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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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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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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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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 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 22: Home – Pilgrimage of Resurrection
(A Creative Journey through the Easter Season)

Word for Today: Home Ultimately the pilgrimage leads us back home again. We always return bearing gifts for the community. We are always called back to share what we have been given with others. —Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within Reflective Question: What gifts are you bearing back from your pilgrimage? Who will you share them with?     Next steps: Let the word, quote, and question inspire your creative practice (Download the list of daily words here.) Use the hashtag  #soulofapilgrim when sharing on social media. Join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks Facebook group to share your art and writing

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May 21: Relationship – Pilgrimage of Resurrection
(A Creative Journey through the Easter Season)

Word for Today: Relationship God is never a set of concepts to be understood but a relationship to encounter. In this way, the spiritual life is always a journey. We do not let go once and for all. —Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within Reflective Question: Can you allow yourself the time and space to move through the layers of your life until you are living more from your heart than your mind? Next steps: Let the word, quote, and question inspire your creative practice (Download the list of daily words here.) Use the hashtag  #soulofapilgrim when sharing on social

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Monk in the World guest post: Sharon Landis

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Sharon Landis’s reflection on being powerfully ordinary: I write constantly. I cannot stop writing as writing helps me process my life: helps me express my emotions rather than repress, helps me listen to my heart, express my faith, be gentle with my sensitives,  and ask the hard questions. I sometimes dialogue with God through writing, after I’ve listened deeply. I write about everything, even about my dog, garden, grandchildren. Through expressive writing, I assist my soul in catching up to

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May 20: Holy Disruption – Pilgrimage of Resurrection
(A Creative Journey through the Easter Season)

Word for Today: Holy Disruption The divine is that power which disrupts everything; it is at heart a great mystery at work. —Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within Reflective Question: What if our pilgrimage practice courted holy disruption? What if we embraced the unknown as sacred wisdom for the unfolding of our lives?     Next steps: Let the word, quote, and question inspire your creative practice (Download the list of daily words here.) Use the hashtag  #soulofapilgrim when sharing on social media. Join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks Facebook group to share your art and writing with others. Name your

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May 19: Inner Landscape – Pilgrimage of Resurrection
(A Creative Journey through the Easter Season)

Word for Today: Inner Landscape While some physical places and landscapes feel more like home to us, ultimately it is in service to us discovering the primal home within each one of us. —Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within Reflective Question: What would it be like to move through the world and, no matter where you found yourself, to recognize yourself as fully at home?   Next steps: Let the word, quote, and question inspire your creative practice (Download the list of daily words here.) Use the hashtag  #soulofapilgrim when sharing on social media. Join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks Facebook group

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