Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims,
We hope you have had a restful summer. We always cherish this time of quiet reflection and dreaming into the new academic year of programs. I have savored having some time to simply be and deepen into the sacred rhythms of life.
Some of my time this summer has been spent working on a book about seven medieval women mystics. It is a tremendous gift to have some expanses of time to savor their visions and listen for their wisdom to us.
Out of this wellspring of rest, flows forth our calendar for the coming months which you can find here. Most of the year’s programs have been posted there with special thanks to our amazing program coordinator Melinda for her wonderful work putting that together. So much happens at the Abbey due to her efforts.
I am excited for the variety of programs we will be offering including more work with archetypes, writing as a spiritual practice, Celtic feasts, a spirituality of blessing, and more.
My book A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness will be published in September and is available for pre-order now. We will have a companion retreat in community for the book in January. I’ve been teaching versions of this material for many years and hold our journeys of descent as sacred times of surrender and grief and letting go so that something new might eventually enter into us.
You may notice that our pricing scale for certain events has increased slightly which has become necessary due to operating cost increases across the board. Please rest assured that we continue to offer a scholarship rate and additional scholarship support if needed. Read our Financial Access philosophy and if you have the resources to help support the participation of those with less means through donations, we are deeply grateful. U.S.-based supporters have a tax-deductible option as well.
We also have our Sustainers Circle again which starts now and carries through June 2025. This is an opportunity each year for those of you who want to support us in an ongoing way and who love to avail of our many wonderful programs.
This month I am joined by the wonderful singer Nóirín Ní Riain to lead a mini-retreat on Mary with me on August 15th, for the Feast of the Assumption. Our theme is calling on the sacred feminine for times of unraveling and we will look at Mary as Mother of the Keen, Untier of Knots, and Queen of Heaven as resources to sustain us.
We are also offering a 4-week Writing as a Spiritual Practice retreat which starts with a two-hour online session Monday, August 19th followed by 27 days of pre-recorded writing explorations that integrate breath prayer, lectio divina, inspiration from my poems and the poetry of others, and listening for the words that want to come and unfold on the page. These daily practices are designed to take 20 minutes or less and each day there are also two bonus prompts for those who have more time.
The richest part of this work for me is conversation and collaboration. While much of our contemplative journey unfolds in the solitude of the caves of our hearts, just as essential are the dialogues we have with one another. Listening and letting ourselves be changed, shaped, transformed by the images another person carries in their inner sanctuary is the gift of community. True contemplation always leads us into deeper intimacy with others, it always sparks a growing love for the world. I am blessed by the wisdom of our many guest teachers and by all of you who show up and participate in our programs in various ways, offering your insights and care to one another.
With great and growing love,
Christine
Christine Valters Paintner, OblSB, PhD, REACE
P.S. July 31st was the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Read my reflection here on how his wisdom has had a lasting impact on my spiritual journey.
