still waters refuge

Praying for Others/Prayer Requests

2012-01-24T11:29:00.000-05:00

The best way for me to deal with my own prayer needs, especially when I find it hard to accept outward reality is to pray for others.
This week I received more than 10 prayer requests from friends and acquaintances.
I set aside an hour a day to practice praying for others.
The act of prayer blesses and is a gift for all beings.
Focusing on praying for others, I put my own concerns to the side and send loving kindness and compassion to friends, situations and issues, known and unknown.
Centering on the Oness of all, and letting go of attachment to outcomes, I feel free and filled with Light.
I pray for the Highest Good for All.
Breath in pain and suffering.
Breath out Love and compassion.

Make my day. Leave a comment with your prayer requests.I need the practice.

The First Gift

2011-12-23T13:18:00.000-05:00

Mothers should get the gifts on birthdays.
God, a noted theologian didn't just beam Jesus on to Earth.
Mary had to give up her body- Here am I.to give birth.
Mary fed, changed diapers, clothed and taught Jesus and her other children the laws and to love and be loved.
And then after all her giving to the child she has to give him up to the world and here him deny her.Who is my Mother? And watch him be denied, do miracles, make mistakes and suffer.
Meek and mild?

I'm enjoying my 12 days of Christmas gift exchange with Byhand artists . You can follow that over at Rainbow Weaves.
I made 12 gifts and sent them off and for 12 days I get to open a different gift- each one precious and special and hand made for me. I don't want it to end.
Starting today I am going to open each day as a gift, precious and made just for me.
And each day I will be a gift and give of myself to others. Just because.
Because of the first gift. The gift of Life.
Quakers claim to believe all days are equally holy.
Lets do it.
Thanks for reading, comments and giving.

Avent and Miracles

2011-11-28T14:51:00.001-05:00

Living simply in the midst of over abundant consumption and hording is an active dance.
Longing is a close friend. I think she is ok. Jealousy is a near enemy. I would like to ask him to take a long walk over a short bridge.
This season of Avent is full of longing. It's easy to live with longing when we know the outcome is joyous, even if it involves Faith, Death, Resurrection - if you have the Faith part- and a birth that brings us on the way of Truth and Light.

Sometimes when I lie awake I count my longings.

I long for the Church that welcomes me just as I am, that I can walk to and that worships in open silence without denominational limitations.

The Miracle- last Sunday, at the continuing Church- that I can walk to- Montreat PC USA, the Pastor explained we were going to do something different- A period of silence- I sat in silence and tears of Joy.

I long for a partner; someone to live with me and share my joys and sorrows, chores and play, words and silence. My spiritual director says living alone is a gift. I would like to return it.
Today, I am feeling there is someone longing for me and tho we are apart, it is enough, knowing that we a long for each other.

The Miracle- a friend of my daughters has come to stay a few days a week while she is in massage school in Asheville. She comes in and says, Hi, I'm home, we have a meal together and she gives me a massage!

This season of Advent, and all longing seasons are opportunities to prepare, opportunities to practice expectant waiting, opportunities to work on our listening and observation skills.

Be Ready.
Be Willing to let go of your longing.
Be Still and open to know when you hearts desire is right in front of you.
Remember to say Thank You early and often.
Hold those presents to open on Christmas morning and enjoy your longing.

Thanks for reading and your comments.

Faith and Acceptance

2011-11-21T14:14:00.000-05:00

I lot of thing I know, with my mind, intellectually.
A lot of things I don't.
A watermelon seed turns into a watermelon. I know when to plant it in May, and how to water it, pick off bugs and give it lots of compost. I know seeds divide and all that and still, it is beyond my understanding how I get the intense pleasure of sweet juicy watermelon in August.
I can choose to live my life by this same Faith.
Faith is the opposite of fear in my life.
When I don't know what to do, I have faith that if I do , do what I know, the path to my highest good will be before me.
Faith is comfort sometimes refuge, sometimes safe sometimes risky. So it goes.
The more I let go of control the more I am free to enjoy my watermelon on a warm summer day.
Acceptance implies willingness to listen and be open.
To be willing to hold to my Faith in the midst of unbelief- that outwardly may seem more "factual" than what I inwardly know to be Truth.
This includes acceptance of myself.
Treating myself with loving kindness for past mistakes and perceived shortcomings.
The more I let go the the need to be right, judgmental, the more I am free to be me and enjoy others just as they are.
Breathing and meditation help alot.

Thanks for reading, your comments and for Faith and Acceptance.

Call me when you get it

2011-11-07T19:03:00.000-05:00

I have nothing to fear from the events of my life.
I will continue to experience times of joy, sorrow, rest and great change.
If I let go of struggle to change outer conditions, to make things different than they are, I will not struggle.
TRUTH-Everything that rises up passes away.
No outer condition is forever.
Letting go of judgement and blame will lead me in a path of peace, harmony and freedom.

I'll call you when I get it.

Less is more

2011-08-22T12:18:00.001-04:00

Letting go is more an act of courage than defeat. It is a witness to faith and confidence more than failure.
All you need to release...
breathe....
notice it as it is....
breathe....
People, places, situations, tension, stress....
We can live with them without letting them attach their negative energy to us.
Our bodies want to help us with this.
Just as our lungs and heart take in the old dirty air and blood, and transform them into nourishing breath and blood, so does our spiritual body---lung and heart--- breathe in all of our pain and suffering and breathe out love and compassion.
And with each breathe, our spiritual hearts grow.

And continuing the mystery, this healing breath brings Happiness, Peace, safety, wellness and
Freedom, to each of us and all beings....

All in One.

Freeing my mind and body of the need to control, I have room for all the blessings I pray to receive.
Room at the Inn.

If you need a hand in letting go- leave me a comment and I will pray with you-and then let it go.

What can I do?

2011-07-17T19:45:00.000-04:00

"There was nothing she could do,and there was always the next thing to be done."
Ursula K. LeGuin.

When all you have has been taken from you
When all you have professed to believe seems false,irrelevant and unimportant
When you see what you love most broken and dying
When your children are grown and gone to this world of war to be the warriors and peacemakers they are called to be
What can you do?
What can I do?
Do what comes next.
Welcome what/who comes next with patience and curiosity.
Do what you can.
Want what you have.
Be who you are.
Pray for Oneness. Balance.
Breathe.
Get as much color on the canvas as you can.
Take a Nap.
Laugh a lot- tell funnier jokes!
Tell everyone you Love them.

Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. We'll see what comes next.

The Red Sea

2011-07-11T18:37:00.001-04:00

You are standing in front of the Red Sea, with the Egyptian Army at your back.
Two choices, neither look good.
You've run through choice -0- do nothing- it's drown or be slaughtered.
I've been there- a choice has to be made.

