The Soul's Slow Ripening 16.12.18

The SOUL'S SLOW RIPENING

12 Celtic Practices Seeking the Sacred

~

~ by Christine Valters Paintner
Released September 2018
~ Unique and useful insights shared for our growth spiritually as we pursue our faith life and journey.  Ms Paintner is adept at instructing new thought and practice, gently and creatively.  Which is essential to our comprehension and willingness to interpret life changes.
~ Moving in these new directions of discernment the creative responses inspired by our
"soul's slow ripening" to sweetness is pure art.. 
The Celtic ways and practices presented resonate at deeper and creative levels than a sole focus of the intellectual discernment.
~ I'm delighted to have these options and examples from early saints.
 As well as learning to hear and heed the seasonal calls and rhythms of God's Spirit.  Invitations to themed contemplative walks,  inspiring writing, art, poetry
 all influenced by God's creation in landscape and seasons,
 will undoubtedly influence a new way of seeing and being.
~ I, for one, am grateful. 
And as a spiritual director, soul friend,
this also is an exploration of benefit to the blessing of others.    ~



~*~ FIND MORE FHC on BOOK DEPOSITORY | PINTEREST | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | NETWORKED BLOGS | LIBRARYTHING | Follow |

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INVITATION TO POETRY & PHOTOGRAPHY: SACRED ORDINARY 22.5.14

Welcome to Poetry Party #78!

Christine Valters Paintner of Abbey of the Arts online, selects an image (the photo above is by member Anneclaire LeRoyer) suggests a theme/title and invites us to respond with our own poem and images. 

How might you bring reverence to an ordinary moment of your day through the gift of poem-writing? How might you see the sacred in the mundane? ..to yield to the sacred in the most ordinary of moments. {click to tweet}

Or...

For this month's Photo Party~ hold these words in your heart as you go about in the world to receive images in response. As you walk be ready to see what is revealed to you as a visual expression of your prayer.

You can share images you already have which illuminate the theme, but I encourage you also to go for a walk with the theme in mind and see what you discover.

You are also welcome to post photos of any other art you create inspired by the theme.  See what stirs your imagination!

*
Follow the links to add yours at Abbey of the Arts or include your link in the comments below that we might visit and share your sacred in the everyday poetry and/or photos.
* May your day be blessed with many such moments!



* SHARED WITH ~ * -THOUGHT PROVOKING THURSDAYS- -A LITTLE R+ R- -SINCERELY, PAULA- - CREATE WITH JOY- -THRIVING THURSDAYS- -THURSDAY FAVOURITE THINGS- -WORDS of LIFE WEDNESDAYS- -GROWING TOGETHER- -HOMEMAKING PARTY- -ADORNED FROM ABOVE- -MISSIONAL WOMEN- -ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS- -SAY G'DAY PARTY- -SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS- * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find and follow FHC online:   @_eHope - Goodreads - Facebook - 
Pinterest
GFC bottom of page ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~
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Eyes of the Heart: Discovering God Through a Camera Lens

"...to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time."
-Georgia O'Keefe
I loved this quote and its impact regarding the material of Eyes of the Heart. 

It's a book of process. Process takes time...

The first 2 chapters introduce the reader to the idea and practice of 

receiving images from the world around us, 

as gifts to us for inner exploration. 

Next chapter introduced shadow and light as spiritual dimensions 

we can view through the lens as well as our personal interior. 

By chapter 4 we were exploring framing and reframing 

ourselves and our self-stories 

just as we frame and reframe our photo subjects. 

Colour, our inspiration for chapter 5.
Creative sources of reflections of the holy in our world for chapter 6. 

Self-portraits, our chapter 7 topic. 

Chapter 8 ties it all together; God is in our seeing. 

Open the eyes of our heart to see the Divine Presence everywhere. 

To live in awe and wonder.

Supporting quotes open each chapter, 

in depth instructional material plus each chapter provides multiple activities 

for interaction to deepen the learning opportunities; 

to enrich the inner growth available through intentional practice. 

eg. Go walking. 

What images evoke/reflect your deepest dreams/longings/wishes/hopes...? 

or scripture passages to contemplate, journal and apply.

“..every photo we make is in some way a self-portrait,
b/c it reveals something about how we see the world.”
What are our photos saying about us?
“In a sense your photographs are your autobiography.” –Dorothea Lange.
Everyday objects can symbolically represent the self.
For me, the teacup icons I use are a self portrait.
Stacks of books another.  In fact,
more representational of me than a single dimension photo visage.

