Our newsletter serves several purposes, both information and inspiration. It serves to knit our community together as we hear about and value all the beautiful and inspirational interactions and gatherings that are taking place – that you would never guess about! It is so easy for us to exist as isolated pockets in many places. But our grass roots are strong, and vigorous. And we also have a dynamic and dedicated leadership whose recent meeting is described in this Newsletter. In a world in turmoil and torn apart we are witnessing to a healing pathway…
This newsletter you are receiving at the end of 2025 is actually being put together earlier in the Season of Creation in 2025. This ran from 1 September until the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi on October the 4th. Two events in our community marked this season.
Of course in all seasons when we open our hearts to the silent presence of our creator within us, we cannot help finding this beauty and wonder reflected all around us. We are very close to this wonder. ‘The earth is full of the glory of the Lord as the waters filled the sea’, wrote the prophet Isaiah.
Our second theme is Gatherings. More and more in our community we are finding different ways of giving deep contemplative expression to inner stillness: walking in nature, walking the labyrinth, walking (kinhin) between two periods of meditation, Qi Gong or Tai Chi or yoga practice… inner stillness expressed in outer bodily presence.
Or more simply, spending time in nature, with a poem, a picture, ‘delicious smelling windfall quinces’, enjoying the garden. Or going for a longer walk, resting within while becoming more present to all that surrounds us. We are finding a wider canvas on which to come together as groups to see and reflect… We enjoy contemplative community in different ways.
Shelagh Layet