Daily Nourishment for December 11, 2024: A More Human Dwelling Place
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 35 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 12-15 minutes
“Art reminds reminds us that we belong here.” - Toni Morrison
Pause.
Do a few rounds of Box Breathing: Inhale for a count of four, hold for a count or four, exhale for a count of four, hold for a count of four.
Prompt.
Read the Toni Morrison quote a few times. Read it aloud a couple of times, too.
“Art invites us to know beauty and to solicit it from even the most tragic of circumstances. Art reminds reminds us that we belong here. And if we serve, we last.” - Toni Morrison
Practice.
Take notes on how art helps you belong.
What art has helped you belong over the past few weeks? (All of it counts, not just the fancy art. All forms and genres of high art, low art, and all of the in between art.)
What happens when you go too long without artful encounters with music, film, TV, paintings?
Make It Advent:
How does engaging with art help you belong to Advent? How does engaging with various forms of art broaden your Advent belongings? Do you have any personal, family, or community Advent traditions that include encounters with art?
Want More?
This quote by James Baldwin: ”The precise role of the artist, then, is to illuminate that darkness, blaze roads through that vast forest, so that we will not, in all our doing, lose sight of its purpose, which is, after all, to make the world a more human dwelling place.”
*
Resources, Workshops & Gatherings
—Advent Resources: Throughout Advent, I’ll include a new resource each day. For today, here’s a lovely book by Malcolm Guite.
—New: A project by Charlotte Donlon and Spiritual Direction for Writers®: All of Life Is the Writing Life™
—Become an SDW Insider: (Free) Weekly emails, behind-the-scenes updates, reminders for free SDW Co-Writing sessions, early access to gatherings and retreat registrations, occasional offers and gifts, bonus resources, and more. Email Charlotte at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com to be added to the SDW Insiders.
—New Resource: Parenting with Art® Lectio Divina Cards Information about ordering these cards can be found in my Books + Spiritual Direction + Retreats & Gatherings email newsletter . To stay in the loop on all of my work, writing, book recs, and more, subscribe to that weekly newsletter at charlottedonlon.com/subscribe.
Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.
*Please help us protect our intellectual property, our creative process, and the integrity of our work. Spiritual Direction for Writers® Daily Nourishment is covered under the Spiritual Direction for Writers® trademark. You are welcome to share this link with others, but any other use (written or spoken) is prohibited without written permission from Charlotte Donlon.