Abbey of the Arts

Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

  • Welcome
    • Prayer Cycle
      • Day 1 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Cathedral
      • Day 2 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Scriptures
      • Day 3 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Saints
      • Day 4 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Spiritual Directors
      • Day 5 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Icon
      • Day 6 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Sacrament
      • Day 7 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Liturgy
      • Prayer Cycle Leader Resources
    • About the Abbey
    • About Christine Valters Paintner
    • About John Valters Paintner
    • About the Wisdom Council
    • Monk Manifesto
    • Join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks
    • Subscribe to Our Love Notes
    • Website privacy notice
  • Books
    • Sacred Time:
      Embracing an Intentional Way of Life
    • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: Poems
    • Earth, Our Original Monastery:
      Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature
    • Dreaming of Stones: Poems
    • 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
  • Poetry | Art | Music
    • Music + DVD
    • Poetry by Christine Valters Paintner
    • Poetry Videos
    • Dancing Monk Icons
    • Other Art Collaborations
      • Monk in the World art series by Kristin Noelle
      • Saints & Animals art series by David Hollington
      • Sacred Time art series by Alexi Francis
      • Mary block print art series by Kreg Yingst
  • Programs
    • Walk the Ancient Paths: Pilgrimage
      • Monk in the World (Ireland)
      • Writing on the Wild Edges (Ireland)
      • Poetry and the Sacred Garden of the World (Ireland)
      • Vienna Monk in the World (Austria)
      • Hildegard of Bingen (Germany)
    • Live Programs and Spiritual Retreats
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit: Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Northwest)
    • Community Online Retreats
      • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color
      • The Way of the Hermit:
        A Spiritual Survival Guide for Dark Times
        with Kayleen Asbo, PhD
      • The Spiral Way:
        Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination
      • Journey with the Desert Mothers and Fathers (Lent 2021)
      • Sacred Time: Embracing an Intentional Way of Life (Spring 2021)
    • Self-Study Online Spiritual Retreats
      • Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert:
        An Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
      • Dreaming of the Sea:
        A women’s discernment journey through the story of the Selkie
      • Earth, Our Original Monastery
        A Companion Retreat to the Book (SELF-STUDY)
      • Exile and Coming Home:
        An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures
      • Eyes of the Heart:
        Photography as Contemplative Practice
        (Companion retreat to the book)
      • Honoring Saints and Ancestors:
        Online Retreat for the Season of Remembrance
      • Lectio Divina:
        The Sacred Art of Reading the World
      • A Midwinter God:
        Making a Conscious Underworld Journey
      • Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea & Stone:
        A Creative Retreat with the Elements (SELF-STUDY)
      • Sacred Seasons:
        A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
      • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
        Eight Practices for the Journey Within
        (a companion retreat to the book)
      • The Soul's Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seekers of the Sacred (a companion retreat to the book)
      • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire
      • Watershed Moments
        in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
      • Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist:
        A 12-Week Companion Retreat to The Artist's Rule
      • The Wisdom of the Body:
        A 10-Week Online Companion Retreat to the Book
      • The Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine
  • Calendar
  • Reflections
  • Contact
Soul of a Pilgrim Online Retreat in Community

Soul of a Pilgrim Online Retreat in Community

with Christine & John Valters Paintner, and Jamie Marich

Facilitated by Melissa Layer and Amber Andreasen

April 13-June 7, 2020

Collectively, we have been sent on a pilgrimage.
There are ancient practices to help support us.
Join us and embark on the pilgrim path with kindred souls.

Description

Join us for an 8-week companion retreat* to Christine Valters Paintner's book The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within. Christine takes you 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  creative practices of prayer, writing, and photography.

In The Soul of a Pilgrim, Christine identifies eight experiences of the pilgrim's way and shows how to follow these movements to make an intentional, transformative journey to your inner "wild edges." Each phase of the exploration requires a distinct practice such as packing lightly, being uncomfortable, or embracing the unknown. She 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 creative exploration through photography, midrash writing, and meditative movement (with Jamie Marich, founder of Dancing Mindfulness).

In the weekly live webinar sessions with Christine, she will lead you through a guided meditation not included in the book, give an opportunity to share responses, and answer questions you might have about the process. Contemplative photography invites you into a deepened way of seeing the world through your lens and receiving the gift of images. Midrash is an ancient practice which originates in Jewish tradition of creative engagement with scripture stories and is similar to Ignatian prayer of the imagination.

There are also weekly videos where Jamie Marich leads you through an exploratory movement practice inspired by the scripture. Using the spirit of dancing mindfulness, or the notion that all movement is an invitation to practice meditation, you will be given a guidance of structure to get you started and then an invitation into more freedom with your movement. Through this process, you can tap into a deeper sense of connection to each scripture and notice what unfolds.

We also have a vibrant community forum lovingly tended by trained spiritual directors where you can share your own noticings, discoveries, and creative process.

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

All materials are hosted on a private teaching platform with weekly live webinars and other audio guidance from Christine Valters Paintner to deepen into the materials along with a special guided meditation to begin each week that is not included in the book. All mp3 files can be downloaded and all videos can be streamed.

*Please note: You will need to purchase a copy of The Soul of a Pilgrim to use for this retreat. It is currently on sale in e-book format for 99 cents (on US Amazon) until April 15th.

 

Weekly Themes

Week 1: The practice hearing the call and responding

Week 2: The practice of packing lightly

Week 3: The practice of crossing the threshold

Week 4: The practice of making the way by walking

Week 5: The practice of being uncomfortable

Week 6: The practice of beginning again

Week 7: The practice of embracing the unknown

Week 8: The practice of coming home

Webinar Times

Webinars will take place each Monday at 5 p.m. Ireland/UK time for the 8 weeks of the program.

