It could be the name of a prehistoric beast that roamed the Paleozoic earth, rising up on its hind legs to show off its large vocabulary, or a lover in a myth who gets metamorphosed into a book. It means treasury, but it is just a place where words congregate with their relatives, a bigContinue reading “Epiphany 2025: for coming home”
Tag Archives: Abbey of the Arts
for community
It is in the shelter of each other that people live. (Irish proverb) Making room for community is different from spending time with my extended network of friends and family. In my current definition, it’s a network of people with whom I have a meaningful encounter, exchange or dialogue, whether online or in person. Continue reading “for community”
day 3: for change
The ancient Christian monastic traditions, especially desert, Celtic, and Benedictine, offer great wisdom for the journey of unfolding. They understood that the soul’s ripening is never to be rushed and takes a lifetime of work. The gift of the contemplative path is a profound honoring of the grace of slowness. We can grow impatient whenContinue reading “day 3: for change”
heart of stone
Once again it is my honour to contribute a reflection to the ‘monk in the world’ blog of the Abbey of the Arts. This piece was first published on May 15, 2024 (although it was written in May 2023). all words and images by Kate Kennington Steer I arrived at February 2023 in a post-viralContinue reading “heart of stone”
Ash Wednesday March 2 2022: what is a lectio soul collage?
Since joining the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks in 2014, I have been intentionally trying to make my sabbath distinctive from other days of the week. My illness often makes one bed-bound day merge into another, and prevents me attending church (even virtual church), this is harder than one might think. There are practical disciplinesContinue reading “Ash Wednesday March 2 2022: what is a lectio soul collage? “
a monk in the world of 2021
I am honoured to have written another guest post for the Abbey of the Arts, which was published yesterday: As a contemplative photographer I thought I knew quite a bit about light and brightness, shadow and darkness. It appears I was wrong. During 2020 and 2021 a series of COVID-19 ‘Lockdowns’ have been offering meContinue reading “a monk in the world of 2021”
Under a Sap Moon (Vernal Equinox 2021)
What needs to go? What like the seasons is preparing to shed, or to grow. is silent yet in the earth? To reflect, make three columns with your paper and ink: Then walk through the garden of your life, with full attentiveness. Take part in your practice, with your arms raised like the trees, thatContinue reading “Under a Sap Moon (Vernal Equinox 2021)”
furled fire (a Beltaine Birthday Blessing)
Every year I wonder whether to write something to mark Beltaine, the Celtic feast which celebrates a cross-quarter day in the year’s wheel, the end of the dark half of the year and the beginning of its half of light. I celebrate the waxing of the arc the sun’s path makes across the little sliceContinue reading “furled fire (a Beltaine Birthday Blessing)”
image into ikon 