Save the date for Spirituality in the 21st Century April 12–13, 2019, with Charles Eisenstein (author of The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible and gift economy advocate) and Bayo Akomolafe (author of These Wilds Beyond Our Fences and radical paradigm shift activist).
Recap of 2018 Spirituality in the 21st Century
Chaos, Consciousness, Connection, All-in-All: four marks of spirituality in a quantum universe! The journey of our evolving universe has much to teach us about our own spiritual journey. In the kaleidoscope of perception, our shifting perspectives allow us to co-create life’s meaning and significance with greater awareness of the whole and evolving spiritual activity. Self-described “metaphorical theologian” M.T. Winter and musician-of-the-Earth Sara Thomsen welcomed almost two hundred guests to Prairiewoods’ annual Spirituality in the 21st Century event with probing reflections, challenging ideas, lots of laughter, and soulful music to console and inspire us. The colors of hundreds of hand-painted mandala stones created by volunteers; enlarged, moving kaleidoscope images; and the rousing choruses of Sara’s captivating songs filled our guests with inspiration and food for thought. Abundant energy flowed through it all, making the experience truly transformative and unforgettable. Here is an excerpt from the opening reflection from M.T.’s book Paradoxology, which was recited by seven Prairiewoods friends to the resplendent accompaniment of Kathy Broghammer’s singing bowls:
In the beginning,
Whenever that was:
A flaring forth,
Whatever that means:
Out of the depths and into light
ENERGY
Erupting
Exploding
Expelling
ENERGY
Expanding, emerging, evolving
As cosmic entities evolved
As everything on planet Earth has evolved
As you and I even now are evolving
ENERGY
Permeating, penetrating, predicating
The Divine Milieu
DIVINITY
Spilling over into
Visibility and viability
Photons of light
Particle and wave
Eternally becoming
Whatever was, is, will be
Matrix of reality
In Whom we live
In Whom we move
In Whom we have our being
The program this year was my first and so fulfilling and enlightening, I hope to attend again. What is the theme for next year’s with Sr.Miriam Therese? Thank you for whatever info you can share with me.
Janet M. Dubec ofs
Hi, Sister Janet. Thanks for attending and for your kind words! We are still working with Sr. Miriam Therese Winter to determine a theme or subject matter. As soon as we know more, we will post it here!
Hi, S. Janet! S. Miriam Therese Winter will be talking about themes introduced in her book, “Paradoxology,” her ground-breaking contribution about the emergence of the New Universe story and its effects on spirituality. She is also a celebrated liturgical musician, well known for songs like “Joy is Like the Rain.” Along with musician Sara Thomsen (who was at this year’s gathering), S. Miriam Therese will be talking about how the art of creating music feeds the spiritual imagination and reflects the dynamism of the emergent universe. I hope it will be both a challenging and inspiring event!