Quietness Inside this new love, die. Your way begins on the other side. Become the sky. Take an axe to the prison wall. Escape. Walk out like somebody suddenly born into color. Do it now. You’re covered with thick cloud. Slide out the side. Die, and be quiet. Quietness is the surest sign that you’ve died. Your old life was a frantic running from silence. The speechless full moon comes out now. -Rumi
Saint Bernard in the fields at Clairvaux. For Hilary. That day as the sun set, its afterglow flooded the world with light like the meeting of heaven and earth; then the great bell of the abbey tolled the vesper; the workers in the fields lowered their scythes and bowed their heads or knelt on the sharp stubble; a grasshopper rested on the rough hem of my robe; nature held its breath and knew eternity I listened as the echo of the bell took all my listening, and then was heard no more; but listening remained; the silence became full of
Either you will go through this door or you will not go through. If you go through there is always the risk of remembering your name. Things look at you doubly and you must look back and let them happen. If you do not go through it is possible to live worthily to maintain your attitudes to hold your position to die bravely but much will blind you, much will evade you, at what cost who knows? The door itself makes no promises. It is only a door. -Adrienne Rich Stop by Creative Liberty to read an interview with me
On Angels All was taken away from you: white dresses, wings, even existence. Yet I believe in you, messengers. There, where the world is turned inside out, a heavy fabric embroidered with stars and beasts, you stroll, inspecting the trustworthy seams. Short is your stay here: now and then at a matinal hour, if the sky is clear, in a melody repeated by a bird, or in the smell of apples at close of day when the light makes the orchards magic. They say somebody has invented you but to me this does not sound convincing for the humans invented
Getting There You take a final step and, look, suddenly You’re there. You’ve arrived At the one place all your drudgery was aimed for: This common ground Where you stretch out, pressing your cheek to sandstone. What did you want To be? You’ll remember soon. You feel like tinder Under a burning glass, A luminous point of change. The sky is pulsing Against the cracked horizon, Holding it firm till the arrival of stars In time with your heartbeats. Like wind etching rock, you’ve made a lasting impression On the self you were By having come all this way through
___________________________________ AWAKENING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT: Bringing the Expressive Arts to Spiritual Direction is currently in stock at Amazon.com – Order a copy full of ideas and inspirations for bringing the arts to soul care ministries! ___________________________________ *REGISTER FOR THE SUMMER SESSION* July 19-August 29, 2010 The early registration discount is extended until March 10th ($125 per class instead of $150) There are only a few spots left in each class! ___________________________________ © Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts: Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky
