Dear monks, artists, and pilgrims,
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 6, 2024 and you are automatically entered for the prize drawing (prizes listed below).
WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ENTER BY JANUARY 6th!
- One space in our Love of Thousands online companion retreat to the book
- One space in our online Lent retreat on A Different Kind of Fast
- Two people win a space each in their choice of self-study retreats
- Three people will win a digital album of their choice.
- Three 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)
Winners will be announced on Sunday, January 12th.
If you would love a retreat experience to support you in listening for your word, letting your word ripen, and carrying your word into the year ahead, please join us for our Give Me a Word Advent and Christmas season retreat which begins today! I am joined by many wonderful guest teachers and there is a suggested practice for each day from now until Epiphany!
Join us tomorrow for our Contemplative Prayer Service where I will be joined by Simon de Voil and Polly Paton-Brown to reflect on the gifts of Mary for our journey.
With great and growing love,
Christine
Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE
P.S. We are delighted to announce the release of Birthing the Holy: Dancing with Mary and the Sacred Feminine! This digital collection of 12 dances and companion teaching videos by Betsey Beckman and guest artists offers another beautiful resource for engaging with the gifts of Mary.
Image paid license with Canva
233 Responses
My word for 2024 is FLOW. I feel the call to be open and receptive to what is and what will be, and Flow is how I visualize saying yes to the call.
My word is comfort. Each Advent I am given a word for what the upcoming year will support. This year is comfort for myself and also for family members who are in deep need of it. In comfort God prepares a new path in the desert.
HOPE
The chaos of the world as we confront evil and search to come together in our common humanity – not focusing on our separating identities of color, race, religion, gender, or nation – requires HOPE knowing we are in God’s hands and we are the Mystical Body of Christ! Come Lord Jesus, touch our hearts and minds that we may come together for the blessing of ALL!
My word is vulnerable. Hoping my vulnerability will lead me to be more open to others, to reach out more and to savor ordinary moments of each day.
My word for the year is “Contentment.” I am reaching a part of my life where I do not feel a desire to chase a dream or build the next step in the career. Contentment leads me to be present in the here and now.
HOPE is making its presence known to me. What the world so desperately needs now.
My word for 2024 found me last week in my writing after creating a mandala inspired by the goddess “she who is never not broken”. My word is FORGIVE. Mostly for forgiving myself, and I feel it will lead me into a year of self-compassion.
I have been finding words that give meaning to my life since my very early twenties. I never knew other people did this as well!! Often times I get several words at a time. Right now my word list is growing. I have WINGS and ROOTS. This is very amazing to me realizing the importance of being able to fly further and higher when we have strong roots as our foundation. I’m looking forward to what else I will discover as I grow my wings and roots!!!
I was drawn to the flow of the water through our rain chain. Placing my hands on my heart, I listened here. A space opened…an awareness of being in a connected flow. I felt I was part of the flow within this rain, chain and my body. Oneness is the word chosen for 2024.
Embrace