-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
(photos taken along the shore of the Hood Canal)
The winner of this week’s Poetry Party drawing will be announced later today! There’s still time to add your poem — currently up to 23 participants which is a wonderful outpouring of creative energy.
Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, My time of sabbatical from teaching is come to a close. During my writing time I was able to complete two manuscripts: a fourth collection of poetry titled What Enters Through the Open Heart (to be published by Monkfish Publishing in
As a virtual monastery, our community reaches around the globe. As of November 2025, over 1700 people have affirmed the Monk Manifesto to join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks, committing to live a compassionate, contemplative, and creative life. We love how our virtual format
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Lillian Lewis’ reflection and poem Winter Morning Prayer. I am dancing my morning prayer around an outdoor “shrine or altar” to the Great
11 Responses
No wonder that you returned from this site so filled with fresh insight–the soul is fed with such rhythms and patterns and the freedom of birds in flight, dipping and diving, and by the expanses of the sea. The sounds that accompanied these scenes can only be imagined. and the slight movement and scent of the air around you as you stood and looked, and photographed and praised. Thanks, Christine for drawing us into the intimacy of those moments of solitude and awe. What a Love Story!
Hugs–to you and one for your camera.
Beheld, Rachelle