Exploring the Depths is an exciting partnership between author and spiritual director Teresa Blythe and myself offering artwork paired with reflective questions for contemplation, creativity, and awareness.
The following are “tools” that can be used in a variety of ways as a contemplative practice for personal and group inner exploration and expansion.
Welcome to a world of creativity and in-depth reflection! As spiritual directors, Teresa and I find that exploring our thoughts and feelings around the important choices we make in life deepens our spiritual understanding and connects us to the source of life. Together we share these discernment cards with you hoping you can use them for creative contemplation.
What you get: What you get: Set of 14 black and white cards that are prints of hand carved original artwork with reflections on the back. One instruction card is included with the 14 images. The instruction card gives ideas on how to use the cards for individuals and in groups. In my store is a free one page PDF instruction sheet available for download.
The principles presented in these cards are gleaned from the history of discernment handed down from Ignatius of Loyola (16th century) and the Jesuit order of Catholicism; and the practice of listening in stillness and silence front he Quaker tradition. You need not choose between one or the other because they complement each other nicely. They both center around important open-ended questions that help us sort and sift through information toward faithful choices.
The artwork for this deck is inspired by 15th century alchemical engravings.
These cards can be used in a variety of ways as a contemplative tool for personal and group inner exploration and expansion.
What is discernment?
Spiritual discernment involves engaging all your senses—mental, physical, and spiritual—to make choices aligned with your values, spiritual understanding, and the realities of your daily life. These cards contain images and messages from the history and practice of spiritual discernment to help you gain clarity in your choice. Begin with a question that speaks to an important choice you are facing and use the cards to work your way through thoughtful discernment. These principles of discernment come from writings on Jesuit and Quaker spirituality. They are open ended enough for people from any spiritual or religious tradition to use.
Exploring the Depths: Discernment Cards for Creative Contemplation and all other Exploring the Depths products are printed in the USA in a small family owned print shop.
Teresa Blythe and I are excited about our next set of cards: The All Stars. This set, part of the Common and Uncommon Mystics and Saints series, includes Mechthild, Gurdjieff, Rumi, Rabi, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, Lao Tzu, Hildegard, Margery Kempe, Meister Eckhart, and Julian of Norwich! “Exploring the Depths: Common and Uncommon Mystics and Saints - The All Stars.”
What you get: Set of 10 black and white cards that are prints of hand drawn original artwork with reflections of the back. One instruction card is included along with the 10 images. The instruction card gives ideas on how to use the cards for individuals and in groups.
Exploring the Depths: Common and Uncommon Mystics and Saints - The All Stars and all other Exploring the Depths products are printed in the USA in a small family owned print shop.
These cards can be used in a variety of ways as a contemplative tool for personal and group inner exploration and expansion.
Reflection: The cards may be used individually or with others to spark meaningful conversation.
Meditation: Spread the cards on a table or floor and find the one that seems to beckon to you, or that in some way expresses what you are feeling. Let them evoke from you what you want to reflect on. Reflection questions included.
Coloring: Each card is black and white and designed for you to be able to express yourself and add depth by coloring them. Coloring is a contemplative practice that can move us out of our anxious minds and into a deeper place of the heart. Colored pencils or felt tip markers are great for making the images personal to you or as a gift to someone.
About Exploring the Depths: Exploring the Depths is an exciting partnership between Teresa Blythe and Trey Everett offering artwork and reflective questions for contemplation, creativity, and awareness.
This series of ten cards, Common and Uncommon Mystics and Saints- The Desert Mothers and Father, are symbolic and imagined images of the Desert Monastics along with brief summaries of their life, work, trials, and experiences. A companion animal that was either part of the Desert Mother or Father’s legendary story, or was simply chosen by us, has been included with each image. The Desert Mothers and Fathers were early Mystics who lived alone or in small communities in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria starting in the 3rd century AD. Fantastical stories arose over time about their spiritual powers, wisdom, and devotion to God. Silence, solitude, simplicity, welcoming, and compassion were hallmarks of their life. These cards can be used in a variety of ways as a contemplative tool for personal and group inner exploration and expansion.
These cards can be used in a variety of ways as a contemplative tool for personal and group inner exploration and expansion.
Set of 10 cards, 5 X 7”: $25 with free shipping in the US.
You can purchase and find more information on the online store on this website.
There are three sizes of print sets available with 5” x 7” having the most at 15 editions, and 8.5” x 11’ and 17” x 22” having only 5 editions each. The 12 prints in the set are prints of my original hand drawn pen and ink work. Each set is printed on archival fine art 300 lb. rag bright paper and using archival ink. Each image is signed by me on the back.
To purchase and for more information of the limited sets go to the online store on this website.
Each set of 12 is printed by Sweetlight Gallery in Crookston, MN.
Copyright 2023
EXPLORING THE DEPTHS: STATIONS OF THE CROSS CARDS
This unique set of cards are black and white prints of hand drawn original artwork. The thirteen cards in this set (12 images + 1 instruction card) are symbolic art of the traditional Stations of the Cross. Each card has an image on one side and a reflection about the symbolism and intended meaning on the other.
These cards can be used in a variety of ways as a contemplative tool for personal and group inner exploration and expansion.
Each card is black and white and designed for you to be able to express yourself and add depth by coloring them. Coloring is a contemplative practice that can move us out of our anxious minds and into a deeper place of the heart. Colored pencils or felt tip markers are great for making the images personal to you or as a gift to someone.
More information about the cards and artwork when you go to the store. Available now at the online store on this website.
$25 with free shipping in the US. Available now at the online store on this website.
Thanks for looking!
A sample of a colored image of the card “Jesus welcomes the cross.”
Digital and print journals are the perfect fit for more creative contemplation. With 50 pages you’ll have an abundance of material to explore and journal. Each page includes an image from Exploring the Depths: Cards for Creative Contemplation, a series of questions for you to ponder, and some space for you to journal about whatever is arising in you.
Spend time with the drawings. Let then evoke from you what you want to reflect on.
Color the drawings. Colored pencils are great from making the images personal to you.
Write or draw your reflections in the space on each page. Use the prompts if they help.
The digital product is 54 pages in length and is $15. To order go to the on line store on this website. Check out our cool Exploring the Depths Cards too. Thanks for looking!
The print Journal has 54 high quality pages, with a heavy cover, and saddle stitched to a finished size of 8 1/2 x 11 and is $15. Printed in the USA in a small family owned print shop. Free shipping in the US.
You can find more information and purchase the journals on online store on this website.
We share these journals with you hoping you can use them for creative contemplation.
Peace to you, Teresa and Trey
The CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE of COLORING moves us out of our anxious mind and into the deeper places of the heart.
COLORING BOOK: $15 with free shipping in the US.
48 black and white images on high quality pages, with a heavy cover, and saddle stitched to a finished size of 8 1/2 x 11. Corresponding questions included.
Available now at the online store on this website.
