The Contemplative Life: Recent Episodes
Christina Roberts, Chris Roberts, and Kristina Kaiser
Discover the gifts of deep listening and spiritual companioning. This podcast is dedicated to helping people become familiar with the wide variety of contemplative practices that have been developed over hundreds of years and are continuing to develop even to this day. We also hope to create a space for people to learn more about spiritual direction, also known as spiritual companioning. Our interest is in allowing "the contemplative" to become a part of our regular life experiences, and so we cover a lot of ground! How does Art fit? Music? Exercise? How does my personality play into my experiences? What if I don't feel comfortable with silence? What if I don't even know what I think about God? And what you'll find is that, since there are 3 of us co-leading the podcast, each of us often comes with a slightly different point of view. So there's no cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all conversations! We hope you'll join us!
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Spiritual Guidance Masterminds: robertscontemplative@gmail.com
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts for you to ponder each week.
Mentioned in today's episode:
For those interested in a checking out spiritual direction to see what it's like contact robertscontemplative@gmail.com to learn more.
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us for our Summer Wisdom Shorts where we share brief thoughts of wisdom for you to ponder.
Mentioned in today's episode:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we welcome Terra McDaniel to the podcast. Terra inspires us to engage kids in spiritual conversations through her stories and experiences. She offers simple moments and invitations that feel attainable even for toddlers. For those looking to go deeper on this topic, check out her training program and resources listed below.
https://www.terramcdaniel.com/
https://www.companioningcenter.org/course/scwc-app-2026
BOOKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
Tiny Perfect Things
Wonder Walkers
Noticing
My Spiritual Journey
Casper mattress
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Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we have an inspiring conversation with Lacy Finn Borgo. Lacy is an author, spiritual director and teacher who shares beautiful stories of spiritual companionship with children in transitional housing. Her work can be found at gooddirtministries.org
Mentioned in today's podcast:
Suno AI
Riverdance
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Often with good intentions, we can easily find ourselves in fix it mode with people we care about in our lives. Today we take a look at how to move from fixing into serving and empowering.
Mentioned on today's episode:
Spindrift Ginger Lime Mule
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Today we conclude our Blast From the Past looking at a literary arc called the Hero/Heroine Journey popularized by Joseph Campbell. Join us as we share how this framework was a helpful part of our spiritual formation.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brami pasta
Rao's sauce
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Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
As we celebrate the legacy of St. Patrick on March 17, we are looking through the perspective of dreams, forgiveness and spiritual innovation. Join us as we revisit a previous episode diving into his mystical life.
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Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We are continuing our series called Blast from the Past where we are looking at various books, ideas, experiences that shaped our earlier years of formation. Today we talk about Delerious? and other bands who have influenced us. (And we do sound a bit like hippies in the process…)
MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE
Episode 209 Modern Contemplatives: Waterdeep
Prizefighter : Mumford and Sons
Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children:
My Spiritual Journey
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Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join our series "Blast from the Past" as we look at spiritual formation ideas, books and experiences from our earlier decades that we are revisiting on the podcast.
Today's "blast from the past" takes us to a book that was foundational in our early 20's called The Making of A Leader by Robert Clinton. Clinton discusses 6 stages of leadership that correlate with decades of our life and offer some interesting perspective.
Mentioned in today's episode:
Liturgies of the Wild by Martin Shaw
Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children:
My Spiritual Journey
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we explore ways we might approach looking at our spiritual health. How do we measure that which does not have clear bio markers like we have with our physical health? Join us as we look at some possible ways to look at ongoing spiritual health and wellness and please reach out at thecontemplativelife.net to share some of your thoughts.
Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children:
My Spiritual Journey
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we look at 4 pieces of wisdom from Gen Z. Let’s take a look at what’s trending and how this ancient wisdom shows up in the modern lives of teens.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Casper Bed
What I’m Into:
Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw
Liturgies of the Wildby Martin Shaw
Zoe Health app
Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children:
My Spiritual Journey
Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children:
My Spiritual Journey
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
As we start a new year, managing time is often a topic of discussion and resolution. Today we take a look at 3 different views of time and how it weaves in with a contemplative life.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Poem from the book, To Bless the Space Between Us
Please check out Christina’s Activity Prayer Book for children:
My Spiritual Journey
Or at SDI Press
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we take a different approach from the popular message of living a balanced life and explore the topic of unbalance. We hope it will inspire us to move from feeling swept away with stress and obligations to a life of intention and choice.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Christina released a book in partnership with Spiritual Directors International called My Spiritual Journey.
From the SDI Website:
My Spiritual Journey cultivates the practices of deep listening, gentleness, and contemplation, allowing kids to form their own words, pictures, or quiet reflection to cultivate trust with themselves and the Divine.
To order a copy for yourself or those you wish to support spiritually check out:
SDI Press
Amazon
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we are excited to share that Christina released a book in partnership with Spiritual Directors International called My Spiritual Journey.
From the SDI Website:
My Spiritual Journey cultivates the practices of deep listening, gentleness, and contemplation, allowing kids to form their own words, pictures, or quiet reflection to cultivate trust with themselves and the Divine.
To order a copy for yourself or those you wish to support spiritually check out
Amazon
Or
SDI Press
Sign up for our newsletter: https://thecontemplativelife.substack.com/subscribe
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we explore the idea of inner and outer enoughness. What defines our sense of enough? What are some practices to help us recalibrate towards a sense of enoughness? Join as we explore the importance of this practice in our daily lives.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
ADVENT CALENDARS
Beauty Advent calendars
Gemstone Advent calendars
Tea Advent calendars
Chocolate Advent calendars
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Today we look at 8 ways spiritual direction has personally changed our lives as we’ve engaged in this practice for well over a decade. We hope it can spark something in our listeners who may be considering finding a spiritual director, getting trained in spiritual direction or to use as a resource to share with someone who may benefit from spiritual direction.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Egyptian Licorice tea
Mica Powder
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Today we explore ancient wisdom around pause and the significance it has in our modern lives. As we share historical context and practical ideas, we hope you are inspired to engage new ways of pause in your own life.
Mentioned in this episode:
Ep 178 Contemplative Figures: Desert Fathers and Mothers
Ep 133 St. Benedict: Mystics/Contemplatives Exploration
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Today we explore the backstory of Ignatius Loyola and how imagination and daydreaming helped him (and others) get in touch with the movement of the Spirit. We are joined by spiritual director, Phoebe Love, sharing her experiences facilitating groups in the Ignatian Exercises as well as her own story of being shaped by meditating on God’s love.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Pray As You Go app
Inner Compassby Margaret Silf
The Ignatian Adventure by Kevin O’Brien SJ
ignatianspirituality.com
godinallthings.com
phoebelove.org
Farmer’s Almanac
Puff’s plus
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today, we explore what discernment is and some practical ways to engage this spiritual practice. We highlight several books that have informed our thinking around this topic, as well as episodes 22 & 23, Vocational Discernment Part 1 & 2.
To work with us, reach out at robertscontemplative@gmail.com
Helpful books on discernment:
The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope
Falling Upwardby Richard Rohr
Pursuing God’s Will Togetherby Ruth Haley Barton
The Big Leapby Gay Hendricks
The Dream Managerby Mattew Kelly & Patrick Lencioni
WHAT I’M INTO:
Pomegranate spritzers with Spindrift Belli-no
Quill pens from turkey feathers
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
In this episode, we explore the gifts of neurodivergence within the contemplative life.
Join us as we discover how ways of being such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia open fresh pathways to the Divine.
Check out some resources for neurodivergence mentioned on The Contemplative Life blog.
AUDIBLE LEARNERS
Kindle
Kindle has the ability to read books to you. This has been a game changer for those who find reading cumbersome but desire to read books or have a screen free wind down option at bed, since you are listening rather than scrolling.
An audible account is also a great resource for sharing books among family members or having your own library available to you. You have opportunities to collect points and also have many free options.
Blocking sound
Many learning styles and personalities find benefits from noise canceling headphones that help you lock in. Over the ear options are great if you want to make it obvious that you are not interested in conversation or engaging at the moment.
Having some affordable in ear options can also be great to keep in backpacks, next to work out clothes, or other places. For those who tend to lose items, these allow you to track them.
TACTILE INPUT
These nice plush blankets, as well as weighted blankets, are perfect for cozy hygge type evenings.
Along with that, long hot showers are a favorite way to unwind and release all the experiences from the day. Having a good shower head makes the difference as well as my favorite Eucalyptus scrub.
We are also beginning to explore rings that we can twirl as we engage on Zoom meetings or in situations when we need to release energy.
Our kids like weighted stuffed animals at bedtime. There's many cute ones to choose from to switch it up.
We are new to the world of handheld spiky textures as a way to wake up parts of the brain when we feel a bit of a slump.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we discuss the value of integrating special experiences and learnings into our daily lives. We look at some examples from our own lives, as well as beginning to explore Ken Wilbur’s Integral Theory.
Mentioned in this episode:
What I Am Into:
Backgammon
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Today we look at perspectives from philosopher, Albert Borgman and historian, Daniel Immerwahr. We see how history reveals that what was once deemed as a “threat” to flourishing is now seen as a focal practice. Join us as we wrestle with some of our thoughts and experiences around what it means to experience connection, embodiment, creativity and attention in our modern world.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Alejandro Rodriguez joins us today to talk about discovering contemplative paths in the midst of a corporate lifestyle. We explore both the healthy and shadow sides of ambition and accomplishment.
Learn more about Alejandro’s current work at yesandsc.com
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us today as we explore ways we are noticing AI coming into our contemplative spaces. What are the opportunities? What are some of the shadow sides? We look at ways we can grow in our awareness of this aspect of life that is rapidly growing.
For those interested in learning more about this topic, we did a previous episode in early 2024, E 162 Thoughts on AI.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we explore the topic of places and the ways that places have impacted us.
We discuss 4 types of travel and the impact it makes in our lives.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we are sharing some reflections from Part 1 and Part 2 of the sample spiritual direction sessions. These episodes were recorded in partnership with Spiritual Directors International. Tune in to hear some of Christina and Matt’s takeaways from the experience.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we are sharing an episode that was recorded in partnership with Spiritual Directors International (SDI). In Part 1, Christina Roberts was in the role of a spiritual guide with Matt. Today Matt is the spiritual guide and Christina has given permission to share the session on the podcast as an example. Enjoy.
(link) E 224 Sample Spiritual Direction Session, Part 1
sdicompanions.org
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we are sharing an episode that was recorded in partnership with Spiritual Directors International (SDI). In Part 1, Christina Roberts is in the role of a spiritual guide with Matt, who has given permission to share the session on the podcast as an example. Next week, the roles will switch. Enjoy.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Legacy Letters
Today we discuss Legacy Letters with spiritual director, Robin Clossman. We explore how time reviews and photos can be a gateway into sharing legacies with those we love. These ideas translate to any decade of life.
Connect with Robin to learn more at:
robin@wcitech.net
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we talk about ways that spiritual guidance shows up in our everyday lives- at home, work, with neighbors. We explore both the informal settings for deep listening and how these practices can change our daily interactions.
For more information, go to thecontemplativelife.net
or email robertscontemplative@gmail.com
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we explore how music connects us to God and the many ways music is prayer. Whether you play music or simply listen, we hope you find new ways of experiencing meaningful spiritual moments.
Mentioned in this episode:
Marimbas
Candle making supplies
Fountain pens ink
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us as we unpack various types of rest. Rest is not just taking a nap, but includes a variety of ways to find rejuvenation and restoration in our lives.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we continue our conversation about rest and look at common barriers we might face. As we highlight barriers we have faced, we hope you find inspiration to identify and move towards flourishing times of renewal in your life.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we discuss common paradigms and mindsets around rest and renewal. We hope this helps us become aware of how we approach rest and expand how we engage.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we are exploring the idea of fixing compared to listening. To help us on this topic, we are revisiting a previous conversation with spiritual director and supervisor Marcia Bentley.
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Today we wrap up our series on art and contemplative with guest Sarah Bianchi. Join us as we talk about liturgy that first nourishes our own souls and from that deep space then sharing with others.
Follow Sarah at:
artbysarahkay.com
IG: Artbyskay
FB: SarahKay
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we explore photography and how it can be a doorway into contemplative spirituality. As we have increasing access to photos on our phones, we hope this episode inspires you to engage in new ways.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
The Practice of Contemplative Photography by Andy Karr & Michael Woods
Jameshazelwood.net/blog
Miksang.com
Connect with Ann:
usheringgrace@gmail.com
https://www.mkespiritualdirectors.com/find-a-spiritual-director
https://www.sdicompanions.org/find-a-spiritual-director-companion/
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we are joined by the Creative Director of Spiritual Directors International, Matt Whitney. We explore the intersection of art, nature, movement and spirituality. To learn more about Matt’s work and his art, connect at matthewwhitney.com or follow on Instagram @mattpwhitney
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us as we talk about the differences between time and energy and how to make the most of our natural energy rhythms.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us as we explore body-mind-spirit connections with licensed Physical Therapist, Shannon Kunstman. We discuss the importance of integrative body work with spiritual guidance. To learn more, connect with Shannon at https://www.awarenessinmotionpt.com/about
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us as we explore body-mind-spirit connections with Katie Anders.
Katie is a spiritual guide, a trained yoga instructor and also one who recently has entered the process of becoming a nun with a religious order. See how she integrates these various parts of her life and spiritual practice.
Connect with Katie at:
ktanders1933@gmail.com
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We are concluding our series exploring the lives of modern contemplatives who have helped shape our spirituality. Today we are joined by Dave Schmelzer. Dave has been a colleague and friend for almost 2 decades and has been instrumental in helping us grow our contemplative awareness.
Check out his work at:
https://www.journey-on.net/
https://www.blueoceanfaith.org/
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We are continuing our series exploring the lives of modern contemplatives who have helped shape our spirituality. Today is the artist Scott Erikson.
Check out his work at:
https://scottericksonartshop.com/
Instagram: Scott the Painter
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We are continuing our series exploring the lives of modern contemplatives who have helped shape our spirituality. Today is the band Waterdeep with the music of Don and Lori Chaffer.
We encourage you to check out some of their music at https://www.waterdeep.com/
or their youtube channel.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We are continuing our series exploring the lives of modern contemplatives who have helped shape our spirituality. Today is Barbara Brown Taylor.
We encourage you to check out some of her writings. Mentioned in today’s episode were Altar in the World and Learning To Walk in Dark.
Learn more at https://barbarabrowntaylor.com/
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we kick off a new series for 2025 exploring the lives of modern contemplatives who have helped shape our spirituality. We start with the Irish poet John O’Donahue.
