EREMOS
Reflections
Is This the Path of Love?
Last Tuesday evening, in our Poetry of the Season session, Julie Bowman introduced us to and focused on poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. In [...]
The Heart-Skill That Opens the World…
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.
Drinking From the Well…
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 [...]
Scale Up Your Love…
Sometimes we're in a hurry and desperately need the quick convenience of self-checkout or other ways to streamline completing errands.
Want the Change…
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 [...]
A Mysterious Capacity…
Last week Pastor Brad Highum from Abiding Love Lutheran Church and I spoke about our upcoming event in October with Rev. Dr. Angela [...]
Set Wide the Window…
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 [...]
Dance the Sacred Dance…
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 [...]
Finding Joy…
Sharon Dunn offers an invitation to seek joy this summer by experiencing more of what delights you. There are so many choices... Enjoy!
The Joy of Creatures Great and Small…
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 [...]
The Way Will Be Shown…
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" [...]
Three Healing Things…
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 [...]
Questions to Ponder…
Summer can bring time for leisurely walks to ponder juicy questions on your own or with others.
When Calmness Comes…
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 [...]
Unknowable Depths…
How much larger might our world be though, if we could shift from fear to curiosity and wonder?
Be Yourself
With graduations coming up, a quote about the importance of being yourself reminded me of the great commencement speeches given over the years.
Wired to Connect…
In a recent conversation with Krista Tippett of On Being, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, Surgeon General, spoke about the importance of connecting [...]
Small Miracles…
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 [...]
Both Can Be True…
This past week I've found myself holding the awareness of the world as both terrible and beautiful. It feels critical to keep strengthening [...]
Who You Really Are…
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 [...]
We Honor the Sacred…
Whatever your faith tradition or name for God, this is a powerful time to honor the sacred.
The World is Full of Magic Things
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.
Called to Thrive…
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.
Finding Peace…
After being welcomed by an abundance of bluebonnets lining the road into a favorite nearby resort, a dear friend and I spent this past [...]
Stream of Grace…
As spring begins to arrive in fits and starts around the northern hemisphere, the greening we witness in nature has the potential to take [...]
Where you need to be
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 [...]
Moving Slowly in This Time of Transition…
Spring is coming! At the celebration of our founder's life yesterday, we were excited to hear about the first sighting of bluebonnets in [...]
Moments of Love…
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 It Takes Time…
Sometimes kindness, gentleness, and loving attentiveness are what we need after a traumatic experience. And what qualifies as traumatic to [...]
Warmheartedness on a Cold Day…
Perhaps it is the cold temperatures outside that drew me to the wisdom His Holiness the Dalai Lama shared about how being open and [...]
The Space Between…
Scientists and theologians both point out that empty spaces aren’t empty at all. There is often palpable energy or “work” happening in [...]
Slow and Steady…
Perhaps it was the turtles my friend and I enjoyed watching sunbathing recently that got me thinking about the classic Aesop fable about [...]
It’s Good to Pause…
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 [...]
There is a Light in Us…
As the Winter Solstice arrives tomorrow, I am reminded of the ancient fear of the dark. No wonder the celebrations of our faith traditions [...]
Nature Does Not Hurry…
Do you feel the tug of responsibility and expectation to get tasks completed before the end of the year? Or are you overwhelmed with [...]
We Can Change…
Change suggests movement and effort to bring it about (whether we like it or not).
It Takes a Village…
On this Giving Tuesday, I am reminded of how many people it takes to co-create this beloved contemplative community.
Blessing For A Whole Heart…
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.
Circle of Light…
In preparation for our evening with author Jan Richardson, I reviewed the pages in her book Sparrow that inspired the theme of the program: [...]
A Deep Breath…
Whatever your dreams or expectations and however your neighbors have voted, may you find hope and reasons to be grateful in the results.
We Can Love…
Love can help us offer heartfelt prayers and support for those grieving, stay hopeful when the way forward seems hopeless, and fight for change
Give Yourself an A…
One of my favorite books about thinking differently about leadership and success is The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund [...]
Walking in the Dark…
At this time of year, I adjust my schedule as much as I can to avoid walking in the dark.
