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Spiritual Practices: Contemplative Arts

resources to support contemplative beginners and adepts, including individuals, families, small groups and congregational practices

Books

               Picture          Face to the Rising Sun     God and Wonder     The How     Living Revision          Story Quilts: Appalachian Women Speak Trade Book (Hardcover)          

Multimedia

Dancing MindfulnessMindfulness is the practice of noticing without judgment. Whether it is used as a gateway to higher spiritual growth or as a path to more balanced living, the applications of mindfulness are various…as are the ways to achieve it. Dancing Mindfulness uses the art form of dance as the primary medium of discovering mindful awareness. Dancing through seven primary areas of mindfulness in motion: breath, sound, body, story, mind, spirit, and fusion (of all elements), with a respect to the attitudes of mindfulness, participants tap into their body’s own healing resources and realize that we all have a unique creativity just waiting to be cultivated!  Explore the website to learn more about the impact of Dancing Mindfulness!

Art House AmericaArt House America Blog Archive includes hundreds of essays, poetry and interviews curated to promote a seamless life of Christian discipleship and imaginative living, the worth and necessity of all vocations, and the promotion of people and earth care through “the artful, faithful life”.

Well-Fed Spirit offers Spiritual Practices, The Arts as Spiritual Practice, and Wellness Resources, including an extensive offering of contemplative photography, including labyrinths.

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Creativity as Spiritual Practice 

by: Karla M. Kincannon

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Visio Divina

Monk in the World Guest Post: Kate Kennington Steer - Contemplative Photography

Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) faculty member Barbara Homes and co-host Donny Bryant bring you The Cosmic We, a new podcast exploring our shared cosmic origins though a cultural lens that fuses science, mysticism, spirituality, and the creative arts.

Matthew Fox and Richard Rohr spent fulls weeks reflecting on Contemplative Arts, Fox with many responses to the work of Jennifer Hereth (and others); Rohr with wisdom from numerous contributors in Finding God in the Arts.

Online Groups/Opportunities

Contemplative Writing

with Judith Favor

On-Demand

Spirituality & Practice offers this year-long contemplative writing and listening opportunity, facilitated by Judith Favor, a seasoned spiritual guide in a self-led e-course format. Choose the start date and frequency of receiving the 52 emails, which contain a focus word, reflections, and writing prompts, as well as guidelines for varied forms of writing, including dialogues, laments, and psalms.

Learn more here.

Contemplative Art Practices

The word "Advent" spelled in scrabble letters with greens in background.Gathering to Write: An Intergenerational Advent Practice

By Lauren Graeber (she/her/hers) on Sep 26, 2022 12:00 pm

Writing is a way of paying close attention to our lives. Finding just the right words to describe our thoughts, emotions, and experiences can be an act of holy gratitude and a way of opening ourselves to God’s ongoing work within us. When we write alongside others and share some of the words we’ve found, we build trust and community among ourselves.

Gathering to Write can be adapted to any text and any time of the year. This is a beautiful multigenerational contemplative practice for any season.

Download the full Gathering to Write PDF here.

 

Image of multiple books, a notebook, and a pen spread across a flat surface.Krista Tippett embraces - and encourages - Contemplative Reading and Writing in The Pause, September 17, 2022

Graffiti of Lament: An Activity for Finding Hope in Art

How can we invite all generations to come together and engage honestly in conversations regarding loss and grief? How can ministry leaders assist people of all ages to engage in lament as an act of worship rooted in Christian hope? Here is a short activity that can be adapted for any group, or for individuals, as we learn to bring our lament honestly, openly to God and to one another.

May be an illustration Art Therapy Spot shared this beautiful 'rooting' contemplative practice - perfect for tumultuous climate times (whether  the tumult is social, political, or climate-based)

Find other contemplative and healing arts posts at the Art Therapy Spot website here.

Wonder Awaits!

Stories to Inspire Imaginations

Building Faith

Building Faith offers numerous articles on creative approaches to prayer. See especially:

A Simple Practice for Using Prayer Beads with resources for making sets.

 

 

 

 

WORRY EATERS MAKE GOOD PRAYER PARTNERS

Worry Eaters help children express anxieties and set them aside.

 

 

 

CREATING PRAYER BOTTLES

Prayer bottles help families connect with each other and connect with God.

 

 

 

 

Graffiti of LamentAn Activity for Finding Hope in Art

 

 

 

 

A Finger Labyrinth Project for All Ages

In Our Library

     drops-like-stars     Fly Fishing -The Sacred Art: Casting a Fly as a Spiritual Practice  -     By: Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer, Rev. Michael Attas     Holy Spokes : The Search for Urban Spirituality on Two Wheels