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It is in the depths of life that we find you at the heart of this moment at the center of our soul deep in the earth and its eternal stirrings. You are the Ground of all being the Well-Spring of time Womb of the earth the Seed-Force of stars. And so at the opening of this day we wait not for blessings from afar but for You the very Soil of our soul the early Freshness of morning the first Breath of day. - Today’s breath prayer: first breath/of day - Image from Noah Armstrong. Words from John Philip Newell #noaharmstrong #jphilipnewell #celticprayer #breathprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jul 1, 2020 at 4:46am PDT

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Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child – our own two eyes. All is a miracle. - Today’s breath prayer: all is/a miracle - Image from Shelley Koopmann. Words from Thich Nhat Hanh #fromthecollection #shelleykoopmann @shelleykoopmann #thichnhathanh #curiosity #allisamiracle #breathprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 30, 2020 at 5:40am PDT

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I own a house, small but comfortable. In it is a bed, a desk, a kitchen, a closet, a telephone. And so forth – you know how it is: things collect. Outside the summer clouds are drifting by, all of them with vague and beautiful faces. And there are the pines that bush out spicy and ambitious, although they do not even know their names. And there is the mockingbird; over and over he rises from his thorn-tree and dances – he actually dances, in the air. And there are days I wish I owned nothing, like the grass. - Today’s breath prayer: like/the grass - Image from Patricia Strobel. Words from Mary Oliver. #fromthecollection #patriciastrobel #maryoliver #ownnothinglikethegrass #breathprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 29, 2020 at 4:13am PDT

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O Thou who this mysterious bread didst in Emmaus break, return, herewith our souls to feed, and to thy followers speak. Unseal the volume of thy grace, apply the gospel word; open our eyes to see thy face, our hearts to know the Lord. Of thee communing still, we mourn till thou the veil remove; talk with us, and our hearts shall burn with flames of fervent love. Enkindle now the heavenly zeal, and make thy mercy known, and give our pardoned souls to feel that God and love are one. - Today’s breath prayer: God and love/are one - Image from Bobbie Brooks Crow. Words from Charles Wesley #fromthecollection #bobbiebrookscrow #roadtoemmaus #charleswesley #godandloveareone #breathprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 27, 2020 at 5:06am PDT

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It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not. - Today’s breath prayer: let go/be free - Image from Susan B. Viemeister. Words from Thich Nhat Hanh #fromthecollection #susanbviemeister #thichnhathanh #impermanence #burnpile #breathprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 26, 2020 at 5:42am PDT

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In every friend we have the sunshine of thy presence is shown forth. In every enemy that seems to cross our path, thou art there within the cloud to challenge us to love. Show to us the glory in the grey. Awake for us thy presence in the very storm till all our joys are seen as thee and all our trivial tasks emerge as priestly sacraments in the universal temple of thy love. - Today’s breath prayer: show the glory/in the grey - Image by Howard Cannon. Words by George MacLeod #fromthecollection #howardcannon #georgemacleod #breathprayer #celticprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 25, 2020 at 4:51am PDT

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Lift ev'ry voice and sing 'Til earth and heaven ring Ring with the harmonies of Liberty Let our rejoicing rise High as the list'ning skies Let it resound loud as the rolling sea Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us Facing the rising sun of our new day begun Let us march on 'til victory is won - Today’s breath prayer: lift/ev’ry voice - Image from Bruce Mabry. Words from James Weldon Johnson #fromthecollection #brucemabry #jamesweldonjohnson #lifteveryvoiceandsing #sing #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 24, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

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God of the sparrow God of the whale God of the swirling stars How does the creature say Awe How does the creature say Praise God of the neighbor God of the foe God of the pruning hook How does the creature say Love How does the creature say Peace God of the ages God near at hand God of the loving heart How do your children say Joy How do your children say Home - Today’s breath prayers: awe/praise or love/peace or joy/home - Images from “John Boy” Pfluger. Words from Jaroslav J. Vajda. #fromthecollection #johnboycarving #jaroslavvajda #godofthesparrowgodofthewhale #woodcarving #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 23, 2020 at 3:59am PDT

