Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred
A companion retreat to the book.
- Online retreat
- Self-study, start anytime
- Move at your own pace, in your own place
- Lifetime access
Registration Fee: $120 USD
Are you holding your breath?
Do you long for prayer that is woven through the activities of your daily life?
What might it feel like if you could release into the sacred moment?
Program Description
For centuries the practice of breath prayer has helped center people from a variety of faith traditions on the sacred in everyday life. Through brief words of prayer or petition said silently to the rhythm of one’s breath, this simple, meditative act combines praise for the divine with focused intention, creating a profound spiritual connection in the quiet, and even mundane, moments of the day. In her book Breath Prayer: Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred, Christine Valters Paintner, online abbess of Abbey of the Arts, introduces us to this spiritual practice and offers forty beautiful poem-prayers for walking, working, dressing, cleaning, sitting in silence, doing the dishes, living in community—breathing the divine into our daily lives. Over time these recitations become as natural as breathing. We don’t so much recite the prayers as the prayers recite us, guide us, and open our hearts to the everyday sacred. With each of these prayers, Paintner includes reflections on life’s ordinary beauty and heartfelt advice for discovering the sacred all around. Breath Prayer concludes with guidance for creating your own breath prayers to deepen your practice.
This online companion retreat immerses you in this practice with extra wisdom from Christine in recordings of weekly webinar sessions offered during a community version of the retreat, weekly scripture reflections from John Valters Paintner, reflections on biblical art from Dr. Amanda Dillon, and invitations into contemplative movement through breath with Dr. Jamie Marich.
Please keep in mind that these recordings were originally done for our Advent retreat and there may be an occasional reference to the season of Advent, however the materials are applicable any time of year.
You will need to purchase a copy of Breath Prayer in addition to the retreat.
What's Included
- Six days a week you receive an email with a link to the day’s content. The materials are in written, video, and/or audio format which you can view and listen to at any time. The seventh day is a day for rest and integration.
- 4 one hour webinar recordings with Christine Valters Paintner to introduce the week's theme
- 4 Written scripture reflections from John Valters Paintner
- 4 Dancing Mindfulness videos with Jamie Marich
- 4 Videos on Biblical Art Reflections with Amanda Dillon
- Reflection questions and a closing blessing for each week
- Closed captioning and transcripts
- Lifetime access to all online programs.
We don't so much recite the prayers as the prayers recite us, guide us, and open our hearts to the everyday sacred.
Weekly Themes
Week 1:
The Original Breath
An introduction to breath prayer. We explore the second Creation story where God breathes life into the human being. We are animated and sustained moment by moment in this holy breath.
Week 2:
Deepening Your Breath Prayer Practice
We explore the story of Ezekiel's dry bones and the way the gift of breath re-animates our arid places with renewed vitality.
Week 3:
Embracing Your Mortality
We explore the moment when Jesus breathes his last breath. This invites us into a consideration of memento mori and how our mortality can teach us about living more fully.
Week 4:
Creating Your Own Breath Prayers
An introduction to creating your own breath prayers. We explore the story of Pentecost when Jesus breathes on the disciples and the Holy Spirit comes like a rushing wind to send them forth into the world.
Weekly Rhythm of Content
Six days a week you will receive an email with a link to that day’s content. The seventh day is a time for rest and integration. The materials are in written, video, and audio format which you can view or listen to at any time. You have lifetime access to the materials in the retreat.
Day 1: Hour long webinar recording with Christine Valters Paintner includes overview of the week, meditation and reflection, song, and movement video.
Day 2: Written Scripture Reflection with John Valters Paintner
Day 3: Dancing Mindfulness videos with Jamie Marich
Day 4: Videos on biblical art relating to breath with Amanda Dillon (includes PDFs of the art)
Day 5: Questions for Reflection
Day 6: Closing Blessing
Day 7: Sabbath rest and integration
Your Guides for the Journey
Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE
Christine is the 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, 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.
John Valters Paintner, MTS
John studied education and earned a teaching certificate in his home state of California. John later went on to earn a Masters in Theological Studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. After working in parish ministry for several years, John returned to the classroom, teaching high school religion for twelve years. He now works as Prior of the Abbey of the Arts alongside his wife of twenty years, Abbess Christine. Visit the “About John” page for more information.
Amanda Dillon, PhD
Jamie Marich, Ph.D.
Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, REAT, RMT, RYT-500 (she/they) travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, expressive arts, LGBTQ issues, spirituality, yoga, and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice in her home base of Northeast Ohio. Jamie is also the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness expressive arts practice. Jamie is the author of several books including Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation (2015, with foreword by Christine Valters Paintner) and Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery released in 2019, heavily influenced by the growth she has experienced through her study with Abbey of the Arts! Now primarily a North Atlantic Book author, she has recently released Trauma and the 12 Steps: An Inclusive Guide to Recovery (2020), Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu (2022), and Dissociation Made Simple: A Stigma-Free Guide to Embracing Your Dissociative Mind and Navigating Life (2023). Their newest book is You Lied to Me About God: A Memoir (2024). Jamie is currently a seminarian in the Chaplaincy Institute’s Interfaith Ordination program. JamieMarich.com.
Let these words-and your breath-reveal the way the sacred is already present to you.
Praise for Breath Prayer Companion Retreat
Registration
$120
Registration Fee
Purchase the
Companion Book
The book is not included in the registration fee. You may purchase the book at the links below or at your local book seller. Thank you for your support!
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.
We ask that you honor our work by not sharing the program materials with others who are not enrolled.
Please contact us for permission to quote in settings beyond the program
Some self-study retreats include video or audio recordings of sessions that were recorded in a live community offering of the retreat and may make reference to forums or other modes of sharing. Please disregard these as self-study retreats do not have these available.
Your registration implies consent to be added to our weekly email newsletter. You are free to unsubscribe or change frequency at any time. We never sell your personal information.
If you choose a payment plan and stop payment before fulfilling the commitment without contacting us to make other arrangements, your access to the program will be removed.