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

Monk in the World: Kinship with Creation 6 – Reflection Questions and Closing Blessing ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims,

During this Jubilee year of sabbatical we are revisiting our Monk Manifesto by moving slowly through the Monk in the World retreat materials together every Sunday. Each week will offer new reflections on the theme and every six weeks will introduce a new principle.

Principle 4: I commit to cultivating awareness of my kinship with creation and a healthy asceticism by discerning my use of energy and things, letting go of what does not help nature to flourish.

Reflection Questions

How are you being called to awaken this new day?

Where are you being invited to embrace your own radiance in the fullness of the day?

What are you being summoned to release as the day ends?

Where are the places you are being called to surrender into deeper unknowing and a sense of the mystery of night?

Closing Blessing from Christine

God of fecundity,
you overflow into creation
with each moment,
offering the gifts of beauty, wildness, and nourishment.
I embrace the sacred rhythms of light and dark,
rise and fall, fullness and emptiness,
as the pulse which animates every living thing.
Enliven my commitment
to live as a member of the whole earth community.

With great and growing love,

Christine

Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE

Image credit: Star image above is a word cloud made up of words from this community to guide them in 2020

You might also enjoy

Resistance, Renewal, and Resilience ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, On Monday, September 8th we begin a four week journey for Resistance, Renewal, and Resilience: Resting into Uncertainty and Harnessing Opportunity with Kindred Spirits led by Wisdom Council members Aisling Richmond, Felicia Murrell, Jamie Marich, and Richard Bruxvoort Colligan. This retreat was created

Read More »

Monk in the World Guest Post: Laurie vandenHurk

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Laurie vandenHurk’s reflection on praying the Rosary. Sometimes there are no words for prayer. Sometimes silence just opens me to the chatter

Read More »