Here is a book intent on breaking down the perpetuation of our false self that wants
“to create only images beautiful in the eyes of others
or ‘marketable’ rather than truthful.”
We must discover our true self –
 ‘who I am beneath the accolades and achievements’.
What desires has God planted in my heart?
The exercises included are designed for just such discoveries.

Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice 

is a personable guide to a life of awareness lived centered in calm and stillness 

rather than knocked off course by reactive emotions. 

I highly recommend it for those who desire to live at a deeper than surface level. 

For those who pray, "Lord, open the eyes of my heart"...




*My appreciation to Ave Maria Press for providing an ebook copy for review without obligation. 

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Shared at Cym's

Invitation to Photography: Landscape and Formation

Welcome to Christine Valters Paintner' s  Abbey Photo Party!

She selects a theme and invites us to respond with images.

"I have been pondering a great deal lately the ways the landscapes I have lived in shape my soul (this week's love note from me will develop this theme).  My invitation to you is to ponder this for yourself: What is the impact of my physical landscape on my spiritual one?  How might I express this through a photo or image?

You can share images you already have which illuminate the theme, but I encourage you also to go for a walk with the theme in mind and see what you discover.

You are also welcome to post photos of any other art you create inspired by the theme.  See what stirs your imagination!"

How to participate:

1. Go to the Flickr Group created. You need a free Flickr account first (go to the Flickr home page and click "Sign up now.")  When you go to the link it will ask you to join the group first before posting.  Share up to five of your images in response to the theme.

2. Leave a comment below Christine's blog post to let her know you have joined the party and what your Flickr profile name is (you must include this to be entered into the prize drawing).

3. Please post the invitation on your own blog or Facebook page, tweet and encourage others to come join the party!

On Friday, April 26th – Christine will draw a name at random from those who participate and the winner will receive a space in her upcoming online class:
Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice (April 28-June 15, 2013).

Faith Hope & Cherrytea  
_eHope on Twitter

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Invitation to Photography Party: Springtime

Welcome to the Abbey of the Arts'
"Springtime" Photo Party!

From Christine Valters Paintner's
 theme and Photo Party invite to respond with images.

For see, the winter is past,

the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth,

the time of pruning the vines has come,

and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs,

and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.

Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

–Song of Songs 2:11-13

*This is what my today ~ March 18th ~ looked like for me at FHC !

Springtime begins in the northern hemisphere on Wednesday,
the time of great flowering on the earth offering hope of
new possibilities emerging.

This week, go on a photo pilgrimage,
holding the start of springtime in your heart, and
notice what images are shimmering in the world around you.

(For my southern hemisphere friends, you are welcome to also share images
of the arrival of autumn,
or the ways you see signs of spring even in the midst of the season of letting go)

You can share images you already have which illuminate the theme,
but I encourage you also to go for a walk with the theme in mind
and see what you discover.

You are also welcome to post photos of any other art you create inspired by the theme. 
See what stirs your imagination!

How to participate:

1. Go to the Flickr Group I have created. You need a free Flickr account first
(go to the Flickr home page and click "Sign up now.") 
When you go to the link it will ask you to join the group first before posting. 
Share up to five of your images in response to the theme.

2. Leave a comment at Christine's blog post to let us know
you have joined the party and
what your Flickr profile name is
(you must include this to be entered into the prize drawing).
For Christine's newest book to be released March 25th!



3. Please post the invitation on your blog or Facebook page 

and encourage others to come join the party!

On Friday, March 22nd – Christine will draw a name at random
from those who participate and the winner will receive
a space in one of my upcoming online class
 Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice (April 28-June 15, 2013) and
 a copy of my new book {as above}which the class accompanies.

Spring and all its flowers now

joyously break their vow of silence.

It is time for

celebration, not for

lying low.

–Hafiz

I've joined the party and thought you might enjoy 

the creative expression offered in doing so as well...

Let me know in comments so I can look for your photo posts !!

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Invitation to Photo Party: Your 'Word' for 2013

Welcome to the Abbey Photo Party!

photo source ~ Christine Valtners Paintner

Christine at Abbey of the Arts invites you into some creative exploration 

with the word[s] which have chosen you for this year. 

( share yours here if you haven't already and enter to win one of several wonderful prizes).

In the free 12-day online mini-retreat I offer to newsletter subscribers

(click here to subscribe)

I invite you to go on a photo pilgrimage holding your word for 2013

in your hearts and noticing what images are shimmering in the world around you.

You can share images you already have which illustrate your word,

but I encourage you also to go for a walk with the theme in mind and see what you discover.

You are also welcome to post other art you created inspired by your word for the year –

collages are powerful as are paintings and drawings. 

