This past weekend, I stumbled across a recording of Matthew McConaughey sharing his thoughts on the important of wonder before he reads “A [...]

As students go back to school next week in Central Texas, they will hopefully be inspired to learn many new things. S

Who knew a commiserating laugh and smile over the intensity of the heat, followed by a packed-with-ice serving of hibiscus berry tea could [...]

Last week in Quiet Pause, Leslie Wagner shared a poem, The Most Important Thing by Julia Fehrenbacher, that we pondered during our 20 [...]

Listening to a podcast featuring psychologist and author Ellen Langer this past weekend, I was struck by her thoughts on being present or [...]

Thinking about “The Joy of Growing Plants that Feed You,” tomorrow’s Summer Interlude session, has me contemplating the sensory experience [...]

With the office closed this past week, I found myself craving solitude. Ideas about engaging with others or even new places fell away as I [...]

Many of us find it difficult to celebrate when we can point to all that’s wrong or didn’t get accomplished. You can sense this kind of [...]

As we close our 4-week study of The Book of Hope this week, I continue to be struck by the depth of Jane Goodall’s wisdom.

Drawn to the vision of moving at a slower pace this summer, I am beginning to craft (and edit) my plans for the upcoming weeks when we [...]

Early in The Book of Hope, co-author Douglas Abrams’ asks Jane Goodall, “What did you get from the forest?”, after hearing how it helped [...]

After viewing the closing musical performance of the final Late Night show, featuring Stephen Colbert and Sir Paul McCartney, lyrics from [...]

My sister texted this photo to me and my brothers upon arrival for the last time at the house my folks built and lived in for over 30 years [...]

With all that’s going on in the world on top of personal commitments, we can easily feel overwhelmed.

These days, asking someone “how are you?” invariably touches on handling the changes in your life and world.

Here in Austin (and sadly in so many other cities recently), we are shaken after a mass shooting early Sunday morning.

Never having grown up “horse crazy,” I’m a bit surprised at my fascination with the Lunar New Year’s celebration today of The Year of the [...]

You may have heard or seen in the news last week the extraordinary tale of heroism and perseverance of a 13-year old boy in Australia.

Preparing to record a monthly video for my friend’s online community last week, I rediscovered the wisdom of Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s [...]

Wisdom shared to a young boy to “look for the helpers” when you see scary things in the news (or in life) can also apply to adults in times [...]

Conversations with people about events unfolding this past week and heart-breaking videos of devastation remind me of the critical [...]

While enjoying some down time over the holidays, I found myself listening to a few podcasts about 2026 and heard variations of a statement [...]

These days just before we cross the threshold into 2026 can be fertile times to dream into what we hope to call forth or experience in the [...]

Whatever your faith tradition and however you pass these days of Christmas, May the Holy One’s light of peace, love, and joy find you and [...]

What is out on the horizon for you in this Season of Light and in the new year?

Sitting quietly early this morning to listen for what the theme of this newsletter should be, I was surprised to hear Mary Oliver’s famous [...]

My reasons for loving Thanksgiving and the long weekend that follows have changed over the years. I find myself now treasuring the emphasis [...]

Setting our clocks back over this past weekend brought the arrival of the night earlier, reminding us that the hours of darkness will grow [...]

As our 4-week book reflection of The Tears of Things comes to a close this week, Fr. Richard Rohr’s closing call speaks to me of where to [...]

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.

Sometimes burying our head in the sand is a life-sustaining requirement in the moment.

Last week’s overt challenge to this country’s freedom of speech, which led to the yanking of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show off the air, [...]

During the pandemic, I often said “take good care” as the conversation was closing to anyone I came in contact with via email, Zoom, or [...]

With so much coming at us in the news and in our lives these days, knowing and seeking out our guiding lights can be the blessing we need [...]

Growing up in Southern California, school began after Labor Day. Many years later, living in Texas where the kids begin mid-August, I still [...]

A few recent Eremos offerings included extended time for silence and spaciousness to journal, reflect, or meditate on what attendees had [...]

Searching for a poem to use for an event, I stumbled upon another treasure from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.

Some times we feel called to sit with and even welcome in our pain and suffering in order to gain any wisdom it offers before letting it go.

Maria Popova introduced me to Maya Angelou’s magnificent poem, A Brave and Startling Truth, in her inspiring book, The Universe in Verse.

Since a recent conversation, I’ve been pondering the different ways to experience a more contemplative way of being and why that matters so [...]

Last week I came upon Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s poem, Latent, in which she invites us to consider “And is joy latent in everything?”

It’s hard to imagine “A Joyful July” amidst the sorrow.

As my book group wrapped up its discussion last week of Margaret Renkl’s book, The Comfort of Crows, I spoke about one of the essays that [...]

“Stay Calm and Carry On” says the picture hanging on my friend’s guest bedroom wall.

Like finding a drinking fountain on a hot day to quench your thirst when you forgot to bring a water bottle, the small mercies that show up [...]

Memorial Day heralds the start of summer for many and here in Austin, with graduations behind us, the traffic is lighter, and the [...]

Do you ever wonder how it will all turn out? When worry about the future grips your mind or a loved one’s thoughts, why not shift into wonder?

In this topsy-turvy world where even a cursory glance at the news of the day can lead to anxious thoughts, reconnecting with what is sacred [...]

