Welcoming the New
December 31, 2007 · by Christine
The Inukshuk is an Inuit symbol of welcome and you find them frequently in Canada. Sometimes they point the direction of safe passage or mark an important place. This one is near the top of Whistler Mountain. We spent a couple of days over Christmas at Whistler and it was quite a magical place to be for this feast of birth. Everything blanketed in snow has a newness about it, as if the earth is spreading out a new page on which to begin writing our lives anew again. The new year brings with it a sense of new possibilities. It is a time of resolutions and commitments to better ways of living and being in the world. While I am not a big fan of making “resolutions,” I do find something deeply hopeful about our human longing to try again in the midst of our brokenness.
My time off from blogging has brought with it much inspiration. I’m going to be trying some new things on this blog, one of which is a regular schedule, or Abbey horarium, of sorts. These are some of the features you can expect each week:
Mondays: Poetry Party and Sacred Arts Ring links (alternating)
Tuesdays: Reflections on Creativity and Contemplation
Wednesdays: Abbey Bookshelf
Thursdays: Sacred Artist Interview (a new feature)
Fridays: Visual Meditation
Saturdays: Resources, Offerings, Upcoming Workshops, etc.
In addition, there will be an every other week Abbey email newsletter with content different from the blog. One of my hopes is to learn how to make podcasts and eventually begin offering guided meditations with links through the email newsletter.
There will be a couple more posts this week (as I slide slowly back into blogging) and the above features will begin regularly on Monday, January 7th, with our first Poetry Party of the year.
**Consider ordering a calendar for 2008 with my photos in them representing the seasonal energies of the French Revolutionary Calendar. I collaborated on this with Waverly Fitzgerald and you can order your copies directly from her.**
A most blessed New Year to you, may your heart’s deepest desires be brought to birth in the coming months!
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
Posted in Photos |
December 31st, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Right back at you, Christine. I’m so glad the blogfast has brought new ideas and insights (as it always must) - but I have missed you, though
December 31st, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Hi Christine and Family,
Cheers, Hugs, and most importantly…..LOVE YOU….Bette. Maybe in 2008 we can BE friends in person.
I love the photo of this Inukshuk and am glad you are out discovering and communing with Mother Earth. My little handmade garden inukshuk has not seen snow for awhile but hopefully it will soon. I have tried to resist the temptation to click on “Abbey Of The Arts” each day but it was almost impossible to do…just thinking of the possibility of a sneak-in post. I look forward to your new “Weekly Features” list. My New Year’s resolution is one simple word — “BE” — be with family and friends, be with my art, be with nature……you get the picture! and its the first two letters of my name. Now why haven’t I figured out the secret to life after all these years? BEcause!!!
January 1st, 2008 at 6:44 am
You know, the Inukshuk is very welcoming to look at. Before I began reading your post that was my first thought. Happy, Healthy 2008 to you and your family.
January 1st, 2008 at 6:49 am
A happy new year to you my friend. The new content looks exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing it - and the year - unfold.
January 1st, 2008 at 7:59 am
Welcome back with all your creative ideas. It will be interesting in seeing how it all unfolds. I like the inuckshuk as a visual for the word welcome. I will keep that in my mind’s eye today.
January 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am
Your plans for the blog are exciting and inspiring. Thanks for sharing them.
And Happy New Year!
January 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Thanks Sue, I missed blogging, but it was good to have a break and just play for a while.
Bette, so sweet of you to keep checking in, sorry I didn’t sneak anything in.
Great new year’s resolution! I couldn’t agree more. Love you too, yes we definitely should meet this year in person.
Thanks for the support and encouragement Dawn, Tess, Abi, and Cat! A very happy new year to each of you.
January 1st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Christine,
Nice surprise…for me, anyway. I have been expecting your first post tomorrow so this is a little treat.
What wonderful ideas! I am so glad I found your site. Thank you again for all you bring to my life.
I am having a “post-drive-across-South-Dakota-flare”but I am making good use of the time by searching for visual journaling ideas. I have a whole new hobby and I am already purchasing the necessary paraphenalia. I am also getting ready for our April women’s retreat which is loosely titled “The Gift.” My co-leader is so excited about all of the new ideas I have brought back from your intensive.
A very Happy New Year to you and all the others whose comments I have appreciated!
January 1st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Now I know the name for those stone things! My favorite picture of my daughters was taken at that same inukshuk at Whistler in June 2006. Strange to say, I had that photo enlarged and it’s in my front entry, so it’s the first thing people see when they come in the front door! Welcome, indeed! Thanks for an enlightening start to the New Year.
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:12 am
christine–this sounds absolutely wonderful. i am cracking up because i just wrote a post about “welcome’…”the word welcome rings in my ears…” and here it is. i love how you spoke of the now and the fresh blanket of know providing us a new page for the year. i so agree (even though you know i am not a huge fan of snow
.
your new (& old) offerings look wonderful. i will be curious to see how the schedule works for your creative self. so, glad you took a break the same time i did. i hate to miss any of your offerings!!! welcome back! xoxoxo
January 5th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Happy New Year…I look forward to many inspiring posts from your blog!