Welcome to our “little cloister”
where we
EXPLORE MONASTIC WISDOM FOR EVERY DAY LIVING
Drs. Almut & Chuck with little one
Home of
+The Hildegard Seminar,
+Kierkegaard Masterclass,
+Bach Passionweek Consolations,
+The 12 Days of Christmas Contemplations &
+The “Little School” of Spiritual Formation
All by Almut Furchert
Even when your father wound is to deep or too violent to revisit, it must not break the sacred father image for you. What Kierkegaard describes in almost archetypal terms is that every one has an idea of the dive origin of “fatherliness.” It has redeeming powers.
The experience of falling ill with Covid reminds us of the vulnerability of all life. Paired with the pandemic of mass shootings existential angst becomes hard to bear. Retreating into the present moment becomes a mode of survival.
With his Passion JS Bach has created a grand lamentation. He does not to believe that coping with our fears and sorrows means to keep them in check in order to quickly get over them. Instead his music gives us a container for our sorrows and seduces us into the beauty of lamentation. Joining in this orchestrated experience of mourning can actually be self-soothing and a strategy for resilience in the face of tragedy.
Today, on the last step of our journey though the 12 days of Christmas we invite you to ponder the Divine word within.
Weary from the pilgrimage we seek refuge in some wisdom words by Kierkegaard and Rumi.
Today we invite you to tend to your dreams like you would looking at sacred art.
As it belongs to our human condition to rest in order to grow, the same is true for our spiritual life. On this second Sunday of our journey we invite you to a sacred pause.
Instead of simply saying good riddance to this Annus Horribilis, we invite you for a time of gracious recollection and redemption. You can do this by walking in silence, by looking back on the reflections of this 12 day journey so far, or by taking some time to look with kindness on your life using the practice we provide.
It is in holy birth, that our sufferings and joys intermingle. Come listen and see, and hold your sorrows into Christmas.
On the fourth Day of Christmas, take time to ponder the Mary of the stable and of the Magnificat. We invite you into a Visio Divina meditation on a ceramic Madonna and Child.
On this third Day of Christmas we invite you to ponder the “virgin heart.”
Let JS Bach transform your sorrows this Christmas season. Listen, ponder and sing…
