Offerings, Inspirations, and Invitations
December 18, 2007 · by Christine
Greetings dear readers,
This Advent has been a rich time for me so far and I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my creative life as well as actively creating! Many new ideas are percolating in me, especially lots of collaborative possibilities. Some things to look for in 2008:
- A twice-monthly email newsletter with reflections not included on my blog and new offerings and retreats. If you’d like to sign up either email me at Christine AT Abbey of the Arts DOT com or click on the purple link on the sidebar (below the archives and categories lists). You should receive a confirmation email once you are signed up. Your name will never be sold or used for any other purpose.
- A 2008 Calendar created by my new friend Waverly Fitzgerald using my photos and her reflections. I love Waverly’s work on seasonal and slow time and am excited about this new collaboration. Look for ordering info in the next day or two!
- My wonderful teaching partner Betsey Beckman and I are at work creating a four-session women’s retreat for the Easter season centered around four gospel stories offered here in Seattle, as well as hoping to get some more work done on a book we are writing based on the content of our Awakening the Creative Spirit program.
- I also have planted the idea of a Contemplative Art Retreat in one of my fellow Oblate’s heart. Roy does lovely work using yoga postures to pray the psalms (and is working on a book on this topic currently for Paraclete Press), and I have this vision of leading a multi-day retreat where we pray the hours together 3-4 times each day using movement and in between we immerse ourselves in contemplative prayer and art-making. The focus of our art would be writing poetry and visual art to create a personal book of hours.
- I want to create some new Prayer Card sets, including ones specifically for times of grief and discernment. Once I finish all of the natural seasons I’d also like to move onto ones for the Christian liturgical seasons.
I am very grateful for all of my wonderful readers who support my creative inspirations through your encouragement and affirmations.
I have quite a lot of readers who I haven’t had the privilege yet of communicating with either through comments here or by email, so here is a request and an invitation:
If you enjoy this blog and have never introduced yourself, I would love it if you wrote me a quick note telling me briefly who you are and where you live.
You can email me at Christine AT AbbeyoftheArts DOT com or use the “Contact” link on the sidebar. You would really make my day, I promise! :-) And I will never add your address to my email list unless you specifically request it.
Also feel free to email me or leave a comment if any of the above projects especially appeals to you, I’d love to hear your feedback.
Blessings to you all,
Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
Posted in Links & Resources, Art, Creativity, & Spirituality Retreat |
December 18th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Hello Christine.
I have introduced myself before :-), but I haven’t been here in a long time now.
Have a vblessed advent, and Merry Christmas.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Wow…Go Girl!!!!
I am so proud to know you!
December 19th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Thanks for the visit again Britt-Arnhild! Blessed holy days ahead to you too.
Suz, thank you for your wonderful enthusiasm.
December 19th, 2007 at 2:46 am
i wish i lived in seattle….
but i received my callings zine yesterday - it’s beautiful, christine, and sooooo appropriate :o)
solstice and yuletide blessings to you, claire xx
December 19th, 2007 at 5:45 am
Contemplative Art Retreat … I would love to participate in that! Maybe I’ll make the journey out West in 2008 after all!
You are amazing, Christine. Your energy and Big Picture view of possibilities is inspiring!
Merry Christmas, my friend.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Claire, so glad you like the new zine! And that it arrived fairly quickly overseas during the holiday rush. yes, its too bad you aren’t closer, Seattle is a great place to visit though!
blessings to you too.
eileen, it would be great to have you come out here. I have to find just the right space for that retreat, but will certainly let you know.
Thanks for the kind words and blessings on this time of birth!
December 19th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I am so glad for you and your new creative work. I amd an RN and live down I 5 about 30 miles outside of Portland. I have a great interest in photography.I am a seeker at heart.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Thanks for the comment yolanda, always good to know another northwester and fellow seeker and lover of photography.
December 21st, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Christine,
I’m a member of the non-meeting monthly gathering group…I truly love your blog. I am zooming to go on vacation tomorrow, but have to tell you how many times exactly what you are discussing is an overlap with myself. I too am processing grief, that of my brother’s death 2 years ago this past October. Anyways, I will write more when I get back, suffice to say that I love you, and am continually amazed at the synchronicity of the Spirit when reading your blog. And how great it is that you include the details of how you produce your art…I am a collage wannabe and have lots of books, but having a hard time letting myself go for it! My new year holds art in store as one of my tools of spiritual direction!
Thanks and happiest of Christmas celebrations. Lynne Lew
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:37 am
Christine,
I know that you are away and I have been away from my computer with our modem being down. I just want to let you know that if you bring the contemplative arts retreat together, I will do everything in my power to be there! I am so deeply longing for more of what we experienced together and am allowing myself to play, dance, make art, take pictures and write poetry on a daily basis, but I long to do it in community again in the future. Please let me know as soon as you decide upon dates. I love the idea of the yoga poses…wow!
Love,
Rebecca