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Illuminating the Way
Popular author of eight books and abbess of the online retreat center Abbey of the Arts, Christine Valters Paintner explores how the lives and spirituality of twelve monks and mystics offer distinct patterns of thought that will lead you to a deeper understanding of your strengths and areas of growth and will guide you on the path to your true spiritual identity.
In Illuminating the Way, Christine Valters Paintner takes you on a journey through your inner life accompanied by twelve great monks and mystics from the Christian tradition. Each figure invites you to discover the energy and potential of a particular archetype--the inner sage in Benedict; the inner visionary in Hildegard of Bingen; and the inner orphan in Dorothy Day. From the prophet Miriam of the Hebrew scriptures to twentieth century monk Thomas Merton, Paintner offers an array of challenging and enlivening models to explore.
Paintner is beloved by readers for her creative practices, guided meditations, and beautiful prayers and poems, and she has included all of these elements in her new book to further explore the image associated with each mystic. Her insightful reflections on key selections of each mystic's writings will help you gain greater self-knowledge and experience a deeper encounter with God.
Each chapter also includes a full-color painting of each monk or mystic by Marcy Hall with commentary by Paintner and scripture passages and mediations by Paintner's husband, John.
Supplemental materials, including a CD with music, a DVD with movement prayers, and a book that includes images, poems, and music notations are available on Paintner's website AbbeyoftheArts.com.
In Illuminating the Way, Christine Valters Paintner takes you on a journey through your inner life accompanied by twelve great monks and mystics from the Christian tradition. Each figure invites you to discover the energy and potential of a particular archetype--the inner sage in Benedict; the inner visionary in Hildegard of Bingen; and the inner orphan in Dorothy Day. From the prophet Miriam of the Hebrew scriptures to twentieth century monk Thomas Merton, Paintner offers an array of challenging and enlivening models to explore.
Paintner is beloved by readers for her creative practices, guided meditations, and beautiful prayers and poems, and she has included all of these elements in her new book to further explore the image associated with each mystic. Her insightful reflections on key selections of each mystic's writings will help you gain greater self-knowledge and experience a deeper encounter with God.
Each chapter also includes a full-color painting of each monk or mystic by Marcy Hall with commentary by Paintner and scripture passages and mediations by Paintner's husband, John.
Supplemental materials, including a CD with music, a DVD with movement prayers, and a book that includes images, poems, and music notations are available on Paintner's website AbbeyoftheArts.com.
- GenresSpiritualityPrayer
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2016
42 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Christine Valters Paintner
29 books137 followersChristine Valters Paintner, PhD is the online Abbess at AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery and global community. She is the author of over 20 books on contemplative practice and creative expression including three collections of poetry. She lives in Galway, Ireland where she leads online retreats with her husband John. Christine is a Benedictine oblate, living out her commitment as a monk in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 14, 2023
Update: Do not read this.
“…describes the Ascension as Jesus entering the archetypal realm. Jesus becomes one with the divine, entering into the fullness of his power…”
No. Jesus was and is always one with the Divine because He is divine. He is the second divine Person of the Trinity, who assumed a human nature. There never was a moment when He was not divine. He possessed the full power of His divine nature at all times. He IS His omnipotence.
This book is horribly unorthodox and I cannot recommend it to anyone.
Overall, the book reads as Gnostic and not as Catholic.
———
So, when I first picked this up I actually had no idea it was, for lack of a better word, “hippy-dippy.” It aims to interpret the theology of the monastic tradition through the lens of Carl Jung’s psychology. Pretty weird… but I’m going to push through to the end and see what nuggets of truth I can get out of it.
Just within the introduction alone I read a few passages that made me somewhat uncomfortable. I take issue with the fact that the author says we have a “multiplicity” within us, which is made up of all different kinds of energies. In some sense, I guess that’s true. Human beings experience a lot of different emotions and doubts and joys. But I think this needs to be explained within the context of Catholic anthropology more clearly. That is, understanding man as a unified whole - a body-soul composite. The other passage that I took issue with is that she claims all the different kinds of energies (Jung’s archetypes) found within man are “different names for and dimensions of the divine.” I would be very careful with this as well, and would want to flush this claim out a bit within the context of orthodox Catholic theology before putting much stock into it.
