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Monk in the World Guest Post: Amy Oden

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Amy Oden’s reflection on the power of the contemplative stance during a time of disorientation. It hit me first in my stomach, a gut punch I was not braced for: news that I would no longer be needed to teach a load of courses that I had, in one way or another, taught for almost 35 years. On one level, I knew this time would come. In fact, it needed to come. It was healthy and in

November 15, 2023

Litany of Guadalupe and the Story of Dance

Here at Abbey of the Arts we have a commitment to seeking out and uplifting a wide range of cultural expressions of artistry and Spirit. Our culminating song/prayer dance on our Birthing the Holy CD/DVD features a tune composed by an indigenous Guatemalan composer, Tomás Pascual from the 17th Century. This song was adapted by our dear friend, Laura Ash with bilingual lyrics she wrote to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s a beautiful blend of ancient and new devotions! When we came to filming the dance/prayer, I found a gorgeous shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe here in the Northwest at

June 13, 2023

Update to Our Online Learning Platform

On Tuesday, May 2nd Ruzuku, our online retreat platform, will begin migrating our programs to their updated format. You will still have access to all of your material through the same link though the interface will look a little different. You can log in to your account at any time using the link at the top of AbbeyoftheArts.com. Please email Melinda at dancingmonk@abbeyofthearts.com if you have any questions. For technical support, please contact university@ruzuku.com.

April 26, 2023

Hildy Tail: The Weary Prophet (1 Kings 19:1-10)

This week we are featuring one of our Hildy Tails. This series of essays were composed last year for our Sustainers Circle. They were dictated to John by the Abbey’s mascot, Hildy the Monk-ey. Hildy is a bit of a free spirit who likes to entertain and doesn’t normally feel constrained by conventional story structure . . . or grammar, in general. She lives by the motto that “all stories are true; some actually happened.” We wanted to share them with you, our wider Abbey community, to give you a small monkey-sized, humorous perspective on some biblical passages and stories

March 17, 2023

Monk in the World Guest Post: Marianne Patrevito

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Marianne Patrevito’s reflection “Bits and Pieces.” I love art and the creative process. I love playing with paint and shreds of paper forming something, anything that is expressive. I came to art in my middle time of life, when I was in dire need of a healing process. The years prior to this time, had been years of chaos, struggle and loss. It was around this time that I was introduced to Process Painting. Process Painting is

February 22, 2023

A Christmas Blessing

This blessing dances at the doorwayof light and dark, knows both as sacred:fertile womb space, miracle of blooming. This blessing breathesthrough those moments of laborwhen you too birth the holyinto this fragile, luminous, hurting world as Mary did two thousand years ago,eyes wide, hands gripping,waters breaking like crashing wavesof the primordial seasending a prayer through timethat echoes still,pulsing like starlightin an enormous sky. This blessing rests a handon the back of the lonelydisorientedlosthungrydespairingpersecutedto say your humanity is not an obstaclebut a threshold, to remind youthat the wound is a portalthrough which your gifts pour forth,that raw ache you feelis the

December 21, 2022

Spiritual Wanderlust Podcast Interview

Christine Valters Paintner was interview by Kelly Deutsch on the Spiritual Wanderlust podcast. Together we dive into: 🔸 Why Mary has so many names🔹 Christine’s favorite name of Mary at this season in her life (it may surprise you!)🔸 How Christine ended up the abbess of an online monastery🔹How her love for Jungian thought intersects with her Catholic spirituality🔸 How the passing of her own mother birthed a book on Mary🔹Mary as warrior (an image in stark contrast to the placid woman in blue we usually see!)🔸 What was Hildegard’s favorite name for Mary, and what it has to do

December 17, 2022

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Monk in the World Guest Post: Amy Oden

Litany of Guadalupe and the Story of Dance

Update to Our Online Learning Platform

Hildy Tail: The Weary Prophet (1 Kings 19:1-10)

Monk in the World Guest Post: Marianne Patrevito

A Christmas Blessing

Spiritual Wanderlust Podcast Interview

Upcoming Programs

Recent Reflections

Christmas and New Year Blessings ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

Winter Solstice Blessing ~ A Love from Your Online Abbess

End of Year Giving

Monk in the World Guest Post: Melanie-Préjean Sullivan

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