We encourage you to check out some of his writings, particularly To Bless The Space Between Us. Learn more at www.johnodonohue.com
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We close out the year sharing 3 lessons we’ve learned in 2024. We hope our reflections invite you to engage in your own time of considering what 2024 offered you.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us today as we talk about the backstory of Charles Dickens and his creation of this classic. We explore the creative process, shadow sides and more.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Winter seasons, whether they be literal or figurative, have much to offer us. Join us as we revisit the topic of Winter Solstice and how we are engaging this transitional time in the Northern Hemisphere. (For listeners in the Southern Hemisphere, feel free to check out episode 74 when we talk about the Summer Solstice.)
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Join us as we talk about mastermind groups. We explore some of the key elements and benefits of these groups and hope you feel inspired to check out some of our offerings.
Learn more at christina@foundrysc.com
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today we explore the concept of wanting for more and how desire is not necessarily selfish or greedy. We discover ways gratitude and wanting for more co-exist.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Join us as we delve into the topic of limited eating and its various causes. We explore situations like food allergies, dietary choices, religious practices, and situational constraints like travel and emotions that often follow.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Today, we are joined by spiritual guide Betsy Gonwa to discuss the intersection of food, spirituality, and health. We hope you find inspiration from her story and the ways healthy eating impacts our daily lives.
Learn more at listeningspacemke.com
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We are continuing our series about food, looking at 4 common ways we relate to food. Check out Ep 198, Spirituality of Food, for the first part of the series.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Food is something every single one of us interacts with regularly. Join us as we take what might seem like a mundane part of life and explore some of the spiritual implications.
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As the US is in an election week, we are reminding ourselves of some helpful spiritual practices
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Join us for Part 2 where we continue the conversation from last week around common questions and ideas about spiritual direction and contemplative spirituality. For part 1, please check out Episode 195.
Some of our show notes contain affiliate links. We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
We have collected a few common questions and ideas about spiritual direction and contemplative spirituality. Join us as we address some myths and help expand our understanding around the benefits of spiritual guidance.
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Today we have the honor of interviewing one of the leaders of Spiritual Directors Europe, an organization that networks and trains spiritual guides across that continent. Join us as Rafael Maria Theuvenet shares about spiritual direction in the Netherlands, as well as other parts of Western Europe.
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Today we hear from an interior designer (Carol), bus driver (Chris) and non profit worker (Abbie) about ways they are seeing God show up in their work and everyday lives. We hope you find inspiration in your own life and work.
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Today we learn wisdom from Ancient Chinese Medicine about the shortest season and how we might engage with it. Even though most of us follow a four- season calendar, we hope you find ways to contextualize this fifth season.
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There is something deeply spiritual about places and our orientation to particular places. Poets, photographers, and families remind us of their importance and meaning. Join us as we explore our relationship with place through a contemplative lens.
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Today non-profit community director, Justin Markofski, shares insights on what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves. He dives into the delight of deepening our love of God and how that overflows into the community around us.
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Today we talk about the speed of life. Join us as we explore a topic that comes up over and over again and has relevance for our daily living.
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Today we explore the idea of resource netting, a term first heard by the author Greg McKeown and then built upon by Martha Beck & poet, David Wythe. Join us as we look at our resource rich world and the contemplative invitations for us in it.
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Today we explore various times in our lives when we face interruptions, both small and large. We discuss ways we’ve found helpful in reframing them.
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Today we discuss some of the benefits and challenges of those who identify as Empaths. We also note people who do not identify that way but live, work or regularly relate to those who do and how we can learn and grow together.
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Join us as we reflect on the cyclical nature of life and the wisdom our seasons offer us.
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Today we explore aspects of activating something new and reactivating former parts of our lives. Discover how these 2 aspects build off each other.
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Today we are joined by Linda Hershberger. Learn how empty nesting, relocation and a cancer diagnosis led her to seeking out training as a spiritual guide for others.
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Today we are joined by spiritual guide, Grace Schmelzer. Learn how a recent graduate (less than 2 years) has started her practice and mindsets faced along the way.
Additional Resources:
graceschmelzer1@gmail.com
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Today we are joined by spiritual guidance trainer, Jo Giarrante. Together we explore what Jo has learned in her decades of spiritual guidance ministry and hear wisdom as it relates to her hopes for the future of this work.
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Today we are joined by spiritual guide and outward bound leader, Becca Langhough. Learn how she combined her love for canoeing, spiritual direction and outdoor adventure.
Additional Resources:
becca55nb@gmail.com
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Today we explore a modern contemplative, Brother Roger. Join us as we talk about the inspirational community in Taize, France and how it has captured the imagination of people around the world.
Additional Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngA8BFbjrE0
Check out past episodes of exploring contemplative figures:
The Contemplative LIfe, episodes 130-136
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Today we talk about the Desert Fathers and Mothers from the 3rd-5th Centuries. Join us as we explore their values of hospitality, storytelling, and the spiritual landscape of the desert.
Additional Resources
Check out past episodes of exploring contemplative figures:
The Contemplative Life, episodes 130-136
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Today we discuss the legacy of Clare of Assisi. Learn how her choices as a young teen continue to inspire people today in the areas of focus, mission and care for the poor.
Additional Resources
Check out past episodes of exploring contemplative figures:
The Contemplative Life, episodes 130-136
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There is much to learn from the lives of contemplative people in history.
Today, we explore the legacy of Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Learn how his spiritual exercises continue to influence our modern lives and ways we can apply and adapt for the 21 century.
Additional Resources:
Pray As You Go app
Jesuits Guide to Almost Anything by James Martin, SJ
Learning to Pray by James Martin, SJ
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Regardless of your country of origin, election years can be stressful.
Join us today as we explore practices that can help us love our neighbors as ourselves.
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Join us today as we explore 4 ways we are currently engaging in nature. We hope this inspires you to find your own inspiration outdoors.
Additional resources:
https://www.scottericksonart.com/
https://www.instagram.com/scottthepainter/
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Today we are joined by Stephanie Spencer, co-founder of the organization 40 Orchards. We discuss the Jewish practice of Midrash, the value of asking questions in community and how to expand our engagement with ancient texts.
Learn more at:
40orchards.org
Searching the Sacred podcast
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Today we are joined by Pastor & Certified Forest Bather, Zayna Thomley. We discuss what to expect in a forest bathing session, the importance of community and nature and how to embrace obstacles that might come with the outdoors.
Follow Zayna at:
https://wisdom-and-wonder.com/
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Today is a special episode where we hear from Dr. Kristina Kaiser about her doctoral work with the topic of Joy. It also marks the final episode with Kristina as our co-host, as she plans to focus more time and energy towards this work. Tune in as we learn more about the academic, emotional and spiritual aspects of joy.
To follow Kristina:
- kristinamkaiser@gmail.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-kaiser-73a00337/
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Today we are joined by spiritual director Heather Watts exploring the journey of deconstructing faith. We discuss how spiritual guidance can provide space to be heard, wonder together and sit with uncertainties one faces in these seasons.
Additional Resources
Listening and Caring Skills by John Savage
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Today we welcome Dr. Jan Lundy to the podcast who is talking with us about what it looks like to companion people through their grief. Though grief is something many people find difficult to talk about, it's likely that each of us is experiencing loss continually. Join in as Jan shares with us about what it looks like to stay with someone through their experience of wilderness in ways that help us experience integration and transformation. Because grief isn’t meant to be something we get over or repress. It’s there because we love and care deeply. If you’d like to learn more, be sure to check out the Additional Resources section below.
Additional Resources
Website: mettacentertraining.com
Program: Grief Companion Training
HashtagsGrief, Loss, Spirituality, Spiritual Direction, Wilderness, Counseling, Anticipatory Grief, Trauma
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On this week’s podcast we hear from Tom Buhler, a certified spiritual guide offering mindfulness to prisoners. Tom shares with us about the powerful transformations possible when using mindfulness, particularly in the midst of high-stress situations. Join us as Tom relays how formal practice can lead to shifts in perspective that help us become more aware of our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations so that we can be more empathetic overall. And don’t forget to check out the Additional Resources section for more information.
Additional Resources
Author: John Kabat Zinn
Organization: The Path of Freedom
Workbook: The Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens by Gina M Biegel
Website: PrisonMindfulness.org
Facebook: Wisconsin Prison Mindfulness Initiative
Documentary: Dhamma Brothers
Film: Holding Still
Retreat: A Day of Mindfulness for Helpers and Healers: June 20, 2024. Siena Retreat Center.
Training: https://www.uwhealth.org/services/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction (UW-Health MBSR courses)
HashtagsJon Kabat Zinn, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Empathy, Interconnection, Awareness, Awareness, Ego, Prison Ministry
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Many of us have heard that we ought to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. But how many of us have heard that we ought to treat ourselves with the same kindness and respect we offer to others? Certainly, loving ourselves sounds good in theory, but the daily practice of it is quite another thing. It can be helpful to ask ourselves: What protective measures have we put in place that now keep us from being in touch with what we really enjoy and need? Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can help us create more space for tending to what our deepest selves need most.
Additional Resources
Movie: America’s Sweethearts
Podcast: Ep 166 Stress vs Stressors from The Contemplative LifePoem: For One Who Is Exhausted, A Blessing by John O’Donohue
HashtagsInner Critic, Outlook, Noticing, Spirituality, Self-talk, Retreat, Life Rhythms
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Stress is a part of life and can happen in both big and small ways. On today’s podcast, we consider how the contemplative life can help us recognize what’s happening so that we can respond in more balanced ways more and more often. Do you find yourself sometimes feeling flush with emotions? Or, on the opposite side of that, do you sometimes try to ignore emotions in favor of just the facts? When we are feeling more at ease and connected, our brains are able to engage with both of these instead of having to choose just one or the other. Join us as we talk about how this can look in our day to day lives.
Additional Resources
Book: Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobbel
Book: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
HashtagsJenny Taitz, Emotion Mind, Reason Mind, Wisdom Mind, Naming Emotions, Playfulness, Curiosity, Mindsets
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On this week’s podcast, we’re talking about what it takes to be present to those things that are taking up mental real estate in our heads, buzzing in the background, ticker taping through our heads, and the like. Do you sometimes find yourself blowing up when you normally would have been able to remain calm? Having trouble sleeping? Feeling the need to put everyone and everything on mute? All of these, and more, can be signs that you are experiencing undue loads of emotional labor. Join us as we talk about how a contemplative life can help us lessen our emotional-labor-load so that we can ride the waves of our emotions without being taken over by them.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 159 Community Care from The Contemplative LifeHashtagsSurface Acting, Deep Acting, Emotional Intelligence, Division of Labor, Spiritual Direction, Group Spiritual Direction, Awareness, Community Care
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Do you ever find yourself feeling frustrated or confused about which way to go next? In this episode, we talk about the helpfulness of being able to take a pause as a way of getting our bearings again, whether those pauses are related to something in particular, a season of life, or the need for discernment within a larger group. Wondering if you have enough capacity for what’s being asked of you? Asking questions about how to navigate a tricky situation? Feeling like you’re just going in circles? Sensing that what used to work for you isn’t working anymore? Join us as we talk about the many contemplative possibilities for recalibrating so that you can experience the Beauty of life again.
Additional Resources
Poem: Clearing by Martha Postlethwaite Poem: Coleman’s Bed by David Whyte
HashtagsCounseling, Therapy, Discernment, Seasons of Life, Benedictine, Family Relationships, Work Relationships, Spiritual Practices, Anxiety
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Join us as Dr. Jeanette Banashak shares with us about a new certification program being offered in Outdoor Companioning that has come about as a result of her own lifelong desire to connect with the more-than-human world. Are you a spiritual guide or working in some form of service profession? Outdoor Companioning teaches us how to integrate the natural environment, both in our work lives and in our experience of life overall. Join us as Jeanette speaks about how engaging with the great outdoors can lead to building communities that are sustainable, equitable, culturally proficient, socially just, healing, and so much more.
Additional Resources
Website: Spiritual Guidance Training Institute - Outdoor Companioning Training
Book: Belonging by Toko-Pa Turner
Book: Eco-Emancipation by Sharon R. Krause
HashtagsForest Bathing, Mindfulness, Deep Listening, Eco-Justice, Tree Equity Index, Eco-Activism, David Abram, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Thich Nhat Hanh
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay and is rapidly changing our world. For some, a tool like this can bring about equity in their lives. But in our individualistic society, where we are applauded for the ways in which we can stand out, will everyone be willing to applaud this equity? At the same time, many have taken to warning us about the dangers of AI. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative can aid us in these kinds of dialogues. What spaces exist for us to learn? To name our emotions? To have conversations? What contemplative ideas might aid our discernment and implementation processes? May all be well as we process these questions, offering one another gentleness, generosity, and graciousness.
Additional Resources
Website: Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
HashtagsReid Hoffman, Geoffrey Hinton. Luddite, Ethics, Equity, Curiosity, spirituality
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Do you ever feel lonely, even if you’re in a room with other people? Do you sometimes feel like you’re missing that sense of meaningful connection in your life? If so, you’re not alone. For a variety of reasons, common social interactions have shifted over the years, leaving us with an epidemic of loneliness. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can be of use to us in our current environment. Let’s take a long, loving look at what’s real and discover what’s there for us to build on.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 159 Community Care Episode from The Contemplative LifeHashtagsTechnology, Esther Perel, Vivek Murthy, Ghosting, Awareness, Rituals, Rule of Life, Balance
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How many times have we heard someone say, “Let me just play devil’s advocate here for a moment.” For many of us, it’s a total mind shift to ask a question in the opposite spirit. What if instead of asking what could go wrong we spent even a little bit of time asking what could go right? Who would be served? What possibilities might open up? What freedoms might be gained? In a world where we’ve learned to live with our possible lack in mind, what would happen if we chose to live into the possible goods and abundances? Join us as we talk about the distinct differences between toxic positivity and living into the best case scenarios.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 158 Self Care for…Bussinesses
HashtagsAngel’s Advocate, Devil’s Advocate, Toxic Positivity, Pollyanna Principle, Starfish Story, Ignatian Discernment, Meditation
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After several weeks of hearing from others about how they think about self-care given their particular experiences of life, we turn our attention today to thinking about the community. Who do we turn to when we need help? And fo that matter, do we believe that we can turn to others? Or do we tend to live with the feeling that we have to do it all alone? Join us as we talk about how being both givers and receivers of care has been not only life-giving but absolutely life-changing.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 156 Self-Care for…Medical Professionals
Podcast: Ep 157 Self-Care for…Clergy/Spiritual Leaders
Podcast: Ep 158 Self-Care for…Businesses
Meditation: Interspiritual Meditation by Ed Bastien
HashtagsMia Mingus, Interdependence, Therapist, Peer Groups, Henri Nouwen, Melissa Harris Perry, Squad Care
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Join us as Ryan Bauers, Consultant and Organization Development Specialist, shares with us about why self-care is so important in the business environment and how it positively impacts those businesses. Hear about his own journey that led him to finding self-care so important: working to the point of total exhaustion, receiving from mentors who offered him a new trajectory, and now living that out on a daily basis. Do you desire to work in or to lead in environments that feel safe? Does your line of work require innovation that you often find difficult to live up to? Do you often feel stretched thin, overworked, and emotionally exhausted? May the contents of this podcast be a balm to your soul.