From joyful graduations to the grief of loss of loved ones, jobs, or ways of life, many are being asked (or forced) to cross a threshold [...]

There is no getting around the awareness that we are living in chaotic times.

Early this morning I found solace, hope, and wonder in the stunning beauty of a Texas sunrise.

In a world that is so outward focused on "doing," we can forget that sometimes the greatest gift we can give in service to others is [...]

A thank you card from friends has had pride of place in my home since November because it makes me smile and reminds me of my potential.

Asked a question this past weekend about the imagination's role in these stressful times, author Jan Richardson said, "chaos and loss can [...]

We're living in a time where distain, contempt, and disgust can so easily be fed the fuel to tip towards hate. How do we resist this and [...]

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves and the world is to rest and then rest some more.

On my early morning walk today I did a double take when I saw a large blow-up plastic bunny on the front lawn of a home with a big "Happy [...]

All the long weekend, even before the dusting of snow arrived here in Austin, there has been a quiet, a hush, to my neighborhood.

This past week has been a dance between being present for work and life in Austin and checking in on the latest news about the fires in the [...]

Thank you for all the ways you support Eremos and make a difference in the world!

One evening last week I experienced a holy moment so powerful; I could feel its energy flowing through me, transforming stress and worry [...]

Patiently waiting for the right time to do something, for an illness to pass, or the arrival of something or someone is not one of my [...]

Immersed in the preparation and waiting of the time of Advent, I also find myself preparing my heart and soul for whatever 2025 will bring.

On this contentious election day and in the post-election turmoil, you’re invited to bring yourself back to the present moment…one deep [...]

With outside noise saying things like, "the race to the finish of the election," "the holiday season rush is upon us", and how "rapidly the [...]

Sometimes our inner voice speaks loudly, above the noise and chaos, to say "Quiet, quiet, please I need a moment of quiet."

Walking this morning, thinking about today's newsletter, I couldn't stop songs popping into my mind about light.

With October's arrival and too many external tasks and events clamoring for my attention, I'm feeling pulled in many directions.

While the heat and few signs of fall in Central Texas make the arrival of the Autumnal Equinox this past Sunday hard to believe, we can [...]

In times of transition or a busy fall season, it can be easy to project ourselves into worrisome future outcomes.

Preparing for tomorrow's Summer Interlude session about pilgrimage, I am reminded of the power of music to carry us back to a [...]

Walking a new path without knowing where it leads takes courage. So does making yourself vulnerable by speaking or signing up.

Sometimes we're "cleaning house" inside ourselves or in our lives for a specific reason.

What does "a blissful state of mind" mean to you and how do you tap into it?

With growing concerns for the upcoming election and the sorrows of the never-ending wars, many are feeling understandably anxious about the [...]

My stepmom is a Master Gardener, out the door early in the summer mornings to water and tend her beloved garden.

With our 2023 theme of Facets of Joy, we sparked joy throughout the month of July. As the intensity of the election year and the heat of [...]

"Hours of tranquility," the nature video promised in its title. Ahh...

Often described as the second Independence Day, we celebrate Juneteenth tomorrow to commemorate the ending of slavery in our country.

In her book Rooted, Lyanda Lynn Haupt shares research that points to time in nature helping us to cultivate and experience the relaxed [...]

With all that's unsettled in the world and in many lives these days, sometimes only a deep breath will do.

Decluttering a bit over the long weekend, I found somethings I had forgotten about

An experience last night with one of my friend's two dogs reminded me of the blessing of undivided attention.

From welcoming babies into the world to witnessing those you love graduate and make choices different from yours, love is both easy to give [...]

Last week I found myself having a strong negative reaction to something. I couldn't understand the source of my feelings.

Having to wait and wonder what we would see made both the glimpses of the eclipse and the dimming and return of the light mesmerizing.

May you bless others with kindness this week. And may the ripples your kindness sends out bless you in return.

During the Enneagram workshop this past Saturday, Nancy McCranie referenced the space between as the time to make a higher choice.

On this day of the spring equinox, we both celebrate the official arrival of spring and the tipping point into more light than darkness [...]

An unexpected sighting of wildflowers around a corner or on a hillside reminds us that spring always brings change.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting some new and longtime happy places. Walking into two local bookstores to drop off flyers, I was [...]

Never having lived in a home with a wide front porch, I had my first experience this past weekend...

When you think about the land of your home what comes to mind? How does it shape you?

Growing up in southern California, I didn't know much about Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday or any other pre-Lenten celebration.

"To hear, respect, and love them" is the job of a friend suffering from depression, says author David Brooks.

Sometimes an inner nudge is so strong that we know we must find a way to heed it.

Here in Austin, schools were on a two-hour delay because of the extreme cold. 

While pondering the start-stop-start feel of this new year, the word recalibrate popped into my mind.

What puts a spring in your step, even in the midst of winter? Your faith? Your friendships? The love of family?

Whether you’re still experiencing the glow of Christmas, wrapping up work for the year, or getting New Year party plans in place, an [...]

As we begin to wrap up our focus on the many Facets of Joy in 2023, we turn our attention with anticipation to new beginnings in 2024.

Speaking with someone recently about Eremos and what it means to be contemplative, I mentioned how short breaks in the day to come back to [...]

If you're feeling weary from life events and world news and rest isn't helping, can seeking examples of hope lift you up?

From focusing on being a good host and getting food on the table to distracting yourself from lonely moments on your own this Thanksgiving, [...]