Sacred Rituals and Traditions…
Perhaps contemplating what matters is why seeing multiple quotes referencing the importance of tradition or ritual captured my attention.
Our Time to Make Things…
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 [...]
Intentional Thresholds…
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...
Elusive Balance…
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 [...]
Good Enough…
Time with family in Oregon last week was both a refreshing respite and a challenge.
Hope Amidst Climate Change
“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 [...]
Great Mysteries…
This past Sunday afternoon I heard author Matt Kahn speak (in answer to a question from the audience) about how continuing to ask "Why?" [...]
A New Way of Looking…
This weekend I said "no way" out loud, then laughed at my reaction to a newsletter subject line: "Holding on to Summer".
Where the Learning Begins…
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 [...]
Never Giving Up…
In his book, What The Mystics Know, Fr. Richard Rohr writes about contemplation and prayer in the chapter "Contemplation Means Practicing [...]
Slow Down…
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 [...]
Remembering Who We Are
While walking early this morning, I noticed some of the trees clearly suffering from the lack of water. I began wishing there was something [...]
Seeking Thin Places…
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 [...]
The Way Will Be Shown…
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…
“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 [...]
In Praise of Water…
“Let us bless the humility of water, Always willing to take the shape Of whatever otherness holds it, The buoyancy of water Stronger [...]
Stay Awake…
“An awake heart is like a sky that pours light.” ― Hafiz Were you able to sooth your spirit or quiet your mind over Memorial [...]
Again and Again…
As we celebrate the Summer Solstice today, we turn our gaze to the second half of another intense year.
A Journey Can Become a Sacred Thing…
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 [...]
Face the Sun…
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 [...]
Sacred Flow…
While preparing for facilitating a book group next month of John Philip Newell's Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, I was captivated by the wisdom [...]
Two Steps Back…
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 [...]
Diving In…
Like ducklings getting ready to enter the water, some of us are cautiously re-entering the world. Eremos hosted our first in-person [...]
Planting Seeds…
Have you ever noticed how the right question can open doors, unlock possibilities, and bring peace when you’ve been stuck?
A Holy Week…
What if spending some time in silent contemplation led you to the "deep and holy place within" that Sue Monk Kidd describes...
Ideas About God…
April 2022 brings sacred traditions of Muslims, Jews, and Christians "together." From the 30 days of Ramadan to the 7 days of Passover and [...]
Beholding the Ordinary
Sometimes the way to hope, peace, and possibilities can be found in beholding and blessing the ordinary.
Soaking Up Spring
I want to soak up as much of vibrant energy and beauty as possible to revive my spirit after an intense winter.
Seeing Rightly…
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 [...]
Great Partnership
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 [...]
Beyond Our Faults
“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 Praise of the Ordinary…
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 [...]
Another New Beginning…
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 [...]
Walk in Peace…
Through his teachings, books, and presence, Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged people from all walks of life to walk in [...]
A Road From My Soul
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 [...]
A Constant Journey…
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 [...]
A Little Bit of Good
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.
Hope Springs Eternal
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 [...]
Welcoming Winter…
With the arrival of the winter solstice today, winter is officially here and the light begins to grow once again.
What Matters…
What defines a good life? I imagine each of us would come up with a unique definition, while including some common themes. Love, laughter, [...]
A Moment of Stillness…
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 [...]
Ever Changing…
“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…
“Reverence each hour as a small stepping stone on your pilgrimage through the day. Receive the gift of seven sacred pauses. Practice [...]
The Endurance of Things…
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, [...]
The Love of Thousands…
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…
“Uncrowd my heart, O God, until silence speaks in your still, small voice. Turn me from the hearing of words, and the making of [...]
What We Hope For Together…
With the divisiveness in our country, I was struck by Steven Charleston's statement about the power of celebrating what we hope for [...]
Beneath the Surface
"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. [...]
Radical Amazement
“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 [...]
Just Stop For A Moment
“We need to stop. Just stop. Stop for a moment. Before anybody Says or does anything That may hurt anyone else.” –Mattie [...]
Crossing Thresholds
“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 [...]
