The Soul of a Pilgrim
Eight Practices for the Journey Within
by Christine Valters Paintner
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Pub Date May 07 2015 | Archive Date Jul 12 2015
Ave Maria Press | Sorin Books
Description
The renowned author of eight books and abbess of the online retreat center Abbey of the Arts, Christine Valters Paintner takes readers 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 the author’s unique and creative practices of prayer, writing, and photography.
Advance Praise
“This creative, moving book beckons the pilgrim into the inner journey through daily life. Deeply grounded in creative spiritual practices, it is both a guidebook and an inspiration.”
Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook
Author of Pilgrimage—The Sacred Art
“Of all the books that Christine Paintner has written, this is by far my personal favorite. To refer to it as a comprehensive manual for the journey doesn’t do justice to the incredible richness of its resources. It definitely reawakened the inner pilgrim in me!”
Wil Hernandez, Obl. O.S.B.
Founder and Executive Director
CenterQuest.org
“Making our own pilgrimage to the heart inside our heart is perhaps the most challenging and yet most rewarding journey we can make. The Soul of a Pilgrim is the perfect companion to have in our pocket along the way.”
Bruce Davis
Retreat Leader
SilentStay.com
“Christine Valters Paintner and her husband John beckon the reader toward a transformative way of pilgrimage. Poetry, practices, and midrash weave this wisdom into daily life.”
Mary C. Earle
Author of Marvelously Made: Gratefulness and the Body
“Christine Valters Paintner’s latest work is an invitation to take leave of the familiar and go on pilgrimage—not necessarily by traveling abroad, but by simplifying one’s life, letting go of pre-conceived and perhaps deeply rooted notions, and opening oneself up to the Spirit of wisdom in one’s heart. Complemented by the scriptural reflections of her husband, John, and her own creative poetry, this marvelous book takes the reader on a journey of discovery that can profoundly change the direction of one’s life.”
Edward C. Sellner
Author of Pilgrimage: Exploring a Great Spiritual Practice
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781933495866 |
| PRICE | $15.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 5 members
Featured Reviews
Chris W, Reviewer
An ancient call to pilgrimage – Go(d) with me resting into the mystery
“And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself” - Rumi
Even as I settle back home from my own recent pilgrimage to France and Italy, I continue to reflect on Christine Valters Paintner’s book, “The Soul of a Pilgrim - Eight Practices for the Journey Within,” where she shares, “… God is never a set of concepts to be understood but a relationship to encounter.”
My pilgrimage was a spiritual journey walking many miles each day for 10 days through well-worn holy territory. Paintner’s book is an ancient call to a pilgrimage process, not walking, but reflecting on a personal journey within.
After I returned home with blistered feet and better questions than answers, I applied her eight central spiritual practices. I reflected mostly on one of her exercises called Creative Contemplative Photography as I browsed through hundreds of my photographs selecting just the right one to see and sense it more deeply.
Lourdes Pilgrimage - May 2015
“The Soul of a Pilgrim’s” spiritual practice exercises, provided at the end of each central practice chapter, are broken down into your own easy-to-do pilgrimage process:
1. Reflection by John Valters Paintner - along with a story from the Bible.
2. Invitation to Lectio – read, meditate, pray, contemplate on the story 3. Writing Exploration through Midrash – ancient Jewish practice of commentary on the story 4. Midrash explanation – sensing and writing prose or poetry 5. Creative Exploration through Photography – receive images as gifts not just taking photos 6. Closing Blessing – your own prayer or one you find elsewhere
One way, out of many ways she provides, teaches you to integrate what you are discovering by:
- Opening up yourself …
- Imagining yourself …
- Seeing the world around you …
- Getting in touch with you …
- Hearing the call …
This is a wonderfully inspiring book with more intensity than provided in this write-up. The author invites you to rest into the mystery of an ancient call to pilgrimage.
And you? When will you cultivate your inner self and experience in greater depth the reality that is you?
FTC Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received the book from Ave Maria Press for review purposes. Moment to Moment, Inc. is a professional review site that receives commission from the companies whose products we review only if the product is purchased. We review each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Nekeisha C, Reviewer
A deep read. It was a great way to journey through the Easter Season
PEGGY G, Reviewer
Genre: Religion and spirituality
The author has structured the book into eight segments of spiritual guides designed to assist the reader on an inner pilgrimage.
Excerpt from the book:
"Missing you" scrawled on a postcard sent home, but you don't follow with "wish you were here." This is a voyage best made alone.
Chapter 1 "The Practice of Hearing the Call and Responding"
The first chapter deals with the concept of the discovery of our true selves after stripping away all self-deception, self-criticism, self-inflation, masks, expectations and judgments.
Loss of a job, health, a friend, a sense of identity, financial security or a marriage can be acknowledged in sorrow - acceptance of the loss can lead to renewed vision and life. The author takes a page from the "one door closes, another opens" school of thought.
Chapter 2 "The Practice of Packing Lightly"
Traveling teaches us what essentials need to be packed and carried along with you. You also learn what can be left behind to lighten your load. The same principal applies to our spiritual baggage as we start on the pilgrimage. You have, in your power, the ability to decide which attitudes, beliefs and expectations can journey along with you and which one can discarded. Less truly is better, baggage of any kind is heavy.
Chapter 4 "The Practice of Making the Way by Walking"
Excerpt:
"On a true pilgrimage, we soon discover that the journey has its own rhythm and momentum. We realize, if our hearts are listening, that there are secret destinations that reveal themselves as our path unfolds."
The author discusses a means of letting go of trying to maintain control over our lives. We are advised to let spiritual wisdom guide us safely on our way.
The eight guides are thought provoking and profound steps to complete the spiritual journey. Our journey is a lifelong voyage.
Excerpt:
"The journey transforms us so we may be ready for our destination."
I highly recommend this book.
ARC courtesy of the author and publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
View all my reviews
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