The Way of the Anchorite

In this new class offered by Michael, students will be led through a simple model for developing a “Rule of Life.” This model is inspired by the monastic tradition of the “anchorite” – someone who withdrew from distractions in order to deepen their relationship with God, others, and the created world. To aid them, they committed themselves to certain practices that helped them to more consciously be anchored: in God, to Church, and for the World. This they called a “rule” or “way of life.” In the 15^th century, Julian of Norwich (whose spirituality has shaped us at The Center) was just such an anchorite. In this 4-week class, Michael will help you determine what are your obstacles and facilitating conditions for anchoring in God, anchoring to Community, and being an anchoring presence in your World.

Classes will take place on Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on January 16, 23, 30, and February 6. We will begin in The Anchor House at 6:00 p.m. sharp with a time of Contemplative Worship that will last about 20-30 minutes. We will then transition into an exploration of the material for that night. When you register, please make it your commitment to be at each session. To help you to immediately begin integrating the material and start contemplating your “rule of life,” a short 1-2 page reflection essay for homework will be given after each session, to be turned in the following week.

Michael envisions this as a way to deepen your relationships to The Anchor House – a place where we withdraw to be more anchored in God, to Community, and for the World. In this way we, too, can be a new kind of “Anchor-ite” in our own time and in our own way.