Entries from May 2009

Visual Meditation: Reflections

May 30, 2009 · by Christine

I went on a journey to the Seattle Aquarium yesterday and in addition to my favorites of sea otters and moon jellies, I found myself captivated by reflections and children pressed up against the glass to see more clearly.
What do you see?
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts [...]

Posted in Photos, Visual Meditation | 10 Comments »

Sacred Mountain

May 29, 2009 · by Christine

The great, gashed, half-naked mountain is another of God’s saints. There is no other like him. He is alone in his own character; nothing else in the world ever did or ever will imitate God in quite the same way. That is his sanctity.
-Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
These mountains — Mount Baker and the [...]

Posted in Nature, Photos, Poetry | 7 Comments »

Awakening the Creative Spirit

May 28, 2009 · by Christine

In the early dawn of happiness
you gave me three kisses
so that I would wake up
to this moment of love

-Rumi, from “The Awakening”
Get up, I depend
on you utterly.
Everything you need
you had
the moment before
you were born.

-David Whyte, from “Waking”

Spring is the season when the earth awakens after her long slumber. It is the season associated with the [...]

Posted in Art, Creativity, & Spirituality Retreat | 6 Comments »

Six Word Memoir

May 26, 2009 · by Christine

lucy is inviting us to consider what six words would make up our memoir in this moment.  Mine are:
urban monk bearing witness to beauty
I’d love to hear what your own six word memoir would be.  Feel free to share it in the comments or at your own blog.

Posted in Fun | 19 Comments »

Soultribe Interview

May 26, 2009 · by Christine

The lovely Rachelle at Magpie Girl interviewed me for her series on creating Soultribes (a generous soulcare community). 
Go over and read about my own experience of creating and sustaining a small group for deep soul work and then share some of your own wisdom.
Make sure you also read yesterday’s Sacred Artist Interview with Patricia Ariel.
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© Christine Valters Paintner [...]

Posted in Links & Resources | 2 Comments »

Sacred Artist Interview: Patricia Ariel

May 25, 2009 · by Christine

I met Patricia Ariel recently online when she left a comment at one of my previous Sacred Artist Interviews.  I went to her website link and discovered her beautiful artwork. 
I love the sensuality and vibrancy of her images which enter the viewer into the mythical realm. I found myself exploring their inner landscape in my [...]

Posted in Sacred Artist Interview | 7 Comments »

Art and Spiritual Practice

May 22, 2009 · by Christine

So have you missed the Abbey this week?  I have been on an amazing journey for five days with even more amazing women.  We close our time together this morning and then I will head back home to rest and renew and will return to blogging Monday.  In the meantime, visit my article on Art [...]

Posted in Art and Spirituality | 1 Comment »

Dare to be Powerful

May 15, 2009 · by Christine

When I dare to be powerful—
to use my strength in the service of my vision—
then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.

-Audre Lorde
We must learn to realize that the love of God seeks us in every situation, and seeks our good. God’s inscrutable love seeks our awakening.
True, since this awakening implies a [...]

Posted in Spirituality | 10 Comments »

this week’s winner . . .

May 15, 2009 · by Christine

. . . is tinkerbell the bipolar faery!  Tinkerbell, send me your snail mail and I will send you your copy of Illuminating Mystery: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice.
Thank you for all the incredible submissions.  Amazing what happens when you have 30+ poets break open a theme together. Go visit this week’s Poetry Party to see what I [...]

Posted in Fun | Comments Off

Praying in God

May 14, 2009 · by Christine

I am feeling in a reflective mood these days. I have been working quite hard lately and over the last several weekends have had a lot of time to interact with some wonderful folks and to create sacred space for retreat.  So knowing that next week brings another amazing time of immersion with wonderful folks and [...]

Posted in Spirituality | 13 Comments »