I am honored to have my newest book The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within reviewed by Claire Bangasser at A Seat at the Table: This book came at the right time in my life. I had finally accepted the need to leave a place very dear to me. As John Valters Paintner explains in Chapter One, “The Practice of Hearing the Call and Responding”: Pilgrimage … can mean the life journeys we take in response to unwelcomed circumstances… Any time life ousts us from our places of security, we are called upon to bring ourselves fully

I am so delighted to share these wise words about the Pentecost and the days that follow from the lovely Tara Owens, author of a wonderful new book Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone: Tongues of Fire: What Our Bodies Tell Us About Pentecost When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each

Abbey of the Arts is offering a special Summer Self-Study SALE (now through June 14th), register for any two self-study retreats and receive a third of equal or lesser value for free (Live it to Give It does not count for the free gift, but you can count toward purchase of the first two). You have ongoing access to the materials and can participate at any time, so purchase two with the third free now and move through them at your own pace. With 15 programs to choose from! If you have purchased a self-study program in the last month and

It takes a lot of work to keep an online monastery running smoothly. We have been in need of admin support for a while now and finally are able to welcome in the help we need. We are delighted to introduce Liz Rasmussen and Melinda Thomas Hansen. Liz will be helping reply to some of the emails which come through and Melinda will be working behind the scenes to get blog posts up and the email newsletter sent out. Melinda Thomas Hansen practices living as a monk in the world through meditation, writing, art, yoga, and engaging in relationship. A long time yoga teacher

It is truly amazing and inspiring to read through the words that have chosen you, our dear dancing monks, to guide and challenge for the year ahead. You can read them in the comments here. (And if you still need support for finding a word, the free 12-day mini-retreat is still available at this link). I am delighted to announce the winners of our random drawing for a whole host of wonderful prizes. To claim your prize, please email us and we will get you set up. One space in the upcoming online Abbey retreat Illuminating the Way: Epiphany and New Year

  January 4-February 7, 2015 (5-week online retreat) Description The feast of Epiphany launches us into the new year with a commitment to see the world anew. Full of enthusiasm for the way and the possibility of beginning again, we are joined by several monks and mystics as wise guides. Francis of Assisi, Amma Syncletica (one of the desert mothers), writer Rainer Maria Rilke, the Hebrew prophet Miriam, and modern monk Thomas Merton. They each offer us profound wisdom for giving birth to the divine presence in our own lives. They also function as archetypes, which means that they break

Share your Word for 2015 In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to God 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