The Soul's Slow Ripening
12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred
by Christine Valters Paintner
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Pub Date 7 Sep 2018 | Archive Date 2 Nov 2018
Ave Maria Press | Sorin Books
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Description
What does God want for your life?
Christine Valters Paintner, bestselling Catholic author and online abbess for Abbey of the Arts, uses reflections, stories, guided activities, prayer experiences, and a variety of creative arts to help you patiently and attentively listen to God’s invitation.
Everyone wants to understand God’s will for their lives. Christine Valters Paintner shares one of the most ancient paths to understanding from her study of monasticism and immersion into Celtic spirituality while living in Ireland. The Celtic way, which Paintner distills into twelve practices, offers discernment that focuses on the environment rather than the intellectual focus present in other forms of discernment. It allows for what Paintner calls the “soul’s slow ripening,” coming into the fullness of our own sweetness before we pluck the fruit.
Each chapter begins with a story of a particular Irish saint—some well-known like Patrick or Brigid, others less so, such as Ita and Ciaran—and then introduces a helpful practice for discernment that the saint’s life illustrates. Paintner explores the call of dreams, the importance of thresholds, the practice of peregrination (wandering for the love of God), walking the rounds, learning by heart, soul friends, blessing each moment, and the wisdom of the landscape and the seasons. Readers are invited to explore these concepts through photography and writing. She invites us to contemplative walks with specific themes along with poetic writing prompts for expression.
As you explore an alternate way of discerning a spiritual path—one which honors the moment-by-moment invitations and the soul’s seasonal rhythms—you will discover that this book will help you become more aligned with creativity and wholeness.
A Note From the Publisher
Paintner is the author of eleven books on monasticism and creativity, including The Wisdom of the Body; The Eyes of the Heart; Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire; The Artist’s Rule; The Soul of a Pilgrim; and Illuminating the Way. She leads pilgrimages in Ireland, Austria, and Germany and online retreats at her website AbbeyoftheArts.com, living out her commitment as a Benedictine Oblate in Galway, Ireland, with her husband, John.
Advance Praise
“Christine Valters Painter has written another excellent book for spiritual seekers desiring insight, encouragement, and inspiration on their spiritual paths. In The Soul’s Slow Ripening, she provides readers a series of practices inspired by the Irish traditions that will help readers, as she says, live into ‘new ways of being’ by pursuing such helpful practices as working with dreams, going on pilgrimages, having a soul friend, and seeking solitude. I cannot recommend enough this practical guide to soul-making.”
Edward C. Sellner
Author of Wisdom of the Celtic Saints
“What a delight to encounter this rich, multi-layered text in which we are given practices informed by Celtic spirituality and the lives of the Celtic saints! Meant for savoring, The Soul’s Slow Ripening invites us to remember insights treasured by Celtic Christians and to incorporate those ways of praying into daily life.”
Mary C. Earle
Author of Celtic Christian Spirituality
“The Soul’s Slow Ripening is a threshold experience you didn’t know your soul was longing for. But then, you crack the cover, turn the pages, and watch in wonder as Christine Valters Paintner takes you gently by the hand and invites you to walk in, and through, and around twelve heart-expanding Celtic practices. Along the way, you realize that you, too, have a wild and sacred Celtic heart.”
Janet Conner
Host of The Soul-Directed Life and author of Find Your Soul’s Purpose
“Celtic Spirituality is an embodied spirituality—a path of poetry, creativity, and intuition. Christine Valters Paintner guides the wisdom of the Celts straight into the heart with her wonderful mix of stories and practices. The Soul’s Slow Ripening shows us the way to walk this ancient path today.”
Carl McColman
Author of Befriending Silence
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781932057102 |
| PRICE | US$16.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Stacie T, Reviewer
I swear, I absolutely devour everything by Ave Maria Press. THE SOUL'S SLOW RIPENING was a completely different kind of book for me. Coming from a family who is very proud of our Celtic roots, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. And what an incredible book it is. Not only did it introduce me to saints that I had not previously met, but it gave me permission to be a Catholic woman with a Celtic heart. A definite treasure that will stay with me always.
Librarian 431790
A wonderful book that shows you a different approach to spiritual practices. It's very useful also for non Catholic and non Christian.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Ave Maria Press and Netgalley for this ARC
Anne Marie B, Reviewer
I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this soul-deepening book. I learned stories of saints I’d never heard of, but more importantly am now inspired to practice some of these new ways of deepening my own spiritual life. I was familiar with a few of the practices the author suggests, but not all, which I found refreshing and challenging.
I particularly liked the suggestions she included for writing, as well as photography, to accompany each practice. I will be buying a copy of this book for myself as well as a dear friend as soon as it is published.
With gratitude to NetGalley, the author and publisher for for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Lisa S, Reviewer
his is a beautifully-written book about Celtic practices to help you seek God and discover the divine in everyday life. Paintner discusses practices, such as crossing thresholds and encircling, clearly and eloquently, making it easy to include them in your life. She relates stories about the saints and the ancient Celts and her own experiences and includes lovely poems.
This is a very profound book which will help anyone on their Christian journey. I would suggest reading it slowly and studying each chapter.
I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
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