Winter Solstice Deep Rest Retreat – Stillness
with Christine Valters Paintner, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, and Te Martin
Friday, December 19, 2025
4-6pm Ireland
11am-1pm Eastern
8-10am Pacific
The God of winter invites us into a healing rhythm of rest and renewal, of deep listening in the midst of stillness, of trusting the seeds sprouting deep within that have been planted.
Program Description
This mini-retreat is part of our four part Deep Rest series exploring the energy of seasonal turning points and the gifts of deep rest. Register for one of all of the mini-retreats. See the retreats for Autumn Equinox, Samhain, and Imbolc/Feast of Brigid.
We live in times when it often feels like everything is coming undone. The Celtic hinge points of Autumn Equinox, Samhain, the Winter Solstice, and Imbolc offer the wisdom of living into a rhythm that honors the importance of times of rest as essential to our personal and collective wellbeing.
The Winter Solstice is another profound moment of pause and turning in the great cycle of the year. We might think of winter as the season of entering into the gifts of earth and her stillness. After moving through autumn’s release and surrender, winter enters a profound time of silence, darkness, rest, and incubation.
The God of winter invites us into a healing rhythm of rest and renewal, of deep listening in the midst of stillness, of trusting the seeds sprouting deep within that have been planted. There is a harshness to this winter God as well, winter speaks to us of loss, it is the landscape of grief in all its beauty and sorrow.
Join us as we break open the invitations of winter’s stillness, rest, and incubation through music, poetry, teaching, meditation, and reflection.
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 within 24 hours. 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, OblSB, PhD, REACE 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.
Carmen Acevedo Butcher
Carmen Acevedo Butcher, PhD is an award-winning translator, poet, and workshop leader. She has been interviewed on the BBC’s Compass, NPR’s Morning Edition, and Dante’s Old South, and many others found on her linktree. Her Cloud of Unknowing translation received a 46th Georgia Author of the Year Award, and Martin Laird calls her translation of Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence “the new standard.” Carmen holds degrees in Medieval Studies from the University of Georgia, was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London, and teaches in the College Writing Programs at the University of California, Berkeley. She is an Affiliate Faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation and has contributed teaching to the CAC’s Essentials of Engaged Contemplation course. Carmen lives in the Bay Area, and is working on a chapbook of poetry. Visit Carmen’s website here and her YouTube channel here.
Te Martin
Theresa “Te” Martin (they/them), has been studying and leading community singing since 2017. They were born on Ramaytush Ohlone land in san francisco and have been shaped by Ocean, Redwoods, circus arts, and theater games. Lately, some of the questions they have been asking are: “How can I offer song + ritual arts that are in service to healing?” and, “What are the sounds and stories of my Celtic ancestors?” Te holds a B.A. in Theology from St. Louis University and lives at the cross-section of spiritual practice, earth-connection, social justice, and artistic expression. Check out their EP, “Water & Bones”, and music video. Visit Te’s Patreon Page.
Registration
Please be careful to enter your correct email address when you register.
$30
Reduced Fee
- Includes partial scholarship
- Select this only if you require financial assistance
$60
sponsorship fee
- Includes added donation to support scholarships
- THANK YOU for supporting our scholarship program!
If you are in need of additional financial assistance please fill out our Scholarship Request form.
$160
Deep Rest 4 Part Series
- Includes Autumn Equinox, Samhain, Winter Solstice, and Brigid's Day Retreats
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