I've recently faced some worse case scenarios and amazingly, the outcomes and consequences were more positive than negative.

I was on my way to look at buying a new car and the old car totally died right in the middle of a busy intersection. I was able to coast into a parking space( a miracle in itself that there was a space), was transported (friends-thank you God) to the car dealer and they had a car that fit me, they towed the old car and gave me trade in $$$ for it-so far so good.

I swam with sharks, I flowed as water over rocks. I did what needed to be done.

I'm feeling I have spent my entire life learning how to choose to do what I am called to do.

Being right(and righteous) has nothing to do with it.
Someone has to get that foot into the sea for the waters to part.

It's all in the book.
When we walk with Jesus in one hand and God(ess) in the other (feel free to insert your own way showers) on the middle path, take one step- hey it's pretty good_ then another- if you're not sure about the next step, hang out for a while and meditate on it. Hold out your basket and Manna falls from the sky and water flows from the earth.
It's all here, when we are fully here.
Grace.
Walking humbly in Faith rather than fear.

It's a whole lot easier hand in hand.
I'm here if you need a hand- I have two- and two shoulders to lean on, and two ears to listen.

Thanks for your comments.

Welcome,Kindness

2011-06-27T20:21:00.000-04:00

In the middle of a long retreat, my teacher gave me the practice of greeting all beings with loving kindness.
No biggie, I thought. I'm in the middle of a silent retreat with no eye contact.
Guess again.
The very next person to cross my path,was a woman I have huge difficulty with. Even without eye contact she came directly into my consciousness and my first reaction was, well, lets say not so useful.
I did all I could to just be with this woman as a being, who also wants to be happy, and sent her loving kindness.
Not so easy.
Practice.
Shortly after the end of the retreat, she came and sat with me at lunch. She, with out much intro, asked my forgiveness for any harm she had caused me.[(inwardly) WOW!]

I live in a small town, and the culture is to take time to howdy . I often spend several minutes chatting up store clerks. We are not really friends, yet we know each other in a casual way.
One woman in particular I've sensed is seeking a spiritual life and I always make a point of speaking( and listening) with her. I saw her in a parking lot the other day, and in need of of hug myself went to hug her. She pulled back a bit and said-" I'm sorry I'm smoking a cigarette." I reached out, smiled and hugged her and said
"I love you just the way you are"
Few days later she left me a card.
"What a blessing it was to see you...an answer to a prayer!
I was chattting wit the Lord and I asked Him for people to accept me and love me for who I am-flaws and all. Whenyou told me tyou love me for me- WOW!
I don't need any more proof than that to know He is working in even the smallest of things."
Small?

"Who so ever welcomes you, welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcome the one who sent me."
Matthew 10:40

We are all called to welcome and to send out welcome and loving kindness to all beings.
Keep practicing.
It gets easier.

Oh Ye of Little Faith

2011-06-13T20:54:00.000-04:00

Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?...Matthew 6:27
My oldest son is a Hotshot wildfire fighter. I believe he is in the Arizona fires. he doesn't tell me where he is going, or call me when he is back safely to base.
In all my years in this life, never, never, never has worrying done me or anyone else- to my knowledge- any good .
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today. 6:34
We are all , in are own way, in harms way. And we are all protected through no effort of our own.
My prayer is to bring as much kindness as I can to myself and to all beings.
This takes practice.
I am not going to practice worrying. I've got that one down.

To the Holy Spirit
Oh thou
Far off and here
Whole and Broken.
Who in necessity and in bounty wait.
Who's truth is Light and dark
Mute tho spoken.
By thy wide Grace.
Show me the Narrow gate.

Wendell Berry

Prayer for the Day

2011-05-28T11:25:00.002-04:00

Though the war, responsibilities, distractions compete for my attention, I am blessed with focus.
My mind and heart have space for peace, stillness and silence.

I can infuse activity with stillness.

I can spiritually touch the robe of the One Who is always with me, Who is peace and brings healing and Light to all.

I can take a moment to enter the Prophet Stream of Goodness and Peace at any time.

Thank You very much.

Each One is Best

2011-05-22T16:15:00.002-04:00

As a young pre-teen I loved sports. they came easy to me, I was good at throwing and catching and running and I liked being part of a team. I loved using my body and playing the game.
Teammates criticized me for not caring about winning. I had no words for this then, and I did care, I just didn't think winning was better than losing.

I tried to create non- competitive games for my own and neighborhood children, and was told that they weren't fun. We had to keep score and the highest score is what matters. The whole point of tennis is to get the ball over the net one more time than your opponent. I had to learn to keep my mouth shut, watch and never say anything like, "It's only a game".
I was trained in school and culture to measure my own worth in it's relation to others.
Even my art. My drawings had to be Better than anyone elses for them to be good.
My weaving and cooking had to be saleable- for a lot of money- for it to be considered professional worthwhile.

I became critical of myself and my creativity. I was judgmental of others and myself and found less enjoyment in team work.
I was the only one who could do it right.
I lost trust and faith in my own knowing.
I wanted to prove how good I was.
I started to draw and cook and weave the way I thought others wanted so they would like me.
I forgot how much I like myself and how much fun it is to just make things.
How much fun it is to just use my body.
How much fun it is to just be.

Pause

Lots of sitting meditation.
Lots of walking meditation.
Lots of prayer.
Lots, lots, lots of letting go.
Lots of creative active meditation.
Humbling myself to teachers.

I now feel the most important thing is to encourage other people to be creative.
Not to make people like me, or to train others to do things the way I do them, and for each person to nurture their inner creativity and find the place where it meets the outer- and just make and be.
No matter what the outcome looks like.
Each one , each outcome, each product is Best.

There are no directions or recipes for this way of learning. You have to look at and be with whatever you are doing and dream up what comes next.
With a little help from your friends, the prophetic stream and some days a little random luck.
I have no interest in training people to do what they are told.

Followers make me uneasy.
Part of my job as a teacher is to work myself out of the job.
If I am indispensable, and the only one who can do something right-how can i be free. Someone is always asking me how to do this or that. Needing me-cuts into hammock time.
I only get asked stupid questions when Idon't trust others to know the answers.

What I want people to learn from my teaching, from the silent space I create, from my being is to trust themselves and to take responsibility to trust and to act apon their own knowledge and trust, with Divine assistance that is always there for us all.

It's important ,to get over, that ,this freedom of thought does not make you Right.
It does not stop others from judging you, or your work, or help you to get picked for the right team.

I came to North Carolina to be close to my daughter and to run a silent retreat center.
My daughter is in Chile and I am working retail and teaching in public almost everyday praying that I am kind to every being I meet.
I wanted something different, and this is what I have now and I am grateful and happy to be here now.

Some days I complain about being lonely. In over 5 years no one person has shown any interest in me as a "date".

