2022
Weekly Meditation on Mondays with Mandy
A monthly retreat day with Linda
A monthly Wisdom Circle with David.
Please see the Events page for further details
From Linda
Warm greetings to all,
This year we will have a somewhat delayed start to our Open Sanctuary program however it promises to be a rich year in terms of offerings. We hope you will join us.
In conversation recently with a young woman who began university in the city as the pandemic hit, she spoke of how tough it is to make decisions for the immediate future when everything seems so uncertain. Back at home now she longs for the bigger world and solid ground from which to make life choices. And whether the decisions we need to make are significant or as seemingly simple as whether to shop in the supermarket or not they are consequential. We are in need of the solid ground of wisdom perhaps more than ever in these times. At Open Sanctuary this year David Oliphant will be offering more of the conversational gatherings that he held last year. ‘Circle of Wisdom’ will be another wonderful opportunity about which he will be in touch soon. Meditation is also a way of becoming more grounded in wisdom. Mandy Wheatley will continue Monday Meditation each week this year. And the practice of silence will be encouraged through our monthly Dadirri days that I will lead on 4th Fridays. A ‘retreat in daily life’ may also be offered later in the year. And we may also run a weekly group looking at the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, using both historical criticism and action methods to help bring these foundational texts to new life.
Wisdom is just one of the virtues or qualities that we need in these times. At Open Sanctuary we believe a contemplative life will enable us to live through times of crisis in a creative way. Nevertheless, the kind of ‘languishing’ that was characteristic of 2021 is understandable. I am writing a short piece on the state of ‘acedia’ that you may like to explore on the OS blog site in coming days. We need to be mindful that we do not fall into acedia but rather that we gently keep our attention in the present. Our spiritual practice particularly when practiced within a community may enable us.
On another note, as so many organisations and businesses have been so we at OS have been hit by the pandemics financial impact. We have some minor work left on the new self-composting toilet however it is substantially completed and will soon be open! With so much delicious rain the road has needed work again and of course the grass grows as we look at it! Together with the ongoing costs of insurance and smaller maintenance work all of this has made a dent in the meagre bank balance. So, if you are able to contribute anything at all that would be a great help. And thank you so very much to all who have and will continue to contribute to the life of Open Sanctuary. We are so grateful. You can find details for below. In the meantime we wait with anticipation to hear whether we have received a grant for a new roof.
We look forward to seeing you at Open Sanctuary soon. Stay as well as you can and may the’ peace that passes understanding’ be with you.
With love,
Linda & The Team
Open Sanctuary, Commonwealth Bank Narooma, BSB 062652 Account 10094985