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
After meditating and allowing this word to show itself in my daily life, it’s finally revealed itself as my word for 2017.
Release.
Release of controll. Release of pain from my past when it shows itself. Release of my perceived views on the world and life itself. And above all, a final Release of it all to God.
It scares me, it thrills me, it haunts me, it excites me. It is good.
Release. ?
The word that came to me early on was “RIPEN”, or ripening. It seems to me that I have reached a point in my life that all my experiences that have gone before regarding advocating and mentoring, have led to my current situation. I brought a young homeless woman into my house at the beginning of September. I have been using my nursing/counselling skills that have taken me more than a whole nursing career to cultivate. I feel I am finally fully engaged in using my gifts for the right purpose (my life’s purpose). Having this wonderful woman in my life has made it possible for me to “ripen” into all that I was meant to become. I recognize, that as long as I live and breathe, I will be learning things and growing. Yet, I have never before felt so fully prepared. Many times I still wonder if I have what it takes to deal with a behavioural outburst, yet, I seem to be able to step up to the plate where and when it is needed. I have never before been as confident that the invitation I made to this woman to trust me and come live with me, was absolutely the right one – for her and strangely for me. I have this next year to find out where this word is taking me and how it applies for me. I am excited and most willing to go on this promising path and RIPEN. Who knows what will be harvested.
A number of words positively wrestled for my attention this last month. On the cusp of solstice, GRACE wins. May grace continue to win in my life this coming year.
“SHINE”-continue to let the light of Spirit shine in/through me in the everyday, and in the dark spaces of this world.
My two words are ‘Deeply Rooted’. After some huge changes in my life last year I am beginning to feel more at peace with myself and at home in my life. It feels like now is the time to put down some deeper roots in several different ways.
Write… Words- Reveal- Innerself-Truth-Ego/Expectations… Many thanks to the Holy One and to you Christine…
Hopeful. In a time of disappointment and concern, I’ve been reading “Hope in the Dark.” I had put it down before starting this practice, but now I will try to embody its message.
The (two) words that have been with me for the past week are ‘Stay Awake’. Its a reminder to me to be conscious of what I am endeavoring to do on my journey and not let the worry of the world overcome me.
My word for 2017 is embodiment.
The word that chose me is fearless. I seem to be burdened by many irrational fears and strive to be more fearless in 2017.