Suzuki Roshi said,"Enlightenment is not something you can make a date with. If you organize your life, get up at a certain time, take your bag lunch and go to work, then....you will meet that person with out any date."

I hear the mountains laughing at me. We have a date every morning and every evening as I give thanks for their presence. Their steadfast love for me just as I am.

Each One is Best--Pass it on.

Please leave a comment.

Kindness and Equanimity

2011-05-10T09:32:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, as people do, a friend asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Be kind to people" popped into my mind, and I didn't say it as I thought it might sound flip.
The more I practice mindfulness, and living in the silent prophetic stream, the clearer it is that all I want to do is be kind.
Some days, that might mean I should not lift my butt off of the cushion, not to mention my mouth.
Some days, i can be totally out there and smile and nod and listen and speak only the kindest of words.
My prayer is only to speak words of kindness.
Words that help and heal.
Words that are timely that people, all beings are ready to hear.
Words that are Truth.
Yes, I have rage and anger and meanness that I need to express, and that can be sent into the Universe that is ready and willing to take in all of that pain and transform it into Love and Kindness.
And on the best of days I can do the same.
Inhale pain
Exhale Love and Kindness.
Love, hate, fear, joy, anger, ecstasy, boredom, are all emotions, nothing more nothing less.
Living in states of emotions is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, highs and lows.
Living in the mansion of equanimity is peaceful, free, safe and healthy.
Practice. The present moment.
I'll call you when I get there.
Please leave a comment.

*The Three Goals*

 The first goal is to see the thing itself

in and for itself, to see it simply and clearly

for what it is.

        No symbolism, please.

The second goal is to see each individual thing

as unified, as one, with all the other

ten thousand things.

        In this regard, a little wine helps a lot.

The third goal is to grasp the first and the second goals,

to see the universal and the particular,

simultaneously.

        Regarding this one, call me when you get it.

 David Budbill

Resurrection Reflection

2011-04-24T12:45:00.003-04:00

Resurrection is the raising up of all of us;the awakening, reawakening and raising of our spiritual consciousness. The I AM. The ALL ONE.

"I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly."
Can we clam this for ourselves and each other?

Each time we rise to the knowing of ONEness with the eternal, with the Christ, in and around us, resurrection is taking place.
All limitation is left behind and we are filled with abundant Light.

Today and this year I want only to filled with Light, Light that illuminates my mind, body and heart as I continually rise in the majesty of my divine personhood and know myself to be a child of God(ess) and Good and Peace and Freedom.

Please leave a comment of your own reflections

Blessings to all as we Rise.

Walk in the Light

2011-04-20T21:03:00.000-04:00

“Jesus said to them,

‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’”

- John 12:35-36

What I can do

2011-04-17T10:34:00.002-04:00

I care deeply for the world and all beings in it and though I feel a longing to help others, the need of this world is overwhelming, even if i knew what to do to help.
What I can do is pray.
I can hold Love, Peace, Wellness, Safety, Happiness, Freedom, in my heart for myself and all beings.
Prayer heals and readies me to meet everyone with compassion and loving kindness regardless of outward situation and need.
Prayer fills me with knowing we are all one.
Prayer allows me, as I sit quietly to let go with confidence that I am doing what I can do and that is enough.
Prayer frees me from fear and feelings of separation from God.
Prayer and silence clear my mind of uncertainly about what I can do and divinely guides and inspires me to do what I can do, be who i am and want what I have.
Keeping Peace and Love alive and present in my heart is what I can do to save this world.
Please join me.
Leave a comment.

Praying for and with the Earth

2011-03-19T21:58:00.005-04:00

Silently

Each time I forgive my heart opens.
It is impossible to pray for one without praying for all.
Every time one heart is lifted, one life is blessed, all are lifted and blessed.
In silence, in the presence of God and spirit I know the Truth.
I pray for all, in danger, in need of Love and Faith.
In silence my heart is free of everything but Love and the heart of the world becomes more loving.
When I rest in stillness and silence I help every lost, hurt and confused being to find peace and love and safety.
Thank You very much.
Then they were glad because they had quiet.
and He had brought them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:30

and with words of Mary Oliver

When I Am Among the Trees

by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,

“and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine.”

Living the monastic life in the material world

2011-03-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

Have you read any of the Joshua books by Joseph F. Girzone? In each book, Jesus/Joshua comes into a modern day situation and , well, he does what Jesus would do. He magically appears, loves unconditionally,lives and speaks simply, works selflessly, cares for the poor.
Some of the characters in each book love and welcome Him, some scorn, and guess what- try to kill Him.
Nothing much has changed in 2011 years.
I have made the decision, for now, to live a life of prayer, to live as close to God and Spirit as I can, and live in a world where this doesn't make sense to most people.
Money and it's gospel of materialism is a cold hearted God.

Each morning I wake and say
Thank you
I will do no harm
I will meet every being with Love and Compassion
I am willing to serve and be served.
Thank you.
When I live, act, operate, speak, from this place of worship in everyday life, many ( even most)people think I am strange. Some hate and fell threatened by me -little me, which I find surprising( well not really if you read the above) and sad.

And I can be no other way.

Sometimes I am lonely, and never alone.

I can close my eyes and feel God's love in and around me- even just typing that brings a huge smile to each cell of my body.

And these mountains- Thank You God for these mountains. I couldn't ask for a better teacher or friend.

The Gift-most of the time I am alone up here, with these mountains and I am free to spend my time with God and the Spirit.Thank You.
and
Not only does God give me everything, for which I do nothing, except be who I am- living my life - that God gave me of Love and prayer-God trusts me unconditionally to be the caretaker of this amazing creation.
and
God invites me to co- create with her- little me-
God invites me, every day to come out and play.
Wow!
You are invited too.
Leave a comment.
Share your stories of living the Life in the world.
I'm just a comment away from support and if you need prayer- you can leave that in a comment too.

WWJD/WWJHMD

2011-03-02T21:11:00.001-05:00

“The question should not be ‘What would Jesus do?’ but rather, more dangerously, ‘What would Jesus have me do?’ The onus is not on Jesus but on us, for Jesus did not come to ask semidivine human beings to do impossible things. He came to ask human beings to live up to their full humanity; he wants us to live in the full implication of... our human gifts, and that is far more demanding.”
Peter J. Gomes

I honesty don't know what Jesus said.
I believe he,she and everyone in between, in the prophetic stream says,
Do what you can
Want what you have
Be who you are.

and one of the most important things the Life of Jesus teaches me, is even if you are the son of God, some folks will want to kill you.