“…describes the Ascension as Jesus entering the archetypal realm. Jesus becomes one with the divine, entering into the fullness of his power…”
No. Jesus was and is always one with the Divine because He is divine. He is the second divine Person of the Trinity, who assumed a human nature. There never was a moment when He was not divine. He possessed the full power of His divine nature at all times. He IS His omnipotence.
This book is horribly unorthodox and I cannot recommend it to anyone.
Overall, the book reads as Gnostic and not as Catholic.
———
So, when I first picked this up I actually had no idea it was, for lack of a better word, “hippy-dippy.” It aims to interpret the theology of the monastic tradition through the lens of Carl Jung’s psychology. Pretty weird… but I’m going to push through to the end and see what nuggets of truth I can get out of it.
Just within the introduction alone I read a few passages that made me somewhat uncomfortable. I take issue with the fact that the author says we have a “multiplicity” within us, which is made up of all different kinds of energies. In some sense, I guess that’s true. Human beings experience a lot of different emotions and doubts and joys. But I think this needs to be explained within the context of Catholic anthropology more clearly. That is, understanding man as a unified whole - a body-soul composite. The other passage that I took issue with is that she claims all the different kinds of energies (Jung’s archetypes) found within man are “different names for and dimensions of the divine.” I would be very careful with this as well, and would want to flush this claim out a bit within the context of orthodox Catholic theology before putting much stock into it.
January 8, 2017
“This book takes you on a journey accompanied by many great monks and mystics of our tradition. While there are other worthy books that invite you into relationship with the saints, what makes this one unique is that each figure invites us into an exploration of a particular archetypal energy within us.”
Christine explores the archetypal lives of twelve great mystics and monks, some of which include: Francis of Assisi: The Fool, Hildegard of Bingen: The Visionary, Benedict of Nursia: The Sage and Dorothy Day: The Orphan. I especially appreciate that Christine shares how Jesus expresses all twelve archetypes and she reminds us that we can too!
“We each have within us a gathering of different energies.” Let me share five that particularly appealed to me.
King David: The Sovereign
“One of our central questions in life is, what is my task in this world?” This is a central question that many of us ask ourselves not just once but at various points in our lives. The answer to this question is who we are and what we are meant to do with our lives. Once we have discovered and often rediscovered it, we are free to live from our inner Sovereign. “When we are living fully from our inner Sovereign, we embody a calm and assertive energy.”
“A true Sovereign blesses others by his or her presence.” We are not threatened by others. In fact, we are thrilled when we see another live from his inner Sovereign too. It is then that we know we have arrived.
Brendan the Navigator: The Pilgrim
“Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown” is from a prayer attributed to St. Brendan, Christine informs us. We best live when we let go of expectations. We allow ourselves to be uncomfortable. We trust God as we journey on the unpredictable path before us. We lean into mystery. It is best to remember that we are always beginners. This means that sometimes the best action is to wait and listen before we continue to explore.
Rainer Maria Rilke: The Artist
“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back.” This quote by Rainer Maria Rilke begins this chapter. That is what I want to happen. I like to write. This is what happens when I write. I let the words flow out of me. I do not know what they will be until they land on the page in front of me. I love it! I allow the Great Inner Artist to create!
Christine challenges each one of us with these two questions. “Must you create? Do you experience a compelling need to express your deep desires?” If so, then do not resist. It is never too late. There is always an opportunity for new things to birth! We all have an Inner Artist! Follow your impulse to create beauty and meaning. Do not judge and critique your work. Let it happen. We often discover who we are when we let ourselves create.
Thomas Merton: The Monk
“To be a saint means to be fully oneself.” Merton saw the lakes, the mountains, the trees and the animals as saints. They were intrinsically themselves.
I practice centering prayer. Centering prayer teaches me who I am. It slows me down so I can live each day from the deepest part of me: my true self. My true self is calm, confident and content. It is excited to live and serve each day.
“Maturity in the spiritual life means knowing what we are both called to do and called not to do.” This is a lesson that I too can see I have learned as I look back at my life and reflect on the different paths I have taken in my personal, family, career and community arenas. I think the other archetypes will more easily unfold when I best live as a monk in this world.
Mary: The Mother
My wife is one of the most selfless people I know. “The Mother is the one who supports us in giving birth to what is gestating within.” Compassion, care and unconditional love are the expression of the Mother.
I recognize that there are times when I will need to put aside my needs and wants so I can love, serve and support another. I have a feeling that when I take the time to do so, it is then that I will feel most alive.
Next Steps
“This is a journey toward growing wholeness, where the fragments of ourselves are brought back together again.” This journey will never end. I do not want it to end. As I explore each energy within, I can only become more whole. This is exciting! I will become more and more the person God wants me to be.
Rich Lewis
www.SilenceTeaches.com
Christine explores the archetypal lives of twelve great mystics and monks, some of which include: Francis of Assisi: The Fool, Hildegard of Bingen: The Visionary, Benedict of Nursia: The Sage and Dorothy Day: The Orphan. I especially appreciate that Christine shares how Jesus expresses all twelve archetypes and she reminds us that we can too!
“We each have within us a gathering of different energies.” Let me share five that particularly appealed to me.
King David: The Sovereign
“One of our central questions in life is, what is my task in this world?” This is a central question that many of us ask ourselves not just once but at various points in our lives. The answer to this question is who we are and what we are meant to do with our lives. Once we have discovered and often rediscovered it, we are free to live from our inner Sovereign. “When we are living fully from our inner Sovereign, we embody a calm and assertive energy.”
“A true Sovereign blesses others by his or her presence.” We are not threatened by others. In fact, we are thrilled when we see another live from his inner Sovereign too. It is then that we know we have arrived.
Brendan the Navigator: The Pilgrim
“Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown” is from a prayer attributed to St. Brendan, Christine informs us. We best live when we let go of expectations. We allow ourselves to be uncomfortable. We trust God as we journey on the unpredictable path before us. We lean into mystery. It is best to remember that we are always beginners. This means that sometimes the best action is to wait and listen before we continue to explore.
Rainer Maria Rilke: The Artist
“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back.” This quote by Rainer Maria Rilke begins this chapter. That is what I want to happen. I like to write. This is what happens when I write. I let the words flow out of me. I do not know what they will be until they land on the page in front of me. I love it! I allow the Great Inner Artist to create!
Christine challenges each one of us with these two questions. “Must you create? Do you experience a compelling need to express your deep desires?” If so, then do not resist. It is never too late. There is always an opportunity for new things to birth! We all have an Inner Artist! Follow your impulse to create beauty and meaning. Do not judge and critique your work. Let it happen. We often discover who we are when we let ourselves create.
Thomas Merton: The Monk
“To be a saint means to be fully oneself.” Merton saw the lakes, the mountains, the trees and the animals as saints. They were intrinsically themselves.
I practice centering prayer. Centering prayer teaches me who I am. It slows me down so I can live each day from the deepest part of me: my true self. My true self is calm, confident and content. It is excited to live and serve each day.
“Maturity in the spiritual life means knowing what we are both called to do and called not to do.” This is a lesson that I too can see I have learned as I look back at my life and reflect on the different paths I have taken in my personal, family, career and community arenas. I think the other archetypes will more easily unfold when I best live as a monk in this world.
Mary: The Mother
My wife is one of the most selfless people I know. “The Mother is the one who supports us in giving birth to what is gestating within.” Compassion, care and unconditional love are the expression of the Mother.
I recognize that there are times when I will need to put aside my needs and wants so I can love, serve and support another. I have a feeling that when I take the time to do so, it is then that I will feel most alive.