Additional Resources
Website: RyanBauers.com Book: Consolations by David Whyte Book: Crossing the Unknown Sea by David Whyte Book: The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck Website: The Work of Byron Katie
HashtagsPresent Moment, Sleep Habits, Transition, Burnout, Psychological Safety, Innovation, Overworked
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For those who have a tendency towards helping others, feelings of guilt and shame can often lead to overworking. And what’s more, depending on our family or cultural contexts, we may not even feel permission to do what we need to do in order to keep ourselves feeling whole and healthy. Join us as Rev. Dr. Beth Brown shares with us about what helps her continue to feel centered and grounded. Be inspired and encouraged to advocate for yourself and for others, to be a part of creating a culture that cares enough about one another to offer time to rest.
Additional Resources
Book: See No Stranger by Valerie Kaur Church: Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL Website: Faith Community Initiative.org
HashtagsCommunity care, asylum seekers, clergy, self-care, vacation time, interfaith, healthy habits
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As we continue our series on self-care, Sarah Kiser joins us to share her experience of being a healthcare professional at a time when 87% of people in the field are reporting experiences of burnout. For many of us, our career experience changes as we age. Our lives become fuller, our responsibilities grow, and the margins of life for self-care get smaller. We invite you to join us in being a witness to the story of healthcare providers like Sarah and to allow the wisdom of her experience to be an encouragement to your soul.
HashtagsHealthcare workers, vicarious trauma, countertransference, burnout, Covid-19, self-care, therapy, connecting
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Today we are joined by Mary Bouras who is sharing with us about what it has been like to be married to someone in the military. Mary comes to us with over 2 decades of experience, including nearly a dozen moves, motherhood, and a career. Join us as she shares candidly with us about what has created balance and stability in a life that can easily feel unbalanced and unstable. Find out what she had named for herself as her must-do’s and what she does when even the must-do’s need to be compromised.
Additional Resources
Coaching, Consulting, Speaking: Mary Bouras: https://www.marybouras.com/
HashtagsMilitary, Military Family, Weekend Getaway, Post-Partum, Counseling, Adapting, Mentors
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As we begin a new year, we embark on a new series, talking to people from a variety of fields to discover: What do you do for self care? And is there anything you do for self care that might help me? Spiritual Directors spend a lot of time listening to people’s stories, which means we have to have ways to release those stories and find personal fulfillment ourselves. Join us as we talk about what we do to help us feel whole and restored.
HashtagsPoetry, Yoga, Retreat, Music, Sports, Ritual, Tonglen
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In our fourth and final week in this series, we talk about one very key but, perhaps, unexpected tool that can bring about restoration and connection in our lives. In a busy world, we’ve become accustomed to turning our attention away from even the simplest things that can help us bring the being side of ourselves into balance with our doing side. Join us as we talk about how awe has helped each of us shift when we felt we needed it most.
Additional Resources
Book: Awe by Dacher Keltner
HashtagsContemplative Prayer, Ordinary, Extraordinary, Gratitude, Metaphor, Eco-spirituality, Continuum
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Today we take time to talk about some of the barriers that can come into play when we’re looking to bring our doing side into friendship and balance with our being side. And in particular, we get down into root causes because, oftentimes, we may find ourselves using similar words to the people around us. But our inner motivations and our particular needs may be quite different from those of our neighbors. Join us as we talk about how we can evolve in our journeys towards oneness and wholeness.
Additional Resources
Book: Journey to the Heart, edited by Kim Nataraja
HashtagsADD, ADHD, Solitude, Retreat, Culture, Spirituality, Balance
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As we continue our Being With series, we turn our attention to the lens of Body, Heart, and Mind, asking the question: How can we strengthen what is already innate within us while also exploring areas of ourselves we maybe don’t visit as often? Life is often so full that our lives can begin to feel disconnected and unintegrated. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead we can discover what is speaking to us, what emotions are arising, what our bodies are trying to tell us. And in doing so, we can bring our being side back into friendship with our doing side.
Additional Resources
Image: The Contemplative Tree
Class: Being With
HashtagsMerton, Contemplative, Ritual, Mind, Body, Gut, Desire, Heart, Transcendence
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Do you ever feel like your relationship with the Divine is more transactional than relational? Can you relate to that feeling of just wanting someone to be with you over and above wanting them to fix your problems? During the busy month of December, we’re offering a series that extends an invitation to bring the “doing” side of ourselves into balance with our “being” side. Join us as we embark on this journey towards a connection with the Divine that allows for more flow and friendship in our lives than we might have previously thought possible.
HashtagsRelational God, Meditation, Prayer, Stillness, Life Seasons, Savior, Wisdom
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We conclude our “What is” series with the topic of Pilgrimage. What is it and how is it done? What does pilgrimage share in common with exile and in what ways does it differ? Is pilgrimage always life changing or do some people return feeling as though not much has changed? Join us as we talk about this journey of the soul. May the conversation inspire your path.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 21 The Sacred Space Inside Today from The Contemplative LifeHashtagsIslam, Nature Pilgrimage, Coming of age, Stations of the Cross, Shabbat, Thin Places, Journey
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As we continue our exploration of words we may hear in contemplative circles but not know what they mean, we turn our attention to the experience of Divine Listening, allowing sound to become a part of our meditation and prayer experiences. Many have found Audio Divina to be a helpful tool for becoming aware of Divine Presence, connecting the mind-heart-body, and spending time in discernment, to name a few. Join us as we talk about the many ways to engage this practice.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 95 Sound Healing, The Contemplative Life
HashtagsMusic, nature, awareness, sound bath, movement, spirituality, mindfulness
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This week’s podcast invites us to look around the world with wonder, curiosity, and an openness to Divine Presence. Visio Divina, a form of contemplative prayer, offers us the chance to pause, to notice, and to become aware of what is stirring within. And while some amount of controversy has arisen around forms of prayer that appeal not only to the mind but the mind-heart-body, it is also the case that many have returned to these ancient forms of prayer - as if seeing again for the first time. Join us as we talk about the variety of ways to engage in a Visio Divina prayer practice.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 143 What is…Kataphatic Prayer from The Contemplative LifeHashtagsImages, Soul Collage, Iconography, Imaginative Prayer, Transformation, Modern Icons, Contemplative Prayer, Illumination
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As we talk about ways to practice and promote unity and cooperation between our communities of faith, we are joined by Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Council of Churches. Join us as Kerri shares with us about why this is passionate and meaningful work for her. Listen as she helps us consider how we can become more ecumenical, both personally and as communities of worship. Consider with us what it looks like to find common ground, even as the particulars of our faith may be different from one another.
Additional Resources
Website: Wisconsin Council of Churches: wichurches.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wichurches
Email: Kerri Parker: execdir@wichurches.org
Contact: https://www.wichurches.org/contact/
Event: Ecumenical Service, Monday, November 20th, 2023, 6:30pm, City Center Church
HashtagsEcumenical, Body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12, Volunteer, Values, Mutual Admiration, Mutual Admonition
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This week, we continue our “what is” exploration, looking at a Benedictine practice that has been used to help people discover and live out their values. Join us as we talk about the creative ways that people today are employing this ancient practice and how you can use it both for personal and community purposes. For those of us who experience feelings of overwhelm and days of exhaustion, this practice could be for you.
Additional Resources
Book: Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittister
Book: The Rule of St. Benedict
HashtagsRule of St. Benedict, Community, Prayer of Examen, Hospitality, Values, Wellness, Spirituality
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What does it look like for us to sit in silence, whether it be for two minutes or twenty? As we sit in that silence, what do we do with it? Is it a time for rolling over the to-do’s of our day, for sitting with an image or a phrase? Is it something we do alone or with others? On this week’s podcast, we explore the ins and outs of Centering Prayer - its origins, the “rules,” why we sometimes need to interpret those “rules,” and why we find the experience so enriching and grounding. Join us as we consider this relatively modern form of prayer that bears the mark of Perennial Wisdom.
Additional Resources
Book: Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating
HashtagsThomas Keating, Thomas Merton, Spirituality, Prayer, Contemplative Prayer, transformation, anxiety
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As we continue our “What is” series, we turn our attention to prayers that use words, which may well be the most popular form of prayer in Western culture. Join us as we talk about the many personal and communal ways that prayer can lead us to transformation. Consider with us why it is absolutely okay that the words of yesterday may not fully encapsulate what is true and authentic for us today. And take some time to wonder in what ways kataphatic prayer might be beneficial for you.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 142 What is…Apophatic Prayer from The Contemplative LifePodcast: Ep 11 Embodied Spirituality from The Contemplative Life
HashtagsTransformation, Prayer, Kataphatic, Apophatic, Poetry, Journaling, Sung Prayer
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Do you ever wonder about the value of sitting in silence or of rhythmically repeating a word or phrase over and over again? Join us as we talk about the many possibilities that we (and others we know) have discovered for engaging this prayer practice - a form of prayer that exists specifically for helping us connect with - and encounter - Divine Presence. While it may seem counterintuitive to spend any amount of time in extended pause, what practitioners report time and time again is that it helps them feel at peace, see possibility, and experience connection. May it be.
Additional Resources
Book: The Cloud of Unknowing by Unknown
HashtagsStillness, Prayer, Spirituality, Apophatic, Prayer Beads, Breath Prayer, Lectio Divina
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On this week’s podcast, we begin a new series, exploring words that are often heard in contemplative circles. Our journey through this series begins with Contemplative Prayer. Join us as we consider how this form of prayer tends to expand and open our awareness in ever-deepening ways, how we discover layers we may not have been aware of before, and most profoundly, how our connection to Divine Presence becomes more accessible in our day-to-day lives as a result of these many and varied forms of prayer.
Additional Resources
Book: The Contemplative Heart byJames Finley
Book: Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr
Book: Being Home Gunilla Norris
HashtagsDivine Presence, Prayer, Spirituality, Yin Yoga, Jesuits, God in the Ordinary, Sacred
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Many of us can relate to feeling like there’s just too much, that whatever we’re doing is never enough, that the things we’re facing are more than we can bear. We live in a culture that is constantly calling us to more and that asks us to continually be at the top of our game. On this week’s podcast, we talk about why so many of us revert to numbing when we begin to feel those feelings of overwhelm, stress, and exhaustion. We examine how the contemplative life can help us in the midst of these difficult emotions and experiences. And we consider the possibility that there may be some positive things we can do to numb that can ultimately lead to feeling satisfied, fulfilled, and rested.
Additional Resources
Book: How to Lose Weight for the Last Time by Katrina Ubell
Toxic Achievement Culture #Dopamine #Serotonin #Mindfulness #Boredom #Overwhelmed #Stressed
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Do you ever feel sort of blah, like you’re neither quite happy but not necessarily depressed either - just, sort of, in the middle? On this week’s podcast, we explore reasons for why this feeling can occur. We talk about when this might be a good thing for us, when it’s okay to just rest in that space. But we also talk about what to do when this is less of a good thing for us. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can help us tend to what is going on, both internally and externally, in our lives.
Additional ResourcesYouTube Channel: Oliver Anthony
Cookbook: SImply in Season by Mary Beth Lind and Cathleen Hockman-Wert **Hashtags
**Ageism, #SeasonsofLife, #PurposeandMeaning #SeasonsofRest #Pause #HelpingOthers #FeelingBlah #Community #Pandemic
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Ever feel unsure about what to think? Find yourself having trouble expressing yourself? This week’s podcast leads us to talking about how using our contemplative practices can be of use when we’re feeling too much inner swirl. Whether we’re trying to get back into the swing of things or we just don’t know where to go next, feeling jumbled is an experience common to us all. And because no two people or situations are exactly alike, the things that each of us needs in any particular moment are as unique as we are. Join us as we share our own stories and talk about what it might look like to create safe spaces for one another when life is feeling a bit too jumbled.#Holding Space #Internal Processor #External Processor #Brainstorm #Making Plans #Feminine Energy #Masculine Energy #Confusion
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For those who aren’t sure if their questions are welcome, for those who have physically been relocated, for those who are wondering if they need a new community, for anyone feeling spiritually without friends or company…This week’s podcast aims to encourage the one who is feeling grief and loss spiritually. It is okay to name your feelings. Join us as we talk about what it looks like to return to balance in this area of our wellbeing - because when one part of us is feeling unwell, the whole of our being suffers.
Additional Resources
Article: Life after Lifestyle by Toby Shorin
SpiritualCompanions #LiminalSpace #NamingEmotions #SpiritualFriends #Culture #Wellbeing #Loneliness
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Teresa of Avila was a nun in the Carmelite Order who lived during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Her life and her writings speak to us about what it looks like to truly find union with God in the midst of our struggle and difficulty. She teaches us that this deep connection with the Divine is not just for the spiritual giants but for all of us. On this week’s podcast, we spend time asking: Is it possible to have a deep and meaningful connection with the Source of all life without the difficulties? Can we experience God’s presence in the exceptionally ordinary moments of our lives? Join us as we talk about the inspiring and thought-provoking life of Teresa of Avila.
Additional Resources
Book: The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila
DarkNightOfTheSoul #Distraction #Prayer #UnionWithGod #Difficulties #Meditation #CenteringPrayer #Petition #PraythePsalms #VictorFrankl
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Brother Lawrence, a 17th century Carmelite monk offers us hope for the future and a chance to see how God is present to our lives in the here and now. Join us as we talk about some of the themes from his spiritual practices that continue to inspire us today - how awareness allows us to connect with God in even the most ordinary of things, how it grounds us and reminds us of goodness. In a world where we are constantly being asked to prove how we measure up, Brother Lawrence’s contemplative practices help us to find that spiritual space that we can so easily become disconnected from.
Additional Resources
Book: Practice of the Presence: A Revolutionary Translation by Carmen Acevedo Butcher
Book: Being Home by Gunilla Norris
Awareness #Ordinary #Prayer #BrotherLawrence #spiritual #lettinggo #Peace #Trust
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St. Thérèse of Lisieux becomes our spiritual companion this week as we talk about how she continues to inspire people yet today with this idea that little acts make a big difference. Have you ever found that one person’s simple act of kindness made your whole day better? On this week’s podcast, we talk about how surprisingly impactful it is when one person’s small gesture winds up increasing our quality of life. Join us as we take delight in the simple joys that St. Thérèse has passed down to us.
