I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest series from the community. Read on for Rochelle Rawson Naylor’s reflection on the spiritual practice of being in the present moment while caring for a loved one with dementia. Be where you are. This has been my everyday mantra for myself over the decades of my adult life.  It is what I write inside the cover of my calendar in each new year, and it is below my name on my social media profile pages, so I hold it personally and share it publicly.   In earlier seasons

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Lori DiPrete Brown’s reflection Hope through Uncertainty: Reflections Drawing on the Writings of Julian of Norwich. The writings of Julian of Norwich, a cloistered contemplative who lived in14th Century England, recount her mystical experiences and speak about the nature of God and the soul. Julian lived in times of plague, war and social strife, yet she offers a spirituality of hopeful, tender co-creation.  In February and March of 2024 I undertook 30 days of reflection on Julian’s writings

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Amy Oden’s reflection on silence in academic settings. As a professor I live much of my life with students in learning and discovery. This happens in physical classrooms, outside classrooms, in retreat settings and in virtual spaces. I’m noticing how my contemplative journey continues to shape and transform my teaching. My monk-in-the-world speaks into course design and class sessions, drawing my attention to the rhythms we inhabit together as learners. Life with students has been a wonderful

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Susan Miller Setiawan’s reflection “the way is made by walking.” This past April, my partner and I returned from Indonesia, where we had spent the previous 4 months leading a semester abroad for the small liberal arts college where I work.  Soon after we returned, a friend asked me how I was doing.  “Well,” I found myself saying, “I feel like my soul is still back in Indonesia.” I knew right away that I didn’t say that

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Deborah Foster’s reflection and poem on the dark night experience. I have attempted to describe stages of my contemplative experience with the emergence of the Dark Night. Over many years I became aware that a) This must be that Dark Night I keep hearing about; b) Will this ever end? c) It doesn’t, not for me at any rate, but keeps deepening and re-arranging my world view; d) Dark Night is a path that develops spiritual stamina,

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Elaine Breckenridge’s reflection on connection with the wisdom of her body, nature, and the healing presence within. In 2015, I took my first online community retreat with the Abbey, titled, The Wisdom of the Body. After years of neglecting my body, I began to “savor it” and care for it in life expanding ways. The biggest gift that came out of this particular retreat was yoga. Each week we were invited to watch videos with someone who led us

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Mary Francis Drake’s poetry on “beauty, grit, and grace.” I call my poetry ‘soul snapshots’ as they reflect a contemplation and insight of a particular moment in time. These everyday moments open to the inner gaze to reveal the sacred gifts that surround and imbue the stuff of life. I have chosen two poems from my collection called, ‘beauty, grit and grace’ (2016, Lulu Publishing). Toast & TeaSimple morning pleasuresSteaming cup warms hands and heartLashings of butter on crispy