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Reflections

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Praying in God

I am feeling in a reflective mood these days. I have been working quite hard lately and over the last several weekends have had a lot of time to interact with some wonderful folks and to create sacred space for retreat.  So knowing that next week brings another amazing time of immersion with wonderful folks and creative expression, my inner hermit is asking for some nurture.  The news about Tune adds to my desire to just be still with her, to simply relish the unfolding of each moment. At my work with the Ignatian Spirituality Center we offer some programs through

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May 14, 2009

The Poet’s Obligation

The Poet’s Obligation To whoever is not listening to the sea this Friday morning, to whoever is cooped up in house or office, factory or woman or street or mine or harsh prison cell: to him I come, and, without speaking or looking, I arrive and open the door of his prison, and a vibration starts up, vague and insistent, a great fragment of thunder sets in motion the rumble of the planet and the foam, the raucous rivers of the ocean flood, the star vibrates swiftly in its corona, and the sea is beating, dying and continuing. So, drawn

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May 12, 2009

Invitation to Poetry: Guardians of the Threshold

Welcome to Poetry Party Number 35! I select an image and suggest a theme/title and invite you to respond with your poems or other reflections. If you have your own blog, please use the Mister Linky widget below to add a link back to your website.  If you don’t have your own blog (not required to participate) or if you just want to post your poem here, please skip Mister Linky and go straight to the comments section to add your poem.  Make sure to check the comments for new poems added and I encourage you to leave encouraging comments for each

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May 11, 2009

Notes from the Abbess

The other day I posted about the great autumn to be found in the midst of spring.  We are constantly immersed in the rising and falling of our lives, as close as our own breath.  Tune, aka Abbess Petunia (or more commonly, “The Abbess”), will be turning twelve in June. We have had her for nearly two and a half years and what a treasure she continues to be. When we adopted her we thought if all we do is give her the best retirement, then that is enough (after spending her life neglected in a breeding kennel).  She is my

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May 8, 2009

“You are a ruby embedded in granite”

You were born from a ray of God’s majesty and have the blessings of a good star. Why suffer at the hands of things that don’t exist? Come, return to the root of the root of your Self. You are a ruby embedded in granite. How long will you pretend it’s not true? We can see it in your eyes. Come to the root of the root of your Self. -Rumi, from “The Root of the Root of Your Self” in Love Is a Stranger: Selected Lyric Poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi © Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts: Transformative

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May 7, 2009

Abbey Bookshelf: Praying with the Body

Last weekend I attended the Northwest Women’s Convocation which was a pretty amazing event with almost 2000 attendees.  There were speakers like Riane Eisler, Ivone Gebara, Edwina Gately, Brian Swimme, and Margaret Wheatley (insights gleaned will be featured here soon).  I had an exhibit table next to St. Placid Priory where I am a Benedictine Oblate. They had this wonderful sign up (see above) — how honored I am to have the book I co-wrote with Sister Lucy Wynkoop to be in between Sister Laura Swan’s wise book on Benedictine tradition and Roy DeLeon’s wonderful new book on bringing body prayer

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May 6, 2009

In the Midst of Spring . . .

 . . . there is also a Great Autumn. What is being released within you to make way for summer’s fruit? © Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts: Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

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May 5, 2009

Sacred Artist Interview: Stacy Wills

I met Stacy Wills through my blog, and as always, was absolutely delighted to come across a talented artist who weaves a spiritual vision into her creative work and my special interest in bringing the arts to spiritual direction. Stacy’s mandalas are beautiful and a wonderful tool for meditation and centering.  I am captivated by their vibrancy and contemporary interpretation of an ancient art form. Stacy was so generous with her time and wisdom here, so please read on!_____________________________________________________ Are you rooted in a particular faith tradition? I was born and raised in the beautiful coastal city of Savannah, Georgia

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May 4, 2009

What is Unfurling Within You?

Pour yourself a cup of tea and ponder this question.  Notice what the image stirs in you.  Then go visit this week’s Poetry Party, and savor the poetic treasures gathered there.  Then write your own poem and enter for your chance to win a prize!  There are several ways to enter and the drawing will be on Sunday.  Thank you to everyone who has been so generous with supportive comments for each other as well. I’ll be at the Northwest Women’s Convocation Friday and Saturday with an exhibit table to talk about my work and sell my journals.  Please stop by and say

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April 30, 2009

Life is the only way

A Note Life is the only way to get covered in leaves, catch your breath on the sand, rise on wings; to be a dog, or stroke its warm fur; to tell pain from everything it’s not; to squeeze inside events, dawdle in views, to seek the least of all possible mistakes. An extraordinary chance to remember for a moment a conversation held with the lamp switched off; and if only once to stumble upon a stone, end up soaked in one downpour or another, mislay your keys in the grass; and to follow a spark on the wind with

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April 29, 2009