Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements

by Christine Valters Paintner

Organized around "The Canticle of the Creatures" by St. Francis of Assisi, Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire is the first book to consider the ways in which praying with the natural elements can enliven Christian spiritual life. Teacher, artist, and Benedictine oblate Christine Valters Paintner offers concrete suggestions and guided contemplative exercises; for instance, she suggests that readers take time to "watch the sunrise or sunset and breathe in the beauty of the fiery sky. Contemplate what those beginnings and endings have to say in your own life." Readers benefit from Paintner's extensive training in theology and Benedictine spirituality, as well as her unique work in bringing the expressive arts to spiritual direction.

Genres: Spirituality, Prayer, Nonfiction, Christian, Nature, Religion, Faith

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Christine Valters Paintner, PhD is the online Abbess at AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery and global community. She is the author of over 20 books on contemplative practice and creative expression including three collections of poetry. She lives in Galway, Ireland where she leads online retreats with her husband John. Christine is a Benedictine oblate, living out her commitment as a monk in the world.

Reviews

[Sara Gorman]

I really enjoyed reading this one and meditating on different aspects of the elements. I liked the mix of Bible verses, poetry, and short stories that engaged the different elements, as well as the different spiritual practices one could do to further their study.

[Michelle]

I had such high hopes for this book! It quoted many people I admire and aimed to see God at work through nature, which I love. Overall, it was good, but not the 'Wow!' I hoped it would be.

[Francine Apollo]

This is a book I have been meaning to read for quite some time (published in 2010) but I do believe that some books come to us when we are meant to read them. Coincidentally, I was reading Michael Pollan's Cooked at the same time. His chapters are Fire, Water, Air and Earth. Reading them together was such fun! I sometimes practice active meditation when cooking, gardening, etc. Reading these two books have enriched my life.

This is a short and accessible book, clearly written, with lots of quotes and inspiration. The author writes both beautifully and with great symbolism as she explores Scripture and the lives of the saints. This is clearly a book written out of the Christina tradition but I believe it is accessible and universal for all.

This book is especially interesting to me as a point of connection with the natural world especially as Pope Francis is reminding us of our responsibility to our Mother Earth.

This book could be used alone or with others; it is good for action as well as contemplation. Nature is a constantly unraveling Mystery and the author is clearly connected to it.

There is a great deal to reconnect to, or learn for the first time, in this book. A helpful bibliography for each of the chapters is included.

Highly recommended.

[Jennifer]

I really enjoyed this book. it's filled with wonderful quotes ad poetry from many and varied sources. However, I most enjoyed the author's own words and reflections on the elements of nature and the way stations they provide for praying and connecting with God. I think this might be a valuable book for one who desires to reconnect with God or to deepen an already felt experience of the divine.
It's a delicious book.

[Rachel Friedland]

This is an absolute must-read in the prayer genre. I found this book when I was struggling to find a devotional. All Most devotionals for women are about being a wife and a mother, and I am neither and do not have plans to be so at the moment. So it was very refreshing to find a book about prayer in a realm which is usually thought to be a bit more feminine and grounded (pun intended).

Christine Valters Paintner goes through each element in detail, quoting scripture, mystics, spiritual writers, and even poetry to talk about the divinity we can see here on earth. As someone who grew up very close to nature, it was easy learn to see the world this way. I really enjoyed highlighting many amazing passages and plan on using some of the prayers and exercises in this beautiful book.

[Mark]

As one who can often be blind to the beauty of my surroundings as I meander through each day, I wanted to like this book very much. And I indeed found it to be helpful in places. However, I also found it to be in places perhaps a bit too neo-paganistic and neo-pantheistic for my taste. Instead of helping me to appreciate God's handiwork in creation and grow in my relationship with Him, the focus all too often seemed to end on the objects themselves and the individual’s inward journey. In summary, I enjoyed the book, but had to filter what I read with a critical mind. Perhaps a second read would be helpful as well. I recommend Rigney's The Things of Earth and older works by C.S. Lewis will will perhaps be of more benefit to the reader.

