At the end of August, 17 creative souls gathered with us for our retreat on Inismor – Writing on the Wild Edges of the World. We had a wonderful group with participants from all over the U.S., Canada, Singapore, and Australia. I am delighted to share some of their poems over these next few weeks. Pour a cup of tea, imagine yourself on a windswept limestone island in the Atlantic, and savor for a while. These haiku were written by Mike Philley:  ancient beehive hut— grayed stones etched with gold prayers of lichen   winged peregrine soaring above the sea

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Brenda Buckwell’s reflection “No Greater Love!” I remember from high school one particular girl.  At the time no one called her mean.  She was kind on the outside and everyone admired her.  All wanted to be her friend.  And yet, there was within her a streak of jealousy that was deeply device and manipulative.  This mean girl told her friend at the time that she was plain and boring; no one, especially the boy the other girl

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Debby Bellingham’s reflection on trusting that God will speak. I recently moved to the Hudson River Valley of New York and I am awed and beguiled by the beauty of the seasons, each with it’s unique wonder. In California seasons were days on a calendar, not events to be experienced. My home in San Francisco had variations on one season: cool, windy and foggy. It is autumn in New York. I look west over the Hudson River

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Lorraine Roy’s reflection “Thinking in Circles: A Journey Through the Rings.” At the moment I’m shutting down my textile studio after a long day. The chaos of my work surface recedes. My thoughts take a quiet stroll through the day’s creative journey, where my eyes and hands led me outward from the warm heart of a tree, and back in again. I have been a professional artist working with textiles for over 30 years. I also hold

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Barb Morris’ reflection on the Hospital of the Soul. This is a story of following hunches, nudges, and breadcrumbs dropped by the Holy Spirit. I found El Hospital del Alma on a cold, rainy day on the Camino. El Hospital del Alma, “Hospital of the Soul,” is in Castrojeriz, along the Camino de Santiago, on the vast, interior Spanish plateau called the Meseta. The Camino Francés begins in the beauty of Navarra and Rioja among the Pyrenees,

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read of for Jamie Marich’s reflection “Jerusalem.” I can fit the old city In the palm of my hand From where I stand On the Mt. of Olives Oh, Jerusalem— The vision of what Spirituality could be And yet religion divides you Religion causes war Religion tears people to shreds Because everyone believes Their word to be the holiest Yet as I hold Jerusalem In the palm of my hand I know that the Holy of Holies Lives inside of me

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Kathryn Coneway’s reflection on being a monk and artist. I want to start living like a monk… quiet, listening feeling patterns – from the drum of heartbeat to the timber of voice and the cadence of speech Waking early becomes less a chore and more a sacred rhythm The dog’s eager animal companionship guides me to a friend for the journey to move, to begin, to be aware in the pre-dawn hours. A moving into the world rather