Oh, what an indepth experience I have been through during these last thirty-five days! And now we are entering what is called the 'Appropriation Days' when we take all of our experiences into prayer and small group sharing to further integrate the learnings for everyday life back home. The sixteen of us have grown so close to one another as we have eaten meals, shared the hallways and walked the land in silence. Now we are able to speak with each other in greater detail.
Artmaking and creativity have continued to lead the way for me in this process. The Ignatian Exercises have led me not to discern what to do in life because it is clear that I am an artist-priest, but HOW to be. This is important for all of us, but for me as a creative, contemplative soul I am keenly aware of how my daily life needs some reordering in order to live from that basis. The time with Jesus has led me to clarity around my personal vocation: To give myself to beauty and delight through creativity. I look forward to returning to St. Stephen's and begin prayerfully living into this deeper truth as I encourage others to find their authentic, God-given selves.
Here are some pictures of the land as spring gave way to summer in full bloom and intense heat! Also a bit of my artmaking.
Bob will come to pick me up on Thursday, June 11 and then we are off with Gwen Sears to Iona within a few days!
Much love and deep, abiding faith,
Hannah
Newly plowed field and mountain lupine/poppies growing in another field.
Beautiful poppy! So lovely and fragile.
A small 2" cross made of eggshell pieces that I painted/decorated. I made 15 of them, one for each classmate during third week of the Passion/Crucifixion of Jesus.
On left, a watercolor resist done of a stylized poppy. On right, Hilda sitting on the top of an altered book that I made during my time here...inside are painted/resist covered eggshells waiting to be turned into interesting creations.
Stylized poppies painted on eggshells collected from breakfast over weeks!
My classmates collected them, too, and I've painted about 60 of them. :)
A close up of some paper fabric made with items from the Guelph land. I've made each spiritual director a small gift using this fabric. Much fun!
