This past October we led one of our Writing on the Wild Edges retreats on the beautiful island of Inismor off the coast of Galway. We will be sharing some of the writing which participants gave us permission to share here in the next few weeks. Up next are poems by Julia Morris-Meyers. Coming? ?home,? ?Christmas to? ?dusty? ?high? ?plains front? ?door? ?opening smells? ?of? ?turkey,? ?more stockings? ?bulge,? ?fire? ?lit smiling? ?parents,? ?happy? ?we’re? ?here. Twinkling? ?lights? ?beckon while? ?Dad? ?carves? ?the? ?bird dear? ?Aunt? ?Dot? ?samples Mother? ?juggles? ?pans. Table? ?set? ?with? ?best crowded,? ?we? ?don’t? ?mind cold? ?night? ?kept? ?at?

We have lots of wonderful opportunities for you to retreat online in the coming months. There is always a vibrant community that gathers, live sessions with Christine Valters Paintner, and materials stay available to you long after the retreat, so you can linger as long as you need. Birthing the Holy: Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine (Advent online retreat) December 3, 2017-January 1, 2018 Early registration discount when you sign up before November 6th! For Advent we have a beautiful retreat in the works for you exploring the wisdom of Mary and the sacred feminine. This retreat is

This past October we led one of our Writing on the Wild Edges retreats on the beautiful island of Inismor off the coast of Galway. We will be sharing some of the writing which participants gave us permission to share here in the next few weeks. Up next are poems by Anne McDermaid. Dry Stone Walls Sea walls of boulders look invincible barricades constructed against the tides and forces of nature yet here and there I see breaks where fresh air and storm surges wash into sparse fields and change the patterns of survival once again. Stone can fence you in or protect

Stephen Roach who hosts the wonderful Mystics and Makers podcast interviewed me for an episode about my book The Artist’s Rule, creativity and spirituality, and ways to nourish the artistic life. Click here to listen to the podcast >>

Last year Jo-Ellen Darling participated in our Monk in the World pilgrimage and shares this beautiful poem inspired by the magical island of Inismor off the coast of Galway. The Ride to Inismore by Jo-Ellen Darling A shaft of light spills over water and shimmers – then another – holy places, reminders of Eternal One welcome me to Inismore. Soon the rhythm of waves lulls me in arms warm and wide. What great or small miracle will I meet today? Seabirds join alongside us, excitedly they flap and glide, keeping up with us, chuckling to themselves. Then something half out

We are delighted to share that our Soul’s Slow Ripening pilgrimage in Ireland next May and our Hildegard of Bingen pilgrimage in Germany next September are both FULL! If you want to be added to the waiting list for either just get in touch with us. If you still want to join us in Ireland next spring, there are just a few spaces left for our Monk in the World pilgrimage May 1-9, 2018 (also space in October) or perhaps you want to be creatively inspired by Writing on the Wild Edges August 26-September 1, 2018. We won’t be adding any further dates to these offerings and would love to welcome you

This past April we led one of our Writing on the Wild Edges retreats on the beautiful island of Inismor off the coast of Galway. We will be sharing some of the writing which participants gave us permission to share here in the next few weeks. Up next are poems by Lucy Wilson. (If you’d like to join us, we have our dates open for 2018 – August 26-September 1) ST. CIARAN’S WELL AND CHURCH At St. Ciaran’s holy well my prostrated body stretched till finger tips touched holy water. I brushed my forehead a baptism of resurrection. The well green-surrounded: moss, ferns, wild