Stepping Through the Door
November 11, 2009 · by Christine
“I want to step through the door full of curiosity” -Mary Oliver
I returned from my pilgrimage two weeks ago and found piles of work awaiting me. Some of it was wondrous, meaningful, rich work like co-leading a retreat for the threshold time of All Saints and beginning a new online class on Benedictine Spiritual Practices. I also returned to editing deadlines for the final proofs of my two books which will be published very soon – Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction (February 2010) and Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements (March 2010) – both are available for pre-order at Amazon.com by clicking the links.
Other work has been those many small details that are required to support all of the other pieces – I am always mindful of the essential place these have in the big picture, but can sometimes struggle to keep them from taking over my energy.
But this week brings some spaciousness again. As I rest and continue to tend what has ripened in me during these weeks away, I discover there are always new doors within me, awaiting my willingness to open them. New ideas are bubbling, possibilities are beckoning, and I am welcoming them all in and listening to which ones carry my best energy forward. Which are the ones which make me come alive as I consider them? Which ones make me sing?
I am working right now on reprinting my Reflective Art Journal titled Crossing the Threshold: New Year, New Beginnings and it will be available in time for the holidays.
My heart is also turning to my next writing projects. I have two which are coming to the top of the pile – Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist (on monastic practices to support creative expression) and Sacred Seeing: Photography as a Contemplative Practice. Right now I am in the process of putting together two online classes through the Abbey which would begin in January and March respectively, so look for more information about those soon!
The great feast of Thanksgiving is coming and Advent just around the corner. My heart is filled with gratitude and anticipation each day. I step through the door filled with curiosity and wonder.
(photo above taken in Rome during my travels)
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
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Posted in Abbey Shop, Art, Creativity, & Spirituality Retreat | 10 Comments »
November 11th, 2009 at 4:52 am
So many wonderful and wonder-filled activities! Just to read about them is inspirational.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:51 am
I’m glad you’re entering into a bit of spaciousness. Your projects sound wonderful, and I especially like the idea of Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Your projects sound wonderful, exciting, potentially exhausting but mostly refueling and refreshing. Luxuriate in any spaciousness you can find – your time sounds well spent in consideration of feeding your soul and self-awareness. Time was on my mind over at the MindSieve today:)
xoxox
November 11th, 2009 at 9:49 am
A B B E Y O F T H E A R T S
nothing reaches me more profoundly than that!
Please let us pay by check for your Abbey courses.
Christine!!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am
You are a fountain of inspiration and creative energy, Christine. And thanks for letting us drink from it.
November 11th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Thank you for all of the wonderful support! More details coming very soon and yes, payment by check will definitely be a possibility.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
yes, yes, yes.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:13 am
These classes and books sound wondrous, and the synchonicity is amazing. Thank you, thank you for being … a beautiful inspiration.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
November 13th, 2009 at 1:24 am
can.not.wait!