Silence in the Presence

2011-02-24T09:01:00.001-05:00

After the mind is in some measure turned to the Lord, his quickenings felt, his seed beginning to arise and spring up in the heart, then the flesh is to be silent before him, and the soul to wait upon him (and for his further appearings) in that measure of life which is already revealed. Now, this is a great thing to know flesh silenced, to find the reasoning thoughts and discourses of the fleshly mind stilled, and the wisdom, light, and goodness of God's Spirit waited for. For man is to come from the poverty of self, into the abasedness, into the nothingness, into the silence of his spirit before the Lord, into the putting off of all his knowledge—wisdom—understanding, abilities, all that he hath done or can do, out of this measure of life into which he is to travel, that he may be clothed and filled with the nature, Spirit, and power of the Lord.

Isaac Penington
presense

Art Sancturary

2011-02-17T09:38:00.000-05:00

Art Sanctuary

by Nikki Giovanni

I would always choose to be the person running
rather than the mob chasing
I would prefer to be the person laughed at
rather than the teenagers laughing
I always admired the men and women who sat down
for their rights
And held in disdain the men and women who spat
on them
Everyone deserves Sanctuary a place to go where you are
safe
Art offers Sanctuary to everyone willing
to open their hearts as well as their eyes

"Art Sanctuary" by Nikki Giovanni, from Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea.

Matthew 8:20, Luke 9:58, Robyn 1:30

2011-01-31T17:08:00.002-05:00

The fox has the den and the bird has her nest and this child of God has no place to lay her head.

I worshiped yesterday with the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville.Thank you Nan for inviting me, transporting me, guiding me in the cultural mores, and to all in the congregation who welcomed me.

"Trusting that God's grace embraces and makes covenant with all believers, Grace Covenant intends to be an inclusive place of spiritual growth for all people, All person are welcomed into this fellowship and membership regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic or radical identity, economic or educational status, or political affiliation."

Yes, and the choir was excellent and the organist lively, and there was almost a minute of silent prayer.
The bulletin states -Ministers- All the Members-
The front lawn has a vegetable garden
there was much announcement of social action opportunities.
Everyone smiled at me, shook my hand, said they were glad I was here and hoped to see me again.
I believe them.
I sensed the comfort of community spoken creed and intercessory prayer.
I enjoyed my time there and felt God's presence, as i always do when gathered in worship.

I'm feeling the God/ Spirit who's Grace and Love and Compassion are the foundation of the Covenant of my heart speaks to all of us in the silence.
speaks to each of us the exact words we need to hear, in a language that passes beyond words and mental comprehension.

when you are listening, the Spirit speaks to all, born and unborn, known and unknown, seekers and flee-ers, those I love and desire and those that scare me to death.
Yes, we all need to be saved,and that safety cannot be contained in any book or belong to any one religion, culture, creed, species or language.

The sin we are suffering from is separation from God/Spirit.
Relationship requires hanging out with other beings- giving, taking, loving, forgiving, sometimes hurting, healing laughing, crying and sitting in worship with the universal One that unites us all.
The more I love, the more i practice compassion for all beings, the more I see there is no limit to how big my heart can grow, no limit to what the heart can hold.
I'm feeling the emptier and quieter the head, the fuller the heart.
I'm going to shut up now and go meditate on this awhile.
I hope you will join me.
Please leave a comment.

Never Give Up

2010-12-27T17:26:00.002-05:00

Never Give Up
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy is spent in your country
Developing the mind

Instead of the heart
Be compassionate
Not just to your friends
and to everyone
Be compassionate
Work for peace
in your heart and in the world
Work for Peace
And I say it again
Never give up
No matter what is happening
No matter what is going on
around you
Never give up

His Holiness
the XIVth Dalai Lama

Practice...the Mountains

2010-12-21T13:07:00.003-05:00

A young friend recently asked how to find time and space to be quiet when you live in a busy household.
Patrica wrote,
" So, I suppose I am seeking a kind of mini-wilderness each day. Where do others find this? Especially others who don't have the luxury of living alone?"

The answer, the good news and the bad news is
Practice.

A tibetian yogi, living in the high mountains in a seclusion box for many years was asked what was his greatest challenge.
"Quieting the mind" ,he replied.

Outward distractions are simply that- outward distractions.
Stillness and quiet must be cultivated and nurtured from within and the only way to do that is to practice being quiet and still.
I find for myself living in the world i need a minimum of an hour of quiet still practice a day; to stay in balance to be able to be actively still, and keep stillness in my actions.

I also practice M and M's- small and sweet-a minute out of every hour i stop and still my mind, breath, give thanks, pray. Mini Meditations.
The more time I spend practicing quiet and stillness, the easier it is to use it in everyday life.
Storing stillness and quiet in the top of my good times tool box makes it easier to reach for these tools when times get busy and noisy and rough.

Thich Nhat Hanh suggests telephone meditation. Let the phone ring three times, while you take three breaths, quiet your mind, center and then you can answer the phone as your best self.
You can greet whoever is on the line with loving kindness and compassion.

And this practice is what has brought me to the mountains.
They stand and sit in meditation, regardless of outward distractions, becoming who they are, in spite of ,as well as because of, wind and rain and lack of wind and rain.

At the beginning and end of everyday the mountains are always there- for me, and all beings who seek their peace, comfort, shelter.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

Hang in there Patrica .

Still Waters Refuge is here, Practicing, even if you can't be.

Seeking Stillness? Come visit, leave a comment.

Silent Leadership

2010-11-28T19:58:00.003-05:00

I often hear we are all called to be leaders. I think it would be more useful if we all feel led to be followers and encourage others to do the same.
New movements are often started by someone willing to stand alone and look silly- someone willing to walk into the Dead Sea and eat strange Manna that falls from the sky.
One leader alone, is one leader alone. the movement begins when we can welcome the followers, embrace them as equals and lead them in the ways of the movement. It is no longer about the leader. It is about the movement. It takes followers to transform a lone being into a community.
Servant Leadership must be about the movement and not the leader.
Equal courage is required to lead and to follow. Courage is fear mixed with faith.
I often wonder why our movements- peace, ecology,justice- seem to fail.
Partially I think it is because we know more about what we don't want than what it is we do want.
Partially It is because we need to practice the art of following and silent leadership.
I'm willing to stand alone and look silly.
Will you join me?
Please leave a comment.

Thought, words and change

2010-10-26T18:11:00.008-04:00

A few days before the end of a long silent retreat, my teacher suggested it was time for me to start thinking again in preparation for returning to the outside world.
I cautiously allowed my mind to wander into thought during my sitting meditation and I found myself thinking about hungry children. Within seconds I was writing( in my mind) a huge scenario, of how I would return home and raise billions of dollars to create a healthy eating curriculum in inner city schools,fill lunch rooms all over the world with local organic foods and on and on.
Within a minute I began to question these thoughts. "how many children could I feed? 100?, 1000?, a million?How was I going end hunger for all children?
I sat and sat, quieted the mind, sat and sat.
In the present moment, it became most real to me that the best and most useful I could be to all hungry children everywhere, was to keep sitting and pray.
Pray for loving kindness, compassion, safety, wellness, peace, happiness.
This I could do for all children, everywhere.
Words, spoken and unspoken have great power.
"Words are a form of action,capable of influencing change.'' Ingrid Bengis
I am who I am and do what I do because I believe that the Spirit working through and in me, is the physical manifestation of God's Love in the world.

