For more information about the White Rose Mandala above and its creator click here. 

 

 The Mystical Order of the White Rose offers members:

--- an emerging, online, ecumenical, multi-faith community;

--- an eclectic, uplifting collection of daily and seasonal multi-faith devotional resources;

--- access to people, writings, services, and products that offer spiritual and religious support, stimulation, and nourishment to members

--- a free newsletter every two weeks that contains daily devotional readings, profiles of artists, healers, visionaries, news, views, and links of interest.

--  access to Cafe Press shop with images of the White Rose Mandala (above left) on a variety of objects, including t-shirts, greeting cards and posters.

     Here are comments from some of our member:

     "I feel that I have found a sanctuary of sorts with the Mystical Order of the White Rose community. While it honors and shares wisdom teachings from many religious and spiritual traditions, it’s perfectly okay that I don’t have one particular religious or spiritual box that I fit neatly into. It’s rare and refreshing to connect with a spiritual community that doesn’t want or expect me to adopt a certain spiritual identity or way of thinking and doing things. The focus is more on universals–like prayer, meditation, mindfulness, kindness, inner peace and service–rather than particulars. Those are left to the individual." - Cliff Biel      

     "A cyber-monastery is a weird concept in a way, but it’s cool too. And I like the White Rose symbol. It gets past the whole God, Goddess, Jesus, Buddha thing. You could be a total agnostic or a Jedi Knight and yet still be a true monk and spiritual warrior in the Mystical Order of the White Rose."  D.W.S.

    
                                     Cyber-Monasticism

       The Mystical Order of the White Rose is intended to serve as an online monastery (cyber-monastery) and sanctuary where people can refresh their spirits and find support for their spiritual journey and walk with God.

 

Models for Modern Times

         Monastic ways have much to offer contemporary mystics, Christians and people of good will who follow a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional religious and spiritual paths.

       In our Western culture, driven by consumerism, speed, technology, conspicuous achievement and a restless search for status, stimulation and distraction, monastic values and the monastic "lifestyle" offer a balm for the soul and a way of living that provides fertile ground for growing "the fruits of the Spirit" described in Galations 5:22-23 of the Bible (King James Version).

      "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 

Key Components of the Monastic Life:

     The core elements of traditional monastic life are:

--  simple, frugal living within a community of "like-minded" people;

--  regular and frequent periods of individual prayer;

--  regular and frequent periods of group prayer;

--  regular periods of worship and praise as a community.  Christian monks (and nuns) are known for their singing of the psalms from the Bible in a style called Gregorian Chant that dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe.

--  individual reading of sacred texts (such as the Bible) and other inspirational materials.  This is called lectio divina in the Catholic tradition, which means "divine reading."

--  meditation; 

--  journaling, especially with regard to spiritual reflections, concerns and insights;

--  manual labor as well as work required to maintain the smooth functioning of the community and to provide for the basic needs of its members.

--  offering hospitality to visitors and others associated with but not members of the community. This typically includes a warm welcome, food, lodging, and spiritual counseling upon request.

--  service to others through prayer, teaching, nursing or charitable activities or "ministries" intended to assist people who are in jail, homeless, hungry, sick, or otherwise in need of loving care and assistance.