The Anchorage- A Sanctuary of Wisdom and Spirituality.

27/06/2025

Happy feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

A reflection from Celtic spirituality invites us into the sacredness of the heartbeat of our God and our world today...

We awaken to a world that is Sacred.
We are immersed in the Sacred.
A moment of stillness, a quiet pause,
and we sense the Presence of the Sacred,
an energy alive and pulsing
at the heart of every being,
at the heart of all creation.

We can learn to lean into that Presence,
to “listen for the Heartbeat of God.”*
We’re led to listen deeply then
for the heartbeat of the Sacred
—within ourselves, within one another,
within the body of Earth,
that one heartbeat making all of us ONE.

We honour that Sacred within ourselves, within one another,
within our Holy Earth –“Namaste”.
We become bearers of the Holy to the world.

~ Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality by J. Philip Newell

22/06/2025

As the world watches and waits to better understand the United States' decision to launch an attack on Iran this weekend, let us unite in prayer—asking for a deep outpouring of wisdom and sound judgment for all those whose choices in the coming days and weeks will carry global consequences.

These events unfold even as the Christian community marks the Feast of Corpus Christi—a time when we reflect on the sacredness of life and the presence of Christ among us. Let us take a moment to recognize and feel anew our deep hunger and thirst for justice, peace, and dignity for all people across this fragile planet.

In this moment of uncertainty and sorrow, may we become a living eucharist—offering our lives, voices, and actions in service of the building of God’s reign. Let us continue to foster solidarity wherever we can: by building relationships, embracing diversity, speaking out together, and committing ourselves to the transformative power of nonviolence.

22/06/2025

15/06/2025

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity...a Happy Feast Day to all!

This Day I bind around me
the power of the Sacred Three:
the hand to hold,
the heart to love,
the eye to see,
the presence of the Trinity.

I wrap around my mortal frame
the power of the Creator's name:
the Father's might, his holy arm,
to shield this day and keep from harm.

I cover myself from above
with the great Redeemer's love.
The Son's bright light to shine on me,
to protect this day, to eternity.

I pull around me with morning light
the knowledge of the Spirit's sight.
The strengthener's eye to keep guard,
covering my path when it is hard.

This day I bind around me
the power of the Sacred Three. Amen.
~ from Tides and Seasons by David Adam

10/06/2025

As we begin our day of sowing, loving, creating and praising, Rumi invites us to be strong, take heart and bow down often.

"Every tree, every growing thing
as it grows, affirms one truth:
you harvest what you sow.
With life as fleeting as half-drawn breath,
you have no need to plant anything but love.
All that you can see has its roots in the unseen.
Forms change; essence remains.
Every sight will vanish, however gorgeous.
Every word will fade, however sweet.
But be strong of heart!
Where they come from is everlasting.
And renewing.
If God spoke and said, ‘Rumi, give due to all that has brought you to my arms’, there would not be a single thought, feeling or action that would not give me reason to bow down.”
~Rumi

07/06/2025

Pentecost Novena - Day 9

We are used to seeing the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove but for the early Celtic Christians, a wild goose made far more sense!

"Celtic Christians often forged their symbols out of the ordinary, daily things of the earth that they saw in front of them. For them, the untamed, uncontrollable, erratic nature of the Wild Goose more closely characterised the movement of the Spirit than did a peaceful, tranquil Dove. A Wild Goose is always on the move, always doing unexpected things; it is loud, passionate, sometimes frightening, and certainly unsettling. This has been more like my experience of the Spirit than the peaceful, tranquil Dove.

This story encourages us to expect that God will do the unexpected. It reminds us of the surprise, bewilderment, and astonishment that rattles our bones when the Spirit of God has descended upon us. And I love the way the Wild Goose image of the Spirit of God draws us into community and relationship. By creating a holy mess of confusion, the Spirit leaves us with two choices: give up and remain confused, or work together to find meaning."
Text from Sacred Journeys by Hilary Ann Golden

Come Holy Spirit, lead us on a wild goose chase into the heart of God!

31/05/2025

"The future does have a name, and its name is hope." -Pope Francis
🎨 Artwork by: Sister Mary Southard | Tree of Hope for a Broken World

31/05/2025

Today, we celebrate the joyful moment when Mary—carrying Jesus in her womb—visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant. On Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth’s baby (the future John the Baptist) leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaiming: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" (Luke 1:42)

This sacred encounter reminds us that even the smallest acts of love can bring Christ’s light to others. ❤️🙏

🎨 The Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, by Jen Norton Art Studio.

25/05/2025

6th Sunday of Easter

Sr Hildegard invites us to reflect on three promises from Jesus in today's Gospel:

"This text is part of the Last Supper discourses in John’s Gospel. It is as if Jesus has to pack in all he can because he will go from here, with his disciples, across the Kedron Valley, to the Garden of Gethsemane.

The first part of this text is about loyalty and love: “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them and we shall come to them and make our home with them.

The second part of the text is the promise of the Holy Spirit, - that the Spirit will teach us everything and open out our understanding of the Sacred Scriptures.

The third part is the promise of Peace, the peace of Christ which can’t be gained by any other means. “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Jesus is leaving his disciples with words of encouragement and a promise of peace."

Love, Spirit and Peace...three promises to reflect on as a new week unfolds for us.