Winter Solstice Holy Pause
with Christine Valters Paintner, Simon de Voil, and Deirdre Ní Chinnéide
Friday, December 20, 2024
4-6pm Ireland
11am-1pm Eastern
8-10am Pacific
Program Description
Join us on the Winter Solstice to celebrate this threshold moment when the sun stands still and the earth tilts from growing darkness to growing light again. We know these turning points were sacred to the ancient ones from stone monuments like Newgrange in Ireland, a 5000 year-old passage tomb aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice.
Three days later is the feast of Christmas, and this imagery of the light’s return is central to the Christ story as well. It is a time when we are invited to rest, attune to what has been growing in the fertile darkness, and welcome the light back in to illuminate our gifts for the world.
Simon, Deirdre, and Christine will lead us in a two-hour online mini-retreat to honor this sacred threshold for our own lives and what wisdom is calling us forth into the next season of life. Through ritual, song, teaching, meditation, and sharing we will create a holy pause in the rush toward the holidays when we can listen deeply to the voice of the Holy One whispering within us.
We will turn on closed captioning during the live Zoom session (which you are able to turn off in your settings if you find distracting) as well as provide a video recording with closed captioning available and a text transcript of the session.
The program will be recorded for those who pre-register but are unable to attend at the scheduled time or who want to view again. You will be sent a notification when this is ready to view.
You have lifetime access to all online programs.
Your Guides for the Journey
Christine Valters Paintner
Christine Valters Paintner is the online Abbess and director of AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery exploring contemplative practice, creative expression, and ways to nourish an earth-cherishing consciousness. She is a spiritual director, teacher, pilgrimage guide, Benedictine oblate, and author of numerous books on spirituality and the arts. Her deepest belief is that the earth is the original monastery–a wisdom guide and mentor in living a soulful and vibrant life. Visit the “About Christine” page for more information.
Simon de Voil
Reverend Simon Ruth de Voil is an interfaith-interspiritual minister, sacred musician, spiritual counsellor, and chaplain. His sacred work—both musical and interpersonal—explores themes of the inner landscape of the soul, the enchantment of the natural world, and the healing power of spiritual practice. As a chaplain and counsellor, Simon helps individuals and groups connect sacred presence with everyday life. Simon is also a transgender activist and a luthier in training. Visit Simon’s website here>>
Deirdre Ní Chinnéide
Deirdre Ní Chinnéide is trained as a psychotherapist / spiritual director and workshop facilitator. She has worked all over Ireland, the U.S.A. and Europe including Bosnia and Kosovo. The Aran Islands with its unique history, culture and natural beauty provides a special setting for the retreat work, and was the place of inspiration for Celtic Passage, a journey of the heart which she leads through music, reflection and prayer. Deirdre divides her time between the Aran Islands and the mainland offering retreats, workshops and performances of spiritual music and also works part time with Partners in Faith, a Catholic adult faith education programme working in marginalised areas in Ireland. Deirdre has also co-authored the book Journey to the Well: Connecting to Celtic Ways and Wisdom. Visit Dierdre’s website here.
Registration
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$30
reduced fee
- Includes partial scholarship
- Select this only if you require financial assistance
If you are in need of additional financial assistance please fill out our Scholarship Request form.
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