About the author
Christine Valters Paintner is a writer and teacher known for her work at the intersection of contemplative spirituality and creative practice, and for founding Abbey of the Arts, an online community for monk-artists. Her books Give Me a Word, published by Broadleaf Books in 2025, and Breath Prayer, from the same publisher in 2021, draw on ancient spiritual disciplines and adapt them for contemporary readers. Give Me a Word revisits a practice from the desert fathers and mothers in which a single word is chosen to guide reflection over the course of a year, while Breath Prayer looks at the shared tradition, found across Buddhist, Jewish, and Christian practice, of pairing breath with short words of prayer. Library Journal praised Give Me a Word as suited to readers looking for a new meditation technique or a way to slow down. Paintner's work generally sits within contemplative and interfaith spiritual writing rather than academic theology.
📖 Where to start with Christine Valters Paintner
💬 What our editors say about Christine Valters Paintner's books
“Paintner offers a gentle, accessible entry point into contemplative practice through the simple mechanism of synchronized breathing and phrase. The collection of poem-prayers provides immediate utility for daily routines,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred
“While the concept of a single guiding word is elegant and potentially deeply moving, this book may not suit those who prefer rigorous academic theology or complex doctrinal frameworks. Readers looking for quick fixes or immediate…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Give Me a Word: The Promise of an Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year
