Christine Valters Paintner duikt in contemplatieve praktijk en creatieve expressie, wat haar diepe betrokkenheid bij spirituele en artistieke verkenning weerspiegelt. Haar geschriften verlichten diepe innerlijke reizen en inspireren lezers tot persoonlijke groei en creatieve ontdekking. Als online abdis en productieve auteur brengt ze de wijsheid van het monastieke leven over naar de hedendaagse wereld via haar literatuur en retraites. Haar aanpak verbindt behendig oude spirituele tradities met de beoefening van een levendig artistiek leven.
Christine Valters Paintner, abbess of Abbey of the Arts, introduces us to the spiritual practice of breath prayer and offers beautiful poem-prayers for walking, working, dressing, cleaning, sitting in silence, doing the dishes, living in community--breathing the divine into our daily lives.
Organized around "The Canticle of the Creatures" by St. Francis of Assisi, Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire is the first book to consider the ways in which praying with the natural elements can enliven Christian spiritual life. Teacher, artist, and Benedictine oblate Christine Valters Paintner offers concrete suggestions and guided contemplative exercises; for instance, she suggests that readers take time to "watch the sunrise or sunset and breathe in the beauty of the fiery sky. Contemplate what those beginnings and endings have to say in your own life." Readers benefit from Paintner's extensive training in theology and Benedictine spirituality, as well as her unique work in bringing the expressive arts to spiritual direction.
Designed to help spiritual directors and others use expressive arts in the context of spiritual direction
Timeless and contemplative sayings from the earliest Christian sages of desert spirituality can be a companion on your own spiritual journey. The desert fathers and mothers were ordinary Christians living in solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Arabia who chose to renounce the world in order to deliberately and individually follow God's call. They embraced lives of celibacy, labor, fasting, prayer and poverty, believing that denouncing material goods and practicing stoic self-discipline would lead to unity with the Divine. Their spiritual practice formed the basis of Western monasticism and greatly influenced both Western and Eastern Christianity. Their writings, first recorded in the fourth century, consist of spiritual advice, parables and anecdotes emphasizing the primacy of love and the purity of heart. Focusing on key themes of charity, fortitude, lust, patience, prayer and self-control, the Sayings influenced the rule of St. Benedict and have inspired centuries of opera, poetry and art. This probing and personal SkyLight Illuminations edition opens up their wisdom for readers with no previous knowledge of Western monasticism and early Christianity. It provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes historical background, explains the practice of asceticism and illustrates how you can use their wisdom to energize your spiritual quest.
Exploring themes of hope, desire, and the wisdom of mystics, the poems reflect the enduring aspects of life inspired by the poet's experiences in Ireland. With an incantational quality, they invite readers to perceive the world in deeper ways. Rooted in the practice of silence and lectio divina, the verses transform everyday life into a sacred text, emphasizing the beauty of changing seasons, love, and wild places.
Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening and Awareness offers a unique prayer resource that provides a thorough grounding in the different moments of the lectio experience: listening, reading, savoring, responding, and then contemplating Gods Word.
Lectio divina, which means sacred reading, is an ancient contemplative practice of listening deeply to the voice of God in sacred texts. Drawing on her own experience as a monk in the world, Christine Valters Paintner breaks open the movements of this spiritual practice. She makes them accessible to the contemporary reader.
How Angels, Saints, and Ancestors Walk with Us Toward Holiness
Exploring the impact of saints, ancestors, and angels, this book encourages readers to recognize both the conscious and unconscious influences these figures have on their lives. It offers a retreat-like experience within everyday life, focusing on healing ancestral wounds while fostering relationships with these spiritual guides. Led by Christine Valters Paintner, the text delves into Christian and Jewish teachings, Celtic wisdom of Samhain, and various cultural practices surrounding ancestor reverence and remembrance.
Exploring the theme of grief, the author shares her journey through loss and the concept of the "midwinter God," representing the perceived absence of divine presence during dark times. The book encourages readers to embrace spiritual growth by accepting the wisdom found in holy darkness and humility. It suggests that this darkness is not just a void but a fertile ground for spiritual renewal, inviting readers to approach their struggles with courage and vulnerability, ultimately leading to a sense of wholeness and joy.
Through personal reflections and poignant poetry, the author invites readers to reconnect with the enduring presence of love amidst life's challenges. By highlighting the beauty and wonder of the Creator's gifts, the book serves as a guide to navigating pain, loss, and uncertainty, encouraging a journey of discovery and hope.