In this session, Christine Valters Paintner, poet and author of over 20 spiritual life books, including A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness, reflects on the profound wisdom found in life's "winter" phases. She speaks to the importance of embracing inner darkness as an essential part of spiritual growth, guiding listeners through themes of grief, shadow work, and creative contemplation. Christine delves into archetypes of the Monk and the Artist, highlighting their significance in her life and work, and shares practices for honoring grief, avoiding spiritual bypassing, and nurturing creativity through seasonal cycles.

May you  be inspired to explore your own "dark night of the soul" with courage, discovering tools to navigate life’s darker seasons. Christine also offers insight into the “cave within,” and explores the richness of contemplating darkness as a fertile ground for transformation, creativity, and a deeper relationship with the Divine.

Speaker bio: Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE is the online Abbess and director of AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery exploring contemplative practice and creative expression. She is a poet, teacher, Benedictine oblate, and author of numerous books on spirituality and the arts. Her newest book is A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness (https://abbeyofthearts.com/books/a-midwinter-god/)