Archive - 2010 - Books and Heroes

Othona is a community near Burton Bradstock that is founded on the principle ‘Rooted in the Christian heritage, open to the widening future’.  It is the place I go for refreshment, for inspiration, for retreat.  It offers:

An Experience of Community to carry home as a practical blessing in everyday life.
Retreats & Breaks because we all need refreshment for body, mind & sprit.
Workshop Weekends with plenty to get hands & eyes active, minds alert, hearts open.
Inner Work from mindfulness & meditation to understanding personality types.
New Light on Old Truths since faith & wisdom traditions are always facing new challenges.
Family Holidays where fun meets learning & we all build community together.
Out & About in beautiful West Dorset with outings, walks & wildlife galore.

Visit www.othona-bb.org.uk

Another hero of mine is Tess Ward.  Tess poetically and imaginatively holds the interface between our Christian and pre-Christian heritage, writing and leading prayers, liturgies and celebrations that link us with an earthy spirituality.  As a modern-day envoy of the Celtic tradition, she honours the influence of seasons, of the natural world, of our bodies and within them all the immanence of God. 

Her book is both fascinating and beautiful.  Each month has an introduction that describes the historical and current ways we celebrate the festivals that fall at that time of year.  There are then poetic prayers and reflections for each day of the week.  It is lovely to use yourself, or as part of a group.

The Celtic wheel of the Year: Celtic & Christian Seasonal Prayers
by Tess Ward,  published by O Books, 2007.

This book is now well-known and loved but if you haven’t read it yet I do recommend it.  It is her journey from a painful divorce to finding healing through pleasure and food in Italy, through the discipline of an Ashram in India, and through love in Indonesia.  I like the way it is written – personal, light and funny yet informative and facing hard issues head on. 

See also her follow-up book ‘Commitment’ which has a wealth of interesting material on marriage.