Take Off Your Shoes…
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 [...]
A Revolution of Love
“Climate change portends a revolution in the relationship between nature and civilization, but this is not a revolution in the more [...]
Dwell in the Heart…
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 [...]
Lean on Me
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 [...]
The Opposite Direction
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 [...]
The Basic Goods of Life…
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 [...]
Taking Stock…
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.
Peaceful Warriors…
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 [...]
Finding Your Center…
Take a deep breath, focus on your beautiful, beating heart, and return to center. Some variation of this statement is often used by [...]
When the Morning Smiled…
The summer feels like a good time to experience the simple pleasures that bring smiles and laughter. I'm pretty good about remembering to [...]
A Slower Pace…
“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should [...]
If I Had Never…
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?
Finding Peace Amidst the Sorrow
Last Saturday morning I had just finished reading about a flight being diverted because of an altercation that broke out on the plane, when [...]
The Courage to Love
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
Keep Austin Weird became a slogan and rallying cry in 2000 for all that made Austin unique. As the city population continues to rapidly [...]
25 Acts of Contemplation
Help shine the light of Eremos by exploring these 25 Acts of Contemplation over the next year. Invite family and friends to join you.
Find Your Way Out
This time of reemergence in the world turns out to be more unsettling than most of us could have imagined. Everyone has different experts [...]
The Call of the Bell
There is something about the sound of a bell that stops us — if only for a moment — to redirect our thoughts and sometimes actions.
Still Enough
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 [...]
Blooming For No Reason
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 We Bring With Us
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?
Reflections on Poetry of the Present
I’ve been privileged by being invited to offer quarterly poetry offerings through Eremos this year. Our theme, Poetry of the Present [...]
Moving with Wonder
Like children experiencing with wonder what's before them, we too can move through these spring days allowing and delighting in the "new" [...]
Open To The Unexpected
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 [...]
A Spring to Savor
Like savoring a delicious meal, I find myself enjoying the gift of this spring in ways I never have before.
Is It Time to Wonder?
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 [...]
Moving Slowly
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 [...]
Full of Divinity…
As Austin, the state of Texas, and much of the country deal with unprecedented winter weather, the quote above gives me comfort.
It’s About the Love
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 [...]
Move the Higher Ground
The tension and divisiveness in our country hit us like a tsunami after the attack on the capitol. Even with the inauguration of [...]
Healing Trauma
"A deeply distressing or disturbing experience." By that definition of trauma (Dictionary.com), we can assume all of us have experienced [...]
Wisdom Found
I received the most delightful surprise for Christmas: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Disguised as a [...]
The In-Between Time
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 [...]
Grown-up Christmas Wishes
Together, may our wishes for peace, love, joy, a safe and secure home, vibrant good health, prosperity, work that nourishes the soul, and a [...]
Everything Belongs: A Reflection On 2020
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 [...]
The Missing Year
Missing community, we gathered through Zoom and waved to neighbors. Missing intimate connections, we luxuriated in long phone calls with [...]
Advent: The End or the Beginning?
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 [...]
Intransigent Hope
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 [...]
Creative Expression for Healing the Spirit
Whatever your faith tradition, navigating this holiday season might feel like moving through an obstacle course. Opportunities for [...]
Bound By Love
“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
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 [...]
My Beloved Ash
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 [...]
Pause to Wonder
What if what is real is beyond what our physical senses can experience? What if there are possibilities and potentials for a joyful future [...]
Shared Roots Live Longer
Eremos began 2020 with the theme: Interspirituality and Compassion for Self, Others, and Earth and Mark Nepo's words "Shared roots live [...]
Take Good Care
Your light in this world matters. Every prayer offered, vision held for a better world, and kindness extended to another makes a difference.
Make a plan
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back…always ineffectiveness.” – W. H. Murray Have you [...]
Harmony and Balance on the Autumnal Equinox
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 [...]
Pushing Away the Fog with Everyday Beauty
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 [...]
Bravery and Openness
There is something different about the movement in 2020 to address the systemic racial injustice in our country. You can feel the focus, [...]