See what stirs your imagination!

How to participate:

1. Go to the Flickr Group Christine has created. [You need a free Flickr account first]. 

When you go to the link it will ask you to join the group first before posting. 

Share as many as five of your images in response to the theme. 

When you post your photo please include your word as the title 2. Leave a comment HERE  to let us know you have joined the party and what your Flickr profile name is.

3. Please post the invitation on your blog or Facebook page and encourage others to come join the party!

If you haven't yet,

share your word over at this post for a chance to win some wonderful prizes

and join in with the Abbey community.

  

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Your Transformative 'Word' for 2013 ?

Have you discovered your Word for 2013 ?

In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to God and to their own inner struggles at work within them. The desert became a place to enter into the refiner's fire and be stripped down to one's holy essence. The desert was a threshold place where you emerged different than when you entered.

Many people followed these ammas and abbas, seeking their wisdom and guidance for a meaningful life. One tradition was to ask for a word –  this word or phrase would be something on which to ponder for many days, weeks, months, sometimes a whole lifetime. This practice is connected to lectio divina, where we approach the sacred texts with the same request – "give me a word" we ask – something to nourish me, challenge me, a word I can wrestle with and grow into.  The word which chooses us has the potential to transform us.

• What is your word for the year ahead? A word which contains within it a seed of invitation to cross a new threshold in your life?

A free 12-day online mini-retreat to help your word choose you. . .

This year  Christine of Abbey of the Arts is offering all Abbey newsletter subscribers a gift: a free 12-day online mini-retreat with a suggested practice for each day to help your word choose you and to deepen into your word once it has found you.

Sign up here and you can start your mini-retreat today. Once you subscribe you will receive a confirmation email with access to the mini-retreat content
(and you are free to unsubscribe at any time). 

Subscribe to the Abbey newsletter for your free gift.
Share the love with others ~ invite them to join us and participate... 

When you subscribe to regular Abbey soul nourishment, you join more than 5000 others and receive regular reflections on the integration of contemplative practice, creative expression, and the wisdom of the seasons straight to your in-box, as well as updates about new Abbey offerings.

When you subscribe to the newsletter you will have an opportunity to participate in a free 7 day e-course in transformative living through contemplative and expressive arts.  It is Christine's gift to you as a way of saying thank you for visiting the Abbey of the Arts. 

water, wind, earth & fire ...

having won the Autumn Blessings poetry party from Abbey of the Arts, today i received Christine's autographed prize gift of her new book *Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements*.  many thanks, Christine!
i'm already more than pleased in the reading. how about sharing an appetizer with me?
*The element of wind invites us to "open our souls to Being," which means opening ourselves to a God who flows in directions we cannot predict. This element invites us to a radical posture of surrender in releasing our hold on our own plans and making room for God to blow us in the most life-giving direction. As a metaphor for God, wind reminds us that God's ways are not our ways. The invitation of wind requires of us a detachment from our own longing to control the direction of our lives and a simultaneous surrender to Spirit to allow ourselves to be carried to places of growth and newness.*
hungry? i know i am. looking forward to much more...
Bobbie Bonk of Spiritual Directors International ~ *Encountering the four elements in one place is exactly what Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire does, inviting the reader to become a pray-er who enjoys Paintner’s collection of scripture, poetry, wisdom, and prayer.*
Christine Valters Paintner is a writer, artist, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and teacher. She earned her PhD in Christian Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and her professional status as Registered Expressive Arts Consultant and Educator (REACE) from the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA.org). She lives out her commitment as a Benedictine Oblate in the heart of Seattle with her husband and dog. More about Christine and her website Abbey of the Arts which also includes her blog.
as covered in an earlier post, Christine's Monk Manifesto has a growing list of members.  Monk Manifesto ~ Stop by to read seven principles for being a Monk in the World and to sign up for a free 7-day e-course.

poetry party winner ...

 

Abbey of the Arts said...

*You won the drawing for this week's Poetry Party! Please send me your snail mail. Thanks for the beautiful offering.*

WoW !  i did NOT expect that email!  but i'm hugely pleased and grateful ~ 

i just had a peek over at Christine's blog - *The winner of this week's drawing for a signed copy of

Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements is Faith, Hope, and Cherrytea.* 

yes, it seems completely verified !  and i'm entirely blessed.  Thank YOU, Christine!  both for the opportunity and the gift prize! 
may this inspirit you in your various blog opps of participation whether photo, poetry, song, or story.  someone does actually win and perhaps, like me, when they least expect it! 

ongoing poetry contributions sought at Abbey of the Arts.  keep a lookout for poetry party #48 !