In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to the divine 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 5, 2023 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, we are 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, December 11th email and at the bottom of each Sunday following).
WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ENTER BY JANUARY 5th!
- One person wins a space in our Lent retreat on A Different Kind of Fast
- Three people win a space each in their choice of self-study retreats
- Five people win their choice of one of our digital albums
- Seven people win one of our Dancing Monk Medallions
Please share your word with us in the comments below
(and it would be wonderful if you included a sentence about what it means for you)
Subscribe to the Abbey of the Arts newsletter to receive ongoing inspiration in your in-box. You can choose daily, weekly, or monthly. Share the love with others and invite them to participate. Then stay tuned – on January 8th we will announce the prize winners!
475 Responses
My word is ANGELS. Initially, my word seemed to be joy, but then ANGELS found its way to me. I’m not sure if it’s my word for the whole year or for a week or month, but asking God to “Give me a word” has been powerful for me.
My seven-word prayer is, Aware of angels, I can let go.
My word is LOVE. Love is all there is.
GRACE
Magnify. Like Mary, my soul magnifies the Lord. At least that is my hope. This year I want to be intentional about magnifying the Lord in my daily life.
Ember
The word that has chosen me for 2023 is SURRENDER
So much to ponder and discern in 2023 as life changes once again.
This 7 Word Poem will hopefully keep me grounded in soul.
Gratitude for weight of calling in surrender!
The word that chose me this year is “done.” I’ve found it’s not as scary or sad as I initially imagined. Done has already been inviting me to ponder the joys and grief of what to let go as I enter my 7th decade of life in 2023. There are some things I will miss and mourn, and others I’m happy to be done with. It is time for intentional detachment and the freedom and vulnerability that accompany letting go; being done. Nollaig shona Dhuit, and may all be blessed with the spirit of the season, which is peace, the gladness of the season, which is home, and the heart of the season which is love.
Thank you, Judith, for your blessing and your wisdom.
community
My word is Flourish. After being in more of survival mode these past 3 years as the presence of Covid dramatically altered my work, my ability to travel to see my family and gather with friends I imagine it’s time to explore flourishing even as some of these challenges continue.
The word that chose me for 2023 is SOFTEN. I am not sure why yet but this word kept making an appearance as I worked through the retreat. I am looking forward to carrying it with me through the year.
winter dusk-
a blue heron softens
with the light