Abbey of the Arts

Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

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    • About Christine Valters Paintner
    • About John Valters Paintner
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  • Books
    • Breath Prayer:
      An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred
    • Sacred Time:
      Embracing an Intentional Way of Life
    • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: Poems
    • Earth, Our Original Monastery:
      Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature
    • Dreaming of Stones: Poems
    • The Soul's Slow Ripening:
      12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred
    • The Wisdom of the Body:
      A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women
    • Illuminating the Way:
      Embracing the Wisdom of Monks and Mystics
    • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
      Eight Practices for the Journey Within
    • Eyes of the Heart:
      Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice
    • The Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom
    • Desert Mothers and Fathers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Annotated & Explained
    • Lectio Divina–The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart-Centered Prayer
    • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements
    • Awakening the Creative Spirit:
      Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction
    • Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening & Awareness
  • Poetry | Art | Music
    • Music + DVD
    • Poetry by Christine Valters Paintner
    • Poetry Videos
    • Dancing Monk Icons
    • Other Art Collaborations
      • Monk in the World art series by Kristin Noelle
      • Saints & Animals art series by David Hollington
      • Sacred Time art series by Alexi Francis
      • Mary block print art series by Kreg Yingst
  • Programs
    • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color Book Club
      • Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color (Book Club – March 2021)
      • God Alone is Enough: A Spirited Journey with Teresa of Avila (Book Club – February 2021)
    • Community Online Retreats
      • Harriet Tubman and Howard Thurman-on Being Free
      • Writing Into Bloom
        with Christine Valters Paintner
      • Revelations: The Mysticism of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe
      • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: A Weekend Retreat Online
      • The Spiral Way:
        Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination
      • Sacred Balance:
        Aligning Body and Spirit Through
        Yoga and the Benedictine Way
    • Self-Study Online Spiritual Retreats
      • Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert:
        An Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
      • Dreaming of the Sea:
        A women’s discernment journey through the story of the Selkie
      • Earth, Our Original Monastery
        A Companion Retreat to the Book (SELF-STUDY)
      • Exile and Coming Home:
        An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures
      • Eyes of the Heart:
        Photography as Contemplative Practice
        (Companion retreat to the book)
      • Honoring Saints and Ancestors:
        Online Retreat for the Season of Remembrance
      • Lectio Divina:
        The Sacred Art of Reading the World
      • A Midwinter God:
        Making a Conscious Underworld Journey (SELF-STUDY)
      • Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea & Stone:
        A Creative Retreat with the Elements (SELF-STUDY)
      • Sacred Seasons:
        A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
      • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
        Eight Practices for the Journey Within
        (a companion retreat to the book)
      • The Soul's Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seekers of the Sacred (a companion retreat to the book)
      • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire
      • Watershed Moments
        in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
      • Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist:
        A 12-Week Companion Retreat to The Artist's Rule
      • The Wisdom of the Body:
        A 10-Week Online Companion Retreat to the Book
      • The Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine
    • Live Programs: Pilgrimage & Retreats
      • Writing on the Wild Edges (Ireland)
      • Hildegard of Bingen (Germany)
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit: Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Northwest)
  • Calendar
  • Reflections
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The Power of Archetypes

Archetypes are symbols or patterns which appear across cultures.  We find them in the great myths and stories of religious traditions, we find them in our nighttime dreams.  They are active within each of us as a multiplicity of energies which we can draw upon.  When we are living from a place of balance and fullness we have access to more dimensions of ourselves. 

Most of us tend to identify with a few dominant archetypes.  Maybe you find a powerful sense of life purpose in caring for others and identify more with the Mother archetype.  Maybe your story carries a lot of abandonment and you identify with the Orphan.  Here at the Abbey we explore the inner Monk (the aspect of us seeking presence to the sacred in all things) and inner Artist (the aspect of us seeking to give form to beauty in the world) a great deal.

Each archetype has a shadow side and a light side.  Exploring them illuminates our places of growth, calls us to step fully into our deepest passions in service to the world, and ultimately bring us to a place of greater internal freedom. They can be deeply supportive of the creative process, opening up access to different resources within us.  The archetypes can offer us a powerful support for our creative living and reflection on what our passions are and what holds us back.  They connect us to the place where Spirit is alive and moving in us.

When we over-identify with one or two archetypes our lives feel more narrow and constricting.  We sense there is a greater fullness awaiting us but we need to draw on different energies to access this inner spaciousness – for some the Warrior is a challenging energy to experience and yet it is the place within us that creates strong boundaries and protection for what is most valuable.  For others, the Sovereign may be a place of growth, calling upon this archetype can offer a sense of strength in taking full responsibility for your choices in life.

Join me this Easter season for a journey of practicing resurrection!  When the forty days of Lent are over will you enter into the season that celebrates new life by giving yourself time for creative exploration and discovery?

I am delighted to have several marvelous teaching partners including Kayce Hughlett who will reflect on the archetypes and offer SoulCollage(R) and other meditations, Betsey Beckman who will offer guided movement experiences, and River's Voice who will be offering their music.

Ready to join us in practicing your own resurrection?

The scripture readings are archetypal which means that they reflect back to us the sacred energies and voices within each of us.  We will be exploring the following themes together through reflection, meditation, creative explorations, movement, and song:

Week One: Sunday, April 24th – Easter

  • Artist/Creator – I am the One who creates anew, who brings things to life

Week Two: Sunday, May 1st – Doubting Thomas

  • Doubter – I am the One who questions and doubts

Week Three: Sunday, May 8th – Road to Emmaus

  • Journeyer – I am the One who journeys and seeks

Week Four: Sunday, May 15th – Jesus as Gatekeeper

  • Gatekeeper/Warrior – I am the One who sets and protects boundaries

Week Five: Sunday, May 22nd – I am the way truth and life

  • Truth-Teller/Sage – I am the One who tells the truth

Week Six: Sunday, May 29th – If you love me, you will keep my commandment

  • Lover – I am the One who loves

Week Seven: Sunday, June 5th – Ascension

  • Sovereign – I am the One who lives into my own power

Week Eight: Sunday, June 12th – Pentecost (end of retreat)

  • Magician – I am the One who transforms

You can sign up for the Easter retreat here! (registration ends Sunday, April 24th)

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Leave a Comment April 13, 2011

Upcoming Programs

  • The Two HT’s Harriet Tubman and Howard Thurman on Being Free with Therese Taylor-Stinson
    • Apr 17, 2021
  • Writing Into Bloom with Christine Valters Paintner
    • May 1, 2021
  • Revelations: The Mysticism of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe
    • May 13, 2021
  • View All Upcoming Programs

Recent Reflections

  • Monk in the World Guest Post: Greta Kopec
  • Monk in the World Podcast + Harriet Tubman Mysticism ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color – April Video Discussion and Book Group Materials Now Available
  • Hildy Tails 12: Is ait an mac an saol ~ by John Valters Paintner
  • Easter Blessings + An Elemental Journey ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

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