A little About Pilgrim on HolyGround

You would like to learn a little bit more about me .. ah yes,  well , you will likely find me somewhere where the mountains meet the sea. 

Up high the majesty of creation wrapped itself around me like nothing else cab. Facing the wind, the vastness, the detail of all this beauty regardless of season, it all seems to have a way of reaching deep under my skin, removing all pretence, grounding me into what is true for me right now. All if HIS world is Holy Ground to me. Up high I just remember it best.

About What you will find here:

A gathering of faith based research, part pilgrimage travel journal, part resource library with a generous helping of personal bible journaling and note booking examples. 

About Why you will find it here:

For over 25 years, since the birth of my daughter,  I have been on a deeply contemplative journey , figuring out what it means for me to be a mother, a wife , whilst also remaining true to my artistic roots.

Discerning the meaning of life lived in truth, with kindness and perhaps a quiet inner wisdom that started slowly developing over many years of asking many prayerful questions. 

But this site is not really about me, it is about the archetypal woman who finds herself on a contemplative prayer journey, perhaps walking a physical pilgrimage road, perhaps traversing an inner one or even drawn to a virtual pilgrim's way path. 

There are many routes, many crossroads, many distinctly different paths and wonderfully entwined convergences that make up women's ways of  practicing walking in the known presence of GOD. 

About the beginnings

During my North Wales camino pilgrimage toward the Holy island of Bardsey , I stood where the mountains meet the sea , with the cold westerly wind making my cheeks glow.

Gazing across the almost 360 degree view I felt this inner pull , a gentle nudge from GOD as it were, planting the seed of an idea that perhaps my non-traditional way of doing a bible study, specifically an online women's bible study whilst on pilgrimage might be useful to other women finding themselves journeying as a contemplative pilgrim.

That little seed took hold and gently flourished into an idea that began with asking myself some direct questions, seeking to find out what exactly might be useful about my way.

I am a very private , contemplative , perhaps even a little hermit like person, so this is not an easy road for me to take. There likely won't be many selfie photoshoot style images here, or grand revelations, but rather a quiet look at the small details, the often overlooked, the shapes and symbols of my story.

To begin with I am sure there will be many more questions than answers  but as I am recording, sharing and continuing my contemplative prayer practice I kindly welcome you to rest a while here if my words resonate with you. 

About my Bible Studies 

I am a very visual learner and bible journaling , well it's really more often journaling about bible verses, coupled with lectio divina moving into visio divina are the mainstays of my way. 

But for me it evolves organically as I am walking, sometimes on an ordinary day, sometimes on a pilgrimage road. 
Processing my contemplative prayer practice with visual record keeping , collage and note booking works really well for me. 

The project of documenting my particular way of doing online bible studies for women's centred focus will be my web journey here, GOD willing.

About my influences

There have been many wise wisdom teachers crossing my path over 25 years of active contemplative prayer practice, but as I am sure for many of us women, there will be a core that we return to again and again. Those voices whose teachings hold our hand through many a season.

Saint Teresa of Avila's writings, particularly her ideas around the " Interior castle" continue to give me much food for contemplation. I still remember the first time reading the passionate accounts of Saint Julian of Norwich and finding myself buzzing with resonance.   I find Ignatius of Loyola's discernment exercises and  "pray as you go " imaginative prayer helpful for visualising and staying firmly facing GOD. These would be rooted in the catholic tradition .

Cynthia Bourgeault is a Christian Episcopal priest and her work on bringing the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, as well as the writings on early christianity, the Gospel of Phillip , the Wisdom Jesus, the Gospel of Thomas back into consideration offers me much inner room to ponder. Rumi's Sufi way of poetically engaging with contemplative prayer ways of expression often help me to get out of my head into a more " feeling" space

I welcome the christian mystic wisdom traditions, appreciate the wise words of Thomas Merton, Richard Rohr,the writer of The Cloud of Unknowing  honorary the simple path Brother Lawrence walked, find much solace and fruit for contemplation in many of thoughtful bible translation. For study I look to the ancient Hebrew word studies that offer such multilayered ways of offering doorways into meaning.  

Sister Wendy's grand tour of Europe , her no-nonsense yet deeply spiritual way of looking at art is a delight to me.

Perhaps, for now, that is enough about me. Thank you for sharing this space with me and walking for a moment in my footsteps

With bright blessings extended towards each and every other woman passing by here, perhaps on her way to taking her own next contemplative prayer step.