A traditional anchorhold was a cell-like dwelling, attached to a church.

here an anchoress/anchorite would retire from society to live a solitary life of intense prayer and spiritual practice.

From this concentrated effort they served humanity as spiritual guide.

This early form of monasticism was widespread in Europe from the 12th to 16th century as the gifts of considered thought were offered freely.

this is a digital anchorhold, my modern version of an ancient tradition,

which I think needs both resurrection and reinvention.

but this digital presence never the less originates in a physical location with its own particularities.

and you may want to know those particularilies of space, time, and authorship. 

But mostly, I am hoping, you will want to know about my best spiritual thoughts,

which I offer, as all anchoresses before me, as gift.

Here is what I offer

I propose that the way forward is through the attentive, intentional discipline of contemplation, the practice of compassion, and the resulting creativity that naturally emerges from the alchemy of these two vital resources.

I propose that the purposeful praxis of these two disciplines can yield new ways of seeing, hearing and being that can help shift human consciousness, allowing for a new flowering of wisdom, discernment and original thought.

The resulting flow of creativity would weave together divinity and humanity in a yet unimagined manner

contemplation. compassion. creativity. the sacred trinity of possibility.

contemplation here refers to a form of devotional stillness that reveals, clarifies and makes manifest the nature of reality.

It should be noted that the understandings given are just that, given.

Contemplation is the act of opening one’s self to the possible receiving of understandings that cannot be gained by normal human efforts.   

Compassion is the active regarding of life through the eyes of love, seeing value in all people and situations.

This committed work of mind and heart restores one’s own equilibrium and sense of belovedness, allowing for ourselves, and all others, to be known as valued members of humanity.

True compassion also offers a spirit of engagement beyond the human connection to all matters, natural and otherwise.

And here is offered a curated sample of innovative initiatives and art forms emerging from, and in support of, a devotion to the discipline of contemplation and the intentional practice of compassion.

all artistic work offered here is undergirded by the belief that the creativity emerging from these two spiritual practices, working in concert with one another, can help guide humanity towards the transformation of consciousness necessary to understand itself as part of an intimately connected web of life embracing all sentient beings and all aspects of the natural world

the creative work that emerges from my anchorhold is my own, except where indicated.

but i am beginning to offer a sampling of creative work emerging from the anchorholds of other artists, thinkers, bloggers, musicians, philosophers, scholars whose work speaks to me deeply.

and this will be the real work of the anchorhold going forward, to begin to weave together those who knowingly, or not, are working in the dimentions of contemplation and compassion to offer their best to a world in need of grace.

it is my hope that you will find here refreshment and encouragement for your own spiritual, artistic, scientific and philosophic endevours and thought experiements.

you may meander however you wish through this digital anchorhold, but if you are the sort who likes to be orderly, then begin with my cell and work your way through from there.

every blessings, from my anchorhold to yours, with love. . . 

Candice