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
The 12 Days of Christmas might remind some of a silly song. But we use these days to revive the early medieval tradition of a sacred time between Christmas Day and Epiphany. We started our 12 Day of Christmas Online Journey following a vision of a sacred reading retreat where seekers like us can walk together towards the heart of Christmas, to take a break from the hustle and bustle, to breathe, and to wonder, guided and sustained by wise women and men before us (including Mary, Joseph, Meister Eckhart, Hildegard, Rumi, Bonhoeffer, Kierkegaard and others). And the Journey has gathered readers around the globe since. We do not follow much of the traditional string of saints’ days for the season, but rather explore every year anew what Christmas might mean to each of us, while creating a breathing space for you, guiding you through readings and practices from Holy Night to the threshold of the Old and the New Year and all the way to Epiphany on a quiet interior journey in your own pace and time.
And may Christmas find you where you are, Almut with Chuck and little one
Create your own Epiphany retreat 2023
using our 12 Days of Christmas contemplations
below.
If you feel moved to give a gift in return it will help to support this labor of love and to keep it assessable to all :-)
— Kathleen Schmidt, participant
On Epiphany we traditionally remember the three Kings or Magi who brought Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh as gift to the child. Their coming from “the East” (likely Persia) is traditionally seen as a foreshadowing of the international reach of the Divine revelation. But the Nunc Dimmitis is another place where inter-religious themes emerge: “before the face of all peoples.” Listen to this beautiful piece sang by all St Olaf choirs…
The innkeeper in Bethlehem has gotten bad press for many centuries, even though he barely makes a cameo appearance in the story. But, was he really the embodiment of uncaring rejection we make him out to be?
Also, make sure to subscribe to our seasonal newsletter to get our updates for the next season. Thank you!
PS: We are giving this gift from our hearts to yours. If you have been touched by the 12 Days Journey please do consider giving a gift in return. Your gift, any size, will help us cradle this journey into the future, and keep it accessible to all.
