Journey to Joy
with Christine Valters Paintner and Te Martin
Friday June 20 – Saturday June 21, 2025
Includes one two hour session each day
4-6pm Ireland
11am-1pm Eastern
8-10am Pacific
Program Description
Joy can often seem far away in a world so full of heartbreak and violence.
Have you ever felt like your joy has been stolen?
Do life and world events make you struggle to find a deep-rooted contentment?
It’s time to take a journey to joy!
Journey to Joy, a fairy tale written by Christine Valters Paintner, is about a woman at midlife who goes on an adventure to reclaim her joy and the joy of her community.
Along the way she encounters a Medicine Woman, a dragon, a canine companion, and a Wise One. The protagonist is sent on four initiations which correspond to the four seasons of the year and the four elements of wind, fire, water, and earth. She goes in search of her song, her power, her wholeness, and her ancestral wisdom.
Join us over the summer solstice for an online retreat. Together we will explore the four initiations, where you will be invited to your own experience of them through storytelling, guided meditations, and creative exploration.
Christine will be joined by the delightful Te Martin, whose gift of song will help us to enter the fairy tale realm with open-hearted wonder and delight!
The book version of the story, complete with magical, full-color illustrations by artist Domenique Serftonein, will be available to order soon.
We will turn on closed captioning during the live Zoom session (which you are able to turn off in your settings if you find distracting) as well as provide a video recording with closed captioning available and a text transcript of the session.
The program will be recorded for those who pre-register but are unable to attend at the scheduled time or who want to view again. You will be sent a notification when this is ready to view.
You have lifetime access to all online programs.
Your Guides for the Journey
Christine Valters Paintner
Christine Valters Paintner is the online Abbess and director of AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery exploring contemplative practice, creative expression, and ways to nourish an earth-cherishing consciousness. She is a spiritual director, teacher, pilgrimage guide, Benedictine oblate, and author of numerous books on spirituality and the arts. Her deepest belief is that the earth is the original monastery–a wisdom guide and mentor in living a soulful and vibrant life. Visit the “About Christine” page for more information.
Te Martin
Theresa “Te” Martin (they/them), has been studying and leading community singing since 2017. They were born on Ramaytush Ohlone land in san francisco and have been shaped by Ocean, Redwoods, circus arts, and theater games. Lately, some of the questions they have been asking are: “How can I offer song + ritual arts that are in service to healing?” and, “What are the sounds and stories of my Celtic ancestors?” Te holds a B.A. in Theology from St. Louis University and lives at the cross-section of spiritual practice, earth-connection, social justice, and artistic expression. Check out their EP, “Water & Bones”, and music video. Visit Te’s Patreon Page.
Registration
Please be careful to enter your correct email address when you register.
$50
reduced fee
- Includes partial scholarship
- Select this only if you require financial assistance
If you are in need of additional financial assistance please fill out our Scholarship Request form.
Terms and Conditions
Please consider your purchase carefully and review the many free materials we have on our website to make sure the program will be a good fit or get in touch with any questions.
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