Additional Resources
Book: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Book: The Book of Joy Book: The Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Book: A Little White Flower: The story of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Book: The Lives We Actually Have by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie Website: Sally’s Baking Addiction#ThereseofLisieux #Mystics #LittleWay #Love #SimpleActs #Kindness #Compassion Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter
On this week’s podcast, we turn to St. Benedict whose life and work offers us a practical approach to living that has influenced many across time. Join us as we talk about how his Rule of Life has helped us find everything from spontaneity to pause, has increased our ability to be more present to this moment now, and has given us a framework for the ongoing journey of life. Allow old words to take on new meaning as we continue our Mystics and Contemplatives series.
Additional Resources
Event: Make Music Day, national event on the day of summer solstice
StBenedict #RuleofLife #rebirth #order #joy #delight #prayer #humility #conversion #DeepListening
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On this week’s podcast, we explore the life and work of Hildegard von Bingen, a multi-faceted woman who lived in the Middle Ages and yet continues to inspire people today. Join us as we talk about what it must have been like to have visions at the age of 3, begin convent life at 8 years old, and live in a world where few women were given permission to speak to both lay people and clergy alike. Come along and be in awe with us as we discuss this woman who was speaking about social justice and the interconnectedness of all things long before “being woke” was even a twinkle in our collective eye.
ecospirituality #equality #Divine #Spiritual #PerennialWisdom #InnerWisdom #Interconnection #balance #prophetic #womenleaders #mandalas
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On this week’s podcast, we take our inspiration from Julian of Norwich, an Epsicopalian nun who lived during the time of the Black Plague. In a season where suffering and trauma were hitting such a large population of people, Julian’s message brought hope. That same message continues to bring comfort and inspiration today as well. Join us for a conversation about what it can look like to stay connected to the Divine, even in the midst of the messy middle.
Additional Resources:
Book: Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich
Oneing #Equality #Contemplative #Spirituality #Prayer #Unity #AllShallBeWell
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Our exploration of mystics and contemplatives begins with St Patrick, the patron saint both of Ireland and of dreams. Have you ever had a dream that just stuck with you, so much so you felt like maybe it meant something? If so, you have something in common with St. Patrick. On this week’s podcast, we spend time asking: What sort of forgiveness may have been required for St. Patrick to return to a people who had enslaved him for years? We also ask: When did he become interested in connecting with people from where they were at? And in what ways does his desire to communicate contemplative ideas inspire us towards similar ends? Join us as we talk about the remarkable life of St. Patrick: dreamer, forgiver, and innovator.
Additional Resources:
Podcast:Ep 128: Do-Overs, Apologizing, and Forgiveness by The Contemplative Life#HarrietTubman #Celtic #Innovation #Spirituality #Psalms #Forgiveness #Prayer
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Today, we’re joined by Lead Pastor of The River in New York City, Charles Park, who is sharing with us about what Agape love is and why it’s so important to our overall well-being. Do you ever find that you’re measuring yourself harshly - your looks, your professional performance, your social competency? Perhaps you’ve experienced the loss of a close friend after years of trusting them with your life. Or maybe you’ve found yourself being critical of your neighbors, co-workers, even random strangers you encounter at the store. On this week’s podcast, Charles offers us insight into why Agape became what Jesus called “the greatest of all commandments.” Join us as we talk about learning how to see the signs of a life depleted of Agape and what you can do to reconnect.
Additional Resources:
Website: The River Book: Agape in The New Testament, 3 Volumes by Ceslaus Spicq
Agape #LettingGo #Judgment #Criticism #Forgiveness #GreatestCommandment #Culture #Spirituality
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Sometimes the words fly out of our mouth too fast, or we hit the send button too soon. Our desire to have a good relationship is there, but we need a do-over. On this week’s podcast, we talk about what it takes to do more than put a bandaid over the wounds we inflict on one another. Sometimes, it’s as simple as starting the conversation over. But at other times, we may need more. When this happens, it’s likely time to take steps related to the deeper journey of forgiveness, or even deeper still, the journey of reconciliation. Join us as we talk about the needs that exist when relationships go awry.
Additional Resources:
Podcast: Ep 119 Caretaking as a Spiritual Practice by The Contemplative Life
do-over #forgiveness #reconciliation #apologizing #contemplative #timeout #DesmondTutu #trust #innerwisdom
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What does it look like to experience healing in the spiritual sense? Healing is often a journey requiring support, nourishment, and practice. In this week’s podcast, we take time to consider a few common triggers that have historically created wounding. We talk about why healing is best done in a holistic environment. And we talk about the importance of going slow so that we don’t shock our systems beyond what they can bear. Healing is a vulnerable subject, but the need for healing is common to us all. May you be well in your own journey towards healing.
healing #spirituality #vulnerability #soul-care #contemplative #practice #soul
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Today we contemplate the difference between “the good” and “the perfect.” Oftentimes, we live our lives through the lens of a series of expectations. But what happens when those expectations don’t play out the way we thought they would? What does it look like to explore our lives with the understanding that life is dynamic - always changing, always being reborn? Join us as we consider the in-between spaces of our lives from the perspective of possibility.
Additional Resources:
Podcast: Ep 118 Spirituality in Times of Wilderness
Daily Reflection: Rohr Daily Meditations: God’s Goodness is Dynamic
Daily Reflection: Rohr Daily Meditations: Letting Go of What We Have Known
Brian McLaren #Courage #Transition #Creativity #Evolution #Spirituality #Rebirth
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Many of us have probably heard someone say, “Oh that’s just the way that I am,” which causes us to believe we can never change, which then causes us to feel stuck, which then lowers our sense of wellbeing. But on this week’s podcast, we talk about 4 key areas you can focus on in order to increase your sense of wellbeing. Join us as we talk about the journey-like nature of wellbeing, the twists and turns we’ve discovered on our own journeys, and what sorts of things are contributing to our sense of wellness now.
Additional Resources:
Article: The plasticity of well-being: A training-based framework for the cultivation of human flourishing
Mindfulness App: Healthy Minds Innovations
Podcast: Ep 54 The Gift of Self-Awareness from The Contemplative LifePoem: For Equilibrium from To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue
Wellbeing #MentalHealth #SpiritualHealth #RichardRohr #Spirituality #Awareness #Connection #Insight
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Today we talk about the benefits and possible drawbacks of visualization practices. Oftentimes, sacred scriptures use metaphors and parables to help us connect with spiritual things. This allows us to continually have fresh revelations and new connections in our lives. We may find new hope, find that our anxieties decrease, or even experience a moment of connection between our heart and mind. The question is: How can visualization help our present moment and speak into our future? Join us as we talk about it on this week’s podcast.
Additional Resources:
Book: Conversation - The Sacred Art: Practicing Presence in the Age of Distraction by Diane Millis
Imagination #Prayer #Metaphor #Parable #Spirituality #Spiritual Practice #Visualization
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Many of us grew up hearing about an angry and stern God. This has, perhaps, caused us to wonder, “Is laughter appropriate? And if so, in what circumstances?” On this week’s podcast, we take time to wonder about what place laughter may have in our spiritual practice and what that might look like in our daily experience. Join us as we talk about the healing power of laughter and the possibility to offer ourselves a different image of divinity.
Additional Resources:
Poem: For Equilibrium from To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue
Book: The Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams
Book: The Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris
TV Series: The Chosen
Laughter #LaughterHeals #Depression #Spirituality #SpiritualPractice #LaughterYoga #VisioDivina
The unexpected crops up in our lives in both little and small ways. At times, we manage to accept these experiences easily. In other moments, the things we encounter require a bit more processing. Drawing on the wisdom of poets, children, and spiritual teachers, this week’s podcast leans into talking about that which feels like too much to accept. Do you ever find yourself bitterly complaining, blowing up in anger, or bursting into tears? Though these may not be our favorite moments, they can be doorways to something deeper when we choose to lean in. We hope you’ll join us.
Additional Resources:
Book: The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything by James Martin
Poem: Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye
Poem Quote: From Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Poem: The Poet’s Tale; The Birds of Killingworth by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
TV Series: The Chosen
Acceptance #Gratitude #Ego #Humility #Mindsets #Spirituality #Holy Indifference #Practice
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This week’s title says it all. Oftentimes, we hear people try to describe spiritual direction by likening it to something that is “similar but different.” And so this week, we offer up a working definition for spiritual direction, talk about why the word “direction” is a bit of a misnomer, and then share a bit about what sorts of things we might actually do during a spiritual direction session. Join us for an insider look at the experience of spiritual direction.
Additional Resources:
Website: Foundry Spiritual Center, Spiritual Direction Page
Song: Moon Shadow by Cat Stevens
Spiritual Direction #Spiritual Guidance #Spiritual Companionship #Burnout #Calling #Discernment #SafeSpace #Spirituality
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Human nature tends to be such that we want to figure out who we are, who “our people'' are, and then settle into whatever feels easiest and most familiar. What’s more, psychologically speaking, our brains appear to be hard-wired to seek out people who look, think, behave, and even believe similarly to ourselves. But on the other side of that coin, an increasing number of people are discovering that an even deeper faith life has become possible by leaning into differences and even celebrating them. On this week’s podcast, we talk about how enriching it has been to learn about - and share in - the faith traditions of others. Join us for a dialogue centered around the practice of nurturing our interspiritual friendships.
NOTE: At The Contemplative Life, we take seriously our commitment to bring a quality experience to our podcast listeners. In today’s podcast, you’ll notice some moments where the audio has been affected by internet latency issues. We apologize and are working to resolve the issue for future podcasts. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Additional Resources:
Book: The Guitar Grimoire by Adam Kadmon
Interspiritual #Interfaith #Teasdale #Tao #Curiosity #Spiritual #Compassion #DalaiLama #BrotherLawrence Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter
Today we’re joined by Nicki Nelson, Director of Spiritual Guidance Initiatives at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin, who is sharing with us today about how caretaking has a way of bringing us to the edges of ourselves. At the end of the day, it turns out, we need a way to both nurture ourselves as well as those we’re caring for. Join us as Nicki shares with vulnerability and wisdom about how the pressures of caretaking build up, what happens at the brain level, and what spiritual practices have been helpful to her personally in being able to transform her relationships with those that she provides care for.
Additional Resources:
Resource:4 Keys to Caretaking as a Spiritual Practice
Website: www.nickinelson.com
Retreat Center: Siena Retreat Center
Caretaking #Parenting #Spiritual #SpiritualPractices #Ignatian #HolyIndifference #Examen #CenteringPrayer #BreathingPractices #Yoga Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter
The (Spiritual) Wilderness is often associated with times of dryness. It may be that we come to find ourselves thrust suddenly into this world by way of suffering, trauma, and loss. We may experience it alone or in community with others. But however we arrive there, it would seem that the Wilderness cannot be avoided. And so, on this week’s podcast, we talk about what might be possible during those seasons. Can we rely on something deeper inside ourselves? Can we shift our points of focus? Can we find the gifts - “the little wells that are hidden in the desert?” Join us as we talk about our experiences of feeling upside down, lonely, confused, and so much more.
Additional Resources:
Richard Rohr Quote: Experiencing Our Own Deserts
Podcast: Spiritual Bypassing Book: The Little Prince
Spiritual #Wilderness #SpiritualDesert #SpiritualDryness #Possibility #DesertFathers #Seasons #SpiritualPractices
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Money can be a challenging topic, fraught with emotions and baggage that we may or may not even be aware of. But on this week’s podcast, we talk about the value of having a safe space to become still, to look at our values, and to become aware of where our notions and feelings about money are coming from. In that sort of environment, we have the freedom to become gentle with ourselves, to name what we have learned, and to gain a sense of clarity around what is needed financially in this season of life. Join us as we consider how the contemplative can take a difficult subject and make it not only manageable, but transformative.
Additional Resources:
Toothpaste: Bite
Timeline #Contemplative #Spiritual #Money #Anxiety #Generosity #Paradox #FinancialMistakes
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Today we’re joined by Kristina’s longtime friend, Jason Ruona, in talking about the benefits of having virtual opportunities to connect spiritually. It’s not uncommon for people to wonder if there are too many barriers to online engagement, and so today, we take some time to talk both about why virtual connection has offered us meaningful space to connect spiritually as well as what sorts of things we’ve done to keep barriers to a minimum. Join us as Jason shares a bit about the evolution of his spiritual journey and why Foundry Spiritual Center has helped him to have easily accessible spiritual connection points throughout his days.
Additional Resources:
Book: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
YouTube Channel: Foundry Spiritual Center
Hand Cream: Duke Cannon Bloody Knuckles
Virtual #Retreats #Prayer #FoundrySpiritualCenter #FoundrySC #FSC #Online #Contemplative
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Today we’re taking some time for a little behind-the-scenes glimpse: Who are we? What has our spiritual journey been? How did Foundry Spiritual Center, the sponsor of our podcast, come to be? Join us as we think through the desires of our hearts that have led us to this particular moment now. And then, maybe take some time for some soul searching of your own. Check out the other offerings of Foundry Spiritual Center. Give space and time for the Divine Spark within to speak to the very core of your being.
Additional Resources:
Book: The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope
Article: We Revisited People Who Left their Jobs Last Year. Are They (Still) Happy? written by Joshua Needelman
Book: Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
Spirituality #TakingRisks #EvolvingFaith #Discernment #FoundrySpiritualCenter #FoundrySC #ContemplativeFormation #Retreats #SpiritualDirection
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Fasting can occur in many forms, both for religious and non-religious reasons. And, as we’ll explore on the podcast, there are many personal and communal benefits that can come from it. But also, as we’ll discover today, it’s not uncommon to find that fasting has been something that has required journey as our faith lives have evolved. It’s been helpful to ask questions like: What do I want to become aware of? What intentions am I looking to set? Join us as we talk about the gains that can be found when we say yes to letting go of something, even if only for a short period of time.
Additional Resources:
Artist: Spencer LaJoye
Spiritual #SpiritualPractices #Fasting #Lent #DanielFast #IntermittentFasting #FastingBenefits #Ramadan #SocialJustice
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Today we’re joined by Jon Anderson, executive director of Collaboration Project, who’s sharing with us the win-win rewards that come when we put relationships first, listen carefully to one another, and allow good work in the community to emerge from a sense of meaningful partnership. Do you sometimes feel like you’re spinning your wheels trying to be helpful in the world around you? Maybe you like the idea of collaboration, but the barriers have been too great. Join us as Jon shares what he’s learned from over two decades of wondering why there wasn’t more help for those who want to help.
Additional Resources:
Website: Collaboration Project Facebook: Collaboration Project Instagram: Collaboration Project YouTube: Collaboration Project
Relationship #Collaboration#DeepListening #SpiritualPractices #Spiritual #Community #RelationshipBuilding #CollaborationProject #SoAllMayFlourish
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On this week’s podcast, we take a moment to become aware of - and to celebrate - the spring equinox and how the seasons of life can be teachers for us along the way in our own journeys. And boy the spring does not disappoint! Perhaps you're in a season of contemplating balance in your life? Maybe there’s something new that is ready to bud. Or, as is true for some of us, could it be that you’re not ready for the hustle and bustle that comes with longer days and shorter nights? Join us as we consider all that this special day of the year has to offer us.