Jesus told his disciples to feed the multitudes, and their perception was they didn't have enough.
"Look again", was Jesus' reply.

The Love that feeds, heals and is always enough.

Silence to simplicity

2010-10-02T21:48:00.000-04:00

My Mind, through the Power of Truth, was in a good degree weaned from the Desire of outward Greatness, and I was learning to be content with real Conveniences, that were not costly; so that a Way of Life, free from much Entanglement, appeared best for me, though the Income might be small. ...I saw that a humble Man, with the blessing of the Lord might live on a little, and that where the Heart was set on Greatness, Success in Business did not satisfy the craving but that commonly, with an Increase of Wealth, the Desire of Wealth increased. There was a Care on my Mind so to pass my Time that nothing might hinder me from the most steady Attention to the Voice of the true Shepherd.

John Woolman

Renewal

2010-09-24T08:40:00.003-04:00

Full moon equinox

From The Daily Word
When my car needs gas, I refuel the tank. When my faith needs refueling, I pause and pray. I sit in silent meditation, allowing the strength and peace of Spirit to fill me. God is as near to me as my breath.

Come all who are weary and in need of rest, renewal and refuge.
Leave a comment to join me in the silence.

And those who wait on the Spirit shall renew their strength...
they shall run and not be weary----Isaiah 40:30

Still waters coming of age/Why Silent refuge-#1

2010-08-22T20:34:00.006-04:00

Through the generosity of Dick and Betty Ernst, Still Waters is becoming a physical place for silent refuge and Spiritual Nurture.

Mindful Mondays- a day of silent refuge this fall. There will also be opportunities for residential stays.
Leave a comment with contact info and I will get back to you with more information and availability.

Love, Prayer, patience, curiosity and hard work bear fruit.

Why silent refuge?
There are times when we wonder,
"Am I truly doing God's will? Is what I want to do serving the highest good?
In these moments I know guidance is available to me , if i can slow down, be still, and quiet. I can only follow the guidance and understanding I am given, if I can hear it.
You may need to step out of your life and come away to a place of refuge to listen,rest and renew your spirit in order to return with a renewed ability to be stillness in a frantic world.

I invite you to come to the Still Waters to seek, and to be free of seeking.

I look forward to welcoming you.

I am enough

2010-07-25T08:20:00.006-04:00

Bill Tabor used to speak of minster’s belly. A feeling in your gut that would help you know when it was time to speak in meeting. I know that feeling when a message comes upon me and there is a physical feeling of great urgency to share what seems at the moment to be an important universal truth that would benefit all beings;

And then the mind goes to work and I begin seeking the “right” words, with a good opening line and catchy closure.

I am undeniably and gratefully blessed with the gift of being close to the Spirit and clearly hearing and sharing the messages She chooses to share with us all.

What is clearest to me now is that I have enough of words.

I am enough.

When I do need to speak, I wish to speak from a place of calm and equanimity.

I pray to exercise my use of the languages of silence and creativity to minister with universal comprehension of message.

May I always be teachable.

Being silenced by others has revealed it’s self to be a great gift.

Standing, sitting, walking and lying down in Grace and Simplicity is sufficient.

Stand with me.

Pray with me.

Be enough.

Wealth consists not in having great possessions
But in having few wants.
Esther De Waal

The Shelf

2010-07-10T22:37:00.003-04:00

I (think) i need:
a new car
a new home
a new partner
a new job.
So i bought a shelf
I am ripping apart everything i have control over
and putting it on the shelf.
Nice and neat, new ,organized.
There is room on my drawing table to draw.
We'll see what comes next.

American tune

2010-06-22T20:12:00.007-04:00

Today I was ministered to by the good people of the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry. Thank you for giving me hope . Thank you for being fully present to me in my time of medical need just because I am in need. Thank you for modeling what healing is all about, rather than what medicine has become. Thank you for treating me as a whole person in need of healing with compassion and mercy, rather than my body and illness as a commodity.
Thank you.

Many's the time I've been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and I've often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I'm all right, I'm all right
I'm just weary to my bones
Still, you don't expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

And I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
or driven to its knees
but it's all right, it's all right
for we lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the
road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was crying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age's most uncertain hours
and sing an American tune
Oh, and it's alright, it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day
And I'm trying to get some rest
That's all I'm trying to get some rest.

Words & music by Paul Simon

Our Fathers

2010-06-20T10:25:00.003-04:00

I give thanks today to all my Fathers-regardless of gender-and all those who have served as mentors in my life. People who have believed and supported me no matter what.
I also give thanks to all who might be counting on my support and mentorship in this way.
Giving to others returns thanks and honors those who support and guide me.
I am grateful to be a giver and receiver of unconditional love and support.

Dear Father God,
"I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following our will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if i do this you will lead me by the right road through I may know nothing bout it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

Thomas Merton- Thoughts in Solitude

silent rant

2010-06-15T17:45:00.004-04:00

I'm tired of talking about silence. I don't want to go to a workshop and talk about facilitating silent retreats. i don't want to talk about who's fault it is that we stabbed our mother in her heart and can't heal the wound as she bleeds to death.

I'm praying for equanimity of spirit and a cheerful heart in the midst of sadness.
Thank you trees for speaking to me in the language of compassion and comfort.

We are not powerless. We are powerful. Sending Love to our Ocean multiple times daily can shift the balance of destruction that is happening.

We don't have to know how......we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any power active in the Universe today.

When I Am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

~ Mary Oliver ~

Crocus Mind

2010-04-20T12:44:00.013-04:00

Shout out to the Woman's Circle Bible Study of the Montreat PCUSA Church for their welcome, support and inspirational peer study groups.

Thanks to Mary Collins for sharing this prayer

<->

It Takes Courage To Be Crocus-Minded

It takes courage to be crocus-minded.

Lord, I’d rather wait until June

like wise roses,

when the hazards of winter are safely behind,

and I’m expected,

and everything’s ready for roses.

But crocuses?

Highly irregular!

Knifing up through hard frozen ground and snow,

Sticking their necks out because they believe in Spring

and have something personal

and emphatic to say about it.

Lord, I am, by nature, rose-minded,

even when I have studied the situation here

and know that there are wrong things that need righting,

affirmations that need stating,

and I know also that speaking

out may offend –

for it rocks the boat.

