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
acceptance
of what is, as it is
I’ve fought against this for so long and what comes to me as I contemplate the new year is, “it’s time,” and so I will let go and begin.
My word is TOWER. I used to choose a word but now I listen and it chooses me. As if reading/studying more about Mary Magdalene (‘migdal’, ‘magdal’ – tower) and then having tower images and songs (‘The Name of the Lord Is / A Strong Tower’ ) pelt me through December were not enough, I just learned that my recent back issues have to do with spinal compression. So as I begin to strengthen my core, release tight muscles, and build up my spine into health again, the concept of ‘TOWER’ as backbone, column, anchorage, becomes even more significant for me.
My word is kinship
I dreamt of a selkie last night . It was stuck on the highway in between the two lanes at the entrance to my home town ..rearing up ..an unusual black beast . (I do animal rescue work so I pulled up to rescue or at least help it ..tho it wasn’t injured .,but def DISPLACED ). Knowing it was from the sea I wondered how it got there . Cars silently crashed into each other around me as I parked my vehicle nearby to attend to the selkie . ..everything was very black . I woke up . I looked up and found your site .,it spoke to me so accurately of the burnt out I have been in lately . Thank you 🙏
My word for 2023 is HAPPINESS
We usually don’t pay much attention each day of what makes us happy. This word chose me very strongly and I got confirmation in several occasions hearing it repeated to me. This new year calls me to be open and recognize what makes me happy each day and enjoy it.
My word is ‘wildness’ – which took me by surprise but I know it’s because I’m too often bound by what other people say and in my life, particularly my spiritual life, I need to be wild and free
I am going to add the acrostic I wrote to go with this.
Wrung out by pressures
Indescribably tired
Letting others rule my life
Depression set in
New life began as I
Exercised my right to be me
Striking out into my own wilderness
Sure that only God knows the way for me.
My word is connected. I’m in my second experience of treatment for cancer. This word grounds me in the connection of my body, mind and spirit as well as to my medical team, my friends, and the divine energy of the cosmos.
My word is Shift
My word is Home.
My word is peace ( wholeness, contentment )