***Make sure you visit this week’s Poetry Party either by scrolling down past this post or by clicking here — as usual it is an amazing array of sacred words that keeps growing***
“Hear blessings / dropping their blossoms / around you. ” -Rumi
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
(photos of the dahlias at Volunteer Park in Seattle)
Christine Valters Paintner had a conversation on Creativity, Chronic Illness, and Contemplation with Mike Petrow on his podcast The Healer with a Thousand Faces (also available through audio podcast channels). Joins us in Lent 2027 for the retreat The Wisdom of Our Wounds: Chronic Illness
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jaqui Eicher’s reflection and poem. After reading Christine Valters Paintner’s poem, “St. Gall and the Bear,” I responded in writing to the prompt:
For Deeper Gratitude*Spirit of Generosity,we come to you with heartsoverflowing with gratitudefor your abundant creation.As we awaken each morning,help us to rememberthis day is a gift,this breath is a grace,this life a wonder.Remind uswith every flower we see,every act of kindness,every moment of connectionto something
6 Responses
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the very kind words! :-)
Exquisite.
Thank you.
Speechless…
Such exquisite, lush photos, Christine. Synchronicity abounds…just read this morning from Osho:
“That’s why in a deep presence you are the flower and the flower has become you. You are also a thought, the flower is also a thought in the mind. When there is no thinking, who is the flower and who is the one observing? The observer becomes the observed. Suddenly boundaries are lost. Suddenly you have penetrated, penetrated into the flower, and the flower has pentrated into you. Suddenly you are not two, one exists.”
Thank you, Christine……
Ah, those are so Rich with color and life. Just beautiful.
stunningly beautiful