Sanctuary of the Heart
John O'Donohue reminds me that this beautiful place of healing stillness can be found within the heart simply by placing our attention [...]
Sitting with God
An excerpt from Rich Lewis’ new book, Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer I cannot imagine a better [...]
It Echoes All Over the World
” 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 [...]
A New Set of Eyes Reflection
"To awaken is not about staying in the same place and seeing, from there, new vistas. Nor is it about having enlightened insights or [...]
Just wait…
“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 [...]
Words to Live By
In his program this past Sunday, Rabbi Rami Shapiro invited us into the practice of Passage Meditation. He shared that memorizing sacred [...]
Being with The Divine
How do we get through the relentless challenges of COVID-19 and the ugliness the chaos of this time is revealing in our world?
Maintaining Hope
"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
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 [...]
Where There Is Light, There Must Be Shadow
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 [...]
The Three Words that Free Us
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
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 [...]
A Virtual Holy Week
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 [...]
The Great Web of Contemplation
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 [...]
Something other than fear…
We will get through this particular passage. Panic is not needed. Instead, it is time for a calm head and a warm heart.
The power of love
Earlier this month, fifteen women gathered at the Cedarbrake retreat center in Belton, Texas. For several days, we sought silence, [...]
Interspiritual Beginnings
Since last fall, excitement has been building for our 2020 program year featuring the theme of INTERSPIRITUALITY AND COMPASSION FOR SELF, [...]
Seasonal Rhythm
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 [...]
Step into the silence
This past weekend, fourteen women gathered at Cedarbrake Retreat Center in Belton for an Eremos Retreat. Each of us came with all the [...]
Choose Love
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 [...]
Tidying Up is a Contemplative Practice
Humans collect things; it’s in our nature. Beautiful things, useful things, practical things, and things we might possibly use in the [...]
What is Summer for You?
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 [...]
God is Reaching Out for You.
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 [...]
Exploring Epiphany Through Poetry
Guest Reflection by John Fox (excerpt from letter posted on poeticmedicine.org, with permission) Dear Friends in Poetry, I make deep claims [...]
Into the Pain…
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 [...]
Spring is Here!
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 [...]
Be open and listen.
February can sometimes seem like the longest month. Even though there are only 28 days in the month, the transition from January’s stark [...]
Advent to Christmas Joy
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. [...]
Four-Legged Wisdom
As mid-term elections approach, anxiety levels are increasing for so many. Natural disasters like Hurricane Florence and angry words [...]
Contemplative Life
Some define contemplative living as leading a less busy, more quiet life or engaging in certain practices such as meditation, centering [...]
Ever Present
This past Tuesday, I (Dianna) met with our long-time volunteer, Nancy Jewett, to begin sorting through the many quotes or writings we have [...]
Moving into the Future with Eremos
Eremos has been a busy hive of activity this past week. The weekend was full, with Paula Loring’s Journaling Grief workshop and the [...]
Growing Up
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 [...]
Dancing Through Loss Into Life
In memory of the recent passing of our Spiritual Amma, Jean Springer, we are re-posting her 2017 Good Friday and Easter blog posts. [...]
A Love Letter from Jean
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 Door to 2018 Has Opened!
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 Watch
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. [...]
November’s Wisdom
We slipped into November so quietly. The Oak Trees have dropped their acorns, the days of light have become shorter, nights have become [...]
We Are One
October has always seemed like the beginning of the holidays, with children running around the neighborhood looking for a treat or offering [...]
Is It Mine To Do?
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 [...]
Your Life Is Your Practice
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
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable [...]
Father’s Day
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 [...]
It’s a Miracle!
“Nobody could love me like Tom does” was a remark that set me to reflecting on the miracle of marriage.
Memorial Day
In some cultures, placing flowers on the graves of relatives who have died is still part of ‘Memorial Day’. They remember, give thanks and [...]
Dancing Through Loss Into Life
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: [...]
A Sacred Place
“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 [...]
What Does Love Look Like?
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 [...]
Welcome to 2017
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 [...]
Will You Hold the Darkness?
“Will you hold the darkness with me this Advent?” was the question I posed to the members of Eremos’ monthly contemplative groups. [...]
