SHARE YOUR WORD FOR 2017
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, 2017 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 the Sunday email).
WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ON JANUARY 6TH!
We are delighted to offer some wonderful gifts from the Abbey:
- One space in our upcoming New Year’s online retreat – Spiraling Inward: Seven Celtic Spiritual Practices
- One signed copy each of Illuminating the Way, Soul of a Pilgrim, Eyes of the Heart, The Artist’s Rule, and Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire.
- One space in our online program Sacred Seasons: A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
- 4 people will win their choice of our self-study online retreats
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!
316 Responses
My word is mystery. In today’s gospel we hear of the wise men, astrologers probably, watching the sky for a sign. I watch for a signs to help me approach the mystery of God & God’s plan for the world. I can sit in the mystery & know that I do not have to unravel it but can be ok in that mystery. Like Paul, sometimes I feel that God revels some of that mystery but mostly I travel in hope & keep my heart open to signs.
I saw your word in the word cloud the other day and thought “oh, there’s a word I could delve into.”
My word for 2017 is “Incorrigible” and comes from a quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes: “If you have yet to be called an incorrigible, defiant woman, don’t worry….there is still time…” 2017 is going to be a year of uncertainty here in the U.S., and I am setting an intention to get involved in whatever ways I can to protect the rights of women. I’m starting on January 21, participating in the Women’s March, (the day after the inauguration of our new president). I’m marching in the Twin Cities with thousands of other women, supporting those who are traveling to D.C. to march! Time to get involved.
Ch
Softening. My body. My heart. My mind. My life. Softening edges. Softening the core. Softening relationships. Softening.
I tried to deny my word, but I have finally acquiesced to my need for its presence in my life: BALANCE. Now, let the challenge and the fun begin.
Edit: Now I’m thinking that perhaps PATIENCE should have chosen me. I had to wait what I consider to be an inordinately long time to have my identity verified in order to post this. Could there be a better way to do this?
My Word for 2017: FAITH!
FAITH!
Deepening this awesome, enlightening next step,
Is it from darkness into more “LIGHT”,
More knowing into “UNKNOWING”,?
Simply ‘”TRUSTING” the ineffable AWE
Of being led and living in the Divine Moment!
Grateful, all embracing, in the FAITH moment!
Rejoicing and glorifying the Unknown,
Holy One,
Continued Faithfulness!
FAITH!
Mantled by FAITH!
Shestelle
My Word(s) for 2017 is Coming Home. Bathing in last year’s word of ‘dwell’ as I wandered through the process this time each reflection pulled me toward all the images, sights, sounds, words, feelings of what it means to come home – to myself, to my family, to my life. I remain open to this exploration.
My word chose me yesterday – EMBRACE. Everyone who knows me knows I love hugs and hugging, a form of embrace, but I do not like embracing everything eg getting old! My husband gave me a special book at Christmas for me to write a haiku a day in – yesterday I wrote a 3-versed one – is that allowed?!
Embrace my expanse Embrace my limitations Embrace my True Self
Embrace my fullness Embrace loss and emptiness Embrace paradox
Embrace the moment Living breath-filled space of time To the maximum
My word for the beginning of 2017 is inspired. To be inspired or moved by the spirit within me, to live life with more passion, kindness, love and joy and to pass it on. I like what Maya Angelou said, “Try to be a rainbow in someones cloud”. If all people could live lives inspired and grounded in love this world could be a peaceful place to live.
My word for 2017 is LISTEN. I feel the draw to cultivate listening ears in my relationship with the Lord, other people, and even within myself. I look forward to all that I will learn and the ways in which I will grow as I am quiet and I practice intentional listening.