St. Anne's Convent in Seattle

I love the weaving together of the threads of life, the magic of the pattern of the fabric. How would it have been possible to know that I, not Catholic, not even Christian, would find myself welcomed and staying at St. Anne's Convent in Seattle, Washington. That is a story for another time.

I arrived last night from Portland, a bit road weary after several hours in backed up traffic and was greeted at the door by Sisters Cathy and Ethna. I was served coffee and cookies, fresh figs with cheese. Good conversation and lots of questions. My cozy, downstairs bedroom is one of the few with a private bath. There was a welcome sign on the door. Necessary, as there are 13 bedrooms in the convent and it is easy to get lost in the many halls and passages.Leaded glass window in dining room
Built in 1930, St. Anne's Convent is a simplified Tudor Revial design, with gables, bay windows, copper roof and arched, diamond-paned leaded glass. The building was designed by one of Seattle's most prominent architects, A. H. Albertson. Currently the convent is home to several nuns who are members of the order of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. St. Anne's parish was established in 1906 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nisqually. One of the most lovely aspects of the convent is its chapel, located on the south end of the building with the altar on the west end. It is a place of prayer and solitude.

I was invited to come to Eastwest Bookshop in Seattle to do a class/presentation about the ancient runes and to be available to provide private, intuitive readings. The wisdom of the runes is sourced from the sacred well at the root of the World Tree, the home of the Nornir, the triple goddesses of Norse tradition. The well and the roots and the dark are all manifestations of the sacred feminine and the power of creativity and spirituality rooted in Her wisdom. It is a perfect piece to weave together with the spiritual direction of the Holy Names Sisters. When we as women unite with each other and put an end to the separations caused by stuctures and institutions we can use our power and force to create new life.