Well…I’d rather wait until June,

Maybe later things will work themselves out,

and we won’t have to make an issue of it.

Lord, forgive.

Wrongs don’t work themselves out.

Injustices and inequities and hurts don’t just dissolve.

Somebody has to stick her neck out,

somebody who cares enough to think through

hard ground because she believes

and has something personal

and emphatic to say about it.

Me, Lord?

Crocus-minded?

Could it be that there are things that need to be said,

and you want me to say them?

I pray for courage.

From Bless This Mess and Other Prayers by Jo Carr and Imogene Sorley.

Going Home

2010-04-18T11:05:00.006-04:00

One thing I ask of the Lord,
that I will seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple. psalm 27 v.4 NRSV

I heard a story this morning.(I'm leaving out quotes)
Jesus asked Peter to follow him, and peter said, where? I'm not telling you, just follow me. Peter asked, why won't you tell me. If I tell you you might not go.
and peter asked what will we do there, and Jesus said follow me. Peter said, why won't you tell me what we will do there? and Jesus said, you might not want to do it.
and Jesus said, follow me, and Peter said, who will be there, will my friends be there? and Jesus said, maybe not.
so Peter said, you want me to follow you where I maybe don't want to go and do things i might not want to do with people I might not like? what should I bring?
and Jesus said, Bring yourself, follow me.

This church is very welcoming to me. In kindly voices they ask me to meet with them about becoming a member. I say let's just meet, and they smile.

I belong to the church I can walk to. The church ,that the only thing I need to bring ,is myself.
The church of what's happening now. The church of the living Christ and present moment. The church of the moment.

Thank you God for being present in my life, for the homeward invitation and all who walk along with me and the gift of silence to reflect in all this goodness.

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church
I keep it, staying at Home
With a Bobolink for a Chorister
And an Orchard, for a Dome

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice
I just wear my Wings
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to Heaven, at last
I'm going, all along.

Emily Dickinson

Pathetic, huh?

2010-04-11T18:34:00.003-04:00

This from Rosemary Ellis, Editor in Chief of Good Housekeeping Magazine
" I spent a recent Saturday at a very improbable place: a womens's retreat. It went from 9:00am to 2:00pm- a huge chunk of the only day in the week that is unscheduled for me, I didn't really want to go;and I didn't have the time..........So I went and ironically the topic of the retreat was time- .......
And I discovered something that morning that was not on the agenda, and is a little embarrassing: It was all but impossible for me to just sit still and listen- not take notes, not check my blackberry, not multitask in any was. I realized that the only other time when I am absolutely still is...when my head hits the pillow at night. Pathetic, huh?" (April 2010, Good Housekeeping)
Couldn't have said it better myself. Sign this woman up for a weekend at Still Waters Refuge.
Please leave a comment

Laugh and the world laughs with you

2010-04-07T10:09:00.005-04:00

"Silence is golden and it is rarely misquoted", Bob Morehouse

"I'm at a loss for words, thank goodness", Barbarajene Williams

Have something funny to share about silence? Leave a comment.

Where can I go?

2010-03-31T08:55:00.003-04:00

I attended Friends meetings on and off most of my life. I never saw myself as a joiner. As I married and raised a family I wanted a sense of belonging for myself and my family and asked for Clearness at my local Meeting. I was clear that for me , membership must be an enlargement of who I am rather than a negation. Joining the Meeting would enfold my identity as a woman, catholic, Buddhist, jew, tree lover , magic maker, rather than name me as a Quaker.
I'm feeling the call for retreat and refuge. Where can I go? I've spent time at many retreat centers that welcome me as only one part of myself. Where can I go and be me, fully being, and supported by others and place in refuge, rest, renewal and prayer.

A dear friend may be near to death. We rarely spoke of religion or spirituality. I would call her a religious refuge. In this time of great need of comfort, where does she go? Where does her family go?

A good friend is seeking a place of refuge and retreat. She seeks a place that will nurture and guide her unique spirit, a place to listen to the One that can speak to her condition. Where can she go?

For me, right now, the answer is to put one foot in front of the other, walking meditation, and to be faithful to this journey I am on. I pray constantly for physical reality of the leading to Still Waters Refuge.
My personal desire is to find an existing place willing and open to enfolding me so that our beings will enhance each other. Members one of another, in God's holy room.
Please leave a comment if you know this place.
Please pray with me for Still Waters Refuge to come into being.
Blessings on this prayer and this place.

Firstday Message

2010-03-28T17:35:00.005-04:00

This morning I hope I was able to share the clear message I received and chose to share silently without verbal words.
Quakerism attracted me in the 60's with its support of political and social outward activism.
May 4, 1970 ended this period of my life(another post) and I began to read George Fox's and Woolman's journals.
Listening, waiting, being in the life and the Light to take away even the occasion of war, was what I needed to hear. In my own head, my own listening to the prophetic stream.
Outwardly I was in a fearful place and thankfully that fear led me into my own mind to find quiet, clearness and refuge there.
What I began to see then and know more fully each day is that I must live my life each moment, being peace and love, regardless of apparent outward cost. The Spirit is my constant companion and the closer I can stay to her the easier it is to be in her body, Light and Way and Life.
It matters little what horrors, hate and warring is going on in the world as I ,holding on to Christ's robe, am in it (the Woolman part) and yet not of it.
There are times when what we know to be the Truth calls us to travel and speak and we must be as faithful to this call as the call to listen and wait.
There is still more stripping /falling away of outward cumbers , to come , for me.
I'm ready and willing and lighter each day, as I pray and pray and pray.
Words fail to express the joy of even knowing that I can listen and know purely through Grace.
My Lenten prayer is to be the Light and Love , in visible human form , Jesus and others call us to be and to hold out my hand and robe to any seeking the path of Truth and Light.
Resurrection is ours for the asking. Thank You God.
Present Moment, Beautiful Moment.
Each moment given to us as a gift.
Pass it on.

day of silent refuge

2010-02-20T21:02:00.003-05:00

I shared a day of silent refuge today with women in Montreat. We created simple journals, set our intentions for the day and enjoyed sitting and walking prayer and meditation.
It was shear joy to take refuge in God, the Word and this faith community.
The beauty of the day and our mountains was a big plus.
Special thank you to Clair, for the invitation, the welcome and the delicious lunch.
May the merit and all the good work of this day be of benefit to all beings.