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Meadowlark, when you sing it’s as if you lay your yellow breast upon mine and say hello, hello, and are we not of one family, in our delight of life? You sing, I listen. Both are necessary if the world is to continue going around night-heavy then light-laden, though not everyone knows this or at least not yet, or, perhaps, has forgotten it in the torn fields in the terrible debris of progress. - Today’s breath prayer: you sing/I listen - Image from Toni Franovic. Words from Mary Oliver. #fromthecollection #tonifranovic #maryoliver #lark #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 22, 2020 at 3:50am PDT

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I lie down with lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords. - Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, “We are safe!”—only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? You know, I too am watching, says the Lord. - Our world is “a dark place” of fear, anxiety, greed, and violence. The prophetic light exposes such destructive practices and requires us to consider both the ideological rootage of our practices and their concrete outcomes from which we often benefit. - Today’s breath prayer: have/mercy - Image from Bill Rock. Words from Psalm 57, Jeremiah 7, and Walter Brueggemann #fromthecollection #billrock #billrockart #psalm57 #jeremiah7 #walterbrueggemann #propheticlight #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 20, 2020 at 5:10am PDT

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Dear mother earth, who day by day Unfold rich blessings on our way. Sing your praises! Alleluia! The flow'rs and fruits that in you grow, Let them God's glory also show. Sing your praises! Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! - Today’s breath prayer: sing/praises _ Image from Janet Chalker. Words from William H. Draper after Francis of Assisi #fromthecollection #janetchalker #williamhdraper #allcreaturesofourgodandking #canticleofthesun #francisofassisi #singpraises #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 19, 2020 at 4:53am PDT

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'Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. - You were loved because God loves, period. God loved you, and everyone, not because you believed in certain things, but because you were a mess, and lonely, and His or Her child. God loved you no matter how crazy you felt on the inside, no matter what a fake you were; always, even in your current condition, even before coffee. God loves you crazily. - Today’s breath prayer: loved/period - Image from Mary Grace Thul. Words from The Gospel of Luke and Anne Lamott. #fromthecollection #sistermarygracethul #annelamott #prodigalson #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 18, 2020 at 4:25am PDT

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There's a song in every silence, Seeking word and melody; There's a dawn in every darkness Bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; What it holds, a mystery, Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see. - Today’s breath prayer: bring/hope - Image from Patty Powers. Words from Natalie Sleeth #fromthecollection #pattypowers #nataliesleeth #hymnofpromise #breathprayer #artasprayer #fiberart #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 17, 2020 at 5:09am PDT

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When the old ghosts come back To feed on everywhere you felt sure Do not strengthen your hunger By choosing fear Rather decide to call on your heart That it may grow clear and free To welcome home your emptiness That it may cleanse you Like the clearest air You could ever breathe - Today’s breath prayer: clearest/air - Image from Lois Coward. Words from John O’Donohue #fromthecollection #loiscoward #johnodonahue #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 16, 2020 at 5:48am PDT

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Praying It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and silence in which another voice may speak. - Today’s breath prayer: doorway/and silence - Image from Megan Davies. Words from Mary Oliver #fromthecollection #megdaviesdesign #maryoliver #art #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild @meg_davies_design

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 15, 2020 at 3:46am PDT

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The dead are not gone forever. They are in the paling shadows, And in the darkening shadows. The dead are not beneath the ground, They are in the rustling tree, In the murmuring wood, In the flowing water, In the still water, In the lonely place, in the crowd: The dead are not dead. Listen more often to things rather than beings. Hear the fire's voice, Hear the voice of water. In the wind hear the sobbing of the trees. It is the breathing of our forefathers, Who are not gone, not beneath the ground, Not dead. - Today’s breath prayer: listen/listen - Image from Susan B. Viemeister. Words from Birago Diop. #fromthecollection #susanbviemeister #biragodiop #breaths #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 13, 2020 at 5:07am PDT

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The Word is living, being, spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity. This Word manifests itself in every creature. - Today’s breath prayer: living/word - Image from Stan Fettig. Words from Hildegard of Bingen #fromthecollection #stanfettig #hildegardofbingen #greenman #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 12, 2020 at 6:01am PDT

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Everybody’s wondering what and where they all came from. Everybody’s worried ‘bout where they’re going to go when the whole thing’s done. But no one knows for certain and so it’s all the same to me. I think I’ll let the mystery be. - I believe in love and I’ll live my life accordingly. But I choose to let the mystery be. - Today’s breath prayer: let the mystery/be - Image from Suzanne Paddock. Words from Iris Dement. #fromthecollection #suzannevpaddock #cranuimsandcranberries #irisdement #letthemysterybe #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 11, 2020 at 4:42am PDT

