“Put your hands to work, and your heart to God.” – Mother Ann Lee
Film Recommendation: The Testament of Ann Lee, directed by Mona Fastvold and staring Amanda Seyfried
Many years ago, I was vacationing in Maine on a bike-riding adventure. When I found out that we would be near the Shaker village, I knew I wanted to visit and learn more. I was really interested in the simplicity and beauty of Shaker woodworking and basket making. So I visited the community at Sabbathday Lake, where at the time, the last three Shakers lived (now there are two remaining).
The Shaker community in the United States was begun by Ann Lee. Born in Manchester, England in 1736, Ann Lee became a member of a sect commonly known as the Shaking Quakers due to their similarities to the Quaker faith, but also their practice of cleansing from sin through chanting and dancing. The Shaker form of ecstatic dance in worship features prominently in the film The Testament of Ann Lee, and follows their belief that the communal indwelling of the divine caused them to shake, dance, and sing with ecstatic love.
Ann Lee was a mystic, visionary, and leader who founded the Shakers (also known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing). Known as “Mother Ann,” she received divine revelations in prison, and performed a number of miracles, including miraculous healings. She was charismatic and traveled as a preacher, believing in gender equality as God created both male and female. The Shakers also welcomed African Americans, orphans, and converts into their self-sustaining agricultural communities. You can learn a little more about the Shakers in this short (less than 10 minutes) film by the Center on Religion and Culture.
Photo by The Maker Jess on Unsplash
mystical friend 