Author Christine V. Paintner on "The Soul of a Pilgrim"

 by Kayce Stevens Hughlett

"To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim." 

Mark Nepo, The Exquisite Risk

Today it is my delight and privilege to share with you a recent interview with friend and colleague, Christine Valters Paintner. Christine is the online Abbess at Abbey of the Arts. She and I have been friends for many years and both find great pleasure in discussing the topic of pilgrimage.

In this 20-minute interview, we touch upon the interplay of pilgrimage in marriage, reflecting backward while moving forward, where does an abbess live, listening to the hard places (i.e. welcoming discomfort), journeying at home, and more.

To learn more about Christine's work including pilgrimages, books, and a wonderful online community, please visit Abbey of the Arts.

If you're longing for further adventure, I invite you to visit SoulStrolling™ ~ the place where everyday practices meet around-the-world adventures. Take your soul for a stroll with spiritual travel advisor Sharon Richards and me. We have an upcoming urban pilgrimage to Paris, October 17 - 24, 2015. Limited space available. Follow your dreams. They know the way. 

ENJOY!!

Click image for more informationThe 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.

In The Soul of a Pilgrim, Paintner identifies eight stages of the pilgrim's way and shows how to follow these steps to make an intentional, transformative journey to the reader's inner "wild edges." Each phase of the exploration requires a distinct practice such as packing lightly, being uncomfortable, or embracing the unknown. Paintner shows how to cultivate attentiveness to the divine through deep listening, patience, and opening oneself to the gifts that arise in the midst of discomfort.

Each of the eight chapters offers reflections on the themes, a scripture story, an invitation to the practice of lectio divina, and a creative exploration through photography and writing. Learn more about Christine, her books, and her pilgrimages at www.abbeyofthearts.com 

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If you're interested in a bit of fiction, my debut novel, BLUE is releasing September 10, 2015. Here's what one reviewer had to say:

"Intrigue, mystery, vivid imagery, fascinating dialogue, and complex characters quickly draw the reader into this 'subtle psychological mind-bender.' Kayce Stevens Hughlett draws from her experience as a psychotherapist, gifting the reader with curiosity and fascination about the three heroines. What is their 'truth?' Will their worlds collide." Sharon Richards for NetGalley

 Available through Amazon, BQB Publishing and your favorite bookseller.