond with images.

We began this month with a Community Lectio Divina practice with our reflection on some of the words from the Deer’s Cry, a prayer attributed to St.Patrick.

I invite you for this month’s Photo Party to hold these words in your heart as you go out in the world to receive images in response. As you walk be ready to see what is revealed to you as a visual expression of your prayer.

You can share images you already have which illuminate the theme, but I encourage you also to go for a walk with the theme in mind and see what you discover.

You are also welcome to post photos of any other art you create inspired by the theme.  See what stirs your imagination!

How to participate:

You can post your photo either in the comment section below* (there is now an option to upload a file with your comment – your file size must be smaller than 1MB).

You can also join our Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks Facebook group and post there. Feel free to share a few words about the process of receiving this image and how it speaks of the harvest for you.

You might also enjoy

Monk in the World Guest Post: Sharon Dawn Johnson

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Sharon Dawn Johnson’s reflection Yearning For Second Spring. Seasonal Thresholds Aroused at first light, the sun peeps over nearby urban rooftops as

Read More »

8 Responses

  1. This was part of the poem i read of The Deer’s Cry and it spoke to me as it does through my Photography
    I love taking Landscapes and also Nature/Wildlife. This was taken at Porten Cross and we see Isle of Arran in the sunset.

    I arise today
    Through the strength of heaven;
    Light of sun,
    Radiance of moon,
    Splendour of fire,
    Speed of lightning,
    Swiftness of wind,
    Depth of sea,
    Stability of earth,
    Firmness of rock.

  2. Yesterday morning as I went for my mtb ride I was sensitive of what I can see that connects me to the deer’s cry. This photo show something of living in the shadows of life…no strength to rise, no splendor, no light, no radiance, speed or swifness, no depth, stsbility or firmness…

  3. I took this a few months ago in France. It reminds me of the “light of the sun…firmness of rock” and the smallness of mankind in the face of both (my friend in the open doorway.)

    I arise today
    Through the strength of heaven;
    Light of sun,
    Radiance of moon,
    Splendour of fire,
    Speed of lightning,
    Swiftness of wind,
    Depth of sea,
    Stability of earth,
    Firmness of rock.

  4. I love sunrises and this one is today from All Hallows College, Dublin so seemed very apt.
    From the meditation I got stuck with “today as in every day I arise with All the strength of heaven” and it is that which gives me firmness and stability.
    This has helped me not waiver from the decision I made to go this week with a group of other Christians, called Interweave, to pray for Ireland and 100 year anniversary of the Easter Rising. I am staying for the whole time, though others are coming and going, and I have just moved house and was challenged on it being too long. I wavered. But these words have helped me to see that I do stand firm.
    In fact there have been a few times with this whole move – its has been over 250 miles so a long way and has been challenging – and with other things that people have said things which have knocked my confidence in my decisions. This has helped me to realise that I am to stay strong because I do arise in the stability of earth with the firmness of rock which is part of the strength of heaven.
    Thank you :)

  5. Photography is new for me, so I have enjoyed experimenting with this. For us, rock is firmness. For the goose, water is perhaps firmness. I would love to feel firm in water. Sharon, I love the orange clouds of dawn. Kate, I feel especially joyful when I find lichen or moss. I have written a children’s book called The Wolf and the Shield: An Adventure with Saint Patrick. I placed images related to lines in the Deer’s Cry throughout the novel (scavenger hunt!). The editor didn’t want too much description, but I think all survived.

  6. took a walk after four days of rains the happy lichen spoke to me, creature of wind, earth, sun, moon and nourished by lightning and trees

  7. I arise today through the strength of heaven

    Light of sun, radiance of moon

    Splendor of fire, speed of lightning

    Swiftness of wind, depth of the sea

    Stability of earth, firmness of rock….

    I walked out on the edge of the thawing lake at dawn, called from my bed to witness the light of the sun spreading the splendor of fire over the ice and emerging liquid water.