Early this morning I discerned what the general theme of today's newsletter would be based upon the Mark Nepo's quote above, then headed [...]

Happy Halloween! Perhaps because we've been immersed in the exploration of joy this year, I find myself laughing with delight more this [...]

In her Meditation & Joy Series, Alice Lottes offers practices to help us open to more joy. One of them she shared was to savor the moments [...]

Sometimes all we can do is keep vigil. Keep watch and keep praying in the dark of the night when the world feels most vulnerable.

Over the years, most of us expand our capacity to handle an unexpected change in plans because we've been through so many of them.

Last Tuesday evening, in our Poetry of the Season session, Julie Bowman introduced us to and focused on poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. In [...]

The slower pace of summer is in the rearview mirror, the anticipation of the holiday season is on the horizon, and time seems to be speeding up.

Poet David Whyte began his September Zoom Series, A Deeper Form of Rest, with his famous poem The House of Belonging and then wove in [...]

Sometimes we're in a hurry and desperately need the quick convenience of self-checkout or other ways to streamline completing errands.

As I headed outside this morning for my walk, I was surprised at how dark it was. Another sign of change that I hope soon brings cooler [...]

Last week Pastor Brad Highum from Abiding Love Lutheran Church and I spoke about our upcoming event in October with Rev. Dr. Angela [...]

Blessed with a month away in July, I found Edith Wharton's invitation to "set wide the window" and drink in the day relatively easy from [...]

As we move into the heart (and often heat) of summer, Rev. Nancy McCranie offers an invitation to remember what joy is, to pause to open [...]

Sharon Dunn offers an invitation to seek joy this summer by experiencing more of what delights you. There are so many choices... Enjoy!

Rev. Doug Fritzsche writes about joy through a story of his dog, Kairo, so we decided to feature the joy found in connecting with or [...]

Locked out of our room for this past Saturday's workshop and no staff on site, Jeanne Guy (our facilitator) and I were working on plan "B" [...]

In her story about the fortune cookie wisdom shared above, Rivvy Neshama goes on to say that its wisdom proved true. What are your great [...]

Summer can bring time for leisurely walks to ponder juicy questions on your own or with others.

If a “moment of silence is the highest honor we can pay someone,” perhaps we need to honor ourselves and each other this way now, while [...]

How much larger might our world be though, if we could shift from fear to curiosity and wonder?

With graduations coming up, a quote about the importance of being yourself reminded me of the great commencement speeches given over the years.

In a recent conversation with Krista Tippett of On Being, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, Surgeon General, spoke about the importance of connecting [...]

Those of you living in Central Texas will likely understand when I say it felt like this past Saturday's day retreatants were gifted with a [...]

This past week I've found myself holding the awareness of the world as both terrible and beautiful. It feels critical to keep strengthening [...]

While enjoying Easter brunch with a friend, we spoke about a book she was reading on being true to yourself, just as you are, and how [...]

Whatever your faith tradition or name for God, this is a powerful time to honor the sacred.

While we can't control the weather or people around us, we can seek to enhance our inner and physical senses to find the magic each day.

Come and rest awhile in the sheltering arms of Mother Earth and a circle of new friends. Leave renewed and refreshed in body, mind, and spirit.

After being welcomed by an abundance of bluebonnets lining the road into a favorite nearby resort, a dear friend and I spent this past [...]

As spring begins to arrive in fits and starts around the northern hemisphere, the greening we witness in nature has the potential to take [...]

Last week one of our committee members didn't show up for an important meeting. When she later explained how she had forgotten after an [...]

Spring is coming! At the celebration of our founder's life yesterday, we were excited to hear about the first sighting of bluebonnets in [...]

From watering a plant to your hand tenderly expressing love to a beloved animal, person, or tree, your simple gift of love just might [...]

Sometimes kindness, gentleness, and loving attentiveness are what we need after a traumatic experience. And what qualifies as traumatic to [...]

Perhaps it is the cold temperatures outside that drew me to the wisdom His Holiness the Dalai Lama shared about how being open and [...]

Scientists and theologians both point out that empty spaces aren’t empty at all. There is often palpable energy or “work” happening in [...]

Perhaps it was the turtles my friend and I enjoyed watching sunbathing recently that got me thinking about the classic Aesop fable about [...]

I laughed out loud when I saw the quote above by the early 20th-century French poet Guillaume Apollinaire. His wise words can be used for [...]

As the Winter Solstice arrives tomorrow, I am reminded of the ancient fear of the dark. No wonder the celebrations of our faith traditions [...]

Do you feel the tug of responsibility and expectation to get tasks completed before the end of the year? Or are you overwhelmed with [...]

Change suggests movement and effort to bring it about (whether we like it or not).

On this Giving Tuesday, I am reminded of how many people it takes to co-create this beloved contemplative community.

May we gather together (whether in person, virtually, or via text exchange) with those we love to honor and celebrate all we are grateful for.

In preparation for our evening with author Jan Richardson, I reviewed the pages in her book Sparrow that inspired the theme of the program: [...]

Whatever your dreams or expectations and however your neighbors have voted, may you find hope and reasons to be grateful in the results.

Love can help us offer heartfelt prayers and support for those grieving, stay hopeful when the way forward seems hopeless, and fight for change

One of my favorite books about thinking differently about leadership and success is The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund [...]

