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Hildegard of Bingen and the Greening Power of God (new pilgrimage added) – a love note

Betsey Beckman and I are delighted to announce the addition of a new pilgrimage following in the footsteps of Hildegard of Bingen, the amazing 12th century Benedictine Abbess, mystic, and visionary. This is a reflection from our Abbey Archives to invite you into her spirit and gifts: St. Hildegard Strolls through the Garden Luminous morning, Hildegard gazes at the array of blooms, holding in her heart the young boy with a mysterious rash, the woman reaching menopause, the newly minted widower, and the black Abbey cat with digestive issues who wandered in one night and stayed.  New complaints arrive each

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June 7, 2015

Hildegard of Bingen and the Greening Power of God: A Pilgrimage in Germany

May 29-June 6, 2016 with Christine Valters Paintner, PhD and Betsey Beckman, MM Join a community of pilgrims in Germany as we experience the landscapes and rhythms that nourished Hildegard of Bingen, mystic, composer, artist, poet, healer, preacher, ecological visionary, and spiritual director.  Let Hildegard become a soul guide as you immerse yourself in viriditas, the greening power of God, and embrace the legacy of her creative outpourings as gifts for our time. Through presentations, contemplative practices in sacred spaces, community, and creative forms (including movement, music, writing, and visual art) Christine and Betsey will guide you in exploring how the

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June 6, 2015

The Soul of a Pilgrim Featured in the Patheos Book Club

The Soul of a Pilgrim is featured in the Patheos book club for the first half of June and to kick things off the lovely Deborah Arca interviewed me. I am very touched by her beautiful introduction: “One of my very favorite writers on the spiritual life is Christine Valters Paintner, an author, Benedictine Oblate, and Abbess of the online retreat center Abbey of the Arts. When one of her emails graces my inbox, I notice my pulse slowing, and I take a deep inhale and exhale. For I know reading one of her essays inviting me to once again slow down, pay

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June 5, 2015

Monk in the World guest post: Kate Kennington Steer

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Kate Kennington Steer’s reflection on belonging as a Monk in the World: A Song of Belonging As I join with the earth’s slow turning towards Spring, I begin reflecting on the extraordinary time I’ve been enjoying with the Abbey this winter.  I signed up to join in with two retreats Birthing the Holy and Illuminating the Way, which when joined back to back gave me a concentrated ten week immersion into discovering new expressions of my faith and into connecting with

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June 4, 2015

Ancestral Pilgrimage: Journeying to Places of Family Significance (a love note)

While I am away leading a pilgrimage in Vienna, Austria I offer you this reflection from the Abbey archives: As we grow older we have more and more people to remember, people who have died before us. It is very important to remember those who have loved us and those we have loved. Remembering them means letting their spirits inspire us in our daily lives. They can become part of our spiritual communities and gently help us as we make decisions on our journeys. Parents, spouses, children, and friends can become true spiritual companions after they have died. Sometimes they

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May 31, 2015

Monk in the World guest post: Patricia Kowal

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Patricia Kowal’s reflection on God First for the Monk in the World: God First I had a “bad” knee. It bothered me for months but I thought I just strained a muscle. Yet, my knee progressively got worse and needed medical attention. Long story short, I had multiple tears in the cartilage of the joint and the fragmented pieces were surgically removed. The ordeal sent me packing straight to bed with my leg elevated for weeks. And here’s the miracle:

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May 28, 2015

New Review of “The Soul of a Pilgrim”

I am honored to have my newest book The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within reviewed by Claire Bangasser at A Seat at the Table: This book came at the right time in my life. I had finally accepted the need to leave a place very dear to me. As John Valters Paintner explains in Chapter One, “The Practice of Hearing the Call and Responding”: Pilgrimage … can mean the life journeys we take in response to unwelcomed circumstances… Any time life ousts us from our places of security, we are called upon to bring ourselves fully

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May 27, 2015

Guest post from Tara Owens, author of “Embracing the Body”

I am so delighted to share these wise words about the Pentecost and the days that follow from the lovely Tara Owens, author of a wonderful new book Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone: Tongues of Fire: What Our Bodies Tell Us About Pentecost When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each

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May 26, 2015

The Gift of Holy Surprise: Pilgrimage of Resurrection through Creative Practice (a love note)

This is the eighth in a series of eight reflections over the season of Easter on making a pilgrimage of resurrection. Word for Today: Spirit ‘What is serious to men is often very trivial in the sight of God. What in God might appear to us as “play” is perhaps what He Himself takes most seriously. At any rate the Lord plays and diverts Himself in the garden of His creation, and if we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear His call and

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May 24, 2015

May 23: Transformation – Pilgrimage of Resurrection
(A Creative Journey through the Easter Season)

Word for Today: Transformation If entered into mindfully and with a whole heart, each encounter on the road has the potential to transform. The pilgrim returns home not with all the answers. Instead, they receive better questions; questions that bring the pilgrimage experience into daily life and reveal depth in all they see around them. —Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within Reflective Question: Can you stay open to the divine presence which is always in the midst of whatever life presents to you right here, right now, even if it is not what you were

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May 23, 2015

Upcoming Programs

Writing on the Wild Edges: St. Brendan’s Voyage as Creative Guide
Writing on the Wild Edges: St. Brendan’s Voyage as Creative Guide
12 May 25
Sourcing From the Well: Songs of Strength and Resilience
Sourcing From the Well: Songs of Strength and Resilience
23 May 25
Brother Lawrence, Friar of Love, and His Transforming Presence Practice
Brother Lawrence, Friar of Love, and His Transforming Presence Practice
13 Jun 25

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