There is a feast, with finest grain
Where poor and lowly at table reign
Where love is shared, the meal begun
The call is given, yet few children come

The invitation is now made known
All through the land to all God's own
Come share this banquet and be made free
And dance together, one family.
(Colleen Fulmer)

Right speech

2010-01-16T18:59:00.003-05:00

After living in almost total silence for two weeks I began to hear my unspoken thoughts. I was shocked and sometimes horrified at what I was about to speak out loud. Over and over for several days, I said to myself,"you were going to say that!" and thankfully I didn't.
Coming back into the world I try to practice right speech.
I want what I say to be kind, truthful and necessary and if it is not all three I want to be peaceful with silence.
God is not calling us to say everything there is to say about every subject.
Living in the Light illuminates equally what you wish to see and say and what you don't.
As you become skillful at discerning and following the way of the Spirit, it can become challenging to watch others make serious mistakes, harmful to themselves and others; watch them and be ok with it.Speaking aloud only when you can do so with compassion, honesty and fully knowing that they are ready to hear what you have to say.
Fortunately, by the time I have gone through the mental check to see if what I have to say is rightly ordered, usually the time and need to speak has passed.
'Nuff said. Please leave a comment.

room at the Inn

2009-12-23T18:04:00.001-05:00

I was gifted by a 5 day retreat by Mother Nature.
I've been meditating on what this holiday is all about.
For me it is making room in our hearts. Mary and Joseph asked for room at the inn, so the story goes, and Jesus is still asking us the same-to make room for Him and all beings in the inn of our hearts.
Each time I pray for loving kindness for someone, even if i don't feel it,I find there is room in my heart.
And when I don't have the strength to love, the compassionate heart of God and Christ and the Holy Spirit takes up the slack till I'm ready.
I never even dreamed how large my heart could grow.
On the day of the longest night and return to Light, may all beings know Love,compassion and peace and may I be living witness to this Love and freely share all of the Gift that has been given to me, with all beings.

waiting for snow

2009-12-19T11:26:00.002-05:00

Maybe awakening tomorrow
will be silent and white
The sound of crystals floating
and settling.
The value scale, blowing
in the wind.
God's permission to be still.

thinking and knowing

2009-12-13T18:06:00.003-05:00

it's the birthday Kenneth Patchen, one of my favorite poets He said, "Think enough and you won't know anything." He went on to write and illustrate over 40 books of poetry.
There is a knowledge that comes directly to your heart and soul, when we are not thinking;a universal, eternal knowledge that is behind and beyond words.
I'm grateful to have the inner stillness and silence to hear and receive this knowledge and to be able to share it.
share with me-leave a comment.

a few more silence posts

2009-11-22T20:21:00.001-05:00

100 plus visitors-thanks
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
Mother Teresa

True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. ~William Penn

Silence is the true friend that never betrays. ~Confucius

Silence is a source of great strength. ~Lao Tzu

Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment. ~Henry David Thoreau

Accustomed to the veneer of noise, to the shibboleths of promotion, public relations, and market research, society is suspicious of those who value silence. ~John Lahr

The Arctic expresses the sum of all wisdom: Silence. ~Walter Bauer

Now all my teachers are dead except silence. ~W.S. Merwin

God's poet is silence! His song is unspoken,
And yet so profound, so loud, and so far,
It fills you, it thrills you with measures unbroken,
And as soft, and as fair, and as far as a star.
~Joaquin Miller

You can hear the footsteps of God when silence reigns in the mind. ~Sri Sathya Sai Baba

We must have reasons for speech but we need none for silence. ~Proverb

There are times when silence has the loudest voice. ~Leroy Brownlow

Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts. ~Margaret Lee Runbeck

Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

and only 10 c0mments-leave me one.
blessings,
Robyn

some silent quotes

2009-11-18T13:46:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan:
I accept chaos. I am not sure whether it accepts me. I know some people are terrified of the bomb. But then some people are terrified to be seen carrying a modern screen magazine. Experience teaches us that silence terrifies people the most.
Cato the Elder:
I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.
Confucius:
Silence is the true friend that never betrays.
Martin Luther King, Jr.:
We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Proverbs 17:28:
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Rachel Naomi Remen:
The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.
Thomas Merton:
It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for them…. Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say.

Got one? leave it as a comment

Is not posting silence?

2009-11-17T21:36:00.004-05:00

I want to sit down and write y'all a long series of posts of how I got to where I am today-making safe refuge for all beings seeking stillness and silence in a frantic and noisy world. I know the beginning is a good place to start and I just haven't. I think I have a few projects that need to be finished up to open the space for some serious writing.
I've been submitting proposals to existing institutions and looking at properties to buy and praying a lot and walking in the wilderness and waiting for way to open.
Stillness in motion...motion in stillness-tai chi, mindfulness meditation,listening, patience, curiosity.
Contemplative activism.
We can seek to understand the universe with the one that hangs the stars in the sky and makes the flowers grow, or we can try to do it ourselves.
I visited CooperRiis a healing farm for young adults living with mental illness and witnessed what will happen if we let an entire generation try to do it themselves.
Soul loss is a frightening and paralyzing illness.
Activity that masks our emptiness is a way and it is very tiring.
Refuge and stillness illuminate the pits of darkness and energize us into balance and wholeness.
I know this is so and pray to be able to bring this healing Light of refuge to all beings everywhere.
Share your stories here. leave a comment

silence and worship

2009-09-21T12:02:00.001-04:00

My dear friend Joan Broadfield wrote
"About 'silence': It's all about what the invitation calls us to.
If the invitation is for silence, it would not speak to me.

If you are talking about longer than an hour to sit in a listening/waiting way, I'm very interested.

If you are talking about dedicating a worship time of an hour to come to listen in quiet expectation, I'd be interested.

But for me, when the emphasis is on SILENCE, it means nothing to me about spirituality. It is dictating a form, which gets in the way of expectation and listening to God.

I've had my fill of the rhapsodies of silence. That's not to say that a depth of a covered meeting is not important to me: in fact, it is. But I have never had a god-connected experience in one that is emphasizing silence. Paradox: those meetings that are 'covered' are mostly without words."

yes. There are two experiences here. One is weekly worship and I have always maintained that it is in the silence that we worship, not silence itself. I have not experienced an benefit from being silenced.
Many monthly meetings are learning the value of longer worship time. Media has extended worship once a month. All are welcome to this time of open worship that may or may not have a lot of silence.
Individual meetings can discern for themselves the frequency and length of worship.
I'm an advocate of communities and i see Monthy Meetings as communities being visible to themselves.

In addition some are called to live in a state of worship, prayer, communion with God that asks for more than a monthly meeting can provide. When this life called to me, I could not find anywhere, within, or even close to my faith community where I could go for an extended period of life , mostly in silence, within an supportive , nurturing and guided community ;where I was welcomed to just be, in worship and meditation to spend as much time as I needed with my inner and outer Light.

I’m still looking and this is what this blog is about.
I’m willing to create Still Waters Refuge and share it’s gifts with all seekers and I cannot do it alone.
Please join me. In Spirit, prayer, and comment.