At this time of year, I adjust my schedule as much as I can to avoid walking in the dark.

Perhaps contemplating what matters is why seeing multiple quotes referencing the importance of tradition or ritual captured my attention.

I was reminded of the power of art and the creative spirit to help us process all that we’ve witnessed personally or through the TV or [...]

After a series of small and frustrating glitches to start the day, I stopped trying to push through my to-do list. I paused, rested in silence...

With 365 opportunities a year for the sun to shine on the earth, there are only two times when the northern and southern hemispheres get [...]

Time with family in Oregon last week was both a refreshing respite and a challenge.

“What is mine to do?” Here’s one answer to the perennial contemplative query: In this era of anxiety and fear about climate change, you [...]

This past Sunday afternoon I heard author Matt Kahn speak (in answer to a question from the audience) about how continuing to ask "Why?" [...]

This weekend I said "no way" out loud, then laughed at my reaction to a newsletter subject line: "Holding on to Summer".

Whether it’s a road block, an unexpected change that moves you away from a treasured goal, or a voluntary change in plans, how might you [...]

Like some in our community, you may be dealing with some serious stuff at home or are feeling overwhelmed with anxiety about the future of [...]

In his book, What The Mystics Know, Fr. Richard Rohr writes about contemplation and prayer in the chapter "Contemplation Means Practicing [...]

It wasn't that long ago we were all required to slow down whether we wanted to or not; yet, the to-do list (even if filled with fun summer [...]

While walking early this morning, I noticed some of the trees clearly suffering from the lack of water. I began wishing there was something [...]

In these troubling times when violence shows up in places we couldn’t have imagined, our thin places can help us remember our connection to [...]

I am called once again to find respite in deep breaths during sacred pauses, the beauty of the rain, and listening within for the wisdom to [...]

“Start close in, don’t take the second step or the third, start with the first thing close in, the step you don’t want to [...]

“Let us bless the humility of water, Always willing to take the shape Of whatever otherness holds it, The buoyancy of water Stronger [...]

“An awake heart is like a sky that pours light.” ― Hafiz Were you able to sooth your spirit or quiet your mind over Memorial [...]

As we celebrate the Summer Solstice today, we turn our gaze to the second half of another intense year. 

Over the past few weeks, I've heard about many travel plans, as many are venturing out to experience travel rescheduled from the past two [...]

Each of us must follow our own inner guidance or call from the Holy One regarding what is ours to do. And perhaps the first step is to feel [...]

While preparing for facilitating a book group next month of John Philip Newell's Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, I was captivated by the wisdom [...]

When I look at what's going on in the world right now, I take comfort in the wise (but not easy to experience) phrase "two steps forward [...]

Like ducklings getting ready to enter the water, some of us are cautiously re-entering the world. Eremos hosted our first in-person [...]

Have you ever noticed how the right question can open doors, unlock possibilities, and bring peace when you’ve been stuck?

What if spending some time in silent contemplation led you to the "deep and holy place within" that Sue Monk Kidd describes...

April 2022 brings sacred traditions of Muslims, Jews, and Christians "together." From the 30 days of Ramadan to the 7 days of Passover and [...]

Sometimes the way to hope, peace, and possibilities can be found in beholding and blessing the ordinary.

"The world is holy" Terry Tempest Williams reminds us. This is the epiphany astronaut Edgar Mitchell experienced on his return to Earth [...]

I want to soak up as much of vibrant energy and beauty as possible to revive my spirit after an intense winter.

At this painful time in the world, I find myself needing to remember a tender heart that cries at the suffering is a strong, powerful heart [...]

On 2-22-2022, it feels important to honor the power of "2" in our lives! Whether or not we're in a romantic relationship, there are many [...]

“What if we could recognize our faults and look to see what is beyond them? What if we could see, with great tenderness, the painful unmet [...]

In this month of love many feel compelled to either make a grand gesture to express the love they feel for another or to ignore the entire [...]

The bright moments of delight, like our time with Mary Earle last Thursday, helped me get through, but I must admit I feel more joy than [...]

Through his teachings, books, and presence, Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged people from all walks of life to walk in [...]

There is so much coming at us right now. Spiritual leaders have pointed to the awareness that the mind can’t always handle rapid change and [...]

When I saw this image of a sunset in Big Bend National Park in Texas, I felt my whole body relax and my breathing slow. It felt just right [...]

I was saddened to hear of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's passing on December 26th. He did more than a little bit of good for so many.

What are you hoping for in 2022? How can you prepare yourself to be more open to receive the blessings you hope for and more resilient in [...]

With the arrival of the winter solstice today, winter is officially here and the light begins to grow once again.

What defines a good life? I imagine each of us would come up with a unique definition, while including some common themes. Love, laughter, [...]

There is a softness to the light that shines for fewer hours at this time of year that invites this inward gaze. And this opportunity to [...]

“The places and people that make our world are [ever] changing; the present slips from us with growing rapidity, but the birds are [...]

“Reverence each hour as a small stepping stone on your pilgrimage through the day. Receive the gift of seven sacred pauses. Practice [...]

Are you carrying any burdens like worrying about the future of the planet or the health of a loved one? Why not let the stones around you, [...]

As we approach the silly and scary fun that Halloween can bring, we also come to the time of traditions like Día de los Muertos (Day of the [...]

“Uncrowd my heart, O God, until silence speaks in your still, small voice. Turn me from the hearing of words, and the making of [...]

With the divisiveness in our country, I was struck by Steven Charleston's statement about the power of celebrating what we hope for [...]

"Remember, all is well," I kept telling myself this morning, as another part of my move over this past week did not go as planned. [...]

“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. …get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing [...]

“We need to stop. Just stop. Stop for a moment. Before anybody Says or does anything That may hurt anyone else.” –Mattie [...]

“Many times today I will cross over a threshold. I hope I will catch a few of those times. I need to remember that my life is, in [...]

We may not be able to stop the suffering unfolding in our world, but we can expand our ability to offer compassion, kindness, and support [...]

“Climate change portends a revolution in the relationship between nature and civilization, but this is not a revolution in the more [...]

A few years ago we invited the Eremos community to pause at Noon to pray or sing May We Dwell in the Heart for a week. I remember feeling [...]

In his wisdom, Bill Withers shared one of the toughest challenges to receiving the support we need: "for no one can fill those of your [...]

When we excitedly planned Returning to the World with Paula D'Arcy next week and the Behold and See workshop with Elizabeth Ann Gates later [...]

When I lived in Seattle, my backyard ended with a hedge of blackberry bushes. I didn't think much about it until my sister and her family [...]

As the end of July approaches and the summer heat slows us down, this might be the perfect time to "take stock" of where you are in life.

While out walking early Sunday morning, I felt sadness about Austin moving back to a Stage 3 level of risk because of a rise in COVID-19 [...]

Take a deep breath, focus on your beautiful, beating heart, and return to center. Some variation of this statement is often used by [...]

The summer feels like a good time to experience the simple pleasures that bring smiles and laughter. I'm pretty good about remembering to [...]

“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should [...]

What do you miss when you tell yourself you don't have time for something or you're so distracted you forget to pay attention to the moment?

Last Saturday morning I had just finished reading about a flight being diverted because of an altercation that broke out on the plane, when [...]

By now many of you will have heard the story of Confections Bakery in a small East Texas town. An innocent post to social media of their [...]

Keep Austin Weird became a slogan and rallying cry in 2000 for all that made Austin unique. As the city population continues to rapidly [...]

Help shine the light of Eremos by exploring these 25 Acts of Contemplation over the next year. Invite family and friends to join you.

This time of reemergence in the world turns out to be more unsettling than most of us could have imagined. Everyone has different experts [...]

"Great ideas, it has been said, come into the world as gently as doves. Perhaps then, if we listen attentively, we shall hear, amid the [...]

There is something about the sound of a bell that stops us — if only for a moment — to redirect our thoughts and sometimes actions.

I find my nine years in this community strengthening my ability to sit in silence without looking at my phone, picking up a book, or [...]

So many are feeling the tension rising over when and how to safely emerge from the pandemic, and despairing over the news about another [...]

What gifts from the struggles of the past year are you bringing with you as you plan for and embark upon new adventures this spring and summer?

I’ve been privileged by being invited to offer quarterly poetry offerings through Eremos this year. Our theme, Poetry of the Present [...]

Like children experiencing with wonder what's before them, we too can move through these spring days allowing and delighting in the "new" [...]

As many of us both turn our gaze inward and look to celebrate safely with loved ones during Holy Week in the Christian tradition and [...]

Like savoring a delicious meal, I find myself enjoying the gift of this spring in ways I never have before.

Maybe it's time to hit the pause button on our concerns and wonder. Just wonder about what, when, and how the vaccine, the pandemic, and [...]

After such a stressful week for so many Texans and others impacted by severe weather, it can be tempting to strive to make up for lost time [...]

As Austin, the state of Texas, and much of the country deal with unprecedented winter weather, the quote above gives me comfort.

A dear friend recently sent me a poem by Mark Nepo, After Mira, about his thoughts on love a year after the loss of their beloved [...]

The tension and divisiveness in our country hit us like a tsunami after the attack on the capitol. Even with the inauguration of [...]

"A deeply distressing or disturbing experience." By that definition of trauma (Dictionary.com), we can assume all of us have experienced [...]

I received the most delightful surprise for Christmas: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Disguised as a [...]

I've come to love this time between Christmas and the arrival of New Year's Day. It invites sacred pauses to reflect on the year and to [...]

Together, may our wishes for peace, love, joy, a safe and secure home, vibrant good health, prosperity, work that nourishes the soul, and a [...]

And so we have come to the end of the year of the pandemic.  This is a dark time of year, as we approach the Winter Solstice.  Even as the [...]

Missing community, we gathered through Zoom and waved to neighbors. Missing intimate connections, we luxuriated in long phone calls with [...]

My mother, who became a staunch Pentecostal in the last half of her life, was always known to comment on disturbing world events by saying [...]

Guest blog post by Rev. Doug Fritzsche Been a tough year for optimists, no doubt about that. Yet the calendar brings us once again to the [...]

Whatever your faith tradition, navigating this holiday season might feel like moving through an obstacle course.  Opportunities for [...]

“What we are bound to is love: the love that gives rise to our grief but finally goes deeper than it, the love that undergirds and [...]

Peace be with you on this election day and in the days to come, as we seek common ground to begin healing as a nation no matter the results [...]

I woke up this morning with trees on my mind, wondering about the language of trees. A dear friend had shared a writing prompt that [...]

