July 3, 2009 · by Christine
. . . Martha Louise! Send me your snail mail and I will send you a copy of my newest zine — Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write -- on Monday.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Poetry Party. Make sure to stop by and visit the poems that have gathered there in honor of beginning again.
I am taking a blogging break this week because I have much writing to do and am feeling the need to pare down my commitments and responsibilities. My husband is off to visit his family and so I have several days of writing time alone with my muse, the wise Abbess Petunia who will make sure I also take some breaks and enjoy summer.
Please come back on Monday, July 13 for a Photo Party. The next Poetry Party will be on Monday, July 27! Our schedule is a bit slower for these summer days.
Place your order for your very own copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write! They are on sale for $12.50 a copy (regularly $15) through Monday. This issue is slightly smaller than previous editions because my printer now offers recycled paper. By reducing their size by a half inch I am able to offer them at the same price!
And for more poetry fun, check out the magnetic poetry website.
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
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Posted in Fun | 1 Comment »
July 2, 2009 · by Christine
The last wolf hurried toward me
through the ruined city
and I heard his baying echoes
down the steep smashed warrens
of Montgomery Street and past
the few ruby-crowned highrises
left standing
their lighted elevators useless
Passing the flicking red and green
of traffic signals
baying his way eastward
in the mystery of his wild loping gait
closer the sounds in the deadly night
through clutter and rubble of quiet blocks
I heard his voice ascending the hill
and at last his low whine as he came
floor by empty floor to the room
where I sat in my narrow bed looking west, waiting
I heard him snuffle at the door
and I watched
He trotted across the floor
he laid his long gray muzzle
on the spare white spread
and his eyes burned yellow
his small dotted eyebrows quivered
Yes, I said.
I know what they have done.
© Mary TallMountain from The Light on the Tent Wall: A Bridging
** Make sure to stop by this week’s Poetry Party **
Posted in Poetry | 2 Comments »
July 1, 2009 · by Christine
My newest article is up at Patheos for the series on Art and Spirit in the Church:
I fell in love with the Cloisters as a child. A branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the north tip of Manhattan, it is constructed as a reproduction of a medieval cloister. Its collection contains art from all over Europe designed to give the visitor an experience of the monastic setting and milieu. I would wander through the cool stone passageways, linger in the lushly planted central courtyards with fountains gushing, and gaze at intricately woven tapestries. It was here that I first fell in love with the aesthetic dimension of monastic tradition long before I understood what that spirituality and way of life really meant.
The art, architecture, and music all made my heart swoon. But it was the illuminated manuscripts that really captured my imagination. I always had a love of books and here were these incredible texts, hand-written in gorgeous calligraphy with elaborate design elements along each page. In the Benedictine monastery, the library is second only to the church in importance. During the long period of the Dark Ages, when little in the way of art and culture was being encouraged or produced, monasteries became the preservers of culture. Here the monks would labor endlessly to copy sacred texts and embellish them with art and decorated letters that helped to illuminate their meaning.
These illuminations are not meant to be mere illustrations, but deeply spiritual meditations on the text itself in a language of color and symbol. The images embedded alongside the words help the reader to enter into the meaning of the sacred texts in new ways and ignite the imagination. The “illumination” refers to the use of gold or silver to create a luminosity and radiance in the images, reflective of its holy purpose. The art invites the reader to an interior pilgrimage where the words and symbols meet a person’s own internal experience and longing for God.
Both the Hebrew and Christian sacred scriptures were copied, as were many other texts important to Catholic spiritual tradition. In medieval times, Books of Hours were created, which were small prayer books containing a collection of prayers and psalms to help lay people pray through the Hours of the day and incorporate elements of monastic devotion into their everyday lives. The advent of the printing press changed much of this, making the faster reproduction of texts accessible to a much wider audience. The art of illuminating texts gradually became less valued. Some reproductions of these, such as the Books of Hours (Phaidon Miniature Editions), are available.
Today, the best example of a contemporary illuminated manuscript is the St. John’s Bible, which is a revival of this sacred work for modern times. This has been a multi-year project still in progress and includes the work of several artists and scribes. Using ancient techniques with contemporary images, it enlivens this tradition once again and brings relevant images to modern eyes inviting us again into a deeper relationship with sacred texts through accompanying art.
Practice & Reflection:
Choose an image from an illuminated manuscript (either ancient or modern) and use “Praying with Art — Visio Divina” to enter into the image in a deeper way.
Become aware in your daily life of the way words and images are used together to amplify each other’s meaning. How does art help or hinder your understanding of the deeper meaning of something?
In a world where we receive information primarily through images and sound bytes, what wisdom might these ancient texts have to offer us?
** Make sure to stop by this week’s Poetry Party **
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
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Posted in Art and Spirituality, Patheos | 7 Comments »
June 30, 2009 · by Christine
My newest Reflective Art Journal is at the printer right now and will be back in my hands by next Monday, July 6th. This issue is called Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write a compilation of some of my favorite Poetry Party prompts, edited and presented in a way that will continue to inspire your own writing or makes a great gift for the budding poet in your life. The prompts also work well for journal writing too. Also sprinkled throughout are selections of poems from some of my regular contributors, plus a wonderful array of photos to inspire!
There is a slight shift in format — this issue is slightly smaller than before — 5.5×5.5 inches (rather then 6×6) because my printer now offers recycled paper as an option at a slightly higher cost. In making the issue slightly smaller — and I hope even more portable — in size, you get the benefit of an eco-friendly publication without higher cost. Pre-Order your copy for just $12.50 (normally $15) before July 6th!