I Believe We Can Make A Difference!
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 [...]
Finding A New Way
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 [...]
Looking with Compassion On This World
Horrendous floods, devastating tornados, blistering fires, violent earthquakes – is Mother Nature raging at all the abuse she has suffered [...]
Wisdom from a Maple Tree
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 [...]
We Hold These Truths…
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
“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 [...]
We Remember
Our cities and towns are filled with veterans who have served our country — many returning proud of their service, and many traumatized, [...]
Mother’s Day Cards
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 [...]
Easter Hope: Resurrection!
In his Easter message last year, Pope Francis lamented the suffering of people because of the conflicts currently making headlines and he [...]
Living Into The Heartbeat of Hope — My Journey to an Authentic Life
Guest Blog Post: John Fox, co-facilitator with Mirabai Starr of Eremos’ upcoming event: The Heartbeat of Hope: Life-Giving Nourishment in [...]
A Holy Week
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 [...]
The Next Chapter
Guest Post by Manning Wolfe Buckminster Fuller espoused the idea that a strong context is needed to foster lasting content. In other words, [...]
Love needs expression!
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 [...]
May your New Year Be a Song of Love!
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 [...]
Christmas 2015
“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 [...]
A Time of Thanksgiving
So many questions fill our minds and hearts as we anticipate this celebration of Thanksgiving Day. I have listened to radio hosts question [...]
To be Human is a Gift to be Honored
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 [...]
A Deeper Communion
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 [...]
Pain is a Path to Peace
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 [...]
Love who you are and do what you love
“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 [...]
A Different 4th of July
Flags are waving in the breeze as people begin preparing for 4th of July celebrations. Are they a reminder of the past struggles against [...]
Love Does That!
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 [...]
In the Silence
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 [...]
Sustainable Positive Change
Guest Blog Post from Andrew Harvey As the world plunges into deeper chaos, even the hardiest of souls can experience despair and lose hope [...]
Sacred Activism: A Circle of Contemplation and Action, of Hope and Love
“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 [...]
Happy New Year!
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 [...]
It’s Christmas!
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 [...]
A Thanksgiving Blessing
This blessing expresses our deep wish for each of you this wonderful Thanksgiving Season. Whether you are with friends, family or in the [...]
Present to the Presence
For Dia de los Muertos we sat enfolded in profound silence. Pictures of friends and family who have died filled the alter reminding us [...]
A Time of Loss
“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 [...]
Summertime
“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 [...]
I light a candle…
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.” [...]
My Beloved
In his beautiful poem ‘Spiritual Canticle’ John of the Cross (16th century mystic) wrote in stanza 13 My Beloved, the mountains The [...]
“Jesus breathed on the disciples…”
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 [...]
Freedom is not Free
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 [...]
Behold the Quiet Light
“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 [...]
A Light through the Darkness
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 [...]
Restless Spirit
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 [...]
An Invitation to Lent
In an amazing poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, “Interrelationship,” he speaks of the depth of relationship we are called to. [...]
The Month of Love
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 [...]
Welcome to 2014
“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 [...]
Joy to the World!
“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 [...]
Thanksgiving
We have come so far from that first ‘Thanksgiving Day’. Inspired by the fruits of the earth, people gathered in gratitude as they [...]
Life and Death are One
November is a month of many different moments and movements. I found myself pondering death and recalled the often quoted: ‘A seed must die [...]
From Retreat to a Sabbath Day
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
“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’s Gift
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 [...]
July’s Declaration of Interdependence
One of the traditions I have each July 4th is to actually read the Declaration of Independence. It seems each year something different [...]
Lessons Learned
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 [...]
A walk to Emmaus
“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, [...]
It is Easter
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 [...]
What can I do for Lent?
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 [...]
To see a child
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 a threshold
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 [...]
It is Christmas!
Homes are beautifully lit, candles fill the darkness with their gentle flame, people reach out to one another as a testimony to the Love [...]
Advent Reflection
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 [...]
A Contemplative Morning
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 [...]
A Gaze of Love
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 [...]
Transitions
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 [...]
Contemplation? How do we talk about that?
