Raven's Bread

Food for Those in Solitude

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Vol: 7 No: 4  November 2003

Raven's Bread is a quarterly newsletter (FEB-MAY-AUG-NOV) for hermits and those interested in the eremitical life published by Paul and Karen Fredette. The newsletter seeks to affirm and support this way of life. Raven's Bread is a collaborative effort and thus depends on the shared reflections, stories, news, notices, letters, and information from hermits themselves. The Raven's Bread Web page is an abbreviated version of our full printed newsletter, which also includes a Bulletin Board and Reader Forum featuring responses to a quarterly discussion topic.

Please send your written contributions, as well as address changes and subscriptions to:

Raven's Bread
18065 Hwy 209
Hot Springs, NC 28743

The annual subscription to the printed newsletter is $8.00 in USA and $10.00 US currency for foreign subscriptions. (Drafts drawn on US banks are the most convenient form of payment by foreign subscribers.) Any extra donations will be used to subsidize subscriptions for hermits who cannot afford the full cost.

To E-mail Raven's Bread directly click on this link:fredette@nclink.net

Raven's Bread (formerly Marabou) derives its name from the experience of Elijah, the prophet, in 1 Kgs.17: 1-6. A raven, sent by God, nourished him during his months of solitude at the Wadi Cherith (the Cutting Place).

zzzzzzThoughts in Solitudezzzzzz

By: Alphonse Vinh, The Yinshih of Mole's End, Washington, DC

Occasionally I have been asked to explain about a Yinshih, a scholar-recluse once held in honor in the Classical Chinese tradition, a life-style I have now adopted for myself. Yinshihs have existed in every place and time (Walker Percy was a Southern Yinshih, Joseph Joubert a French one.) Many were poets and writers. Some were mystics. Others were retired scholars who sought a quiet life of spirituality and solitude. But what they all had in common was that they had renounced the "red dust of the world" and were dead to worldly ambition and desire for career success. The fortunate ones who lived in the days of the Empire like many of my ancestors, could write their farewell poems to the world at the age of forty, hang up their scholar's cap, and leave the Imperial Civil Service to take refuge on their estates or their little cottages or huts to devote themselves to contemplation, prayer, study, solitude, literature, and friendship. Very few Yinshihs rejected the pleasures of poetry and wine. They did not hate the world - only its unworthy and spiritually uninteresting temptations.

In times of great societal corruption, Yinshihs withdrew from society and public service in order to preserve their integrity, no matter the cost to them. Yinshihs have always been gentlemen and lovers of the life of the mind. They care not for conventions nor do they care much for being in the right society or climbing up the slimy pole of success. They don't care about such things because they think it's more beautiful to sip wine whilst sitting in their hermitage as the sun sets in the fields before them. They cherish not the group so much as the individual. They are not meant for the big stage but prefer the quiet life in the shadows where it is possible to observe the current flowing quietly beneath the waves.

Yinshih suffer all the afflictions of humanity and sin greatly, too. But it is their way to strive not to contribute to the general suffering of humanity by their own failings. Their ministry through writing and personal friendship is with any individual person whom God may send their way.

Yinshihs are happy about many things that more society-minded people may miss. They do not see their way as better but simply as a reasonable, individual alternative to a group-oriented, power-driven, society-focused way of existence. If Yinshihs have to scratch a living in the world, they will strive to do so with integrity and good will, but they will always see their livelihood as a means to live fully a yinshih life - away from the world. Yinshihs don't know the meaning of careers. It's meaningless to them. They care about their place within this beautiful and mysterious universe that God created, they care about worthwhile friendships and good poetry. Once they have earned their living in the world, they feel they have the right to their real life after the working day is over. Yinshihs value, above all, the inner universe of the individual and the private life within which they hold as most holy.

A Word from Still Wood

In August, we discussed the issue of how readers of Raven's Bread might define themselves. As the editors, we are increasingly aware that many of you find not only helpful information but profound encouragement through the discovery that there are others "out there" who, like yourself, believe they are called to live a form of hermit life. Readers feel related to one another through spiritual bonds. We offered the term "kindred" as one way of expressing this real and vital relationship. Some readers have joined in the discussion and you will find their thoughts elsewhere in this issue.

This kind of "shared discussion" is the heart and purpose of Raven's Bread which we have always envisioned as a forum of exchange among lovers of solitude rather than a place for scholarly studies of the eremitical life. Many of you have told us that what means most to you is this simple sharing of personal experience by others struggling with the particular trials and adventures that are inherent to solitary living. We thank the many who, over the years (seven to be exact!) have sent us the reflections, articles, and responses that filled the pages of each issue. We (Paul and Karen) do not "write" RB. We are merely the fortunate collectors and occasional editors of the riches which you offer to us and all your spiritual kindred.

