Retreat

Liquid Faith and Identity

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Gladstone's Library

I’ve just returned from three wonderful days at Gladstone’s Library in North Wales spent in the great company of people with fascinating spiritual journeys and interesting conversations to share. The course looked at religious bi-identity and the fluidity of our faith experiences and we were a very diverse bunch with much to compare and contrast about our respective journeys so far.

The course was led by Ian Bradley of St Andrews University who has recently written a book on the theme of Water – including the spiritual properties and metaphors it evokes – and by Elizabeth Ursic of Mesa Community College and the Arizona InterFaith Movement who focused on identities, visual representation and cultural and religious change.

Statue of Sophia, Gladstone's Library

As so often on these kinds of event, there was a seamless flow of conversation from the formal sessions into the discussions around the dinner table. Gladstone’s is a brilliant place for meeting with interesting folk and having the chance to engage in proper conversations. I can’t wait to return. It helps that there is a fantastic library of spiritual and religious texts (among others) and that the accommodation is comfortable and food so delicious. A great, welcoming, place!

Hildegard via Film and Tabor

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“Love abounds in all things,
excels from the depths to beyond the stars,
is lovingly disposed to all things.
She has given the king on high
the kiss of peace.”
– Hildegard, Caritas Abundat

After my Meister Eckhart retreat I decided to continue with the German mystic theme and spent some time in the company of Hildegard of Bingen. I finally caught up with 2009’s biographical film “Vision: Aus dem Leben der Hildegard von Bingen” which has a fine performance from Barbara Sukowa in a rather conventional (awful pun!) telling of Hildegard’s life from director Margarethe von Trotta.

Vision 2009

The film was a useful introduction prior to a study day at Tabor Carmelite Retreat House in Preston on Hildegard. This was led by Fr Michael Miners OCDS and was a much more satisfying experience. There was useful biographical material, an overview of Hildegard’s visions and plenty of opportunity to consider her music, medical and visual legacy. Quite a lot was packed in to the day but we still had time for interesting conversations and quiet reflection in some of Tabor’s lovely spaces. It’s hard to believe you’re in Preston…

Hildegard's Trinity

Hildegard’s Trinity: “And so Eternity is called the Father, the Word is called the Son and the breath that connects these two is called the Holy Spirit; just as God marked it in man in whom there are body, soul and rationality.”