The Carmelite Centre and Carmelite Library in Victoria hosted three days of spirituality workshops recently on ‘Ways of Seeing’.
Over the days 46 people attended workshops of their choosing on topics such as calligraphy, art journaling, the body and spirituality, creative expression in spiritual practice, iconography, visual art as contemplation, poetry, mandala making, aboriginal art form, Christian faith as mode of seeing and chant and scripture.
One participant, Angela Gallipoli, said the workshops were “a real delight for the senses, the heart and the spirit”.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of presentations over the three days, and the variety of personal practices and creative spiritual experiences that the different presenters shared with us,” she said.
“The sessions enabled me to connect more deeply to my own inner spiritual journey in creative, reflective and expressive ways, and provided a unique opportunity to witness and share in the personal spiritual experiences of others, including the presenters and other participants.
“The Symposium has definitely provided me with rich resources, some familiar and others less so, in the form of creative modalities and spiritual practices, through which to further seek and explore my connection to the Sacred and the Divine.”
David Buller, who also took part said the annual symposium at the Carmelite Centre “never fails” those attending.
“Over two-and-a-half days we explored enspirited art and were encouraged in our own creative pursuits,” he said.
“While we gathered, individuals from the Seraphim Icon Group created icons. Contemplative engagement was an important process to reflect in the various sessions such as the extraordinary output of Odilin Redon as an Aid to Contemplation opening doors into a relatively unfamiliar maker of great works.
“We were invited to find an image that spoke to us and to sit with in in contemplation – how enriching!
“Art Journaling and other practices were invited into the possibilities of our daily connection with the Divine. Another session on the Body and Spirituality embodied the spirit – Incarnation, Communion and transcendence, showing us how holy community can celebrate a joyous presence. So much good in one symposium!”
The information in this article was first published on the website of The Carmelites of Australia and Timor-Leste.