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Do not hesitate to love and to love deeply. You might be afraid of the pain that deep love can cause. When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love ever more fruitful. It is like a plow that breaks the ground to allow the seed to take root and grow into a strong plant. Every time you experience the pain of rejection, absence, or death, you are faced with a choice. You can become bitter and decide not to love again, or you can stand straight in your pain and let the soil on which you stand become richer and more able to give life to new seeds. - Today’s breath prayer: love/deeply - Image from Max Poznerzon. Words from Henri Nouwen. #fromthecollection #maxpoznerzon #artenables #henrinouwen #lovedeeply #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild @artenables

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 10, 2020 at 4:25am PDT

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Awake, my soul, and with the sun thy daily stage of duty run; shake off dull sloth, and early rise to pay thy morning sacrifice. Lord, I my vows to Thee renew. Disperse my sins as morning dew; guard my first springs of thought and will, and with Thyself my spirit fill. Direct, control, suggest, this day, all I design or do or say, that all my pow'rs, with all their might, in Thy sole glory may unite. - Today’s breath prayer: awake/my soul - Image from Mitchell Bond. Words from Thomas Ken #fromthecollection #bondglassdesign #stainedglass #sunface #awakemysoul #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mitchell.bond) on Jun 9, 2020 at 4:46am PDT

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On a sleepy endless ocean when the world lay in a dream There was rhythm in the splash and roll, but not a voice to sing So the moon shone on the breakers and the morning warmed the waves Till a single cell did jump and hum for joy as though to say This is my home, this is my only home This is the only sacred ground that i have ever known And should i stray in th dark night alone Rock me goddess in the gentle arms of eden Today's breath prayer: this is/my home Image from unknown artist. Words from Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer. #fromthecollection #fiberart #gentlearmsofeden #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mittie.bean) on Jun 8, 2020 at 3:48am PDT

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When you first hear that suffering is a Noble Truth, you might wonder what’s so noble about suffering? The Buddha was saying that if we can recognize suffering, and we embrace it and look deeply at its roots, then we’ll be able to let go of the habits that feed it and, at the same time, find a way to happiness. Today’s breath prayer: embrace suffering/find happiness Image from Sanjoy Das. Words from Thich Nhat Hanh. #fromthecollection #sanjoydas #buddha #embracesuffering #findhappiness #breathprayer #artasprayer #svadyaya #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mittie.bean) on Jun 6, 2020 at 4:21am PDT

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Displacement: Francis Stripped naked gave he thanks to God. Maker who always loved him. Lover who first created him then called him out from heavy gilt robes to the weightless freedom of total exposure. Little brothers followed. Today's breath prayer: peace and/all good Image from Stipe Ivanisevic. Words from Jean Horne #fromthecollection #stfrancisofassisi #stipeivanisevic @stipeivanisevic_ #preachingtothebirds #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mittie.bean) on Jun 5, 2020 at 4:39am PDT

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The blessings of the sun the blessings of the moon the blessings of the east and of the west to guide us on the way to lighten our eyes to strengthen our will and our loving The blessings of the earth the blessings of the air the blessings of fire and of water to fill us with heaven to free us with mercy to stir us with flames of compassion Today’s breath prayer: blessings/abound Image from Edrie Bays. @baysedrie Words from John Philip Newell. #fromthecollection #edriebays #johnphilipnewell #celticblessing #yinyang #balance #breathprayer #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mittie.bean) on Jun 4, 2020 at 4:31am PDT

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Just like trees along the mountain Through the years grow straight and tall Till the place where they were standing Seems deserted when they fall… And if you lose the one who loves you Make a life that’s all your own Find a place no one can reach you Turn your back and go back home But if you find the one that loves you If you love the one you find Be like sisters on the mountain Branches touching, roots entwined Today’s breath prayer: branches touching/roots entwined Image from Brigitte Luckett. Words from Si Kahn. #fromthecollection #brigitteluckett #sikahn #luraywomen #breathprayer #branchestouchingrootsentwined #artasprayer #portiunculaguild

A post shared by Mitchell Bond (@mittie.bean) on Jun 3, 2020 at 4:32am PDT