I was asked today, “How does one talk about contemplation? It is so hard to explain–especially for people who have no [...]
You know me!
Visiting a local nursing home facility yesterday, I smiled at one of the residents, greeted her and touched her shoulder gently. She [...]
“I will speak to her heart”
One of the passages from the Hebrew Scriptures that touches me deeply each time I read it comes from the Prophet Hosea Chapter 2: [...]
Eremos has new Executive Director
It is with great pleasure that we announce our new Executive Director, Dianna Amorde. We are confident that Dianna possesses the qualities [...]
Mother’s Day Blessings
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?
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 [...]
The Lord is truly risen, alleluia
All around the world, Christian people have gathered shouting the Easter proclamation: The Lord is truly risen, alleluia In a world so [...]
Through Good Friday into Holy Saturday
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 [...]
Passion Sunday reflection
Like so many people today, sitting in church for our Passion Sunday service, I was struck by the utter fidelity of Jesus in the face of [...]
A thought for Lent
In group spiritual direction at the seminary today a student proclaimed: “I heard God’s voice loudly in class today. BE a [...]
Follow Your Star
The journey into a new year seems to hold tension for so many people. There are high expectations that I will be different or my life [...]
The Third Week of Advent Matthew 11:2-6
“What did you go out into the desert to see?’ Jesus asked. I, too, wondered what I was seeking this Advent. I know I felt inspired to [...]
“Console my people, console them says the Lord”
As we enter the second week of Advent, the words of the Prophet Isaiah echo within the Eremos community. “I am so torn with the sight [...]
Advent’s Invitation
The stores have already prepared for the season of Christmas. I can only imagine the many hours that managers and staff have put into the [...]
We Give Thanks
So much has been happening within Eremos that gives me cause to pause and give thanks. We have just completed our first workshop series for [...]
The Gift of Labor
I have to smile at the celebration of labor. For most of us it is a day without focus on the work we typically do. It is a day of […]
Through the Storms of Life
In the Gospel according to Matthew, there is an amazing story of the disciples in a storm. They see Jesus coming to them, but do not [...]
A Summer Oasis
Four hours of total relaxation in the beautiful water garden of Betsy and Frank Aylin’s home. I don’t recall the last time I was so [...]
Contemplating Deeper Questions
Over these past days, I have been confronted by the stories of individuals being escorted out of the workplace because their positions were [...]
Did you know….?
…Marie Angele facilitated a creative workshop on the Mandala? …14 women journeyed to Cedarbrake Renewal Center in Belton for a [...]
Breathing In and Breathing Out
I sat in a room at Christopher House. The air was cold, the room was silent and a man seemed peaceful as he breathed in and out. He had [...]
Quinceanera
Eremos is 15 years old! We are fifteen years in the emerging of a contemplative space within Austin. Some of you here were part of Eremos [...]
A Mother’s Day
It was late at night. I sat in ICU waiting room while the nurses worked on a precious woman whom I was visiting. I was there waiting [...]
It’s Easter!
The trumpet-shave sounded, the bells have resounded, songs have been sung and all around people have felt joy, peace and blessing. It is [...]
This Is Truly A ‘Holy Week’
Our visiting priest commented on Sunday “I will be in Dallas for the marathon’. People chuckled knowing that he was talking about the [...]
Having No Limits
Commenting on the biblical story of Adam and Eve and God’s invitation to have the fruit from every tree except one, John Kavanaugh writes [...]
Lent is once again enfolding us
Once again, as I anticipate six weeks of Lent, I hear the Prophet Joel cry out on God’s behalf: ‘come back to me with all your [...]
“Let My People Go”
As I ponder the events of this past month, I hear the words of Scripture proclaimed anew: “I have seen the miserable state of my people and [...]
How Does A Touched Heart Pray?
“How does a touched heart pray?” is a question posed by Macrina Wiederkehr. Life touches us every moment of the day. Sometimes we are fully [...]
We are on the threshold of something new!
I had a great chuckle the other morning when as I awoke from a dream, I heard myself proclaiming the words: ‘We are on the threshold of [...]
It is Christmas!
