I had high expectations for this book and unfortunately came away disappointed. I loved the incorporation of art and poetry alongside prose, and certainly the topic is one I'm interested in learning more about and incorporating as able/led into my own life. But, the inclusion of references to Islamic calendars/prayer habits, as well as many seemingly New Age practices, made the read seem to me as though it's trying to be "all things to all people" (and not a la Paul in 1 Cor. 9:19-23). It came across as a mishmash of religious practices that, to me, do not hold up in light of Scripture.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful title. I've read and reread and have my own copy ordered. It's been a title I think back on and have put many of the tips into practice. My favorite is praying the hours as I'm working to be more present and take meaningful pauses as transitions between chores. I am a work in progress, but this title has helped me think about time differently.

Among the numerous changes wrought by the Covid-19, the pandemic has given many the opportunity to consider how they are spending their lives. For this reason, Christine Valters Paintner’s latest book, Sacred Time, could not come at more apt time. Here, Valters Paintner, author of 15 books on monasticism and creativity and the online abbess for the Abbey of the Arts, helps readers become “more present to the eternal moment.” Rather than skimming the surface of time in the constantly hurried business of modern life, Valters Paintner wants her readers to discover the present moment and dive deeper into its richness. To this end, Sacred Time is composed of eight chapters, each addressing a different natural rhythm starting with the breath and concluding with infinite cosmic time. Each chapter is divided into five parts: reflection on the chapter’s theme, a spiritual reflection, a meditation and creative practice, a blessing, and an invitation to readers to write their own blessing. Sacred Time is not a book to speed read. Instead, reading this book itself is a practice in slowing down to savor each chapter. In fact, this book may just provide a much-needed balm to world-weary souls.
(This review has been posted on amaz0n under the name Amelia Peters.)

Christine Valters Paintner's books are really books to purchase, reflect in, journal, and interact with. They're like walking prayer books, where she challenges her readers to look inward and see the word just slightly more sacred than they did before. "Sacred Time" is really just about a slowing down, a chance to view time in a more meaning-filled way instead of the rushed pace we're used to. Every time I get a Paintner book from Netgalley, I'm reminded I need to buy it to mark it up and actually *do* the exercises she suggests! They're filled with hard won wisdom and kindness. Highly recommended.

Thank you, NetGalley, Ave Maria Press, and Christine Valters Paintner, for the ARC of Sacred Time, Embracing an Intentional Way of Life. I am a fan of Paintner and follow her work on Facebook. I have read many of her books and I am always grateful for her wisdom and insight. This new book did not disappoint. Paintner follows a consistent and intuitive formula with her writing and how she organizes each chapter. This approach turns the reading of the text into a personal retreat. I have never read her books quickly; her words, content, and flow best read with a slow, intentional pace. You will want to linger and re-read her sentences. You will take the time to let her insights settle into your thoughts and your soul.
In this current book, Paintner takes on the topic of time, how we view it, and spend it. In our fast-paced world, we can all agree on one thing, we feel like we run short on time, and if only there were an extra 4 hours a day, right? I am someone who has always battled a very linear approach to pacing time. In this book, Paintner challenged me to consider time as sacred, "Sacred time is time governed by the rhythms of creation, rhythms that incorporate times of rest as essential to our own unfolding. Sacred time is time spent being present to the moments of eternity available to us whenever we choose to pause and breathe." As someone who has battled with the notion that I can control time, this book was a much-needed opportunity to step back and reframe.
Paintner organized the chapters of her book by:
breath
rhythms of the day
weekly rhythms and Sabbath rest
waxing and waning lunar cycles
seasons of the year
seasons of a lifetime
ancestral time
cosmic time

Within in cycle/chapter, five sections include: Paintner's reflection on the theme, a scripture reflection, an experiential exploration through meditation and creative practice (my personal favorite), and the chapter ends with a poem related to that aspect of time.
Within each cycle, she also includes wisdom from saints, including St Ignatius of Loyola, St Hildegard of Bingen (a personal favorite of mine), and St Benedict. Each section of this book is an invitation to explore spiritual and creative practices to deepen our understanding of sacred time and use this information to create and embrace a life that is intentional and moves us away from the pressures of each day.

Sacred Time provides a guide book for grounding oneself in the Divine and living more intentionally during this time of pandemic, political upheaval and severe weather. The scriptures and creative explorations accompanied by Christine's personal sharing challenge the reader to view both the joyful and traumatic events of life from a different perspective. Its unique view of examining time in the past, present and future aids the readier in creating their own rhythms for living.

“Sacred Time” is a really beautiful book about the cycles of time and the ways we can relate to them through prayer, meditation, and contemplation. While the book is written from a Christian perspective, parts of it could also be applicable to people who follow other paths of Celtic spirituality. I would recommend this title to anyone who wants to slow down and approach his or her relationship to time from a contemplative and spiritual perspective.

While I am not Christian, I found the book to be inspiring and thought provoking. The exercises are very simple and easy to follow. While I read the book all the way through, it is structured in such a way that it could be read slowly over the period of several months and used as part of a meditative practice or in a group setting.

I really enjoyed this one and I know I’ll be integrating parts of it into my spiritual practice.

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and Sorin Books.

Christine Valters Paintner’s books are such a wonderful combination of information and ways of retreating with what you’ve read. This one is no exception to that. Time is something many of us struggle with – trying to control time, rather than being and moving with it. Christine helped me to explore my relationship with many aspects of time beginning with our breath, moving through rhythms of the day, moon, year, our lives, and even cosmic time. In each section, there is wonderful information to ponder, a scripture reflection, ways to meditate and create with what you’ve learned, poetry and art. The book is a retreat you can do on your own and learn so much. Or, you go even deeper, and join Christine in an online retreat based on the book. If I were still practicing as a spiritual director, it would be a book I’d highly encourage people I walked with to read.

One short quote from the introduction to entice you “We live in a breathless world. In sacred time, we step out of the madness of our lives and choose to reflect, linger, savor and slow down. We gain new perspective here.” If you’re ready to slow down and get a deep breath, this is the book for you.

Sacred Time is the threshold for a genuine and spacious life that surprisingly already exists between the sometimes tense minutes of each day. Paintner’s book is a collection of deeply ageless and rhythmic perspectives and practices which reveal a rooted well being that comes from recognizing the sacred layers alive in each day and season of life. In simple profoundness, she opens a doorway into the midst of the healing that grows from appreciating the beauty of the natural world around us. Paintner is an inspired scribe for ancient and modern wisdom. Her book is well researched and a needed counterbalance for the present groaning of temporal time. It is a resource to be treasured again and again.