Classes

Awakening the Creative Spirit – Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts

with Betsey Beckman, MM & Christine Valters Paintner, PhD

Are you a spiritual director, counselor, pastor, chaplain (or in another soul care ministry) seeking ways to bring in the arts for healing, discovery, and transformation?   Consider immersing yourself in a five-day retreat based on the material in our co-authored book Awakening the Creative Spirit.

MAY 13-18 on the beautiful Hood Canal, Washington -ONLY A FEW SPACES LEFT

SpiritPlay Classes

SpiritPlay is a festive blend of InterPlay* and ministry and has become a staple of Seattle’s InterPlay offerings.  Now in our eleventh year – we have developed a wonderful community of faith and foolishness.  In our monthly class, we explore how the spontaneity of InterPlay interfaces with the tradition of Christianity. We find ourselves diving into the lectionary, exploring sacred stories, dancing through the cycle of seasons, loosening our tongues, singing our souls and improvising in prayer. Together, we practice opening the doors to an embodied church!

Second Tuesdays of the Month 9:30 – 11:45 a.m.
October  2011 – May 2012

To enroll, please contact me at betsey@thedancingword.com

This Spring:

Search for Meaning:Pacific Northwest Spirituality Book Festival

Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University
February 4, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Free!
Featuring pulitzer prize-winning poet Mary Oliver and best-selling author James Martin, S.J.
I will be offering a 45 minute session entitled: Body Wisdom from the Well featuring my latest DVD release – Woman at the Well!

Pre-Lenten Retreat – Day of Movement and Prayer

Sponsored by the Cenacle Sisters, VanCouver, Canada
February 18, 9:30 a.m – 4:00 p.m
Join me in Vancouver for a day of body prayer!

Los Angeles Religious Education Congress

Voice Infusing Life
March 23-25, 2012

I’ve been dancing at the LA Congress for over a dozen years now, and still find it to be one of my most enlivening creative commitments – truly makes me proud to be Catholic!  I’ll be dancing at liturgies throughout the congress and offering two movement workshops.  Come be inspired by musicians, dancers, speakers, prayer and celebration!

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Online Class!

Water, Wind, Earth and Fire

Are you ready to take a retreat in everyday life through the heart of creation?  The four primal elements of water, wind, earth, and fire are woven throughout the Hebrew and Christian scriptures and the wisdom of the great mystics, and they can enliven and incarnate prayer and faith.  This 5 Week E-Course designed by my colleague, Christine Valters Paintner, PhD invites you into a deeply contemplative spirituality which engages creation through ancient texts and prayer practices.

Includes:
5 weekly lessons from Christine Paintner
5 weeks of daily emails to inspire you along the way
5 guided meditation podcasts led by Christine Paintner
5 guided SoulCollage® experiences led by Kayce Stevens Hughlett
6 songs by Rivers Voice to deepen your experience of the elements
2 videos by Betsey Beckman (The Creation story and a guided movement with the Elements.)
A private web page for sharing of insights and a private Flickr group for sharing art (optional participation)

This class is now available for on-demand registration.  You can sign up and begin at any time and will have immediate access to the course materials when you pay online.  Join us!