SpringEquinox #Spirituality #Equanimity #Equality #Vernal #NewLife #Discomfort #SeasonsofLife
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Today we are joined by Zil Eiler, an intuitive business coach and mentor who is sharing with us about how to “get unstuck,” whether those points of struggle are about our decisions, our circumstances, our relationships, or something else. This 20-minute interview is jam-packed with tips on how to reframe your thinking, how to increase your experience of joy, how to follow your intuition, and what to do when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the decisions you need to make.
Additional Resources
Book: Hope As Old As Fire by Steven Charleston
Connect with Zil: Zil Eiler is on Instagram at ZilEilerCoaching
Coaching #MakingDecisions #Reframing #FindingJoy #Intuition #DecisionFatigue #Journey #PresentMoment #Hope
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Spiritual bypassing can take many forms. We may find ourselves avoiding difficult emotions or trying to explain-away negative experiences. And in truth, spiritual bypassing turns out to be the opposite of the connection we seek, ultimately leading us to feel emotionally confused or worse. On this week’s podcast, we take a look at some of the common phrases we might hear or say when spiritual bypassing is at play. Join us as we talk about ways to work through what we’re experiencing in more holistic ways.
Additional Resources
Article: What is Spiritual Bypassing? by Kendra Cherry
Book: Toward a Psychology of Awakening by John Welwood
Book: Eyes Wide Open by Mariana Caplan
Podcast Episode: Toxic Positivity
spiritualbypassing #disappointment #struggle #spiritualguidance #spiritualpractice #spiritualconnection #toxicpositivity
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This week, we are joined by Kristen Emerson, licensed social worker and founder of Breaking Light Counseling who is sharing with us about the impacts of grief, loss, and trauma. Many of us experienced the effects of cumulative grief as we struggled to adjust and adapt during the height of the pandemic. We were often forced to forego the usual rituals and outlets for processing our losses, both in our homes and in our institutions. Join us as Kristen shares her wisdom with us regarding ways to foster healing and create space for expressing and releasing our emotions.
Additional Resources
Website: https://breaking-light.com/about/Book: Voices of Lament by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson Book: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop Book: Every Moment Holy, Volume Two
Grief #Loss #Trauma #Healing #Pandemic #Covid #Ritual #Lament
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On this week’s podcast, we’re taking some time to talk about how rituals can help us find our empowered voices - particularly in those moments where we just don’t feel permission to have a voice. Do you sometimes struggle with a negative ticker-tape of words going through your head? Maybe you truly feel that something isn’t right but, for whatever reason, you just can’t seem to find it within yourself to speak up. Today’s podcast talks about ways to strengthen this aspect of who we are by way of engaging in regular and repeatable practices. We hope you’ll join us.
Additional Resources
Song: Weaving Our Lives by Alexa Sunshine Rose
InnerCritic #LimitingBeliefs #SpiritualDirection #Embodiment #Intention #Community #Empowerment
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Today we’re talking about the expansiveness of self-care because, as it turns out, there are no less than six types of Self-Care. What we need in one season of life may look very different from what we need in another. What our internal list of “shoulds” tells us we ought to be doing may or may not be what we really need in order to nourish our souls right now. And so join us as we talk about what it looks like to offer kindness to our whole selves and to grow into being able to pay attention to those needs, recognizing what feels most true for us in any particular moment.
Additional Resources
Book: Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee
Word: Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga) is a Danish word that represents a culture of coziness, joy, and wellbeing.
self-care #Hygge #wellbeing #WholePersonCare #Declutter #Parenting #Journey #Seasons
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At first blush, it may feel like an easy yes to imagine that gratitude and hope can co-exist. But on today’s podcast, we ask the question: Is it true? Can we hold space for the things we hope for? Or does having hopes make us ungrateful? We further ask the question: What is hope anyways? And if we were to have hopes, how do we have hopes in a way that doesn’t devastate our day-to-day experience? Join us as we explore the many questions connected to, “Can Gratitude and Hope Co-Exist?”
Additional Resources
Song: Soak Up the Sun by Cheryl Crow
Gratitude #Thankfulness #Hope #Dreams #Journey #Wholeness #Light #Tension
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What does it mean to have contemplative practices in college? Today we’re joined by Evan Digman, a senior at UW-Madison, who’s talking to us about his spirituality journey - from his first experience of guided meditation in middle school to now. Do you sometimes wonder how to manage the stresses of day-to-day life, feel the need to consider what sort of community could be meaningfully supportive to you, or ask yourself where you’d even get the time to have a meaningful spiritual practice? On this week’s podcast, we talk about all of these things and more. We hope you’ll join us.
Additional Resources
Restaurant: Spiro’s Restaurant near St. Louis, MO
CollegeLife #YoungContemplatives #ChristianMystics #ContemplativeSpirituality #Buddhism #Christianity #Interspiritual #Meditation #ContemplativeSinging
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Feeling overwhelmed is unavoidable. On today’s podcast, we talk about how to live in the midst of our overwhelm as well as what we can do to ease the pain of it. Have you ever felt yourself begin to spiral? Maybe you had a physical reaction, like an upset stomach or a racing heart. Or perhaps your thoughts were the thing to start racing. For many of us, overwhelm is wrapped in imagining our worst-case scenarios or supposing we don’t have what it takes to handle what’s coming our way. Join us as we engage the collective wisdom available around this very important topic.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 105 Engaging the Contemplative in College (releases Jan. 24, 2023)
Book: The Trauma of Everyday Life by Mark Epstein
Book: Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr
Overwhelm #Fear #Trauma #Rest #Retreat #ContemplativeSpirituality #BodyAwareness #MindAwareness
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Today we’re joined by Ann Kowaliczko as she shares her wisdom about the vast and ancient topic of chakras. In this episode, we ask Ann many questions: What is a chakra? How do you access the energy of chakras? What caused you - a person who didn’t grow up hearing about chakras - to pay attention to them? Ann graciously answers our questions, while also pointing out her desire not to steal or misappropriate the traditions and practices of others. Check out our “Additional Resources” below for people, places, and meditations Ann has found helpful.
Note: Ann roughly quotes the Dalai Lama in this episode. The word-for-word quote can be found below along with a link to an online article that expands on the subject.
Additional Resources
Author: Caroyln Myss Website: Experience Seven Senses YouTube Sleep Meditations: Jason Stevenson Dalai Lama Quote: The world will be saved by the Western Woman
Retreats at Foundry Spiritual Center: Retreats Page Yoga & Wellness Retreat: February 5, 2023
chakras #reiki #meditation #energies #yoga #DalaiLama #CarolynMyss
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On this week’s podcast, each of us shares a bit about our deep love and appreciation for retreats - and in a variety of ways! Join us as we talk about best practices for preparing, what to do if you don’t feel like you have the time, and why different seasons of your life may call for a different sort of retreat.
Additional Resources
Website: Foundry Spiritual Center - Tailor-Made Retreats Water Filtration: Spring Well Water Filtration Systems
SpiritualPractice #Retreats #SilentRetreat #CreativePlay #Contemplative #Burnout #WisdomSeeking #MiniRetreat #Discernment
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On this week’s podcast, each of us takes a moment to share things we are excited about as we enter into the New Year. Join us as we discover together that, while some of us have plans that involve our family and friends, others of us intend to spend some time in reflection by ourselves. Can you guess who is who?
Additional Resources
Video: Bringing Eco Spirituality into Your Home Video: Earth Altars Aim to Offer a Path to Healing
Traditions #Ritual #Resolutions #EarthAltars #Reflect #Solitude #Rhythms #Community
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Taking a moment to pause is a practice that can enrich both our inner and our outer lives. Have you ever finished a meal only to feel like you hadn’t even tasted it? Maybe you know all too well the experience of running from one thing to the next. Do you ever feel pressed for answers you don’t have? Pauses allow us the time we need in order to process our experiences, feel our emotions, and become more appreciative of the people around us. Join us as we explore - and celebrate - the power of pause.
Additional Resources
Video: The Sacred Art of Conversation by Diane Millis Event: Photovember: #awefsc
Statio #Selah #Pause #Connection #Relationship #Fatigue #Transition #awefsc
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Did you know that childhood memories can be insightful and generative parts of your prayer times? In one moment, perhaps they help us identify a long-standing pattern. But in another moment, perhaps they connect us more profoundly to our interests, or even allow us to reconsider the meaning of a particular life event. Join us as we talk about the value of embracing the entirety, the preciousness, of our life story.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 21: The Sacred Space Inside Today from The Contemplative Life Podcast
Guided Meditation: Meditation: Art and Childhood Memories on Foundry Spiritual Center YouTube Channel, Playlist: Guided Meditations
Timeline #ChildhoodMemories #Emotions #Formation #Enneagram #LifelongLearners #AweAndWonder #Narrative
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Lectio Divina is a Latin phrase that literally translates to mean “Divine Reading.” It’s a contemplative practice that can help us slow down and immerse ourselves in what we’re seeing (and hearing) on the page, which often leads to experiences of deeper spiritual connection. Whether you’ve been engaging forms of Divina for many years, only recently, or have never given it a try, may this week’s reflection be an inspiration to all of us.
Additional Resources
Website: www.explorefaith.org
Website: Pray as you go
Website: George Winston
Website: Lectio 360 Website: Lectio 365
LectioDivina #Scripture #ScriptureReading #ScriptureStudy #StudyTools #Meditation #Contemplation
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On today’s podcast, we take some time to think about where we come from and why that might be something we’re interested in knowing more about. American culture has tended towards individualism in almost every aspect of life. But in fact, in how many ways do we embody those who have come before us, whether knowingly or unknowingly? And how much does it matter? Today, we consider the invitation to think bigger than ourselves. Join us as we consider the vastness of who we are.
Additional Resources
Book: Abuelita Faith by Kate Armas
Book: Prayer: Our Deepest Longing by Ronald Rolheiser
Musician: George Winston
Song and Band: Gratitude by Mantragold
Website: Grateful Living: https://grateful.org/
Ancestors #Adoption #FamilyLineage #Generations #Individualistic #Community #History
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How do we relate to the Divine? It’s easy in our cultural context to interact in the world as a fixer, a doer, a mover and a shaker. We’ve all been trained to engage in these transactional ways. And yet, another way is possible, a way that values our belovedness and allows us to become more comfortable with our tensions, our questions, and our not knowing. In today’s podcast, we consider the paths we can take in order to strengthen our ability to simply be, for “simply being” to be enough.
Additional Resources
Meditation Practice: Interspiritual Meditation by Edward Bastien
Smoothie Recipes: YouTube Personality Autumn Bates
Retreat #CenteringPrayer #PrayerPractices #SpiritualPractices #YinYoga #Yoga #Wellness #Community
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Sound healing is the practice of using sound to improve your physical health as well as your emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, and is accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. In this week’s podcast, guest speaker Jim Powell speaks to us about his many years of experience with this healing and restoring practice, sharing stories of astonishing improvements in people’s overall health. Join us in hearing about how even a simple playlist, or singing “Happy Birthday” in community with others, can create goodness in our lives.
Additional Resources
Song: Floating Golden Light, written and performed by Jim Powell and Beth Wortzel
Song: Heart Prayer, written and performed by Jim Powell and Beth Wortzel
Song: Song of Gratitude, written and performed by Jim Powell and Beth Wortzel
Website: Scentsy
SoundHealing #HealingVibrations #Wellbeing #WholeBodyHealth #MusicAndHealing #MovementAndMusic #CommunalSinging
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When was the last time you saw something so beautiful and inspiring that it caused you to stop in order to really take it in? Maybe you heard a story about how someone else was doing something to make the world a better place, and it moved you to feelings of hope and excitement of your own. Awe, as we’ve learned through the sciences, is experienced on a continuum, everything from mild amusement to complete overwhelm. And while it’s easy to notice the things that completely amaze us, is it possible to grow our capacity for awe, to live with more Awe-wareness?
Additional Resources
Paper: The Science of Awe by Summer Allen
Theory: Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence
Meditation Series: Teeny Tiny Sabbatical Project by Sarah Moore-Nokes and Shelly Roder
Awe #LifelongLearner #Virtue #Storytelling #Nature #OutdoorYoga #Beauty #Threat #Ability #Supernatural
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Measuring “spiritual growth” can be tricky. Many of us have been taught to explore metrics that are easily quantifiable, which makes sense. Numbers help us feel like we have a solid answer. They help us set goals. But as you can probably guess, on this week’s podcast, we’re taking time to look at alternative ways to “measure” our spiritual growth. Join us as we talk about the different sorts of questions we’ve found helpful when considering spiritual maturation.
SpiritualGrowth #SpiritualPractices #SpiritualDirection #SpiritualGuidance #Oneness #RelationalConnection #InnerCritic #ThirdWay
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Today we are joined by Amy Hoyte, founder of Beautifully Made Adventures who speaks to us about the power of nature to speak to us, inspire us, and teach us. Stress, anxiety and lists of shoulds are common in today’s world. But whether we’re sitting on a park bench or hiking a trail that challenges our limits, nature has the ability to teach a myriad of powerful lessons, including the lesson that everyone matters. Do you desire some grounding and connection in your life? Join us for a time of inspiration!
Additional Resources
Website: Beautifully Made Adventures
Adventure #Reflection #Yoga #OutdoorsYoga #EngagingYourSenses #Autism #AutismSpectrum #OutdoorJournaling
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“Being calm” seems to be all the rage these days. But what we need at any given moment isn’t always the same. On this week’s podcast we share about how desperately each of us has needed this calm lately and the wide array of things we’ve been doing in order to get back to those places of stillness. What are some of your go-to ways of finding your center? We’d love to hear from you.
Additional Resources
App: Calm app
Book: My Deepest Me by Janice Lynne Lundy
Website: Fork over Knives: Plant-Based Recipes
Kombucha: Rude Brew Kombucha
SpiritualPractices #BreathPrayers #Stillness #CandleMeditation #Awareness #SpiritualJourney #BreathMeditation #LovingKindness #CoRegulation
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Today we are joined by Claudia Greco who speaks to us about the intersection between spirituality and trauma. Oftentimes, it feels hard to be present to what goes on in the world. We struggle to know who to talk to about our experiences and feelings. But what we know is, with trauma, we often experience life as feeling fractured, as if we have a before and an after. Claudia offers us hope today for reconnecting our bodies, minds, and spirits. Join us as we explore our need for grounding and internal safety.
