Thoughts

on vows

Hello,

I was invited to a wedding recently. Therefore, my thoughts turned to vows.

As a mindfulness geek, I have conversations with monks, priests, and other such folks who are expanding the vows of their lives beyond weddings and into daily affirmations of how to be of service in the world.

I’ve been studying how multiple faith traditions view vows.

There’s a kind of pop culture understanding that a vow is somehow about saying “no, I won’t” to the things you want.

But I’ve been learning a new perspective. A vow can be about being protected from that which could harm you as you start a new courageous lifepath. Because of a priest’s vows, she can walk into highly emotional situations with a certain amount of protection. Another example is that a vow of poverty could protect you from greed.

Have you considered what other vows could exist besides marriage vows? What has been the reality of taking vows for your life paths?

I’m curious to know.
Take care,
-Gena

This is a scene from a lifepath journey of my own. Can you guess what it is?

Oh, and for members, here’s three reminders about the upcoming schedule of events: