With Chris Flynn
August 26-28
$175, plus meals and lodging, all materials included
The Art of Kintsugi: Mending our Broken Bits
Sometimes life cracks us wide open. It may be it from the loss of a loved one, home, job, health.
Our journey is to mend those cracks, as we make ourselves whole again and embrace our
Soulful path to joy and happiness.
On this Wabi Sabi path you’ll be introduced to the many spiritual aspects and benefits of the Japanese art of Kintsugi. Kintsugi focuses on the acceptance of transience and the beauty of imperfection. Kintsugi makes no attempt to hide nor disguise broken things. Imperfection is celebrated instead.
‘Kintsugi’ is the remarkable Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with the elegance and grace of gold. This tradition has a lot to teach us about how to handle the broken bits of ourselves. It’s been said that where the pieces are joined with gold, the bowl is stronger than before. Every break is unique and instead of repairing an item like new, the 400-year-old technique actually highlights the “cracks” as a part of the design.
In this nurturing, transforming workshop you will discover your own unique beauty and resilience. We will be using Kintsuki as a metaphor for healing ourselves as it teaches us an important lesson: Sometimes, in the process of repairing things that have broken, we actually create something more unique, beautiful and resilient.
ALL Ceremonial Objects and Tools will be provided.
The Bowl: the metaphor for our life, past, present, and future.
The Mallet: representing the times we’ve felt hammered by life.
The Cloth: offers love, nurturing, and protection.
The File: for smoothing the rough edges.
The Gold Lacquer: mends our broken bits with great elegance, strength, and beauty.
Throughout the weekend you can count on unexpected bursts of joy, laughter, and deep connections with your Self and community.
Register for The Art of Kintsugi
Chris Flynn:
Chris has been facilitating heart-centered groups for over 50 years.
She creates Sacred Spaces where people feel safe and comfortable expressing and sharing what’s in their hearts and minds.
From the Consciousness Raising of the 60’s, to The Course in Miracles of the 70’s, all the way up to present day, she has always invited participants to get out of their heads and into their hearts, and to speak from their own personal experience.
In the 1980’s she worked as a lay-minister and outreach coordinator for several Unity Churches. In the 1990’s she completed her Masters in Metaphysical Pastoral Counseling and was ordained as a non-denominational minister. She founded Conscious Connections Community, where she facilitated weekly groups and retreats. Her groups and workshops were closely affiliated with Unity, Unitarian, and Science of Mind churches.
For many years, Chris volunteered on the Suicide Prevention hotline. Then, in 2014, Chris joined her local Hospice Grief Support team. Seeing the need for community, beyond what Hospice could provide, she formed the New Horizons Community for widows and widowers. This group has been meeting via Zoom for three years. Her groups have included: Loss in the Second Year, The Five Invitations, Friday Family Check-in, Grief in the Time of Covid, The Artist’s Journey through Grief, Grief in the Holidays, and It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again.
As a Catholic youth, Chris had the ability to “blur her eyes,” and see what the priests and nuns really meant. Now, at 75, and a student of the Tao, those early perceptions have come full circle, fortifying her concept of creating Sacred Spaces for personal and group growth.
Chris lives in the California Redwoods with her husband and Saint Bernard. Six years ago, while visiting her Wisconsin relatives, she discovered the Christine Center and immediately found her spiritual home. She has attended many of the Christine Center’s virtual classes, the weekly Tao group, plus, last year she attended in person, The Tao in the Summer. Through ‘Quantum Connecting via Zoom’ (thank you Sr. Gabe), Chris enjoys her deep connection with the Christine Center community.