Additional Resources:
Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Book: The Body Never Lies by Alice Miller
Trauma #Veterans #ChildhoodTrauma #Yoga #Reiki #SpiritualGuidance #SpiritualDirection #BodyAwareness #12Step #Counseling
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Art and creativity can be a useful way of opening our awareness. So many moments in our lives can leave us feeling disconnected and out of touch. Today we talk about how engaging our creative side can help us slow down and open to possibility. We name our own struggles with feeling vulnerable and inadequate. And we share our moments of feeling like we’ve broken through the veil in order to encounter the Divine. We hope you’ll join us as we engage in the reality that art is everywhere, painted into the very fabric of our world.
Poetry #Retreat #Labyrinth #Mandala #Vulnerability #MovementMeditation #Crafts #Haiku #Color #Chakras #VisioDivina
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Today we are joined by Sister Denise who speaks to us about her own spiritual journey, the struggles and the surprises. We hope that hearing her story will be a source of inspiration for others looking to connect with the Divine Spark within. We hope it will allow us to ask ourselves about our own stories, to look compassionately at the dynamics we’ve lived in the middle of, and to lovingly seek out spaces where we can experience healing and freedom to become our authentic selves.
Additional Resources:
Spiritual Community: Holy Wisdom Monastery
MentalHealth #SpiritualJourney #Bipolar #Depression #Divorce #Counseling #Transformation #Listening
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We all have an inner critic - a voice that tells us we are “too this” or “not enough of that,” a voice that chides us for not doing things the “right way,” a voice that tells us in one way or another: You’re bad. Today we take some time to talk about developing our awareness so that we can recognize when this voice is coming in, dampening our experiences and creating disconnect in our lives. Join us as we explore ways to release this voice so that we can hear God’s voice more clearly.
Additional Resources:
Book: Listening and Caring Skills by John Savage Documentary: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Awareness #Release #GettingStill #Shame #Healing
InnerCritic #LaughTherapy #Discernment
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Today we’re offering an example of a Spiritual Direction session. In this particular session, Dominic and Chris talk about how Dominic’s instincts and ways of being have evolved over the years. Instead of living for the achievement, there’s an increasing desire to experience the present moment more vividly. There’s a desire to experience partnership - to be a wave in the ocean over and above trying to be the entire ocean. Join us as we explore the great experience of life in all of its ebbs and flows.
Awareness
Breathing
PresentMoment
Contemplative
SpiritualDirection
SpiritualCompanioning
Creativity
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Today, Marv Baldwin joins us to talk about the experience of engaging the spiritual journey to discover the pull on our hearts towards love and compassion, the struggles we tend to encounter once we become aware of that internal desire, and what we can do to stay grounded and centered in the midst of it all.
Marv Baldwin is a pastoral counselor and spiritual director living in Western Springs, IL. He founded Soul Journeys in 2018 and is honored journeying with small groups, individuals and organizations as we explore the Divine in our midst. Marv's compassion to serve those who are hurting led him to join the Butterfly PAC who is shifting the political focus to first think about those in need. By honoring and listening to the voices of those who suffer and providing opportunities to speak truth to power, the Butterfly PAC's aim is to invite those with position, power, and or resources to answer their compassionate call from within to prioritize those hurting and in need. Marv's beloved is Amy and they have 3 wonderful adult-ing children.
Additional Resources:
Website: Soul Journeys
Website: Butterfly PAC
Spiritual Practices Resource: Inner Exploration Guide – Courage to be Compassionatefrom Soul Journeys
Book: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Book: The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
CenteringPrayer
BreathPrayer
MeisterEckhart
SocialJustice
InnerJourney
Compassion
Love
Listening
Spiritual Direction
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It can be easy to get caught up in feeling like kids need things from us and that our job is to teach them. And this is true. But it’s also true that kids have the ability to teach us. Today we talk about what has surprised us and mesmerized us in our work with kids. We talk about how taking the time to provide space for them to move from their ordinary world into the special world of contemplation and beauty winds up offering us the exact same gift. Join us as we explore the invitation to let the lives of the younger generation touch our own.
Additional Resources:
Kids & Youth Retreat: Celebrating Each Other. Sunday, October 23, 2022
Book: I am an Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler
Labyrinth
Metaphor
Self-Care
Nature
Storytelling
Breathing
Transformation
Curiosity
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There’s something special about enjoying connection and abundance in the context of hospitality. Across time and culture, it would seem that each of us is hard-wired to give and receive from one another. And yet, for some, we may find we feel more comfortable in the giving role. Or we may feel we need to adhere to a certain style of hospitality that just doesn’t work for us. Today we take some time to talk about the contemplative aspects of connecting through the art of hospitality. Join us as we talk about this gift of being able to truly be with one another, seeing each other, and savoring this moment now.
Aesthetics
Spiritual Direction
Style
Hospitality
Love
Connection
Relationship
Abundance
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Many times, when we think of contemplative practices, what comes to mind is stillness and silence. But it turns out that there are so many ways to engage with the contemplative – art, movement, and even play! Both rest and play are important to our lives. And for each of us, there are often specific-to-us ways we like to do that. In this week’s episode, we ask: What all can count as play? How do others fit into our experience? And what can we do if we realize that something just isn’t working for us anymore? Join us as we talk about the experience of feeling rested as a result of our play.
Additional Resources:
Book: Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr
Handout: 8 Types of Play – Email info@foundrysc.com with “Play” in the subject line
Vacation
FindingHobbies
Adventure
Awareness
Connection
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For many of us, being an adult can sometimes look like trying to have all the answers. We can easily feel foolish to have to say, “I don’t know.” But what if the thing that lies on the other side of “struggle and not knowing” is possibility? What if choosing to live with “the question” is what allows us to evolve and transform? For certain, this requires an internal culture shift. But given the anxiety and stress that comes with feeling like we have to have all the answers, perhaps this freedom to ask and keep on asking can be a welcome divergence into a much larger expanse. Join us as we talk about embracing the journey, not with dread, but with wonder and curiosity.
LifelongLearner
SpiritualJourney
EvolvingFaith
CareerShift
SpiritualDirection
SpiritualCompanioning
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Transformation can happen in both big and small ways. It may come as we intentionally nourish our souls, or it may come quite by surprise. We may find ourselves feeling the sting of impatience or the burden of rigidity, both of which can feel unsettling to our souls. But the contemplative can help us find joy in this moment now, even as we journey towards our next moment. Join us as we talk about the remarkable journey of transformation.
Additional Resources:
Tree: The Buckthorn
LovingKindness
CenteringPrayer
LettingGo
Deconstruction
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Today, we’re talking about the benefits of our contemplative practices as it relates to the brain. It turns out there are four main brain chemicals playing a role in how we experience happiness and wellness in our lives. But no two people are exactly alike. What helps one may not at all be helpful for another. Join us as we talk about what we’re learning in regards to our motivations and anchors.
Additional Resources:
Movie: What about Bob
BrainChemicals
IntermittentFasting
Mindfulness
SeasonalDepression
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Today we’re talking about the possibility for evolution in our personalities as we grow and mature. For many of us, we tend to notice personal internal variances. Maybe we behave one way at home, one way at work, and another way in social situations. Maybe spiritual practices that used to work for us seem not to offer us the same spark and connection to the Divine that they once did. Today we talk about what might be going on for us as we walk through our lives, looking to understand who we are. Join us as we consider the questions and emerging data of our time regarding personality.
Additional Resources:
Article: Personality Changes for the Better with Age, apa.org
Author: Ayo Yetunde – writer, professor, counselor
Personality
ContemplativePractice
Maturing
Evolving
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Today we talk about the spiritual practice of paying attention to the people around us, making space in our days for each other, and being willing to be interrupted. For some of us, this comes naturally while for others, we may need to schedule it in to our days. But the delight and the closeness we can experience by living in to the present moment is worth it. Join us in seeing the person in front of us with full attention.
Additional Resources:
Quote: Meister Eckhart: The most important hour is always the present…Book: Low-FODMAP IBS Solution Plan and Cookbook by Dr. Rachel Pauls
Noticing
PayingAttention
Connection
Awareness
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Today we’re talking about how contemplative practices can help us when our bodies and nervous systems are feeling unsettled due to stress or trauma. Many of us have heard about the body’s ability to access fight, flight, or freeze at the turn of a dime. When that happens, the thing that we most need is Fawn – the chance to shake off the aftermath of whatever caused us to feel dysregulated in the first place. Join us as we talk about ways to process, calm, and shake off the triggers, stresses, and traumas we encounter.
#FightFlightFreezeFawn
ThisIsUs
PanicAttacks
CoRegulation
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Grief is a universal experience. And yet, how it manifests, what we need in that time, and how long it takes to work out our grief will vary from situation to situation and from person to person. We’ll also talk today about how residual grief can affect our present griefs. We’ll embrace the importance of naming our grief. And we’ll close by taking a moment to honor even this part of who we are and how we experience life. We hope you’ll join us.
NamingGrief
StagesOfGrief
Loss
SafeSpaces
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The Summer Solstice is a time to relish the abundance of light, beauty, and life, soaking it all in with great joy. Today we talk about accepting the invitations that come at this time of year, to take a more leisurely pace, shift our schedules, and celebrate by paying attention to the things that allow us to see that goodness and hope are available to us. Everywhere we look, life is radiating! Join us as we take a contemplative moment to bask in the wonder and awe of it all.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 48 Lessons from the Winter Solstice
Light
Summer
Nature
Eco-Spirituality
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We often talk about nature as a pathway to the contemplative here on the podcast. But what if we don’t consider ourselves outdoorsy? As it turns out, how we engage the outdoors seems to involve both our personalities and the evolution of our personalities. Today we take some time to celebrate the many different and wonderful ways that each of us connects with nature, engaging in its wonder and beauty, and noticing the role nature plays in our great ecosystem of life.
Additional Resources#Evolution
Curiosity
Connection
NaturePhotography
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Many of us have hopes for what life will look like as we age. The question is: What will it take for us to live well, and even thrive, in our later years? It turns out that those who are in that stage of life often have helpful words of advice – lived experience that we can soak up and benefit from. Join us as we muse about our own aging experiences and take time to embrace the words of wisdom that are coming from the sages who have crossed our paths.
Additional Resources
Book: Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
TV Series: Lark Rise to Candleford
LifelongLearner
Reinvention
AgingWell
Thrive
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Stress is an unavoidable part of our lives. And fortunately, there’s a certain kind of stress that’s really good for us! But when we find ourselves in distress, the question becomes, “What resources do we already have – and what resources do we still need – to carry us through this moment?” Join for a conversation about our mind-body responses to the external pressures and challenges we face.
Additional Resources
Author: Megan Hyatt Miller
Book: Thrive by Dan Buettner
Shoe: Altra Lone Peak 6
Noticing
MentalHealth
Community
SpiritualDirection
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Poetry can sometimes feel like an acquired taste, like maybe you either love it or you don’t. But what many of us find as we pursue a contemplative life is that poetry can become a helpful way to slow down and take a nice, long look. We sometimes find that poetry becomes a doorway to being able to drink in that present moment. So join us as we talk about the power of poems to aid our engagement of the world around us using our senses, emotions, and intuitions.
Additional Resources
Book: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Book: The Amateur Contemplative by Li-Young Lee
Book: Susceptible to Light by Chelan Harkin
Poetry
Haiku
Emotions
Feelings
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In recent years, many of us have watched stores and spiritual communities alike, places that embodied the fabric of our childhood, disappear. The American landscape is changing.
Many people today are opting to take a mosaic approach to meeting their spiritual needs. And at the same time, many are looking backwards, remembering times when they felt more spiritually alive than they do right now.
Today we’re taking some time to talk about the spiritual landscapes many of us are finding ourselves in. We talk about the struggles we’re facing, the needs many of us are feeling, and then we close by asking: Where does this leave us? Join us as we explore the landscape of spirituality today.
Additional Resources
Image: Contemplative Tree
OneStopShop
Journey
Community
InnerWisdom
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Technology has done wonders for our lives. We use it. We need it. And we’re thankful for it. At the same time, sometimes it creates unhelpful patterns in our lives that affect us negatively. We feel it. We know it. And we want something different for ourselves. And so today we talk about how our contemplative practices can help us find the balance we’re looking for when it comes to screens, media, and all the rest. Join us as we talk about outward engagement paired with inward letting go.
Additional Resources
Reading: Liturgy for Mediaby John O'Donohue
Tea: Masala Chai Tea
Creamer: Nut Pods Almond & Coconut Creamer
Mindfulness
Balance
BeingPresent
Media
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Each of us, regardless of the relationship we currently have with our parents, is someone’s child. And throughout our lives, how we relate with our parents tends to evolve as both us and our parents enter into new seasons and experiences. Today, we talk about how Contemplative Practices have helped us – and continue to help us – engage lovingly, compassionately, and with gratitude. We hope you’ll join us.
Compassion
Evolution
Gratitude
ContemplativePractices
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As we engage in deep listening, we discover the inner wisdom of the spirit. In this episode, we talk about the benefits of having companions to help us notice the deep well that lies within. When we begin to listen to our bodies, our intuitions, and the quickening of the Spirit, a world of empowerment opens to us. Join us as we explore the art of paying attention in contemplative ways.
Additional Resources
Book: The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck
SpiritualCompanioning
SpiritualDirection
Discernment
MindBodySpirituality
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Today we’re talking about the expansiveness that non-duality can bring to our awareness and thinking. Feeling like things are either/or can be comforting to us at times. But it can also cause us to feel stressed out, limited, and disconnected from the Divine. What do we do with suffering? What do we do when we’re afraid we’ll do the wrong thing? Join us for a tour of some of the many ways that non-duality can help us to experience more of the nuances life has to offer.
Additional Resources
Book: Learning to Walk in the Darkby Barbara Brown Taylor
Movie: Inside Out
NonDualAwareness
NonDualThinking
BothAnd
ThirdWay
Compassion
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Today we talk about how being a lifelong learner connects to the contemplative life. For many of us, adulthood brings with it the pressures of feeling like we need to know the answers. And over the course of months and years, we can begin to lose track of what can emerge when we see the world with wonder. We lose that willingness to start from wherever we are and grow from there. But the good news is: There’s an antidote! Join us for a conversation of inspiration.
Additional Resources
Book: Walking in Wonder by John O’Donohue
BeginnersMind
Childlike
Curiosity
Wonder
Inclusive
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In many ways, the spiritual journey is about putting language to what is hidden in our souls. And in order to do this, many of us benefit from companions and mentors along the way. We need someone to help us ask ourselves: How do I leave “this” and move into “that?” And when we’ve reached some of those goals that once seemed so far away - now what? Join us for a conversation about our universal quest to uncover the emerging soul.
