Resources for a Winter Pilgrim...

​Here at Loretto Maryholme we are beginning to lean into the slowing down pace that nature invites us to at this time of year. In this space of restoration and dreaming and waiting on Mystery it is good to have life giving companions dwell with us. In the Maryholme tradition of inviting you into sacred places of rest and renewal we would like to offer the following links to some of the resources we have found helpful as we all learn to live into this new way of being.
​We pray it might be food for journey...
 
Are you a Walker?
If you are a contemplative walker or are interested in becoming one, Christa Hesselink, a Hayden Institute trained spiritual director and the founder of soulplay.ca, operating north of the Guelph area, has crafted a beautiful do-it-yourself saunter. In these four walks she offers us scripture, poetry, mindful walking and reflective questions as an opportunity to explore “The Present Moment”, “Holding the Question”, “Embracing Your Pace” and “Walking the Ancient Way”.
​For a suggested offering you can download and print the workbook that accompanies this lovely restful practice. 
https://www.soulplay.ca/diysaunter


Wanting to be a Learner this Winter?
If you are you seeking an international community of spiritual seekers committed to the conversation between the arts and spirituality, then you may be interested in exploring The Abbey of the Arts. Christine Valters Paintner, is the author of a number of books on Christian spiritual practises, the Benedictine tradition and Celtic Christianity. As the online Abbess of this undertaking her most recent publication "Earth, Our Original Monastery" is a rich exploration of nature as a way to meet God in our everyday lives and her online courses are like a pilgrimage. Additionally, each week she posts an eblast to her mailing list and at this time the focus is on a prayer cycle practice podcast rooted in the teachings of this new book. This one is for a morning prayer.
https://vimeo.com/468986688
 

Seeking a Quiet Reflective Space?
In a recent Loretto Associate newsletter this beautiful prayer poem video was shared.  The verse was written and voiced by Kevin McCormack, an Irish Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher, Writer and Actor. "If This Time" carries a message of Gratitude and Hope, and it was composed in May of 2020. You are invited to reflect on the words, images and sounds as a space of exploring your own wonder of what this time is teaching you. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFRlV-9nFAI
 

Staff Selections of Books, People, who are Inspiring us Now.
One of the tools I have been using in my most recent silent retreats is a lovely little book written by Jon. M. Sweeney and Mark Burrows. "Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart, Meditations for the Restless Soul”  is filled with the mystic’s saying recrafted in an easy to read format that invites the reader to sink into the lived experience of encounter.
Mary Lou Gormley
 
“Embers  One Ojibway’s Meditations” by Richard Wagamese is a beautiful book, from the front cover all the way through. The short meditations are filled with wisdom, love and gratitude expressed through reflections on everyday events and the life questions we all ponder. It’s a book that appeals to people of all ages and stages. Especially now when we are all looking for courage, grace, wisdom and hope, this is a book to savour, to return to, and to give as a gift.                                                                      
Jane Malloy
 
After his popular book, The Art of Being a Healing Presence, James Miller now offers "The Art of Listening in a Healing Way".  It’s a small 80 page book of reflections to be pondered and practised. Recently the author Katharine May was suggested to me. Her two most recent books, "Wintering: How to Survive when Life is Frozen" and "Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times" seem to be just right for this season. If you are drawn to poetry the voices of poets David Whyte and Padraig O’Tuama might be what you need right now – thought provoking and deeply resonant with our common human experience.
Jane McDonell
 
 
Are you a Podcast Follower or Do You Want to be One?
I was introduced to Kate Bowler earlier this year by one of our very own Loretto Maryholme Advisory Committee members and have been following her podcasts ever since. Her lived experience of a stage four cancer diagnosis in conversation with her professional role as a theology professor at Duke University in the United States has birthed this rich inclusive conversational podcast/project called “Everything Happens”.  Each week she interviews a key expert in a variety of areas that are speaking plainly to what the world is presently experiencing and offers some very concrete reflections on living in these times. In this one she interviews Dr. Ken Carter a clinical psychologist, speaker and scientist as she explores how we are living alongside fear.
 https://katebowler.com/podcasts/ken-carter-living-alongside-fear/
 Additionally she creates a beautiful weekly liturgy related to the interview.
What are the podcasts of hope that are feeding your soul these days?
 

