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Christmas is often associated with a pinnacle of joy and merriment. However, the time of waiting, or the dark nights of December that lead us into the light of celebration are a wonderful opportunity to drop into stillness and prepare mindfully, peacefully and lovingly for the wonder of the season.
Once again, this Winter, The Sanctuary invites you to join us for a month-long online Winter reflection that coincides with Advent. We will explore the benefits of slowing down, letting go and resting as we prepare for the return of light.
The Sanctuary has brought together four contemporary contemplatives from a range of traditions who will share their own wisdom and experience of embracing darkness, as we wait for the arrival of brighter days.
Week 1 – Hope: Saturday, November 28th at 11am with Alastair McIntosh
Alastair McIntosh is a Scottish writer (Soil and Soul, Spiritual Activism to name a few), scholar, broadcaster and activist on social, environmental and spiritual issues, raised on the Isle of Lewis. A Fellow of the Centre for Human Ecology, an Honorary Fellow in the School of Divinity at Edinburgh University, and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the College of Social Sciences at Glasgow University, he holds PhD in liberation theology and land reform from the University of Ulster. He is a founding director of the GalGael Trust for the regeneration of people and place. A Quaker, he lectures around the world at institutions including WWF International, the World Council of Churches, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the UK Defence Academy (on nonviolence). He regularly presents Scottish Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 and is renowned for his activist victories on the isles of Eigg and Harris.
Week 2 – Peace: Saturday, December 5th at 11am with Pádraig Ó Tuama
Poet and theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama’s work centres around themes of language, power, conflict and religion. Working fluently on the page and in public, he is a compelling poet and skilled speaker, teacher and group worker. He presents Poetry Unbound with On Being Studios. From 2014-2019 he was the leader of the Corrymeela Community, Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation community. With undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in theology, multiple professional qualifications in conflict mediation (specialising in groups), he also holds a PhD (Poetry & Theology) from the University of Glasgow. For the Autumn terms of 2024-28, he is a visiting scholar at the centre for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University.
Week 3 – Joy: Saturday, December 12th at 11am with Liezel Graham
Liezel Graham is a poet, storyteller, and textile artist. Her work explores personal and interpersonal healing, faith, motherhood, as well as the natural world, through storytelling and lyric poetry.
The author of three poetry collections, she is currently working on her fourth book.
She lives in Scotland, with her family, where she also loves spending time convincing unsuitable plants to grow in her Scottish garden. Always an act of relentless faith.
Week 4 – Love: Saturday, December 19th at 11am with Brother Richard Hendrick
Brother Richard is a priest-friar of the Irish branch of the Capuchin Franciscan Order and the author of the viral poem Lockdown and the bestseller Still Points: A Guide to Living the Mindful, Meditative Way. His second book, Calming the Storms: Meditation as a Path to Inner Peace and Happiness, was recently published. For over 20 years, he has worked to bring the insights of the Christian Contemplative tradition to wider public awareness, particularly in relation to modern mindfulness theory. He has collaborated with the Sanctuary for many years, developing a variety of courses and trainings, especially for young people and their teachers.
All sessions will be recorded but with the intention of creating a beautiful live experience, we encourage everyone to attend the zoom sessions if they can.
If you would like to book your spot within 24 hours of the first session on Nov 29th 11am, or after the first session, please email programmmes@sanctuary.ie to request the direct scheduling link.