Additional Resources
Book: The Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert Guelich
Book: A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer
Book: The Making of a Leader by Dr. Robert Clinton
Podcast: Ep 58 Learning from Indigenous Wisdom
HerosJourney
Companionship
Mentors
Elders
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Evolution is defined as the gradual changing of something from a simpler form to a more complex one. And what we’ve noticed in our spiritual lives is that faith, like all of life is evolving. How we experience the Divine in our lives, what that means to us…our understanding and experience of these things changes over the course of our lives. In this episode, we talk about the importance of feeling like it’s okay to ask our questions. We notice that change can feel disorienting and even difficult, but at the same time, change also brings more depth and richness to our connections and experiences. Join us as we explore these ideas together!
Additional Resources
Activity: The Wizard Questin the Wisconsin Dells
DynamicFaith
Examen
EvolvingFaith
FaithJourney
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“I’ve been on a gratitude journey for many years. And I’m still not where I want to be. But I see change…”
“I was up in the middle of the night, and I realized my brain was still working. I had to breathe. I had to slow down…”
Life is a mix of good and challenging. Join us as we explore the spiritual practice of gratitude as a means of living our lives to the full.
Additional Resources
Book: A View from the Ridge: Morris West
Gratitude Reflection: Three Forms of Gratitude Video
Gratitude
Reflection
Centering
Thankfulness
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Today we’re offering an example of a Spiritual Direction session. In this particular session, Brittany and Kristina talk about trying to experience peace in the midst of our daily lives. Join us as we explore the notion of presence, how we feel things in our bodies, and what it looks like to build regular rhythms and flexibility into our days.
SpiritualCompanioning
#SpirtitualDirection
Flexibility
Rituals
Note about Transcript:
Given the experiential nature of spiritual companioning, we’ve decided not to create a transcript for this particular episode.
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Today we’re talking about what it looks like to live a life that continues to offer meaning and impact for future generations. Certainly, our culture seems to indicate that, collectively, we’re developing an increasing interest in this notion of legacy. But for many of us, this is also a brand-new idea. Not all of us grew up in families that were telling us the tales of our great-great grandparents and beyond. And so we’re looking for models, teachers, and guides. Join us as we engage our collective experiences in order to both discover the wisdom of our past and embrace our own ability to leave behind a story of meaning for the people of tomorrow.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 53 The Great Shift
Book: Finishing Well by Robert Clinton
Coffee: New Mexico Pinion Coffee
Activities with Kids: Mail Order Mystery
Storytelling
Genealogy
Culture
MakingMeaning
Reflection
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Today we’re digging deeper into the wisdom of Indigenous populations from all over the world. And, in particular, we’re drawing inspiration from leaning into the power, meaning, and beauty of circles. The circle, for many of us, can represent a helpful decentralizing of power and a sense of community. Join us as we explore some of our own experiences with circles, seasons, and cycles. Ask questions with us. And in the end, may each of us find new delight and admiration for the beauty and life that exists both in us and around us.
Circle
Wisdom
Equality
Indigenous
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For most of us, it’s easy to get tossed around by our circumstances. Conversations we’re in can throw us for a loop, and before we know it, we’re drowning in the emotion and struggle of it all. But today we talk about ways to get this thing that Scripture calls “Transcendent Peace” – beyond understanding, out-of-this-world, supernatural peace. Join us as we talk about the art of being present in our lives without getting overly weighed down by the baggage.
Additional Resources
Book: Eyes Wide Open by Mariana Caplan
Quote: Charles Swindoll
TV Series: Heartland
HelpingVocations
Peaceful
LettingGo
Supernatural
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Limiting mindsets can show themselves in so many ways: The Inner Critic, Imposter Syndrome, Feeling Stuck…and they tend to show up even more profoundly when we’re growing and changing. But that said, they can also occur in smaller ways, impacting our joy for entire seasons at a time. So today we talk how being aware of those mindsets, and then engaging more mindfully, can make a huge difference in how we experience our days.
Additional Resources
PDF: Limiting Mindsets
LimitingBeliefs
Faith
Companions
RecurringThoughts
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“Yes, And” has been a powerful tool in the improv world for years. But recently, it’s been hitting the business world as a way to foster connection and creativity. And today, we talk about it from the perspective of the spiritual life. How can “Yes, And” help us remain in open and expansive places as we relate to people in every area of our lives? Join us as we consider where the sticking points for “Yes, And” may be as well as where each of us is feeling motivated to employ these two empowering words in our day-to-day experiences.
Listening
Improv
ExpansiveListening
KnowingYourself
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Self-Awareness involves learning to recognize and understand things like our moods, emotions, and internal drives. And for many of us, self-reflection can be hard to get a grasp on or even want to engage with at all. But in this episode, we look at numerous ways to work on this foundational piece of our lives towards the goal of living into a thriving life. Join us for the journey!
Additional Resources
Book: Heroic Leadership by Chris Lowney
Poem: Crossing Unmarked Snow by William Stafford
Book: Susceptible to Light by Chelan Harkin
Wellness
Journaling
Community
Self-Reflection
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It turns out there’s a big trend going on in our society right now. In 2021, over 1 million people left their jobs. And if the statistics are correct, over 95% of people have considered, or are considering, leaving their jobs. But, while some of these shifts may be due to the desire for things like higher pay or better benefits, many are leaving over questions of meaning and purpose. Something in us is asking: Why am I here? What do I want my life to be about?
And so in today’s episode, we talk about three major components that have contributed to this amazing phenomenon. And we offer up some resources that may help others who are currently exploring these very same questions. Let’s ask the questions together!
Additional Resources
Book: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
Website: www.thecontemplativelife.net for retreats, classes, and spiritual companioning
burnout
achievement
rest
emotion
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Dreams happen to all of us, even if we aren’t in the habit of paying attention to them. In this episode, we talk about how setting an intention to engage our dreams can be both informative and even transformative. Join us as we talk about the practice of allowing our dreams to become a part of our spiritual experience.
Additional Resources
Podcast: Finding God in Your Longing, Spiritual Direction Example with Chris Roberts & Kristina Kaiser
Dreams
CarlJung
Symbols
SettingIntentions
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Today we talk about Divine Encounters and how it relates to Epiphany – moments of sudden revelation or insight that can come, sometimes, quite unexpectedly. Join us as we share the ways in which the Divine has broken into our very ordinary moments, changing us, blessing us, and bringing us together with others in surprising ways. May each of our listeners have a moment to slow down, breathe deeply, and find that the Divine has found us in the middle of even our most regular of days.
Additional Resources
Website: The Abbey of the Arts
Book: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
Epiphany
Magi
DivineEncounter
Moments
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Celebrations, whether big or small, take even the ordinary moments of life and make them special. It’s easy to feel anywhere from bogged down to outright traumatized by our lives. Celebration provides the exhale we need – that moment to relax, to look around, and say, “Yes! This IS the day. And I am fully living in the middle of it.” Join us in taking a few moments to let out our “Yay!”
Additional Resources
Book: Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Book: To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue
App: Noom
Apple Fritter Bread: Recipe
Celebration
Intention
Milestones
LittleMoments
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In today’s episode, we take a look at a spiritual practice that can help us make sense of our lives. Whether the questions are big or small, whether we’re looking for themes or goals, whether we use paper or conversation, it all brings us to a space of reflection that can help us enter our new year with excitement and hope. May your next year be blessed!
Additional Resources
Podcast: Ep 37: Adulting
collage
IgnatianExamen
reflection
newyear
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The Winter Solstice is an opportunity for natural pause. In today’s episode, we ask a lot of questions: How do we lean into the darkness and even enjoy it? What resources will we need? What’s the significance of community? What does it mean to immerse ourselves in a “deeper soaking?”
Sacred, beautiful, and important things happen in these winter months. Join us as we discover them together.
Additional Resources
Book: Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
Hiking
Solstice
Darkness
MentalHealth
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Awe is a universal emotion that we experience and has been paid attention to by both spiritual and scientific communities. It turns out that experiencing awe is (amazingly!) good for us. And when we are tuned in to it, we can find awe everywhere, from nature to – wait for it – shiny trash can lids. Join us as we talk about ways to open to even more awe in our lives.
Additional Resources
TV Series: Foundation on Apple TV
Mindfulness
ContemplativeMusic
Exeperience
Perennial
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Is balance something we can achieve or is it just an idealized concept that we’ve made up for ourselves? And if it’s the latter, what else is available to us when we’re feeling the weight of it all?
Today, believe it or not, we’ll visit some good news as it relates to stress in our lives, and we’ll dive into a few contemplative questions that can help us find those places of spaciousness and freedom. May your heart be blessed with warmth today!
Balance
Adjustments
Ideals
AskingQuestions
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Most of us tend to have specific ways that we’re used to connecting with God, and those things serve us to some degree, giving us a sense of belonging and security. But in today’s podcast, we also talk about the benefits of exploring a variety of ways to connect spiritually. Join us as we nerd out about words and talk about how we can lean into the expansiveness of our spirituality.
Additional Resources
Book: Spiritual Life: The Foundation for Preaching and Teaching by John Westerhoff
Book: Jesus-Brand Spirituality by Ken Wilson
Book: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Apostolic
Charismatic
Mystical
Sacramental
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Our culture is always talking about self-care, and so today we ask: Can the contemplative life help me with this?
Many of us are so easily plagued with self-doubt: Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right? Is this the meaningful life I was hoping for? And so today we take a moment to talk about the tell-tale signs of needing a little self-love. We talk about how to practically engage without dysregulating the rest of our lives. And we land on some really good news: We don’t have to practice self-care perfectly in order to get the benefits from it. So take a deep breath…we’ll wait…and join us for the conversation.
Additional Resources
Book: A House with Four Rooms by Rumer Godden
Song: Weaving Our Lives by Alexa Sunshine Rose
Song: Long Time Sun by Snatam Kuar
Song: Meditation on Breathing by Sarah Dan Jones
RumerGodden
Self-Care
HeadSpace
Contemplative
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We all come to those moments in life where we find ourselves asking: Is this it? What’s the most I can hope for?
Thankfully, many people today are feeling evermore empowered to tackle these questions. Just because we’ve been headed down one particular path doesn’t mean we can’t make adjustments. And so today, we talk about living into our meaning, about finding that meaning a little bit at a time, and about putting ourselves in settings that help us explore all of that in a way that feels best for us. Join us for an inspiring jaunt into this engaging topic.
Additional Resources:
Book: The Power of Meaning byEmily Esfahani Smith
Ted Talk: There’s More to Life than Being Happy byEmily Esfahani Smith
Book: Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
Philosopher and Writer: Allan Watts
TV Series: Stargate SG-1
Clarifying Shampoo: Un-do-Goo Malibu Shampoo
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FeelingsWheel
Meaning
Purpose
Happiness
If ever there was a tricky situation to be in, it’s got to be this one: Sometimes, we’re operating out of our conscious mind – things we know we’re thinking about. And sometimes, we’re operating out of our unconscious mind – things we haven’t yet become aware of. And yet, our unconscious selves are still affecting us! A tricky situation indeed.
Today we look gently at our lives from the perspective of the ego and we talk practically about what we do have control over and when it’s probably time to give ourselves a break. We hope you’ll join us.
Additional Resources
Quote: Ep 20: AA Meets Contemplative Spirituality
Book: The Cloud of Unknowing by Anonymous
Book: Awarenessby Anthony DeMello
Book: Adam’s Return by Richard Rohr
TV Series: Call the Midwife on PBS
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Mindfulness
SettingIntentions
CarlJung
DeflatedEgo
A lot goes on, both within ourselves and in the world around us. And all of that can leave us feeling very unclear about how to engage. We often want to show up with a spirit of generosity, but we just don’t know how. Today’s episode breaks down 4 specific ways of being compassionate that can help us engage in manners that feel healthy and sustainable.
Join us as we have a concrete conversation about the notion of “what is ours to do.”
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Resilience
Self-Compassion
CompassionateCommunication
Contemplative
Today we talk about the Enneagram as a way to help us understand how we - and those we interact with - show up in the world. We may hear ourselves asking sometimes: Where does that come from? Why does that happen? Or we may even feel confused about why so many of us aren’t entirely consistent and predictable. The Enneagram helps us with these interactive questions and can help us have more success in our day-to-day experiences. Join us as we explore three unique ways to engage with this diverse personality tool.
Additional Resources
Video: “An Introduction to the Enneagram” with Kristina Kaiser on our YouTube Page
EnneagramWings
EnneagramArrows
EnneagramHeadTypes
EnneagramHeartTypes
EnneagramBodyTypes
EnneagramEnergies
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Today, Wendy Porterfield and Liz Kravitz join us to talk to us about how running has evolved into a spiritual practice for them – a place where they can release and let go, where they can process, and where they can connect with others in a sense of meaning and accomplishment.
Join us as they tell us their stories of overcoming struggle and discovering personal retreat, inner strength, and freedom.
Additional Resources
Liz Kravitz CoachingWebsite: https://lizkravitz.wixsite.com/my-site-1
Email: lizkravitzcoaching@gmail.com
Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, IG
Justin Andrews – Running CoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin2ultra/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin2ultra
Ragnar
TrailRunning
5K
RunningInSeasons
RunningCommunity
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Interspirituality is a new term for many of us, but broadly speaking, it’s the experience of finding the common ground between our faith traditions and appreciating the ways in which those traditions compliment each other.
In this episode, we dive into four different ways of being Interspiritual, and we consider how we’ve seen these ways of being emerging in our own lives and in the world around us. Join us as we explore the beauty of sharing our inter-connectedness.
Additional Resources
Book: The New Monasticsm: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living by Rory McEnfee and Adam Bucko
Speaker: Mirabai Starr’s Talk: The Bees in the Garden
Book: Foundations in Spiritual Direction: Sharing the Sacred Across Traditions by Beverly Lanzetta
PerennialWisdom
DeconstrucingFaith
ThirdWay
PrayerPractices
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It happens to all of us. We reach that fated moment in life where we’re expected to behave like “a responsible adult,” where all the mundane tasks of life suddenly become ours to do. Did “being an adult” sneak up on you? Do you find yourself agonizingly asking, “Why is this happening?!”
In this episode, we ask: Can contemplative practices and lifestyles help us in navigating the mundane (and sometimes overwhelming!) aspects of our lives? Join us as we talk about the benefits of spiritual companioning in the midst of adulting.
contemplative
spirituality
PayingTheBills
Adulting
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Many of us have picked up ideas – and ideals – about everything and anything. Ways that we think people should be, the ways in which we think things should be done, even ways in which we think God is likely to act and behave. And when the world doesn’t act the way we want it to, we tend to have feelings about that.
In this episode we talk about the Images that have come to be in our lives – where they serve us, how some of those images have left us walking through life in fear…And we land on one question that ends up becoming central to our conversation: Who is God to me today? We hope you’ll join us.