Are you a Lectio Visio prayer who Sees Mystery in Images and Words?
For those of you who were able to enjoy our Lectio Visio Lenten offerings earlier this year, you will enjoy this offering from the British Jesuits who have a wealth of online Ignatian related resources available to all. In this section they offer guidance on praying with Art. 
https://www.pathwaystogod.org/resources/praying-art?mc_cid=b031dff091&mc_eid=2cfb74da1a  
Geoff Wheaten SJ provides a monthly reflection that deepens your relationship with the Sacred through an exploration of paintings, frescos, mosaics, stained glass and sculpture.
 

Are you a Meditator Seeking Company?
"Imagine" is another online resource from the British Jesuits offers a biweekly space of nourishment for the soul. These Ignatian process-based meditations invite us to bring our openness, curiosity and of course our imagination. The do live broadcasts every two weeks for those who can manage an 8:00pm United Kingdom time frame, but for the rest of us, an available anytime recording is also found at this site. 
https://www.pathwaystogod.org/imagine?mc_cid=a759d0e92e&mc_eid=2cfb74da1a
 
 
Have you ever Wondered about Body Prayer?
Earlier this year I had an opportunity to learn and practise body prayer, a rich multi-sensory practise that I have shared with several retreatants. In this video you will see the Julian of Norwich prayer,  "Await, Allow, Accept, Attend" demonstrated. You don’t have to be able to stand for this as it can also easily be done from a seated position also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&feature=youtu.be&v=_lKdXykzTXk
 
 
Are You a TED TALK Watcher?
Jane Malloy our intrepid Booking Coordinator offered this wonderful Ted Talk offered by Elizabeth Gilbert titled “It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Here’s what to do next” In this session Elizabeth offers hope and understanding as she explores grief and staying present in these challenging times.
https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_it_s_ok_to_feel_overwhelmed_here_s_what_to_do_next?language=en
 

Do you Want to Stretch your Brain Cells?
If you want to stretch your brain cells check out the video "Healing Collective Trauma" with Thomas Huebl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_jGkqjQjME
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 Concerns close to our hearts...
 Issues on our minds...
 Resources to share with you...

​
 Globally and Locally...
  We share with you some resources that are dear to us, 
  and invite you to support some global and local initiatives by
  attending events, by sharing awareness within your networks,
  by supporting concerns, and by remembering them 
​  with your prayers and good intentions.

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 Ecology

 Bees:
 The Blessing of the Bees
 Plant Turtlehead

 Lake Simcoe:
 Turning the Plastic Tide

 Gardening:
 Let the Dandelions Grow

 Climate:
 Fast for the Climate
 Season of Creation

 


​Fabulous Books on Edible Plants:
Backyard Foraging, by Ellen Zachos
Edible & Medicinal Plants of Canada, by MacKinnon, Kershaw, Owen, Karst & Chambers
Wild Edible Plants, by John Kallas
Nature's Garden, by Samuel Thayer
The Forager's Harvest, by Samuel Thayer
Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, by Bradford Angier
Weeds of Canada, by France Royer & Richard Dickinson

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 Justice

 First Nations Women

 End to Trafficking of Women

 

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Spirituality
​
Sacred Space
        - Your Daily Prayer Online

3-Minute Retreats
        -Daily Online Prayer

A-mused

​Spirituality and Practice

Loretto Sisters, Canada

Ignatian Spirituality

Benefits of Silence

Books we are reading...
​

Fields of Compassion
​How the New Cosmology is Transforming Spiritual Life

by Judy Cannato

 

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The Divine Dance

by Richard Rohr

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Prayers of Boundless Compassion

by Joyce Rupp

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​  Embers
  One Ojibway's Meditation
  
  by Richard Wagamese

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Falling Upward

by Richard Rohr

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Being Mortal

by Atul Gawande

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Wild Mercy

by Mirabai Starr

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An Altar in the World

by Barbara Brown Taylor

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Finding Peace through Spiritual Practice

by Pastor Don Mackenzie, Imam Jamal Rahman, and Rabbi Ted Falcon

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Sensible Shoes

by Sharon Garlough Brown

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A God That Could Be Real

by Nancy Ellen Abrams

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Grounded

by Diana Butler Bass

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The Grace in Aging

by Kathleen Dowling Singh

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"Remember that God is the end of all your actions
and therein you will find great satisfaction and think all things easy and possible."
Mary Ward
1585-1645

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​with links to relevant ecological, justice & spiritual resources.