What if what is real is beyond what our physical senses can experience? What if there are possibilities and potentials for a joyful future [...]

Eremos began 2020 with the theme: Interspirituality and Compassion for Self, Others, and Earth and Mark Nepo's words "Shared roots live [...]

Your light in this world matters. Every prayer offered, vision held for a better world, and kindness extended to another makes a difference.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back…always ineffectiveness.” – W. H. Murray Have you [...]

Sometimes we miss the arrival of the Autumnal Equinox in Central Texas because it often still feels and looks like summer. As if she knew [...]

There are some days when I speak with no one. Days when I feel clouded, as if essential connections in my brain are withering. Sometimes I [...]

There is something different about the movement in 2020 to address the systemic racial injustice in our country. You can feel the focus, [...]

John O'Donohue reminds me that this beautiful place of healing stillness can be found within the heart simply by placing our attention [...]

An excerpt from Rich Lewis’ new book, Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer I cannot imagine a better [...]

” Every time you love just a little Take one step closer, solving a riddle It echoes all over the world. Every time you opt in to [...]

"To awaken is not about staying in the same place and seeing, from there, new vistas. Nor is it about having enlightened insights or [...]

Why not enter into these days wondering how it will turn out? Who knows? In our state of wonder, we just might find gifts we never could [...]

“So when hurt or afraid or confused, when feeling urgent to find your place on this Earth, hard as it is, wait…and things as you fear [...]

In his program this past Sunday, Rabbi Rami Shapiro invited us into the practice of Passage Meditation. He shared that memorizing sacred [...]

How do we get through the relentless challenges of COVID-19 and the ugliness the chaos of this time is revealing in our world? 

"Did you always maintain hope?" This question posed in the quote above struck me as a powerful call in these chaotic days.  I find hope is [...]

Carrying the Divine in our hearts ― and pausing often to remember that we do so ― seems to be the only way to walk through these days with [...]

What uncertainty we find ourselves living through. It is tempting to turn off the radio and TV, stop reading the newspaper or news feed and [...]

Last week a family member shared some upsetting news, and I just lost it. I couldn’t be “strong” or “hold it together.” So, I did what I do [...]

Toilet paper, Tiger King and Time Itself: I’d call it the triumph of the trivial. What I’d look back on – assuming I’d look back on – all [...]

Often the word “virtual” is contrasted with the idea of “in person.” A lot of virtual activity is taking place these days with the social [...]

During this time of “sheltering in place” amidst the spread of Covid-19 I have been reminded of a phrase from St. Benedict.  He said, “your [...]

We will get through this particular passage. Panic is not needed. Instead, it is time for a calm head and a warm heart.

Earlier this month, fifteen women gathered at the Cedarbrake retreat center in Belton, Texas. For several days, we sought silence, [...]

Since last fall, excitement has been building for our 2020 program year featuring the theme of INTERSPIRITUALITY AND COMPASSION FOR SELF, [...]

The Winter Solstice has passed and the days ahead will gradually gain minutes of daylight.  The longest night of the year has come and [...]

At last, we can feel that the earth has shifted on its axis and we are beginning to move away from the heat of summer. Our bodies enjoy the [...]

This past weekend, fourteen women gathered at Cedarbrake Retreat Center in Belton for an Eremos Retreat. Each of us came with all the [...]

One of the benefits of taking time to stop and listen for the voice of God is that we can become aware that we do have a choice.  Before we [...]

Humans collect things; it’s in our nature. Beautiful things, useful things, practical things, and things we might possibly use in the [...]

On this first official day of summer—the Summer Solstice—I invite you to consider your typical summer flow. Do things slow down and give [...]

So many of us spend time searching for our “purpose.”  We seek “God’s will” for our lives.  We long to be “on the right path.”  As we live [...]

Guest Reflection by John Fox (excerpt from letter posted on poeticmedicine.org, with permission) Dear Friends in Poetry, I make deep claims [...]

For those of us in the Christian tradition, this Easter season can teach some deep lessons. If we take the time to look beyond the colorful [...]

The Texas bluebonnets that give us so much joy are appearing on the roadsides. I find myself breaking into a smile at the sight of these [...]

February can sometimes seem like the longest month. Even though there are only 28 days in the month, the transition from January’s stark [...]

We have the Advent season to anticipate Christmas Joy.  As I walk through this December, the hope of Advent seems to be even more needed.  [...]

Heeding the quiet voice within to experience God in the silence can sometime seem like such a passive gesture when confronted with living [...]

As mid-term elections approach, anxiety levels are increasing for so many. Natural disasters like Hurricane Florence and angry words [...]

Some define contemplative living as leading a less busy, more quiet life or engaging in certain practices such as meditation, centering [...]

This past Tuesday, I (Dianna) met with our long-time volunteer, Nancy Jewett, to begin sorting through the many quotes or writings we have [...]

Eremos has been a busy hive of activity this past week.  The weekend was full, with Paula Loring’s Journaling Grief workshop and the [...]

Like a college graduate embarking upon a new life, Eremos is moving on to the next phase of its journey. We’re feeling the same [...]

In memory of the recent passing of our Spiritual Amma, Jean Springer, we are re-posting her 2017 Easter blog post. Re-reading it with the [...]

In memory of the recent passing of our Spiritual Amma, Jean Springer, we are re-posting her 2017 Good Friday and Easter blog posts. [...]