My SALE on Praying with the Elements is also still available — buy one copy and get one free (until July 6th)!
There are THREE possible discounts for those who register early for the autumn art & movement retreat (also with Betsey Beckman) on Honoring Our Ancestors October 29-November 1.
- There is a $50 early registration discount if you send your deposit by August 1, 2009.
- If you register with a friend for the retreat you each receive a $50 discount (before July 6th)
- If you have attended one of the Abbey’s previous workshops or retreats you receive a $50 discount for being a returning participant (before July 6th).
Sunday, July 12 – Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Consider making a midsummer retreat at a beautiful location with me — There is still room to join me for the CREATIVE EXPRESSION & CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE Retreat on entering the rhythms of lectio divina and the arts. A great midsummer renewal at a beautiful location! Contact Palisades directly to register (at Palisades Archdiocesan Retreat Center in Federal Way, WA)
** Stop by this week’s Poetry Party and enter for a chance to win a copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write! **
Posted in zine journal | 1 Comment »
June 29, 2009 · by Christine
Welcome to our 37th Poetry Party!
I select an image and suggest a theme/title and invite you to respond with your poems or other reflections. Add them in the comments section and a link to your blog (if you have one). Make sure to check the comments for new poems added and I encourage you to leave encouraging comments for each other either here or at the poet’s own blog. (I was using Mister Linky before but it started slowing down the loading of my pages drastically, so please leave your poems and links in the comments).
Feel free to take your poem in any direction and then post the image and invitation on your blog if you have one and encourage others to come join the party! (permission is granted to reprint the image if a link is provided back to this post)
On Friday, July 3rd, I will draw a name at random from those who participate and send the winner a signed copy of my newest zine: Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write (which will ship out by Monday, July 6th and you can pre-order for your own copy for the discounted price of $12.50)!
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Theme: Always We Begin Again
I spent this past weekend with my Oblate community at St. Placid Priory. It was our annual retreat and this year I helped Sister Lucy facilitate on the theme of “Always we begin again” which is a line from the Rule of St. Benedict. One of the vows in Benedictine life is conversion which is essentially a commitment to ongoing transformation and recoginizing that we never fully arrive at the destination, we are always on a journey.
I took this photo while up on the Canadian coast last week. At low tide one day I wandered the beach gathering stones and creating cairns, carefully balancing one stone upon another. It became a meditation on my life. For me Benedictine practice is at heart about living my life in a renewing balance between solitude and community, between silence and conversation, between work and prayer, between all the elements of my life that demand attention and energy. I have returned from this retreat renewed in energy, focus, and commitment to my Benedictine practices. I am ready to begin again.
We are half way through the year, so I invite you to take this opportunity to pause and reflect where you are being called to begin again. Write a poem about your longing for balance or the places where you seek renewal.
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© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
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Posted in Poetry Party Invitation | 23 Comments »
June 26, 2009 · by Christine
I am heading down to St. Placid Priory for our annual Oblate retreat which I am helping to facilitate.
Come back on Monday for our next Poetry Party!
Posted in Fun | 2 Comments »
June 24, 2009 · by Christine
Be. Here. This Moment Now is all there is, don’t go seeking another. Discover the sacred in your artist’s tools, they are the vessels of the altar of your own unfolding. Look at this cup of holy water, washing clean the brushes. See the blank page, awaiting your blessing. Gaze on the colors before you, each one a name of God: Saffron, Cobalt, Azure, Ruby. Say each one slowly and taste its juice in your mouth. Let this be your prayer. Brush them across the page. First the small strokes, then the larger sweeps. Lose track of all time. This too is prayer. Listen for the words that rise up: Awaken. Envision. Sing. Alleluia. Place marks on the page saying I am here. Watch as word and image dance together. Luminous. Illuminated. This is your sacred text. This is where God’s words are spoken, sometimes in whispers, sometimes in shouts. Be there to catch them as they pass over those sacred lips, tumbling so generously into your open arms.
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
Posted in Monastic Spirituality | 8 Comments »
June 23, 2009 · by Christine
I have had the gift of spending the last week by the sea, a time of retreat, rich reflection, and abundant blessing. Today is my birthday and we head back home. I take with me a gathering of gifts, some of which you will find below here.
All photos taken this last week on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia.
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
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Posted in Visual Meditation | 11 Comments »
June 22, 2009 · by Christine
The Gifts of Morning:
Sun rippling across the sea,
calling me to rise.
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
Posted in Photos, Poetry | 1 Comment »
June 21, 2009 · by Christine
This week was the Abbey’s first Photo Party and there was a lovely gathering of images. Thank you so much to everyone who participated and shared their photos and art in honor of the Summer Solstice. The winner of this week’s random drawing for a copy of Illuminating Mystery: Creativity as Spiritual Practice is isa. Send me your snail mail and I will send you your copy!
The next Poetry Party will begin on Monday, June 29th and our next Photo Party will begin on July 13th.
Below I offer you two photos of mine and two poems of Mary Oliver in honor of this, the longest day, my own offering for the Solstice.
Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful
than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon
and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone–
and how it slides again
out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower
streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance–
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love–
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure
that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you
as you stand there,
empty-handed–
or have you too
turned from this world–
or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?
-Mary Oliver
Morning Poem
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches —
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead —
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging —
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted —
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
-Mary Oliver
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
Become a fan of the Abbey on Facebook, follow this blog on Facebook, friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter
Posted in Cycles and Seasons, Photos, Poetry | 2 Comments »
