Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction (Spiritual Directors International Books)

Product Description

The new resource is designed to help spiritual directors and others use expressive arts in the context of spiritual direction. It is the latest book in the unique SDI series, designed for professional spiritual directors, but also useful for clergy, therapists, and Christian formation specialists.

The Spiritual Directors International Series – This book is part of a special series produced by Morehouse Publishing in cooperation with Spiritual Directors International (SDI), a global network of some 6,000 spiritual directors and members.

Review

Replete with exercises, examples, stories, and resources,
Awakening the Creative Spirit offers the most comprehensive guide to date on how to develop the `spark of divine creativity’ embedded in us all. Those of us engaged in teaching the art of spiritual direction will find in it a beautiful introduction to the arts as the `language of the soul.’ –Mary Rose Bumpus, RSM, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Spirituality, School of Theology and Ministry Seattle University Mary Rose Bumpus, RSM, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Spirituality, School of Theology and Ministry Seattle University

We have been far too left-brained, verbal, and linear in our attempts to transform and mature actual people–intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Here we have two women filling the tragic gap–and beautifully so! Spiritual direction is the growing edge of ministry today and this excellent book will surely direct that growth. –Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M.

Word, image, music, dance: this book provides a rich vocabulary for entering more deeply into conversation and communion with the One who gives us the arts as path to knowing God. –Jan Richardson, artist and author,
In Wisdom’s Path: Discovering the Sacred in Every Season

About the Author

Christine Valters Paintner holds a Ph.D. in Christian spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union and is an adjunct faculty member at Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry. She is also a registered expressive arts consultant and educator, author of
Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening and Awareness, and art editor for
Presence Journal. Betsey Beckman holds a Master of Ministry degree from Seattle University and is a nationally acclaimed liturgical dancer, story teller, and teacher of dancing. She also produces a series of storytelling DVDs through The Dancing Word.