Ellen Gabardi - Everyday Indwelling

Everyday Indwelling:

A Two-Week Individual Noticing Practice

and Communal Reflection Day

September 9 - September 23, 2022

Saturday, September 24, 2022

After the tumultuous experience of being hospitalized

in various mental institutions over four years,

Walter Anderson joined his wife and children

at his wife’s family home, Oldfields.

It is here that he began the healing process, and

his wife Sissy wrote that the artist

“. . . came back to the human race from that far-off journey. . .”

Whether we experience immense tumult or

whether we experience everyday trials and tribulations,

we can take a cue from Anderson’s story —

by noticing the healing power of home.

Beginning Friday, September 9 through Friday, September 23,

you will take one or more pictures each day --

of the inside of your utensil drawer, of your hairbrush,

of your dog's bowl, of the unused light bulbs in your laundry cabinet,

of your grandmother's perfume bottle,

of an opened packet of sweetener on the kitchen counter,

of a stack of folded towels, of a bag of marshmallows in your pantry,

of a puddle at the end of your driveway, of a bird’s nest blown to the ground,

of a sprig of fern growing from between two bricks …

the everyday items and everyday scenes you notice.

During this two-week Individual Practice of noticing,

you will receive guidance and inspiration via e-mail,

encouraging you to title your photos, and perhaps even reflect on your photos

by journaling, writing poetry, or creating visual art.

Before arriving for the Communal Reflection Day on Saturday, September 24,

you will be encouraged to print some of your photos

to bring with you, along with the titles and any reflections.

The schedule for the Communal Reflection Day looks like this:

9:15 -- Arrival at Walter Anderson Museum

9:30-10:45 -- Contemplative gathering

11:00 - 12:00 -- WAMA Tour focused on Return to Oldfields

12:00 - 1:30 -- Lunch on own

1:30 - 2:45 -- Contemplative gathering

3:00 - 4:00 — Simple art reflection

4:15 — Departure

Fee:  $XXX

To register, XXX

Registration closes Friday, September 2.

(Retreat requires minimum of five registered participants.

If five participants haven’t registered by that date,

the registered participants will be notified of cancellation on September 3.)

Our Guide:

Ellen Gabardi has been leading small contemplative groups for 30 years.

She completed a 2-year training in Leading Small Groups and Retreats

from Shalem, a contemplative institute in Washington DC.

She completed a 2-year training in Spiritual Direction

from The Center for Ministry at Millsaps College.

She also completed Education for Ministry

and Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

The Communal Reflection Day

will be held in the container of

The Declaration of Safety and Honoring (below).

As we come together, we acknowledge that we gather

in a place of safety, a place of honoring.

Whatever stories may be offered by any one of us

we will hold in a place of safety and honoring.

Whatever laughter and tears may be offered by any one of us

we will hold in a place of safety and honoring.

Whatever silence may be offered by any one of us

we will hold in a place of safety and honoring.

We do so because we are gathered here together

to discover and uncover and recover

bless’ed pieces of ourselves.

We do so because we are gathered here together to remember,

to re-member bless’ed pieces of ourselves.

And we do so in a safe and sacred community,

holding one another --

both when we are together and when we go our separate ways.

We are gathered in a safe and sacred space.

Amen.

By Ellen Gabardi

___

Everyday Indwelling:

A Two-Week Individual Noticing Practice

and Communal Reflection Day

September 9 - September 23, 2022

Saturday, September 24, 2022

After the tumultuous experience of being hospitalized

in various mental institutions over four years,

Walter Anderson joined his wife and children

at his wife’s family home, Oldfields.

It is here that he began the healing process,

and  his wife Sissy wrote that the artist

“. . . came back to the human race from that far-off journey. . .”

Whether we experience immense tumult or

whether we experience everyday trials and tribulations,

we can take a cue from Anderson’s story —

noticing the healing power of home.

Beginning Friday, September 9 through Friday, September 23,

you will take one or more pictures each day --

of the inside of your utensil drawer, of your hairbrush,

of your dog's bowl, of the unused light bulbs in your laundry cabinet,

of your grandmother's perfume bottle,

of an opened packet of sweetener on the kitchen counter,

of a stack of folded towels, of a bag of marshmallows in your pantry,

of a puddle at the end of your driveway, of a bird’s nest blown to the ground,

of a sprig of fern growing from between two bricks …

the everyday items and everyday scenes you notice.

During this two-week Individual Practice of noticing,

you will receive guidance and inspiration via e-mail.

Before arriving for the Communal Reflection Day on Saturday, September 24,

you will be encouraged to print some of your photos to bring with you.

The schedule for the Communal Reflection Day looks like this:

9:15 -- Arrival at Walter Anderson Museum

9:30-10:45 -- Contemplative gathering

11:00 - 12:00 -- WAMA Tour focused on Return to Oldfields

12:00 - 1:30 -- Lunch on own

1:30 - 2:45 -- Contemplative gathering

3:00 - 4:00 — Simple art reflection

4:15 — Departure

Fee:  $XXX

To register, XXX

Registration closes Friday, September 2.

(Retreat requires minimum of five registered participants.

If five participants haven’t registered by that date,

the registered participants will be notified of cancellation on September 3.)

Our Guide:

Ellen Gabardi has been leading small contemplative groups for 30 years.

She completed a 2-year training in Leading Small Groups and Retreats

from Shalem, a contemplative institute in Washington DC.

She completed a 2-year training in Spiritual Direction

from The Center for Ministry at Millsaps College.