Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Returning Home

Published: August 15, 2008
Categories: Pilgrimage

I am home once again from my month of travels, glad to be back among familiar things, my own bed, and most of all with my sweet Tune.

It was an amazing trip through Austria, Latvia, Germany, and Belgium. I have much to unpack, both literally and metaphorically. My heart is very full, there is so much stirring within me. Plus over 5000 photos to sort through!

The jet lag has hit me hard and so this weekend I will be resting and recuperating, trying to reconnect with this space and time back home. But I am eager to return here on Monday to begin processing my journey with you. I did miss this space of conversation and reflection.

-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts

(photo from the Central Cemetery Church in Vienna, Austria)

You might also enjoy

Sustainers Circle, Abundance, and Gratitude

Gratitude Blessing Spirit of Generosity, we come to you with hearts overflowing with gratitude for your abundant creation. As we awaken each morning, help us to remember this day is a gift, this breath is grace, this life a wonder. Remind us with every flower

September 24, 2023

Dancing Monk Icon Cards: Remnant and Extras Sale

We know many of you love our dancing monk icons created by artist Marcy Hall and have appreciated having sets of cards produced. This has become a bit more challenging over time as we continually add to our collection of images and some of you

September 21, 2023

Monk in the World Guest Post: Andrew Lang

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Andrew Lang’s reflection Opening our Posture to the Sacrament of the Present Moment. I sat atop the rocky Washington beach, watching the

September 20, 2023

21 Responses

Kievas Fargo says:

August 19, 2008 at 6:58 pm

Welcome back!

img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#fff;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#fff;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#fff;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-default .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#cdcdcd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#eee;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-grey .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#e5e5e5;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue > span.wpv-sort-list,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue .wpv-sort-list-item{border-color:#09c;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue .wpv-sort-list-item a{color:#444;background-color:#cbddeb;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue a:hover,.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue a:focus{color:#000;background-color:#95bedd;}.wpv-sort-list-dropdown.wpv-sort-list-dropdown-style-blue .wpv-sort-list-item.wpv-sort-list-current a{color:#000;background-color:#95bedd;}.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em;}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;}body{--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small:13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20:.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30:.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40:1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50:1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60:2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70:3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80:5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural:6px 6px 9px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep:12px 12px 50px rgba(0,0,0,.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined:6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255,255,255,1),6px 6px rgba(0,0,0,1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap:.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap:.5em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}body .is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:2em;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float:right;margin-inline-start:2em;margin-inline-end:0;}body .is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width:var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width:var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex;}body .is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}body .is-layout-flex > *{margin:0;}body .is-layout-grid{display:grid;}body .is-layout-grid > *{margin:0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em;}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}.wp-block-navigation a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color:inherit;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em;}.wp-block-pullquote{font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6;}.css-events-list thead{display:none !important;}.css-events-list table.events-table td{border:hidden;padding-left:10px;padding-bottom:20px;}.css-events-list table.events-table h4 a{margin-bottom:-2px;line-height:1em;color:#71963d !important;font-family:"Alegreya Sans",sans-serif;}.event-image .attachment-100x100{border-radius:100px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 768px){.event-image{width:110px;}}#em_widget-3{color:#e0d09e;}.content-box-green{background-color:#71963d;padding:15px;border-radius:10px;}.tb-button__link{color:white !important;background-color:#71963d;}.wp-block-verse{font-family:"Alegreya Sans",sans-serif;}

Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

Returning Home

You might also enjoy

Sustainers Circle, Abundance, and Gratitude

Dancing Monk Icon Cards: Remnant and Extras Sale

Monk in the World Guest Post: Andrew Lang

21 Responses

Upcoming Programs

Recent Reflections

Monk in the World Guest Post: Jean Wise

Sustainers Circle, Abundance, and Gratitude

Dancing Monk Icon Cards: Remnant and Extras Sale

Monk in the World Guest Post: Andrew Lang

Connect with Us