Love one another as I have loved you. My whole life has been dedicated to knowing love and longing to have others know love no matter what [...]

The pathway of 2017 has led us to the doorway of 2018. For many of us, the wind of change has blown carrying us into the unpredictability [...]

Advent 2017 has begun. Sunday, I sat in the silence of my heart and the quiet of Eremos before lighting our first candle of Advent. [...]

We slipped into November so quietly. The Oak Trees have dropped their acorns, the days of light have become shorter, nights have become [...]

October has always seemed like the beginning of the holidays, with children running around the neighborhood looking for a treat or offering [...]

With so much going on in Texas, where do we focus our attention? Where do we offer our support? How can we realistically respond to another [...]

Working with people in spiritual direction, I’ve witnessed how many of us want to revert to what now seems like a simpler life. Many would [...]

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable [...]

In my early adult years Father’s Day was a special day for letting my father know I loved and appreciated him.  But in the years since his [...]

“Nobody could love me like Tom does” was a remark that set me to reflecting on the miracle of marriage.

In some cultures, placing flowers on the graves of relatives who have died is still part of ‘Memorial Day’. They remember, give thanks and [...]

When I began pondering the meaning of this month of May, I kept sensing it is about requesting: “May I…” and giving permission.

One of the most difficult Christian celebrations for many people is Easter. Well, not so much Easter because we have made it a secular [...]

There is a quote from Ron Rolheiser that puts these ‘high holy days’ in perspective. Good Friday: is about the loss of life. Easter Sunday: [...]

“So many challenges and confrontations have come at me this week” said a young pastor as she sat down in the Eremos glider. “I can’t see [...]

In his book entitled Confessions, St. Augustin of Hippo wrote the following: What does love look like? It has hands to help others. It has [...]

A new year begins reminding us of the cycle of life – we are always beginning again. Each new year is an invitation to be open to new [...]

“Last year I was pregnant and gave birth to my son two days before Christmas” said a young woman anticipating Christmas. She went on [...]

“Will you hold the darkness with me this Advent?” was the question I posed to the members of Eremos’ monthly contemplative groups. [...]

Like so many people, I have been wondering how we can all heal once a new president is elected. With such a divided country, some people [...]

In my September blog, I used a line from Teresa of Avila which read: “Christ has no body now but yours No hands, no feet on earth but yours [...]

Horrendous floods, devastating tornados, blistering fires, violent earthquakes – is Mother Nature raging at all the abuse she has suffered [...]

What an amazing gift—to sit and gaze at the beauty and simplicity of a maple tree! While on vacation, with time and space to be truly [...]

I confess it has been years since I actually read the Declaration of Independence.  With all that is going on in our country and the [...]

“There is nothing hidden that won’t be revealed” Jesus said to his disciples. As I look at the violence erupting in our country and our [...]

Our cities and towns are filled with veterans who have served our country — many returning proud of their service, and many traumatized, [...]

I went shopping for a ‘Mother’s Day’ card recently.  I wanted to get it in the mail a week early so it would arrive in time for May 8th. My [...]

There was such joy-filled excitement May 8, 1996.  I opened the box containing our Eremos Board Minutes file and the official embossing [...]

In his Easter message last year, Pope Francis lamented the suffering of people because of the conflicts currently making headlines and he [...]

Guest Blog Post: John Fox, co-facilitator with Mirabai Starr of Eremos’ upcoming event: The Heartbeat of Hope: Life-Giving Nourishment in [...]

Within the Christian experience, we’re now immersed in the intensity of ‘holy week’. There are so many themes running through it that it is [...]

Guest Post by Manning Wolfe Buckminster Fuller espoused the idea that a strong context is needed to foster lasting content. In other words, [...]

For so many people, February’s focus seems to be Valentine’s Day.  Roses fill the stores and jewelry and perfume are advertised as signs of [...]

As I sit here on the threshold of a new year, I am reminded of all the people who have supported us.  Our Board of Directors, our [...]

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom A light has shone.” Isaiah 9:1 With [...]

So many questions fill our minds and hearts as we anticipate this celebration of Thanksgiving Day. I have listened to radio hosts question [...]

Over these past few days, I have been inspired by the voices coming out of Washington! Joe Biden in his statement to the American people [...]

For seven years I visited a man in a local nursing home. As my relationship with him grew in those seven years, so did my connections with [...]

The cry for peace has filled my thoughts lately as Eremos and many in the city of Austin prepare to focus of PEACE this month. After two [...]

“When we find our vocation we begin to live from this place inside us, deepening our personality, our unique way of being in God, and [...]

Flags are waving in the breeze as people begin preparing for 4th of July celebrations.  Are they a reminder of the past struggles against [...]

The month of April we spent contemplating Andrew Harvey’s book The Hope:  A Guide to Sacred Activism.  If you have not read it, I highly [...]

He is Risen!

This week I have watched lives disintegrate and have shared in the terror, grief and pain people have experienced.  Once again, my heart [...]

A picture I hold in my soul comes from walking out of a silent church after my baptism as a young adult.  It was December in Connecticut [...]

Guest Blog Post from Andrew Harvey As the world plunges into deeper chaos, even the hardiest of souls can experience despair and lose hope [...]

“When you think of the word poor, what does that evoke for you?” was the opening question of a presentation on Poverty in Texas.  The [...]

There is something amazing that happens as we anticipate a new year.  All the people who serve me smile and bid me good bye with “happy new [...]

