It’s almost Thanksgiving! In the midst of the challenges of our world, I hope you are finding a joyous path to giving thanks. All the world’s spiritual traditions teach us the fundamental practice of counting our blessings, and living in gratitude for the gift of our daily lives. Some days are easier than others, but always an invitation!
As we move towards Advent, I am grateful and excited to share with you my latest creation! As you may remember, last year, we at Abbey of the Arts published a beautiful book and CD entitled Birthing the Holy, exploring Mary in her many different facets. Now I have finally put the finishing touch on the Video Dance Collection to accompany these offerings! (See details below.)
Along these lines, I often find myself contemplating Mary in the season of Advent. What did it take for the young Mary to bring the holy to birth in a stable? And to commit her life to nurturing a whole new world order? What courage, stamina, and dynamic generosity! Valerie Kaur, renowned Civil Rights leader and spiritual visionary speaks about the moment within the birthing process called “transition.” She says this –
“Transition is both a noun and a verb. Transition is the fiery process that is required to move from one reality into another. To transition is to summon the courage to stay in the labors of love and justice, even when we want to give up. It requires us to draw upon collective wisdom to birth something new together. “
Can we call up collective wisdom to bring to birth something new together? My personal call is to continue dancing as a force of love, beauty and justice in our world, and I know you have your version of this call as well!
This Thanksgiving, I pray that each one of us can be filled up with the gifts of beloved family and community so that we can have the courage to bring God to birth, each in our unique ways in the world. Below are some opportunities for embodying this sacred call with me in the coming months. I give thanks for you, dear friends!
Birthing the Holy Prayer~Dance~Video Release Party!
On Zoom | Thursday, November 30th at 10am Pacific
Come one, come all! Join us at Abbey of the Arts for a Release Party celebrating our newest prayer-dance collection!
As the seasons turn toward the threshold of Advent, we enter the mystery of darkness as gestation time for the light within. The time is ripe for Mother Mary to lead us into the dance of prayer as a practice of birthing the holy in our lives and our world!
At this Zoom celebration, I’m excited to share my journey of creating these 12 dances to pray with Mary and the Sacred Feminine. Come learn a few gesture prayers and view some of our gorgeous movement meditations filmed in churches, oceansides, stables, and Ugandan hillsides.
Meet special guests Lorraine Bayes, Soyinka Rahim, & Eloisa Cardona who bring their gifts to our journey of creative midwifing.
The video collection will be available on Thinkific after our release party!
Save the Date! March 1-2 Seattle: Thea Bowman Musical
Speaking of courageous women who call us to action, I would like to introduce you to Sr. Thea Bowman! Sr. Thea was an amazingly dynamic Black Catholic nun who is now on her journey to sainthood.
To tell her story, I bring you my friend, ValLimar Jansen, who invited me to dance at Carnegie Hall in February of this year. Val is not only a gifted singer, but also a playwright with a call to create community through the arts. She has written this musical about Thea Bowman, and with the help of various communities, I’m arranging to bring the show to Seattle!
In the play, we follow Thea’s journey from Canton, Mississippi, to the all-white community of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, where she became a nun and eventually a world-renowned pioneer of intercultural awareness, unity and acceptance.
Val plays Sr. Thea, and the Musical includes 14 beloved Spirituals, four classic Gregorian Chants, with a talented cast bringing to life the story of Sr. Thea.
Tickets available in 2024!
For more information or to audition click here.
Also, if you feel called to join our team to help host the play in Seattle, I need lots of help! Please let me know! 🙂
Advent & Christmas Opportunities
Join Abbey of the Arts for our upcoming retreat Give Me a Word: An Advent and Christmas Retreat to Usher in a New Season of Life
December 3, 2023 -January 6, 2024
with Christine Valters Paintner and an awesome collection of guest teachers for the season!
Will you be in Seattle for Christmas? Come join us at St. Joseph Church for Mass on Christmas Eve … Enjoy the Gospel coming to life with Angels & Shepherds dancing their way to the manger! A joy to share!
St. Joseph Church | 4:00 December 24th Christmas Eve
732 18th Ave. E. Seattle, WA
Celebrating Those We Love
I’m still healing from my stem cell injection in my hips! So, I’m taking it a bit slow .. but finding gentle ways to celebrate life. Many of you have gotten to know my good friend, Lorraine Bayes (LorraineBow) who just turned 70 years old. We had such a joyous party to celebrate her child-like spirit! Just thought I’d share this sweet song (and rainbow dance) to cheer your heart.
Love and blessings for the journey!
Betsey
Betsey Beckman, MM
