Abbey of the Arts

Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

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  • Books
    • 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
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    • Walk the Ancient Paths: Pilgrimage
      • Monk in the World (Ireland)
      • The Soul’s Slow Ripening (Ireland)
      • Writing on the Wild Edges (Ireland)
      • Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea, and Stone:
        An Embodied Writing and Voice Retreat (Ireland)
      • Hildegard of Bingen (Germany)
      • Vienna Monk in the World (Austria)
    • Live Programs and Spiritual Retreats
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit: Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Northwest)
      • Earth Monastery Intensive:
        Nourishing Intimacy with Nature for Soul Care Practitioners (Scotland)
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit:
        Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Scotland)
    • Community Online Retreats
      • Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist:
        A 12-Week Companion Retreat to The Artist's Rule
      • Dreaming of the Sea:
        A women’s discernment journey through the story of the Selkie
    • Self-Study Spirituality Online Classes
      • Sacred Seasons:
        A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
      • Earth as Original Monastery:
        Retrieving Our Lost Intimacy with Creation
      • Women on the Threshold:
        The Wild Heart of Longing
      • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire
      • A Midwinter God:
        Making a Conscious Underworld Journey
      • Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert:
        An Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
      • Practicing Resurrection through Creativity and Archetypes
      • Exile and Coming Home:
        An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures
      • Eyes of the Heart:
        Photography as Contemplative Practice
      • Sacred Time:
        Claiming Holy Rhythms for Our Lives
      • Lectio Divina:
        The Sacred Art of Reading the World
      • The Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine
      • The Wisdom of the Body:
        A 10-Week Online Companion Retreat to the Book
      • Watershed Moments
        in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
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The Soul of a Pilgrim:
Eight Practices for the Journey Within

Pilgrimage book cover

Spirituality and Practice has named The Soul of a Pilgrim one of the best spiritual books of 2015! 
(click the link to see the entire list)

by Christine Valters Paintner, PhD
(Ave Maria Press 2015)

To order through Amazon.com click here

To order through Barnes and Noble click here

To order through Ave Maria Press click here

The renowned author of eight books and abbess of the online retreat center Abbey of the Arts, Christine Valters Paintner takes readers on a new kind of pilgrimage: an inner journey to discover the heart of God. Eight stages of the pilgrim's way–from hearing the call to coming home–are accompanied by scripture stories of great biblical journeys and the author's unique and creative practices of prayer, writing, and photography.

As she did in The Artist's Rule and Eyes of the Heart, Christine Valters Paintner once again helps readers travel to the frontiers of their souls to discover the hidden presence of God. In The Soul of a Pilgrim, Paintner identifies eight stages of the pilgrim's way and shows how to follow these steps to make an intentional, transformative journey to the reader's inner "wild edges." Each phase of the exploration requires a distinct practice such as packing lightly, being uncomfortable, or embracing the unknown. Paintner shows how to cultivate attentiveness to the divine through deep listening, patience, and opening oneself to the gifts that arise in the midst of discomfort.

Each of the eight chapters offers reflections on the themes, a scripture story, an invitation to the practice of lectio divina, and a creative exploration through photography and writing.

The Soul of a Pilgrim has been named one of the best books of 2015 by Spirituality and Practice!

Printable Bookmark and Infographic

Download a printable bookmark with the 8 practices>>

Download a printable infographic with details of the 8 practices>>

Webinar

The Parish Pilgrim: Cultivating Intentional Inner Journeys

Interviews

A print interview with Christine at Carl McColman's website

A print interview with Christine at Patheos for the June Book Club

A radio interview with Christine at On Call with Wendy Wiese

A print interview with Christine with Sibyl Dana Reynolds at Sacred Life Arts

A print interview with Christine at Always We Begin Again with Judy Smoot

A print interview with Christine at AnamCara with Tara Owens

Reviews

At Clare Bangasser's blog A Seat at the Table

Other Blog Reflections on The Soul of a Pilgrim

Bruce Epperly responds to my book in his blog post Everyday Pilgrimage>>

Lisa Burgess responds to my book in her blog post Design Your Own Pilgrimage>>

Carl McColman responds to my book in his blog post Life is a Pilgrimage: Embrace the Journey>>

Christine offers a guest post at God Space on pilgrimage>>

Praise for the Book

thesoulofapilgrim-infographic

(see above for printable version of this graphic)

"This creative, moving book beckons the pilgrim into the inner journey through daily life. Deeply grounded in creative spiritual practices, it is both a guidebook and an inspiration." —Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook, Author of Pilgrimage–The Sacred Art

"Of all the books that Christine Paintner has written, this is by far my personal favorite. To refer to it as a comprehensive manual for the journey doesn't do justice to the incredible richness of its resources. It definitely reawakened the inner pilgrim in me!" —Wil Hernandez, Obl. O.S.B., Founder and Executive Director, CenterQuest.org

"Making our own pilgrimage to the heart inside our heart is perhaps the most challenging and yet most rewarding journey we can make. The Soul of a Pilgrim is the perfect companion to have in our pocket along the way." —Bruce Davis, Retreat Leader, SilentStay.com

"Christine Valters Paintner and her husband John beckon the reader toward a transformative way of pilgrimage. Poetry, practices, and midrash weave this wisdom into daily life." —Mary C. Earle, Author of Marvelously Made: Gratefulness and the Body

"Christine Valters Paintner's latest work is an invitation to take leave of the familiar and go on pilgrimage–not necessarily by traveling abroad, but by simplifying one's life, letting go of pre-conceived and perhaps deeply rooted notions, and opening oneself up to the Spirit of wisdom in one's heart. Complemented by the scriptural reflections of her husband, John, and her own creative poetry, this marvelous book takes the reader on a journey of discovery that can profoundly change the direction of one's life." —Edward Sellner, Author of Pilgrimage: Exploring a Great Spiritual Practice

"Because Paintner is a spiritual director herself, she seems keenly aware of the questions that true pilgrims of the spiritual life ask, hold, and seek. . . Interspersed are the author's thought-provoking poems and prayers, yet another opportunity to get a glimpse of her unusual life. . . This book like Paintner's others, is about process. That is, it is meant to be savored and practiced with deliberation, not skimmed, or read all at once. . . This book is testimony to the author's deep listening, total commitment to the pilgrimage within, and her willingness to share the gifts that she has received along the road." —Donna Erickson Couch in Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction
 
 
"For those who appreciate thoughtful writing that encourages a look inward, without the nose rub into our imperfections or improvement that might only come with severe discipline and Herculean achievement, The Soul of a Pilgrim will not disappoint. The latest writing of Benedictine oblate, artist, and spiritual director Christine Paintner, beckons us to pilgrimage, not simply travel but seeking: a creative exploration of our interior life, trusting the wisdom and current of Spirit as we journey in the loving presence of God." —Liguorian magazine
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Upcoming Programs

Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist:
A 12-Week Companion Retreat to The Artist's Rule (ONLINE)

May 28-August 18, 2018
with Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE and Stacy Wills & Cheryl Macpherson

Dreaming of the Sea:
A women’s discernment journey through the story of the Selkie (ONLINE)

September 24-November 10, 2018
with Christine Valters Paintner, Aisling Richmond, and Polly Burns

Recent Reflections

  • Monk in the World Guest Post: Amanda K. Berg
  • Updates on 2019 Retreats & Pilgrimages – Join Us!
  • What is Blossoming Within You? (continued) ~ A Love Note from your Online Abbess
  • Monk in the World Guest Post: Johanneke Strydom
  • Please read carefully to continue receiving Abbey soul nourishment to your inbox.

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