Celebrate the Sacred Feminine ~ A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks, artists, and pilgrims, August 15this the Feast of the Assumption, a feast which celebrates Mary’s elevated role in the Christian church as the bringer of the holy to birth. Mary has received many names and titles over the centuries: Star of the Sea, Greenest Branch, Seat of Wisdom, and Gate of Heaven to […]
Summer Sabbatical (we return on August 5th) ~ A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks and artists, Every summer we try to step back from this wonderful work and take a bit of time off for planning, dreaming, and resting. Sabbath is one of the profound gifts of a generous and abundant divine presence who says that work is good and rest is necessary. We are so grateful […]
Summer Solstice ~ A love note from your online abbess
Dearest monks and artists, In the northern hemisphere we approach the celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day. The seasons are connected to the different cardinal directions, as well as the four elements. Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century Benedictine Abbess, allied the direction of the south and the season of summer with the element […]
Pentecost and Holy Surprise ~ A Love Note from your Online Abbess
Dearest monks and artists, “What is serious to men is often very trivial in the sight of God. What in God might appear to us as ‘play’ is perhaps what He Himself takes most seriously. At any rate the Lord plays and diverts Himself in the garden of His creation, and if we could let […]
Feast of St. Brendan the Navigator ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
Dearest monks and artists, Tuesday, May 16this the Feast of St. Brendan, one of my favorite of the Irish saints. His story embodies the journey of the pilgrim. Here is an excerpt from my book Illuminating the Way: Embracing the Wisdom of Monks and Mystics. Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. […]
Falling in Love with the Monastic Way ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
Dearest monks and artists, With our online retreat Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist starting later this month, I offer you an excerpt from the introduction to The Artist’s Rule which shares a bit of my story of how I came to this work of bringing the contemplative and creative paths together: “You may […]
What is Blossoming Within You? (continued) ~ A Love Note from your Online Abbess
Dearest monks and artists, The fertility of spring speaks of an abundantly creative God who is at the source of the potent life force beating at the heart of the world. Created in God’s image, we are called to participate in this generous creativity ourselves. Our own blossoming leads us to share our gifts with […]