The Restory Retreat Centre

In May 2010, George and I attended a workshop led by Richard Rohr in Cape Town at the Schoenstatt Retreat and Training Centre . One afternoon, in our free time, we decided to visit the historic wine estate of Groot Constantia, which is within walking distance of the retreat centre. It was rather chilly with heavy clouds hanging low, but we donned our rain jackets and ignored the faint drizzle that had started to come down. I am so glad we did: We were due for a very special perfomance that we knew nothing of in advance, but wouldn't have missed for all the world if we did.  In the comments following George's post,   Whistle while you work ,   he reminded me of an Afrikaans piece I had written shortly after this very special encounter. It touches on what seems to be a golden rule: To whistle or sing heartily while working is not depended on the circumstances. But it greatly enhances the lives of all and sunder. I can only agree with my friend Elmi's comment: " Durin...

Contemplative Photograph by Maxine Evans On this spiritual journey, one becomes more accustomed to synchronicity. However, it doesn’t diminish the thrill every time it occurs.  On this very morning that Matilda posted Lessons in Sunbirdish (3) , I read this meditation by Richard Rohr, taken from his series on Following the mystics through the narrow gate. Seeing God in all things. We needed this affirmation this morning. We were talking about Matilda’s posts on the sunbirds and we were asking ourselves: “Aren’t we reading too much into this? Isn’t it merely a matter of wishful thinking?” Apparently we’re not seeing enough! Some Effects of Mystical (“Experiential”) Encounter After the first effects of enlargement, connection, or union, and some degree of emancipation, mystical experiences lead to a kind of foundational optimism . You would usually call it hope. You wonder where it comes from, especially in the middle of all the terrible things that are happen...

I am recounting my extraordinary experiences with sunbirds, which I have come to see as my personal harbingers of hope and divine support. Please read the previous two posts,  Lessons in Sunbirdish 1  and  Lessons in Sunbirdish 2   if you wish to get the bigger picture. In preparing to exhibit at the Grahamstown Fesitval in July last year, I made a sculpture depicting two hands from which a sunbird grows out of and which seems to be on the verge of taking flight. I wanted to show something of the artist's ability to create beauty and to allow it to venture into the world. It always feels like such a gamble to put one's work out on display and I had a hard time fighting my demons while working on the nine pieces that would make out our exhibition. Maybe it was because it would be the first time that my work would be on public display at a major national festival frequented by thousands of visitors. My inner artist was running scared. We wrote about our experie...

Paying attention requires no equipment, no special clothes, no greens fees or personal trainers... All you need is a body on this earth, willing to notice where it is, trusting that something as small as a hazelnut can become an altar in this world.                                                                                                    Barbara Brown Taylor

I found myself in a schoolroom  where I could not fail to see and hear things worth seeing and hearing - where I could not help getting my lesson - for my lesson came to me.                                                    Henry David Thoreau Did you know that a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance? I'm constantly surprised by this wonderful world we live in! Come to think of it, I assume a group of men is called a brilliance? George

L'Arbre de vie by Seraphine Louis Oil on Canvas, 1928 Much Madness is divinest Sense- To a discerning Eye - Much Sense - the starkest Madness - "Tis the Majority In this, as All, prevail - Assent - and you are sane - Demur - you're straightway dangerous- And handled with a Chain -                             - Emily Dickinson 1862 George's post Whistle while you work sparked some lively conversation and also got me thinking in top gear. It reminded me of a film we saw a while back and which made an indelible impression on me. That of the life of the French artist, Seraphine Louis. To draw you into the conversation that led to this post, please follow the link above that will also take you to the comments at the end of the post. An excerpt from Medicographia 103  explains her tragic life this way: "What a singular destiny that of Séraphine Louis. Born into a needy peasant com...