The neighborhood is beautiful with gentle lights decorating so many homes.  The air is crisp, the stars twinkle in the dark sky as all of [...]

This blessing expresses our deep wish for each of you this wonderful Thanksgiving Season.  Whether you are with friends, family or in the [...]

For Dia de los Muertos we sat enfolded in profound silence.  Pictures of friends and family who have died filled the alter reminding us [...]

“There is so much death around me these days” a woman said to me yesterday. As I reflected on her statement, two others said something [...]

“And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same [...]

“I just don’t want to do anything”.  “I don’t have any energy lately”.  Comments I keep hearing as we journey deeper into summer’s [...]

In spiritual direction, on phone calls, and in email exchanges, I hear “There is so much loss in my life I don’t know how to cope.” [...]

In his beautiful poem ‘Spiritual Canticle’ John of the Cross (16th century mystic) wrote in stanza 13 My Beloved, the mountains The [...]

I was intrigued by this small comment found in the Gospel according to John. I wondered what my breath conveyed to people in my life. June [...]

Please join me and the Eremos community as we remember the men and women who have died in service to America and their dream of freedom. We [...]

“Give thanks to the Lord who is good, whose love is everlasting” Psalm 118 This refrain sums up my soul as I reflect on Eremos becoming a [...]

“There is a quiet light that shines in every heart” writes John O’’Donohue in his book ‘To Bless the Space Between Us’.  And how amazing it [...]

As I sit to write, a cold blast of wind from the north has darkened the sky, caused the tree branches to twist and turn, plant leaves [...]

Recently a woman spoke to me of the restlessness she felt just before giving birth. Her sense of ‘it is time to bring forth this baby’ made [...]

    In an amazing poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, “Interrelationship,” he speaks of the depth of relationship we are called to.   [...]

Twice a day, every day, a 92 year old man goes to the nursing home to feed his wife. Some days she seems to recognize him and he is [...]

“I am not making any new year resolutions as I never keep them” I overheard someone proclaim from the table next to me at a local [...]

“We are going to have a baby” proclaimed a neighbor some months ago!  You could see the joyful anticipation of this young man who could not [...]

We have come so far from that first ‘Thanksgiving Day’. Inspired by the fruits of the earth, people gathered in gratitude as they [...]

November is a month of many different moments and movements. I found myself pondering death and recalled the often quoted: ‘A seed must die [...]

On a recent retreat, one of the women said “I can hear the earth sing’. We had a much longed for rain, the sky was beautiful and the earth [...]

“There is a quiet light that shines in every heart” — John O’Donohue Recently, I sat with a woman in spiritual direction as she tried to [...]

Summer is such an amazing gift of time to step back from the busyness of life and behold the Source of life more freely. A part of my [...]

One of the traditions I have each July 4th is to actually read the Declaration of Independence. It seems each year something different [...]

A few days ago, I met with three young women and a five-week old baby girl. As with most gatherings of women and babies, all our eyes were [...]

As I sat in the quiet of the early morning, pondering the events of this past week, a phrase from scripture came to me ‘All of us, gazing [...]

“I don’t feel like Easter has come yet” one woman said this week. She lives with chronic pain at a level 10 most days and in the pain, [...]

As I gaze out into the beauty of a soft sunny day in Austin. I hear the song of birds excited to be alive, calling to one another with [...]

As I sit with people reflecting on these 40 days Christian communities call Lent, I hear a similar question: “I want this time to be [...]

Today I heard stories from two amazing parents. The first story came from our ‘service man’ who was bursting with joy. He has a three year [...]

We stand on the threshold of 2013 being drawn by all the hope that a new year contains. Only a few days into the new year and already I [...]

Homes are beautifully lit, candles fill the darkness with their gentle flame, people reach out to one another as a testimony to the Love [...]

As many of you know, my family roots are in Maine and Connecticut.  The season of Advent always calls my heart back to the winter snow that [...]

There is a hunger, a yearning within each of us, a kind of itch that can’t be scratched reminding us there is something more calling for [...]

The small Wrens were dancing with the Live Oak branches creating a rhythm that caused my heart to fly.  The cool morning air in the clear [...]

Some years ago we had a wonderful wooden well in our front lawn. The well somehow survived three moves, lots of rain, heat, cold and wind [...]

I was asked today, “How does one talk about contemplation? It is so hard to explain–especially for people who have no [...]

I was at an ordination this weekend in which the newly ordained pastor was commissioned with one word: ‘Behold’.  The young woman stood [...]

Visiting a local nursing home facility yesterday, I smiled at one of the residents, greeted her and touched her shoulder gently.  She [...]

One of the passages from the Hebrew Scriptures that touches me deeply each time I read it comes from the Prophet Hosea Chapter 2: [...]

It is with great pleasure that we announce our new Executive Director, Dianna Amorde. We are confident that Dianna possesses the qualities [...]

I know Mother’s Day creates stress for many men and women.  I have had my own struggle with it over the years.  But this year I [...]

Where is God when hopes and dreams are lost?  So many people these days are finding their worlds turned upside down for one reason or [...]

All around the world, Christian people have gathered  shouting the Easter proclamation: The Lord is truly risen, alleluia In a world so [...]

In a poem by Hafiz we are invited and challenged to see beyond rush of these three days and nights.  We are called to deepen our openness [...]