Dancing Monk Feast Days: Reflections, Creative Invitations, and Prayers

Order Now Description Sample Creative Invitation and Prayer January 15th: St. Íta of Killeedy (c. 480–January 15, 570) I thirst for divine love. Íta is the second most significant woman saint in Ireland after Brigid, and her name means thirst. When she was young, she had a dream where she was gifted three precious stones. Unsure […]

When It Feels as if the World Is Ending ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

When It Feels as if the World Is Ending*Holy Ground of Love,the world so often feels as if it is endingwith news of wars raging, children dying,fires burning, floods rising—so much suffering, so much cruelty.My heart feels like a tree rotting away,my throat is full of gravel,my gut a boulder,my eyes swollen with tears.With the […]

Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

For Glimpses of Heaven Here and Now*Sacred Source of Joy,help us to see glimpsesof heaven all around us,in the urgency of each spring’s blooming,in the simple gifts of waterto bathe in and drink,in our morning tea or coffee,with steam rising like this prayer,in the dog’s pleading eyesor the warm embrace of a friend,in the food […]

Announcing the Map of the Dancing Monks

As a virtual monastery, our community reaches around the globe. As of November 2025, over 1700 people have affirmed the Monk Manifesto to join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks, committing to live a compassionate, contemplative, and creative life.  We love how our virtual format allows dancing monks around the world to stand in solidarity […]

A Book of Everyday Blessings: 100 Prayers for Dancing Monks, Artists, and Pilgrims

Order Now Reflection Guide A Spirituality of Blessing: 21 Day Self-Study Retreat Description Purchase Options When you purchase books through the links to Bookshop.org, Blackwells.co.uk, or Amazon.com, Abbey of the Arts is provided with a very small percentage of your purchase price at no extra cost to you. We apply these funds toward scholarships for […]

Map of the Dancing Monks

Join the Map of Dancing Monks Our community reaches around the globe. We invite you to participate, connect, and be part of our Abbey. Join Now View Map As a virtual monastery, our community reaches around the globe. As of November 2025, over 1700 people have affirmed the Monk Manifesto to join the Holy Disorder […]

Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist

Jan 12, 2026 – Jan 13, 2026 @ 3:30 pm GMT – 4:30 pm GMT –

with Christine Valters Paintner and guest teachers

Our retreat 12 week companion retreat to the book The Artist’s Rule will explore where the paths of the monk and artist meet. Drawing on monastic spirituality from the wisdom of desert, Celtic, and Benedictine traditions, we will explore together contemplative practices that support and encourage the flowering of our creative visions.