April 13, 20, 27, May  4, 11, 18, 25, June 1, 2020

(12 noon Eastern/9 am Pacific time)

After you register please make sure your time zone is correct in your Profile settings (click on your name at the top of the screen). You will receive a notification one hour before the webinar begins with a direct link to access.

Daily Schedule

Six days each week you receive an email with a link to the day's content. The 7th day is a time for rest and integration. The added materials (in addition to the book) are in audio and video format which you can listen to at any time. You have lifetime access to the materials in the course.

We will have a facilitated forum for sharing and reflection with kindred spirits.

Monday: Live webinar session with Christine Valters Paintner (will be recorded if you can't join us live)

Tuesday: Scripture reflection from John Valters Paintner (with audio lectio divina meditation)

Wednesday: Midrash Exploration (with audio)

Thursday: Photography Exploration (with audio)

Friday: Movement Invitation from Jamie Marich (with video)

Saturday: Closing Blessing (with audio)

Sunday: Sabbath rest

Program Fee: Please discern what you can afford

In an effort to keep this program accessible to everyone, we ask you to prayerfully discern what you can afford. There are several options below.

If you are unable to afford any payment due to loss of job or disability, please get in touch with us.

Please note: You will also need to purchase a copy of The Soul of a Pilgrim. The e-book version is currently on sale on the U.S. Amazon site for 99 cents until April 15th.

Regular Program Fee USD$120
Sponsorship Fee | with added donation USD$180
Payment Plan | 3 monthly payments of USD$40
Reduced Fee | partial scholarship USD$60
ONLINE COURSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

There are no refunds for online purchases.

You have forever access to the program materials.

For technical issues please contact university@ruzuku.com.

*Those who have registered previously for the Soul of a Pilgrim online retreat in either community or self-study format, and those in the community version of our Jubilee retreat, are welcome to choose the reduced program fee.

Your Guides for the Journey

Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE is a writer, spiritual director, teacher, and retreat & pilgrimage guide. She is the author of thirteen books on contemplative practice and creative expression including her forthcoming book this spring 2020, Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature and her second collection of poems in fall 2020, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Christine lives in Galway, Ireland with her husband John where together they steward Abbey of the Arts, a global monastery, and lead pilgrimages to the wild edges.

 

John Valters Paintner, MTS is the online prior for Abbey of the Arts, where he assists his wife Christine in ministering to this global community both online and through in-person programs. John was a youth minister and pastoral associate for four years before becoming a high school religion teacher for twelve years, prior to moving to Ireland. He has a Masters of Theological Studies from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. His love for the Bible, particularly the Hebrew Scriptures, emerged when he taught the “Old Testament” at an all-boys high school. John is also a lover of the art of story-telling and has written dozens of short stories, one-act plays, and short films in a variety of genres.

Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RMT
(Dr.) Jamie travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR, trauma, addiction, expressive arts, LGBTQ issues, spirituality and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Warren, OH. Jamie is also the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness expressive arts practice. Jamie is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps: A Complete Guide for Recovery Enhancement (2012), and Trauma Made Simple: Competencies in Assessment, Treatment, and Working with Survivors. Her newest book, Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation released in the Fall of 2015 (with foreword by Christine Valters Paintner). She is currently working on her latest book (in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Dansiger) EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care. Visit Jamie's website here>>

Forum Facilitators and Tenders of the Sanctuary

Amber Andreasen is a contemplative, ever desiring to deepen into and dance the rhythms of monk and artist.  She has trained as a spiritual director, receiving her M.A. in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from The Institute of Spiritual Formation at Talbot School of Theology. Wherever she finds herself, she desires to nurture a compassionate space where others can be listened and loved into fuller being by the Beloved.  She is continually awed by the body as sacred storyholder and storyteller, and her heart beats loudly for the weaving together of creativity and spirituality in the discovering of what it means to live an embodied, fully human life in all its mystery and wonder.

Melissa Layer, MA honors our unfolding journeys through life’s challenges and transitions as compelling invitations for creative, integrative meaning-making in BodyMindSpirit.  Her sacred calling and training as a psychospiritual therapist, hospice grief counselor and interfaith spiritual director have taught her about the potency of the “thin places” in thresholds and dark nights of the soul.  Often utilizing expressive arts for curious exploration of the Great Mystery, Melissa offers her compassionate presence and deep listening to individuals and groups. Like the honeybee for which she is named, she claims her role as “a bee of the invisible… passionately plundering the honey of the visible in order to gather it in the great golden hive of the invisible” (Rilke).  The evergreen forests of Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest are her sacred sanctuary. Melissa is available for spiritual direction by Skype, phone, email and also in-person for those living near Olympia, WA. You can visit Melissa's website here>>

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Upcoming Programs

The Way of the Hermit:
A Spiritual Survival Guide for Dark Times

January 22-24, 2021
with Kayleen Asbo, PhD

The Spiral Way:
Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination

Hosted by the Rowe Center
February 1-21, 2021
with Christine Valters Paintner, PhD

Recent Reflections

  • Humility + Join us today for live prayer! ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales 2: Tús maith leath na hoibre – by John Valters Paintner
  • New Book Club for 2021: Lift Every Voice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales One: Dia dhuit, is mise Hildy! by John Valters Paintner, Your Online Prior
  • Celebrate the Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle podcast with us!

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