Are Quakers really interested in silence?

2009-09-06T17:36:00.003-04:00

I thought I would go for the shock value here.
This from the newsletter of The School Of the Spirit-I am a graduate of the, On being a spiritual nurturer program-

Over the years the contemplative retreat has tended to incorporate more silence than indicated in the letter which was sent to Friends in advance. This posed a challenge for some attending for the first time, particularly those who had planned to meet as a small group within the context of the full retreat group. This matter was discussed on the first evening and accommodations were made so that the needs of all might best be met.

In deepest humility and respect, silence cannot be experienced by talking about it.
I attended Friends worship and workshops and retreats for 30 years and it was not until my second week living, working and being in silent community that I came to know silence and it's gifts.

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has a traveling "extended" Meeting for worship quarterly, where Friends gather for about 3 hours of Worship. I know that many who attend are longing for more, and like me don't know where to find it and experience it.
That is the main purpose of this blog- to find others who want to journey along with me in silent community and make it possible for other to join us.
Interested?
Agree/disagree?
Leave a comment

on silent refuge

2009-09-02T19:53:00.003-04:00

these words from the Great Tree Zen Temple

Silence:
Silence is an opportunity to communicate with our whole being, our body language, our unspoken thoughts, and a creative expression which speaks more clearly than words. It is authentic and all inclusive – in Silence we are able to hear, express, and engage from the core of our Being.
At Great Tree Zen Temple, ‘Silent Retreat’ means to enter into every activity with mindfulness and a desire to honor the quiet within, being present in the moment without the distraction of unnecessary words or discussion. Amidst our busy lives it is often difficult to imagine communicating without words. A silent retreat offers an opportunity to explore and honor the gifts and insights which arise from SILENCE.

These friends speak my mind. It is my prayer to facilitate the being of Still Waters Refuge to support and nurture the space for Friends to retreat in silent refuge, under the care of Friends.
Keep praying
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covenant relationship

2009-08-31T08:59:00.003-04:00

Dear friend, beautiful strong woman,sister in paint and Christ, Jen Elam, called me last night to wish me a happy birthday. Wonderful conversation and sharing followed, as if we saw each other each day tho time and space has separated us these past years.Thank you God for true friendship and community that is not a person or place.
We spoke of the challenges of living alone and longing for true relationship- what I am calling covenant relationship;the desire to be in right triune relationship with all beings, God(Spirit, Goddess,etc.)myself and other in Universal Love and Compassion as we are called to be by all Beings of Light(Jesus, Buddha, Allah,etc.)
This vow and only this to Love ourselves and each other and God as we are Loved and to share this love with all beings, at all times, everywhere.

We spoke of how communities we've been "members" of that used the words, "family" and "community" felt more like one night stands than marriage. A sense of deep intimacy was created and then after the allotted time was up---nothing---.

Dear Friend Mickey Edgerton says God's will for us is our deepest heart's desire.
I believe God's will for me to be a living example of Love, at all times, in everyday life and to create community that supports living in Love.

And when I mess up, my dear friends will clean up the mess and help me, with Love.

Living alone gives the gift of opportunity to love many rather than just one. I understand this gift and am grateful for it.

My selfish birthday wish is for partners in this journey to covenant community.
Leave a comment.

The prayer is for loving kindness for all beings, seen and unseen, known and unknown, born and unborn, those living near and far away.

May all beings be happy
May all beings be peaceful
May all beings be well, in body , mind and spirit
May all beings be safe and free from harm
May all beings everywhere, be free.

The gift of silence

2009-08-27T10:09:00.003-04:00

---some of this content is paraphrased from a hand out given to me by Sally Palmer at Pendle Hill. Please post of you know the author---

Keeping silence is a privilege and opportunity to be nurtured and cherished.

It stands apart from the experience of being silenced by family, society, institutions, oppressive regimes---souls who long to be heard into speech.

Chosen silence is neither empty or impotent.
Chosen solitude is not lonely.

The paradox of silence gathers and focuses us, and provides space for our hearts and minds to be free.

Waiting is part of silence. Being hushed before the Holy One, the Great Mother, is pure prayer.

Communal silence unites us in action and stillness.

Receiving is part of silence. The quiet mind and spirit is the vessel waiting to contain God's will, the Goddess way.

Is there enough silence for the word to be heard?

stilness in action/action in stillness

2009-08-25T08:38:00.000-04:00

Since my first post just 24 hours ago I have received multiple emails and links directing me to retreats, workshops, blogs and websites with activities, workshops, and other things i can do to renew and deepen my life in the Spirit.
This is exactly what still waters is about.
Letting go of attachment to the conditioned mindset that there is something we need to do or learn to be in the prophetic stream and in communion with the living Spirit.
Come join with me on this journey into breath, silence and being.
Fully awake and aware of what is going on in our own minds and to the working of the Spirit within us and without us.

And have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8

english as a third language

2009-08-24T11:26:00.000-04:00

English is a difficult language to transmit the inner to the outer.There is so much room for misinterpretation.
My first language is silence.
The second art.
The third english.

Keeping Quiet

Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

This one time upon the earth,

let's not speak any language,

let's stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much.

It would be a delicious moment,

without hurry, without locomotives,

all of us would be together

in a sudden uneasiness.

The fishermen in the cold sea

would do no harm to the whales

and the peasant gathering salt

would look at his torn hands.

Those who prepare green wars,

wars of gas, wars of fire,

victories without survivors,

would put on clean clothing

and would walk alongside their brothers

in the shade, without doing a thing.

What I want shouldn't be confused

with final inactivity:

life alone is what matters,

I want nothing to do with death.

If we weren't unanimous

about keeping our lives so much in motion,

if we could do nothing for once,

perhaps a great silence would

interrupt this sadness,

this never understanding ourselves

and threatening ourselves with death,

perhaps the earth is teaching us

when everything seems to be dead

and then everything is alive.

Now I will count to twelve

and you keep quiet and I'll go.

Pablo Neruda

intro and the prayer

2009-08-24T08:43:00.000-04:00

Three friends this last week have said, "you should write about this".
So here goes.
The short story-
Fed by years of Quaker worship, Buddhist retreats, transcendental meditation, hours in the woods,hours in the studio, I sought immersion (submersion) into silence.
I found myself at The Forest Refuge in Barre, MA for a month of living in silence in the Buddhist tradition.
I left with a call to create a place of refuge for all seekers, in a univeralist
spirit.
My prayer-
Still Waters is a covenant community nurturing ourselves, each other and the earth through all that is divine, holy, wholly One, and living witness to univeral compassionate love.
I now find myself in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina and holding this prayer as a community of one.
Please join me in prayer, print or place.
Leave a comment.
Blessings,
Robyn