Warp and Weave Seminars
Carole King sings a famous song about a tapestry: "My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue....a tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold."
Winter
In winter the heartbeat of the land slows down. As the hours of light diminish their comes an invitation to slow down. Even the processes of the earth slow down in this fallow season in order to be nourished and replenished. Without this rest, soil wears out and loses its nutrients. The same holds true for us. We need a fallow time.
Some questions to ponder and write about might include: What does your spirit most long for now?
Are there any situations or inner places that seem barren and empty in your life? Who or what is most helpful to get you through the challenging and disheartening times? Go for a walk in the wintered land. What speaks to you of God's nourishment being there for you?
In the depth of your hopes and desire
Lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow
Your heart dreams of spring.
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Winter
Like every other season, winter holds a beauty all its own. There is much to wonder and be amazed at in the world of winter. It is less busy and more reflective, offering space to snuggle close to loved ones, read a good book, engage in a favorite indoor activity, or relax by a fire. There is even a certain solace in the great hush that settles over everything when we are lucky enough to get a snow fall.
Some questions to ponder and write about:
Is there a part of you that is like a terminal bud, safely protected while it waits to stretch and grow?
Sit in darkness for ten minutes. Listen to the part of you that yearns to grow. Then light a candle. Sit in the light for ten minutes. Listen to your inner courage. Where do you need to pray for trust and confidence in your future growth? Write a prayer about it.
Antiphons for Winter
O Wise Season of Reflection,
Come! Come with your teachable moments.
Summon our spiritual powers.
Invoke our interior strength.
Heal our reluctance to wait for spring.
O Come!
Taken in part from Joyce Rupp's, The Circle of Life
Joy,
Mary Ann
"Stand firmly, sit serenely, mutter profoundly, sing outrageously, and dance all the way to your death!"
~ James Broughton