Celebrating the simple, ordinary things in life may not always come naturally to us, but it can make us strong and give us joy.
We choose symbols deliberately to help us advance the causes to which we feel called. And sometimes, we put symbols away. (8 May 2005)
When a person cannot read or write, their name may appear with many different spellings -- not just because of recordkeepers' carelessness but because the individual simply doesn't know.
I am in awe of the neat but stylish hand of an Army captain who, in 1870, transcribed the registered voters of Rusk County, Texas, where some of my forebears lived.
Tough conversations get easier with practice, and part of my practice is to write things down. Here are two new statements on the issue of memorials to Confederate leaders.
Just as rain falls on both the just and unjust, spiritual authority may fall on both the obedient and the rebellious. The nature of power and authority is one of the key issues of any age -- as is our response to it.
In this Either/Or world of ours, it often seems that the hardest thing is to choose not to take a side. Pollsters, parents, friends, bosses, colleagues, Internet acquaintances – they all expect us to weigh in with our opinion. A Both/And response is not permitted. You are either for us or against us. If you don’t speak out, then obviously you’re condoning the latest outrage. No wonder so many of us feel exhausted. No wonder so many feel afraid.
Celtic spirituality retreats and workshops from Georgia to Vermont, Sep-Nov 2016
Curious about Celtic spirituality? You can learn about the living yet ancient tradition of Céile Dé at a retreat March 18-20, 2016, in northern Ohio. Click here for more details.
I wanted to write about Patrick:
How he lay between Ireland and home,
between captivity and destiny,
in a desert land,
Famished, having refused wild honey
because it had been offered
to unknown gods ....
Good intentions may inspire action, but somehow their power to motivate us quickly fades. The result is a gap between our aspiration and our reality that yawns like a black hole before us, draining what little energy we may still have for the work of God. And like a black hole, we dare not approach any closer to investigate this gap, lest it pull us into total despair from which we fear there will be no escape.
Here is one of my favorite St. Patrick stories, one that has nothing to do with snakes or shamrocks. It provides an image of the meeting of ancient ways and the new order that I find very tender -- and quite surprising, as St. Patrick is not often described as being such a friend to the older traditions.
This is an event I've been wanting to do for a long time -- a "quiet day" at Washington National Cathedral on Sunday, November 17, using the life and heroic presence of Nelson Mandela as our theme. We will spend the afternoon reflecting on oppression, reconciliation, courage, forgiveness, and our own quest to leave behind the prisons that hold us back from a full life in community.
The Washington, DC, area has tons of events for those who want to explore Celtic spirituality -- worship, seminars, workshops -- even a Lenten series. Here's our grand list, through May 2013.
Well, here we are at last – in the final few days of the 26,000-year Mayan “long count” calendar. Of course, these are also the last few days of Advent – and the darkest days of winter, for Friday marks the winter solstice. Dark days indeed, when our spirits are tried and we know not where to turn for solace. But is it the beginning of the end? Or the end of the beginning?
Feeling grateful? Or, maybe you're not sure what you're feeling as the holidays approach? Now is the time for a labyrinth walk! You can walk at your own pace and for your own reasons, without any fear of "doing it wrong", because whatever way you choose to walk the labyrinth will be just right for you.
To mark the passing of each season in its turn is a way of affirming the ebb and flow of life and recognizing that we each have more islands to visit, more thresholds to cross before we finally reach Home. May all your harvests be gathered in safely and your fires kindled to welcome whoever knocks at the door.
Here's a question I never expected to be answering: “How do I go about finding holy water?” It came from a newcomer to the Céile Dé tradition, in which we use water to bless ourselves as part of our daily meditation practice.
I've been out of town for a family emergency and need a little breathing room before launching into this series, so I've postponed the start date until October 21. Visit Uniting Heaven and Earth: An Introduction to the Céile Dé Tradition for updated schedule, details, registration, and inquiries.
Celtic Spirituality
I have been following the contemplative Céile Dé tradition since 2009 and, as an ordained teacher, am able to introduce it to others, via either a workshop or individual sessions. I also offer general workshops on Celtic spirituality.
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Genealogy is all about making connections, often in a specific place.