[Bonnie Westmark]

This book shows you how to find deep peace within yourself and nature without leaving home. It helped me to see that God is present all around me, if only I take time to be present and pay attention. I no longer stand alone and ask “Where are you God.” I see that I am surrounded by God in nature. I have deepened both my awareness and appreciation for God in all things.

[Barbara]

What an uplifting book that gives practical exercises in praying with the elements. It also gave a wonderful description on what elements are needed to place on the prayer table: feather (for wind), candle (fire), shell or table fountain (water) and a stone (earth). Many great quotes filled the book that will give inspiration and light to centering your prayer.

[LuAnn]

I primarily read and meditated on this as I walked my dogs in the woods at home--a fitting setting! I found the meditations and quotes meaningful though I often wandered off into others trails of pondering and prayers with God.

[Sarah Funnell]

A lovingly curated anthology of poetry, devotional and meditative practice, and reflections on the archetypical four elements and how they can be incorporated into contemplative Christianity. It's a book for marinating in, not skimming or rushing through.

[Mindy Bocko]

Inspiration to pray with awareness of the surrounding natural elements. Beautifully written as are all her books.

[Janet Atkins]

Really good devotional book or retreat leader book...

[Elke]

Not a one and done read. Beautiful. Grounding. Centering. Will continue to reread and reread and put the prompts into practice.

[Charles Palella]

If you are caught between Catholicism and nature-based learnings, this is the book for you.

[Mary]

This was a beautiful overview of how to integrate the elements into one's spiritual practice, no matter the religion or spiritual orientation.

[Alanna]

Absolutely loved this. Beautiful contemplations on the elements and how God speaks through them.

[writer...]

having won the Autumn Blessings poetry party from Abbey of the Arts, today i received Christine's autographed prize gift of her new book *Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements*.

i'm already more than pleased in the reading. how about sharing an appetizer with you?

*The element of wind invites us to "open our souls to Being," which means opening ourselves to a God who flows in directions we cannot predict. This element invites us to a radical posture of surrender in releasing our hold on our own plans and making room for God to blow us in the most life-giving direction. As a metaphor for God, wind reminds us that God's ways are not our ways. The invitation of wind requires of us a detachment from our own longing to control the direction of our lives and a simultaneous surrender to Spirit to allow ourselves to be carried to places of growth and newness.*

hungry? i know i am. looking forward to much more...

[Melissa]

I have read every word in this book, but I will never be truly finished. It is a book to return to again and again, offering poems, writings, reflections, questions to ponder, and practices to experience all that the elements of water, wind, earth, and fire have to reveal to us about ourselves, God, our relationships with others, and our relationship with the natural world. As an artist, this book has opened up endless inspiration. I have ideas for paintings for years! This book is such a gift and I am looking forward to exploring more of Paintner’s work!

[Jobie]

I read through this book slowly as I went through the seasons. It has great quotes and bits of poetry. It ties the seasons to the body and to Native American tradition (which I loved).

The book has exercises and Lectio Divina for each season.

[Lydia]

Per Lauren Winner, more about the place of metaphor in the spiritual life:

I discovered this book only recently. I wish that I'd known about it forever. It is a treasury of some of the ways Christians over the centuries have faithfully and engaged God in the company of the natural elements.

[Leanne]

I found things in this book which spoke to me and things that did not. In all though an interesting spiritual read.

[Tiffany Bridge]

I

[Kathy]

Much better than I was expecting!

[Julie]

Not heavy-handed, not pretentious, and full of beautiful quotes and insights. The culminating mediation/prayer was particularly heartfelt and touching.

[Linda]

One of my favorite books. I constantly re-read it; make journals using it; tech classes. Love this book!

[Jenny]

My review: http://www.carrottopstudio.blogspot.c...

[Tucker]

Short, simple book exploring nature imagery in traditional Christian writings, interspersed with examples of poetry and "how-tos" on getting in touch with nature.

[Marcia Chapman]

Fun and interesting. I'd like to read it again.

[Catherine Casey]

I really enjoyed "Water,Wind,Earth and Fire..." there is much to ponder and revisit for me over the Summre with this book.