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Monk in the World Guest Post: Katharine Weinmann

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Katharine Weinmann’s reflection and poem Courting the Mystic and the Muse. Five years ago, with the onset of Covid–19, and grieving the abrupt end of a professional career I had cherished, I found my way to writing poetry. The intensive online retreats hosted by Christine and Abbey of the Arts provided the emotional support, compassionate community, intellectual stimulation, and skillful scaffolding I needed for my self-study into this creative expression. Despite that prolonged period of uncertain, even

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Laurie vandenHurk

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Laurie vandenHurk’s reflection on praying the Rosary. Sometimes there are no words for prayer. Sometimes silence just opens me to the chatter and anxiety in my brain.  A number of years ago there was a crisis in my inner circle that threw our lives into chaos. How could I support a loved one whose life just fell apart? How could I hold a supportive space for the others who are equally impacted? What do I need for

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A Blessing for Creativity + Sabbatical Announcement

A Blessing for CreativitySpirit of Holy Imagination,we ask you to bless our visionwith the wisdom to see what is possible. Help us trust our desire to createthrough color, word, shape, gesture, and song. When our fingers trembleat picking up a pen or marker,connect us to the joy of playing on the white page, drawing,doodling, dabbling, dreaming,letting our livesbe a canvas for expression. When judgments ariseand the inner critic yells, guide us to hear our intuitionswhispering the way aheadwith quiet confidence. When our feet feel restless,inspire us to play music and dance freely until peace descends again. Connect us to the

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Jill Ore

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jill Ore’s reflection on the parallels between a monastic cell and an offshore lighthouse. I am currently writing a book that identifies and explores the common features found in the locations and lives of Christian monasteries and monks that are shared with isolated offshore lighthouses and their historical keepers. Integrating contemplative practices into my routine as a modern-day offshore lighthouse keeper facilitates recognizing and experiencing those connections fostered in the solitude and simplicity of lighthouse life. I

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Joy and Rest + Prayer Cycle Podcast Day 5

Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, At Easter I published a beautifully illustrated fairy tale titled Journey to Joy and later this month over the summer solstice I will be leading a two-day mini-retreat with guest musician Te Martin.  The story is about Sophia, a writer and woman in search of physical healing as she has experienced a long bout of illness and the joy in her village has also been depleted. I want to share an excerpt from it near the beginning, after Sophia decides to has to leave the village and find the Medicine Woman:  ***** At the river marking the eastern

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Veronica Spasaro

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Veronica Spasaro’s reflection Bread of Life. Early morning and I enter the kitchen. I lift the mason jar off the top of the modem, the heat of which has kept the jar just warm overnight. I inspect the sides of the jar for signs of life. Bubbles have formed in the brownish sludge pressing against the glass sides. They form black holes reminiscent of craters on the moon’s surface and signify that life is indeed thriving within.

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Laura J. Collins

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Laura J. Collins’s reflection on practicing biomimicry for spiritual well-being. Janine Benyus, the founder of the Biomimicry Institute, urges individuals, organizations and even governments to pay close attention to how nature works and learn to emulate its genius to enhance our planet and our lives. She applies her work primarily to technology, but listening to her makes me wonder about our theologies and spiritual practices, as well. Are they drawing on the wisdom of nature? I work with

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