As we were mulling over these thoughts prior to assembling this November issue, we decided to offer you an invitation to share some of your personal experiences of living solitary life: How did you begin? What proved to be the biggest hurdles? Did you encounter surprises? Who proved helpful (or otherwise) to you on your journey? We will launch these personal accounts in this issue and hope others of you will be inspired to assist your "kin" by sharing likewise. If you prefer, we will publish accounts under a pseudonym - all we ask is that the "story" be the experience of a real person!

This issue also carries some delightful sharings about how hermits and solitaries in various parts of the world celebrate the coming holiday season. Thank you to all who took precious time to prepare this gift of love for your RB family. And speaking of gratitude, we editors are very, very grateful to the numbers who noticed the expiration date on their address label and renewed their subscriptions. Many even included that little "extra" that makes it possible for RB to fly to hermits whose funds are slim and enables us to offer the exra services of Resources, Library, Back Issues and other "connections" that are part of Raven's ministry.

As we approach this holiday season, let us make it a prayerful celebration of Holy Days during which we gift one another with presents of love and "prayer-care" (as one of our readers so delightfully phrases it!) that enrich both givers and receivers. We offer you our very special love and gratitude from our mountain retreat of Still Wood. We will light our holiday candles for each and all of you!

With Grateful love,
Karen & Paul

The 2001 Survey of Raven's Bread Readers

Since "The Survey" was initiated more than 620 copies were mailed to our readership. Over 175 became participants. A truly gratifying experience that continues to generate a wide range of responses. The volume of returns stays at a fantastic 25%!!! It says something wonderful about everyone who cooperated in this project, making it truly reflective of what is happening in our own time re solitary lifestyles. We continue to receive requests for Survey Results and back issues containing the summaries we have printed thus far.

The current print issue of RB (November 2003) features the results of the Ninth of Ten Reflection Questions: "Do you cultivate an environmentally responsible lifestyle?

"Not surprisingly, respondents to this question were overwhelmingly positive. Many listed a number of ingenious and carefully thought-out waysof living simply with environmental responsibility." from editor's introduction, pg. 4 of November 2003 Print Issue)

We are still offering the initial "big picture" summary from the eleven categories covered in the Survey's check-off section (Personal Information, Location, Religious Affiliation and Status, Lifestyle, Prayer Forms and Religious Practices, Financial Situation, Spiritual Direction, and Difficulties) which was published in the August 2001 Issue. In the next issue, we will review with our readers the material received in answer to the tenth (and final) Reflection Question. Before long we hope to make a complete Report of the entire survey available from RB RESOURCES.

If you are interested in obtaining the 2001 Raven's Bread Survey Results, these initial reports are available upon request to our online readers for $3.00 each (U.S. currency):

By Mail:

Raven's Bread
18065 Hwy 209
Hot Springs, NC 28743

By Telephone: 1-828-622-3750
By E-Mail: fredette@nclink.net

The small truth has words that are clear;
the great truth has great silence.
TAGORE
(with thanks to Heron Dance)

zzzSounding Solitudezzz

by: Spencer Furbush, Stillness Hermitage

The early part of our interior contemplative journey involves turning away from exterior attractions in order to bring the attention of the mind back within the inner chamber. Later, there may come an arising, or upwelling, out of that interior peace.

The turning within involves the self-denial of renouncing our idle thoughts. The rational thought required for conducting our ordinary affairs is a good and necessary part of life, but the constant jumble of thoughts that run around in the mind like children in a playground is useless. They prevent the attention from turning within and realizing the true self. Thoughts appear in the mind. This is the nature of the mind, and it is harmful to try and prevent it, but it is not necessary to engage these thoughts in dialogue. If we resist the temptation to form a chain of thinking based on any thought, then that thought will evaporate and another will bubble up. This is not easy and it involves a self-denial since we identify our ego self with these idle thoughts. To engage seriously in this process of denying our idle thoughts, is our own personal crucifixion, yet it will someday being forth the resurrection of our true self.

When the time is right, perhaps after many years of difficult struggle in the practice of stillness, there will come the arising. From deep within, and in the silence and stillness of interior peace that is like a death to the ego self, there comes the upwelling. This may be strong and very dynamic at first, and last only briefly. Generally it will moderate to a more gentle and sustained condition. This upwelling is an opening out that has been variously interpreted and conceptualized by different religious traditions but the basic experience seems to be a truth of our human nature. We are left with the impression that our true experience arises out of some vast and fundamentally unknowable condition, such that we are a mystery arising out of mystery. It is stillness that allows us to perceive this confluence of mysteries. Many lead good and holy lives without being drawn into this stillness. Others are drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

Discussion Topic for February 2004 Issue:
What is now or has been your most meaningful/challenging ascetical practice
or penitential period (e.g. Lent, Ramadan, etc.)?
Deadline: January 5, 2004

TAOIST MEDITATION
Close your eyes and you will see clearly
Cease to listen and you will hear truth
Be silent and your heart will sing
Seek no contact and you will find union
Be still and you will move forward in the tide of the spirit
Be gentle and you will not need strength
Be patient and you will achieve all things
Be humble and you remain entire."
from Heron Dance