Next Steps
“This is a journey toward growing wholeness, where the fragments of ourselves are brought back together again.” This journey will never end. I do not want it to end. As I explore each energy within, I can only become more whole. This is exciting! I will become more and more the person God wants me to be.
Rich Lewis
www.SilenceTeaches.com
September 5, 2021
I’m a cradle Catholic and Benedictine Oblate but I had no idea these saints were so amazing. Each one was inspirational. I so enjoyed the women saints, but I love Thomas Merton and I’m glad he was included. The artwork was amazing, the scripture passages hit home, since I’ve recently started reading the Bible through, and the activities were beautiful. I reflect on each one while walking my dog in the woods each day. I appreciate the daily opportunities and suggestions for lectio and reflection. Something about the font in this book made it a delight to read. I think it’s larger. I’ve seen this book passed around and talked about frequently at our St. Placid oblate retreats, and Sister Lucy mentions it in her lessons regularly, so I knew it would be good. It completely surpassed my expectations. It is a beautiful book and an uplifting read. This concludes my summer of Christine Paintner. Her books have carried me through the summer as I’ve been on a reading retreat, immersed in her words and activities all summer long. In person school starts in two days, and as I reflect on her books, I pray that I can be a peaceful presence to my students, showing them an appreciation for nature. I think we’ll go outside and write a poem on our first day back!
June 4, 2019
I worked through this book over a long period on my blog, with many friends. That was the perfect way to read it, slowly, with friends. It has something for everyone: Information about archetypes, examples of archetypes from history, Icons, Bible studies on those archetypes, mandala art, and poetry. Talk about a book with something for all! Thank you, CVP!
November 23, 2018
It took me a long time to work through these chapters but I really gained a lot of insight and enjoyed the quiet meditation and art projects associated with each person studied. This also contains a large amount of history that I found very interesting
April 17, 2020
This book is so well written. It introduces the reader to saints from a completely human perspective. Also introduces some saints I'd never heard about. I found the chapter on Brendan the Navigator particularly poignant as we all make this pilgrimage through the coronavirus. A great read!
September 21, 2022
This is the second Christine Valters Paintner book I've completed in the last year, and I continue to be a fan! Paintner's in-depth biography of the mystics helped me achieve a deeper understanding in their ministry and journey of faith.
April 4, 2023
It’s hard to find relevant studies when you are a recovering Christian. All of Christine’s books are relevant. This is not my favorite and I think her later books are generally better than her earlier books but you won’t be disappointed by any. They are especially suitable for group use.
March 17, 2018
I loved her selections of monks and mystics and enjoyed "embracing their wisdom."
August 30, 2016
Illuminating the way is a fascinating book for different reasons. Firstly, because it explores the notion of archetypes and how each of them may provide aspects to be taken into account in order to both live in a more assertive way and to live in community. In this regard, it is interesting how the book does not suggest that each individual follows exclusively 'one' such archetype, but rather that we may integrate different ones in different ways, insofar as each provides some lesson. Furthermore, the author clearly mentions how some narratives of the persons described in the book are hagiographies that are not necessarily fully based on real facts but rather provide inspiration. This reminds me of some texts by Herman Hesse in which he argues that archetypes precisely facilitate describing some people but that we should not believe that they fully describe them.
On the other hand, the book, while rooted in a Christian monastic tradition, manages to do two remarkable things: firstly, to not dismiss the lessons of other spiritual traditions, as the Hindu or Buddhist, for instance, by recognizing some lessons that have been traditionally been found there and in Christianity; and secondly, to highlight how the monastic tradition is not about being fully "outside" the world, because that would be a "shadow" of monasticism, which is about realizing the beauty of the here and now and growing in order to better live in community, which is essential for the tradition. The different archetypes make this a balanced book, which moreover suggests some activities, as photography and others, which may be fruitful. A very good book, as the others from the publisher.