“You are my Son, this day have I begotten you” PS 2:7 It is Christmas! I am in awe at the event we celebrate today: Christmas is here! God [...]
It’s about Presence
One of the purposes of Eremos is to invite people to step back from the busyness of life and behold the Source of life. In years past, I [...]
An Advent Reflection
This year, our Advent has been one of focusing on peace. With all that people have experienced this year in terms of wars and job [...]
Happy Thanksgiving!
There are so many moments for giving thanks this year. We have been blessed beyond measure with the support of the people who have shared [...]
We speak what we know and witness to what we have seen.
There is a saying: ‘when the student is ready the teacher will come’. And over this past weekend, I have discovered another side of this [...]
There Are Angels in Our Midst
Recently I was talking with a friend who challenged my identity, sense direction and questioned my very purpose in life (at least that was [...]
I Just Don’t Feel Inspired
When asked for at least the second time ‘Do you have your web update ready?’ I responded ‘No, I just don’t feel inspired to write [...]
Wisdom’s Presence in Our Lives
One gift I pray for each day is the gift of Wisdom – that overflow of Love through which I become open to the Spirit within all life. It is [...]
Summertime Reflection
In a recent gathering of the women’s group ‘Sisters of Diversity’ we took time to contemplate our childhood memories of summer. For most of [...]
It’s Memorial Day
As a child growing up in a small town in Maine, Memorial Day was a special event. Our neighboring town held a parade with soldiers in full [...]
Why Diminishment?
What is there about diminishment that feels so humiliating? I hear stories each week of people who have lost jobs and homes, whose grown [...]
We Honor Earth – Honoring our Earth
We join with the Earth and with each other. To bring new life to the land To restore the waters To refresh the air We join with the Earth [...]
We, too, Are Raised Up
In a recent group spiritual direction session with seminarians, a line from scripture captured my attention. “Jesus was raised from the [...]
And so the journey to Jerusalem begins.
Scripture says that ‘Jesus set his face resolutely toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). I have been so aware of people’s journeys these days of [...]
I want to go deeper
I am both amazed and amused when I reflect on the number of individuals who have said “I want to go deeper” these past weeks. My amazement [...]
One with Haiti
The devastation in Haiti has impacted each of us and the whole world. We watch and wait to see if a miracle can take place in the midst [...]
A Christmas Blessing
Our Prayer for You from the Eremos Community May you daily open the gift of your life and be grateful for the hidden treasures it contains. [...]
October transition
Each of us at one time or another has wondered what happens when we die. Listening to people who engage that question, most say they are [...]
Shifting Sands
Years ago when we chose the name ‘Shifting Sands’ for our newsletter, someone asked me why we called it ‘Shifting [...]
Out of the Blue
One of the purpose statements is that we offer people an opportunity to step back from the busyness of life and contemplate the Source of [...]
Bearing the Beams of Love
There is a mystical line from William Blake that Thomas Merton quotes ‘we are put on earth for a little space that we may learn to bear the [...]
I am so busy!
One of the phrases I keep hearing from people (myself included) is: I am so busy! I am not sure what this actually means. Is it that we [...]
A Blessing from John O’Donohue
In his Blessing called Presence, John O’Donohue prayed these words: “May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the [...]
He is Risen
Today the Christian church proclaims to the world “He is Risen Alleluia!” What joy floods our minds and hearts as we celebrate [...]
Life’s Curve Balls
Life has a way of serving us curve balls – things come at us in unexpected ways. For many of us these events or circumstances seem [...]
Holding in Prayer
“I am so frightened!” kept coming from the woman across the hall from me. She was confused, alone, and confined to her hospital [...]
This is the day
There is such hope and joy in the air these days. Washington DC is filled with people who want to be ‘there’ for this historic moment for [...]
New Year Blessings
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I find my mind reflecting on the similarity between the birth of a new year and that of a [...]
Christmas Note
Dear One, I can think of no better greeting for Christmas than the blessing of Joyce Rupp as so it is also my blessing for you this year. A [...]
An Advent Note from Jean
The stores are dressed for Christmas shopping hoping to attract the cash flow they need to stay open during this financial crunch. It is [...]