Reflections

Image Journal is one of my favorite resources for integrating art, faith, and mystery. Produced by the fine people at Seattle Pacific University and hosts of the wonderful annual Glen workshop (which I have had the joy of attending twice before), I am thrilled to read this beautifully-written review of The Artist’s Rule in their latest email newsletter: The Artist’s Rule, by Christine Valters Paintner, is a work of deft matchmaking between two human archetypes: the monk and the artist. As a Benedictine oblate and spiritual director, Paintner has the gifts needed to distill the wisdom of an ancient monastic

Claudia Mairs Burney is the Abbess at the lovely Sunshine Abbey where I have a guest post today on the wisdom of beginning again: As artists and creative people we are filled with the best of intentions.  We have big visions and a longing to express ourselves freely and fully. We begin a project – whether writing a book, painting a canvas, or composing a song – with enthusiasm and full of confidence.  Then somewhere along the way we find our energy waning, and the artwork we once felt such delight in has now become a source of vexation.  It hangs over

The lovely Claire over at A Catholic Woman’s Place has posted a review of The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul through Monastic Wisdom and has some really wonderful things to say.  Here is an excerpt: It is one of the best books I have read in the past decade, one of these works which is a seeker’s and a blogger’s dream: it is filled with idea of reflections, meditations, and quotes that trigger self-exploration and self-understanding. I do not want to tell you all that is inside this book. I would like you to be surprised and enchanted by

Stop by my latest guest post at the fabulous Bliss Chick on The Creative Soul as a Monk in the World. Monastic Wisdom to Nurture Creative Rhythms We have probably all had those times when the creative work just isn’t flowing like we want it to and it seems like such hard work to push forward.  I find a great deal of wisdom in monastic spirituality for creative flourishing. The Seasons of the Day The first is an awareness of the seasons.  Monks traditionally pray what is called the Liturgy of the Hours, gathering together up to seven times each

Dana Reynolds is the wise and gracious presence behind Sacred Life Arts and offers so many amazing resources at her site which are in such harmony with the Abbey’s mission. So it was an absolute delight to have the opportunity to be interviewed by Dana. Abbey of the Arts is also the featured resource for the month of August! Stop by her site to see the post or listen to the interview below.  It is about 50 minutes long, so pour a cup of tea and listen for while.  Then make sure to peruse Dana’s other wonderful resources. [audio:http://www.mediafire.com/?o97uus9be0o1raz] Previous Virtual

June Mears Driedger has interviewed me over at her blog.  Stop by to read and leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom. Here is an excerpt: The title of your book is “The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom.” Intriguing title—but what do monks have to do with artists? Monasteries have been great centers of creativity since they were first formed – think of the beauty of Gregorian chant, the great illuminated manuscripts which bring text to life through a marriage with

I am delighted to share the latest review of The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom at the wonderful site Spirituality and Practice.  Here is a brief excerpt: Evidencing the same creative flair we saw in her book of spiritual insights into the elements, Paintner has now fashioned a twelve-week journey on the interplay between creativity, the contemplative path, and monastic wisdom. . . Paintner wants us to experience the joys of our inner monk and artist. These two parts of ourselves share a capacity for seeing the world beyond surface appearances; nourishing wonder, awe, and holy