On the other hand, the book, while rooted in a Christian monastic tradition, manages to do two remarkable things: firstly, to not dismiss the lessons of other spiritual traditions, as the Hindu or Buddhist, for instance, by recognizing some lessons that have been traditionally been found there and in Christianity; and secondly, to highlight how the monastic tradition is not about being fully "outside" the world, because that would be a "shadow" of monasticism, which is about realizing the beauty of the here and now and growing in order to better live in community, which is essential for the tradition. The different archetypes make this a balanced book, which moreover suggests some activities, as photography and others, which may be fruitful. A very good book, as the others from the publisher.
March 18, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
An interesting combination of Jungian archetypes and monks and mystics in the Catholic tradition. The book takes 12 figures from St Francis to Thomas Merton and then assigns them an archetype. Each chapter starts with an icon and is followed by a quote and short biography of the person. After explaining the icon, the archetype is explained and related to the figure and the shadow of this archetype explained. Next, a bible reading to do a lectio divino style contemplation is suggested followed by a reflection by the author's husband. Next a spiritual practice is explained. Then comes what the author specializes in - some sort of art mediation. A meditation on the archetype is given and then an art project - mandala, photography, etc - is suggested. Each chapter closes with a poem inspired by the figure.
The Jungian archetypes were unexpected based on the blurb and not really my cup of tea, but the selection of mystics and their lives were interesting to contemplate. This book would be great for a more artsy type person, but the author actually suggests that we all are if we just try and so maybe those wishing to be challenged will also enjoy.
An interesting combination of Jungian archetypes and monks and mystics in the Catholic tradition. The book takes 12 figures from St Francis to Thomas Merton and then assigns them an archetype. Each chapter starts with an icon and is followed by a quote and short biography of the person. After explaining the icon, the archetype is explained and related to the figure and the shadow of this archetype explained. Next, a bible reading to do a lectio divino style contemplation is suggested followed by a reflection by the author's husband. Next a spiritual practice is explained. Then comes what the author specializes in - some sort of art mediation. A meditation on the archetype is given and then an art project - mandala, photography, etc - is suggested. Each chapter closes with a poem inspired by the figure.
The Jungian archetypes were unexpected based on the blurb and not really my cup of tea, but the selection of mystics and their lives were interesting to contemplate. This book would be great for a more artsy type person, but the author actually suggests that we all are if we just try and so maybe those wishing to be challenged will also enjoy.
September 9, 2018
I especially value the creative integration into life and learning expressed and included in this book's format. Author, Christine Valters Paintner, is well known for her comprehensive coverage of topics, this book being her newest in that library of spiritual impact. Artwork of each monk or mystic represented in full colour by Marcy Hall inspires reader's own creative understanding of the chapter's discussion.
Participating in the Abbey of the Arts online course based on this book and using the material included for spiritual formation and practice has increased my appreciation and enthusiastic recommendation of Illuminating the Way for fellow creatives and Monks in the World.
*Appreciation to Ave Maria Press for providing an ecopy for reading and review without cost or obligation.
Participating in the Abbey of the Arts online course based on this book and using the material included for spiritual formation and practice has increased my appreciation and enthusiastic recommendation of Illuminating the Way for fellow creatives and Monks in the World.
*Appreciation to Ave Maria Press for providing an ecopy for reading and review without cost or obligation.
February 5, 2024
A wonderful book that sheds light on the lives of a number of our favorite Saints from a fresh perspective as archetypes. Paintner introduces you to the Saints as if they are her treasured old friends. The accompanying poems and "illumination" style paintings also give the book added flair. As a whole, I think the book is fun, engaging, informative, and thought-provoking. What more could a reader ask for? I highly recommend reading this book. It is a good choice for a Bible Study or Centering Prayer group for discussion. A joyful book that will uplift your spirits.
August 20, 2016
The stories behind the illuminated artwork were interesting, but unfortunately I found the rest a little hard to read - I think if one is into meditation and prayer this would be a fabulous book to read and follow the steps to heal life, but for me it did not appeal. This book was provided to me in return for a honest and unbiased review.
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March 8, 2017A very well written bok on the Mystics and excellent pracices and resources. I lok forward to a second read!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews