A traditional anchorhold was a cell-like dwelling, attached to a church.

Here an anchoress/anchorite would retire from society to live a solitary life of intense prayer and spiritual practice.

From this concentrated effort they served humanity as spiritual guide, offering their wisdom when and where needed.

This early form of monasticism was widespread in Europe from the 12th to 16th century as the gifts of considered thought were offered freely.

This is a digital anchorhold in the process of being developed.

It is a modern version of the ancient tradition of anchorholding,

which I think needs both resurrection and reinvention.

This digital presence never the less originates in a physical location with its own particularities.

And you may want to know those particularities of space, time, and authorship. 

But mostly, I am hoping, you will want to know about my best spiritual thoughts,

which I offer, as all anchoresses before me, as gift.

Here is what I offer.

Humanity stands at a cross-roads, unsure of the way forward. Even those who are desirous of creating a more sustainable, equitable, environmentally responsible and kinder world, are unsure how to bring this about.

As Albert Einstein famously said, “We can't solve problems by using the same level of consciousness and same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Humanity requires a new lens, a new way of seeing, a new conduit through which to travel in order to imagine a new way of being.

I propose that the way is through the attentive, intentional discipline of contemplation, the practice of engaged compassion, and the resulting creativity that naturally emerges from the alchemy of these two vital resources.

I propose that the purposeful praxis of contemplation and compassion can yield new ways of seeing, hearing and being that can help shift human consciousness, allowing for a new flowering of wisdom, discernment and original thought in all fields without exception.

Contemplation. Compassion. Creativity. The sacred trinity of possibility.

Contemplation here refers to a form of devotional stillness that reveals, clarifies and makes manifest the nature of reality.

It should be noted that the understandings given are just that, given.

Contemplation is the act of opening one’s self to the possible receiving of understandings that cannot be gained by normal human efforts.   

Compassion is the active regarding of life through the eyes of love, seeing value in all people and situations.

This committed work of mind and heart restores one’s own equilibrium and sense of belovedness, allowing for ourselves, and all others, to be known as valued members of humanity.

True compassion also offers a spirit of engagement beyond the human connection to all matters, natural and otherwise.

And here, in this section of the website will be offered a curated sample of innovative initiatives and art forms emerging from, and in support of, a devotion to the discipline of contemplation and the intentional practice of compassion.

All artistic work offered here will be undergirded by the belief that the creativity emerging from these two spiritual practices, working in concert with one another, can help guide humanity towards the transformation of consciousness necessary to understand itself as part of an intimately connected web of life embracing all sentient beings and all aspects of the natural world.

Currently the creative work that emerges from this anchorhold is my own.

But I am gathering samples of creative work emerging from the anchorholds of other artists, thinkers, bloggers, musicians, philosophers, scholars whose work speaks to me deeply.

This will be the real work of the anchorhold going forward, to begin to weave together those who knowingly, or not, are working in the dimensions of contemplation and compassion to offer their best to a world in need of grace.

It is my hope that you will find here refreshment and encouragement for your own spiritual, artistic, scientific and philosophic endeavours and thought experiments.

You may meander however you wish through this digital anchorhold, but if you are the sort who likes to be orderly, then begin with my cell and work your way through from there.

every blessings, from my anchorhold to yours, with love. . . 

Candice