Additional Resources:
Book: Awareness by Anthony de Mello
Musician: Jeffery Foucault
Awareness
Idols
ContemplativeSpirituality
Reframing
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One of the great things about music is the power it has to move us – to draw us out, to speak to us, to help us become more receptive – both to our experiences and to our feelings.
In this episode, we “sing the praises” of music, pointing out how helpful it can be in interfaith settings and how easily it can be paired with other contemplative practices.
So join us as we talk about the mysterious and mystical as it relates to music.
Additional Resources:
Music Playlist: https://www.thecontemplativelife.net/resources
Music Playlist also available here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnma9HmG0antFRaGuE0XWA01Gmwnq2xHh
Inclusive
Emotions
Music
Interfaith
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Today we are joined by Grace Schmelzer, co-leader of numerous online contemplative groups and soon-to-be spiritual director. She shares with us today the struggles she’s experienced in being an extrovert approaching contemplative practices. But take heart! She also shares with us what has been enjoyable to her as well as what she was surprised to find enjoyable. May all of our extroverts out there feel invited to the contemplative table!
Extrovert
Silence
Solitude
Retreat
Additional Resources:
Book: Journey to the Heart, Edited by Kim Nataraja
Book: The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
Website: www.blueoceanfaith.org
Website: www.journey-on.net
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We all know that how we process – or don’t process – our emotions can affect our lives in big ways. What’s more, many of us haven’t been given a whole lot of help in figuring out how to process what we might view as “negative emotion” in our lives. And so in today’s episode, we explore any number of contemplative practices that have been useful in helping us move through some of the more challenging emotions and energies that we experience.
Feelings
FeelingsWheel
MoodMeter
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In today’s episode, we spend some time talking about the how-to’s of meditation and what some of our personal preferences are, all through the lenses of our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. Do you sometimes wonder: Am I doing this right? What does it even mean to meditate? Join us as we tackle some of meditation’s big questions together.
MeditationForChildren
CenteringPrayer
Journey
LettingGo
Additional Resources:
Spiritual Companion: Mary Reynolds
Podcast Episode: Ep 11 Embodied Spirituality with Mary Reynolds
Author: Sharon Salzberg
Author: Ruth Haley Barton
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Ep 31 Second Naïvetés and Spirituality
Second Naïvetés are the act of returning to our experiences and beliefs with fresh eyesand new outlooks, and it’s a common story for many in seasons of questioning in particular.
In today’s episode, we spend some time specifically talking about how each of us has seen our prayer practices evolve as we’ve come in contact with the contemplative and why that evolution has felt so important to us. Two big questions we’ll ask as we look at these prayer models from our younger days: What is the essence of that? And what does it mean to respond to that?
PaulRiceour
mystical
PrayerModels
PrayerOfLight
Additional Resources:
Book: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton
Author: Barbara A. Holmes
Author: Martha Beck
Book: Journey to the Heart: Christian Contemplation through the Centuries, edited by Kim Nataraja
Restaurant: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
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https://thecontemplativelife.buzzsprout.com/1642654/9007854-ep-31-second-naivetes-and-spirituality
Ep 30 Exvangelicals
Exvangelicals are people who come from evangelical traditions but who no longer identify as such. Many have begun speaking out rather than quietly moving on. And so today we talk about it: How do we live into new spaces as we experience change in our lives? Where do we turn as our ideas about our faith lives evolve? What do I do with the grief and the angst that comes up in me sometimes?
evangelical
mystical
companion
evolution
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Today, instead of examining “what am I thinking,” we take a moment to ask, “What am I feeling, seeing, smelling, touching, tasting?” In other words, how does wonder open up our awareness – aka – our contemplative experience?
Our senses offer us so much – calm, delight, awe…May we all find ourselves going out and being invigorated by our sensory experiences!
Smell
Touch
Senses
Nature
Additional Resources:
Author, Teacher, Spiritual Companion: Lacy Finn Borgo
Book: Beauty, the Invisible Embrace by John O’Donohue
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Today we talk about our stories, why they matter and how we’re changed as we interact with both our own stories and the stories of others.
As it turns out, research and experience show that sharing our stories helps us overcome pain, adversity, and struggle. But sadly, many of us suffer from the inability to even know what our story is. In this episode, we’ll explore a few ways to get back in touch with all of that as well as take some time to talk about what it takes to accept even the parts of our stories we don’t like as much.
HolyListening
Reflection
Evolving
Alexithymia
Additional Resources:
Book: Joy Unspeakable by Barbara A. Holmes
Book: Undrowned by Alexis Pauline Gums
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Today we talk about rest! As we begin to move towards post-pandemic life, some of us have questions: Do we like our old pace? Are there rhythms we’ve enjoyed that we want to keep?
Today we talk about the many benefits of rest. Because let’s face it, productivity is great! It’s caused lots of advancement in our society. But what would healthy rhythms look like for us personally?
FourQuadrants
Sabbath
LifeStages
Seasons
Additional Resources:
Image: Four Quadrants by Stephen Covey. Also here.
Self-Directed Retreat: Rest & Renewal Retreat
Noom App: Find it here
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Today we’re talking about things we can do in order to boost that sense of joy in our lives, for which, the contemplative can really help us on this front because, it just so happens, that the contemplative is a great teacher of things like “the gifts of savoring the moment” and “living with intention.”
And the best news in all of this is, even if finding the gratitude points in our lives doesn’t come naturally, thanks to neuroplasticity, we have our entire lives to learn and adapt new ways of being. And so when we feel emotionally stuck, or when we are feeling the struggle of our lives intensely, contemplative joy hacks can be a real help.
Gratitude
SpiritualCompanioning
JoiedeVivre
Neuroplasticity
Additional Resources:
Book: The Joy Diet by Martha Beck
Book: The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield
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Today we’re talking about burnout and how contemplative spirituality can help us. First, the good news: Burnout isn’t necessarily a bad place. And in fact, it could even be a great place. Find out why in this episode.
RuleOfLife
Retreat
Wilderness
Awareness
Additional Resources:
Book: A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer
Book: Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittisster
Book: Joy Unspeakable by Barbara A Holmes
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Today we’re talking about some of the many ways in which Nature seems to have the power to bring us in touch with The Divine, allow goodness to flow in our lives, and even help us navigate our more difficult seasons. How we interact with nature may change depending on the season of life we’re in. But somehow, it would seem that Nature can often speak to us like nothing else can. Join us for this exciting conversation.
SaintFrancis
Indigineous
Seasons
NatureMetaphors
Additional Resources:
Author: Judy Cannato
Author: Wendell Berry
Author: Pat McCabe
Band: Coldplay – Higher Power
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Today’s podcast is a continuation of a conversation that began after we had officially ended last week’s podcast. The questions that kept us talking: Is a conversation about Vocational Discernment for the privileged? Or is this a universal conversation that spans many walks of life?
And from there the questions kept coming:
What if our current jobs can be stepping stones towards our dreams?
What if even the small things about what we enjoy mean something to us?
What if we can be apart of helping others thrive?
Does being unhappy inhibit us from reaching our goals?
Join us as we wrestle with these important questions!
Dharma
Contemplation
Hopes
Dreams
Additional Resources:
Book: The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly
Book: We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rogers
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Sometimes it’s hard to admit we’re having questions about our work. But on the other hand, maybe these moments are invitations from The Divine that can help us along in our journeys.
In today’s episode we’ll talk about how the contemplative can help us even in the midst of our vocational questions: What can today teach us? What about today is serving the greater good? We’ll talk about journey and the power of micro-adjustments. And we’ll talk about how seasons of life will likely impact our discernment process.
Dharma
Contemplation
GreaterGood
ZoneofGenius
Additional Resources:
Book: Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
Book: The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope
Book: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Poem: Trading for Heaven by Li-Young Lee
NPR Podcast: How I Built This with Guy Raz
Fair Trade Chocolate: Lemon Ginger
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Today we are talking about the idea of “thin places” – the places where the veil between heaven and Earth lifts.
Join us as we consider where those places are that feel set apart and separate. Wonder with us as we consider ways to experience Divine Presence in community. And in the end, may we all feel inspired to discover even more ways to experience these special places in our lives.
Nature
Poetry
Candles
Hammocks
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Today we are talking with Ken, Spiritual Companion and member of numerous contemplative communities.
Ken talks to us in this episode about practices that have been meaningful to him, why being powerless turns out to be a good thing, and what some of his favorite connections are between 12-step programs and the contemplative. Join us as we listen together.
SpiritualCompanioning
SpirtitualDirection
Recovery
CenteringPrayer
Additional Resources:
Book: Happiness and the Human Spirit by Rabbi Abraham Twerski
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Today we’re talking about Spiritual Independence. If we know this term, we may well identify by any number of names: Spiritual but not Religious, Spiritually Eclectic, Spiritually Fluid, Disaffiliated, Nones…But whatever we call ourselves and however we found ourselves here, many of us are finding our way into the Contemplative.
In this episode, we explore a number of questions: Can we establish an openness and hospitality towards one another? Can we engage the universal sorts of wisdoms that span across faith traditions? Where and how can we find safe spaces to gather and to dialogue?
Probably the only thing we know for sure is that there are more questions than answers. But might we be able to come together, celebrating the vastness of the Divine, engaging our similarities and being hospitable towards our differences.
SpiritualCompanioning
SpirtitualDirection
PerennialWisdom
Additional Resources:
Book: The Joy Diet by Martha Beck
TV Series: Grantchester on PBS
Author, Speaker & Life Coach: Martha Beck
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Today we’re talking about using the Contemplative lens to create new mindsets.
And in particular, we start with some questions: What does it look like to renew our minds and take thoughts captive? How do we manage to allow our minds to think on things that are noble, excellent and praiseworthy?
And given that we’re all so unique, what we quickly discover is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. But what we all agree on is that when we find a tool that helps us, our minds are calmer and happier!
SpiritualCompanioning
SpirtitualDirection
CenteringPrayer
Additional Resources:
Video Class: Loving God with our Mind
NPR Comic Series: Teaching in the Pandemic
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Today we want to talk about life in the ordinary and about finding God in the more average parts of our days and lives.
What can we find to sustain us? Where can something very usual become more extraordinary to us?
Join us as we talk about returning to wonder, about slowing down to notice what we could not see before, and about the power of release and embrace.
SpiritualCompanioning
SpirtitualDirection
CenteringPrayer
Kairos
Chronos
Additional Resources:
Book: The Joy Diet by Martha Beck
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Toxic Positivity is the belief that no matter how difficult the situation, that one should always maintain a positive mindset.
It’s culturally normal for us to share our positive emotions, but what about the negative ones? Many of us have believed that if we just ignore the emotion, it will pass. But is that really true?
Join us as we talk through these questions and ideas together.
SpiritualCompanioning
SpirtitualDirection
PrayerExamen
JoiedeVivre
LovingKindness
Additional Resources:
Book: The Untethered Soulby Michael A. Singer
Book: The Book of Joy by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu & Douglas Abrams
Website: SDI – Spiritual Directors International
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Today we’re offering an example of what one might experience during a Spiritual Direction session. In this particular session, Kristina is bringing a dream to Chris.
“I felt discombobulated…I was trying to get somewhere.”
…”I’m in a time of figuring things out. What does life look like now?”
We invite you to join us as Kristina works through her dream with Chris. And if you’re interested in learning more about spiritual companionship for yourself, please email us: info@thecontemplativelife.net.
SpiritualCompanioning
SpirtitualDirection
Dreams
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Today we are talking with Marcia Bentley, Spiritual Companion and Supervisor for Spiritual Companions.
What is Spirituality? What is the value of Spiritual Companioning? It turns out that great awakening is possible in our lives as we gain the ability to listen with our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. Most of us are probably better at one or two of these. But to get all three to happen is really something special.
The number of pearls of wisdom from Marcia in this episode are numerous!
SpiritualCompanioning
SpirtitualDirection
Awakening
Silence
Community
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Fear, whether it comes from imagined circumstances or real ones, is something we all find ourselves having to deal with. If our goal is to be able to choose action over reaction, what can help us achieve that goal?
In this episode, each of us shares ways in which we’ve identified fears in our own lives and what sorts of things we’ve tried that have begun to help us peel back the layers often associated with fear. What are some of your fear responses and what have you found helpful?
Additional Resources:
Book: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
BehindtheWaterfall
NavigatingFears
SpiritualCompanioning
JoiedeVivre
Journey
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Today we’re talking about how the Contemplative can helps us respond to the signals coming from our bodies without all the shame. Most of us know the feeling all too well – that comment that so embarrassed us, expectations that we hold of ourselves, pressures we feel in society... The Contemplative helps us engage motivation that comes from a far more positive space, one where both God and our bodies (gently) show us the way.
Join us as we talk about some of the many ways we’ve experienced this struggle in our own lives and how Contemplative questions are teaching us and helping us begin to move beyond shame.
Additional Resources:
Book: An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor
Book: Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
Book: The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
Intention
ContemplativeSpirituality
Mindfulness
Savoring
Acceptance
Invitation
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Today we are talking with Mary Reynolds, certified Spiritual Companion and Yoga Instructor in the Boston area.
- What are some of the similarities and differences between Mindfulness and Contemplative Spirituality?
- Why do we sometimes shy away from Spirituality that includes our bodies?
- Does body shame have an effect on our spiritual experience? And if so, can we do anything about that?
Join us as Mary shares with us her words of wisdom and experience.
Additional Resources:
Book: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
Website: Internal Family Systems
Website: Mary Reynolds: Injoyoga.com
YouTube Channel: Mary Reynolds, Dance of Stillness
Instagram: Mary Reynolds: Injoyoga_Wellness
Restaurant: Ancora Café, Madison, WI
Mindfulness
ContemplativeSpirituality
Meditation
Movement
Yoga
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Many of us can sense at various times in our lives that we need help – relationship – even more than that – companionship. But we also feel stuck. We don’t have anything set up and developing anything meaningful feels hard, maybe even too hard.
In this episode, we find that the struggle to keep companionship alive in our days is met with creativity and diversity. Join us and add your own ideas in the comments.
Additional Resources:
Restaurant with a Mission: The Feed Bakery in Madison, WI
Non-Profit: The Better World Shopper Guide
SpiritualCompanioning
Companions
joiedevivre
balance
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In this episode, we talk about how the contemplative life informs our parenting. But! Even if we don’t have children, relationships are relationships! Each person in the world has agency – freedom of choice, freedom to think. And how our agency interacts with others can sometimes be wonderful and can sometimes be anything but.
What’s more, each of us is living the context of our own set of struggles. What happens when all of that crashes into the story of everyone else we’re coming into contact with? And how does that interplay with our desire to see others we love thrive in their own journeys? Join us as we contemplate together.
Additional Resources:
Author: Ruth Haley Barton – Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
payingattention
LovingKindness
Poetry
Apophatic
Prayer
SpiritualCompanioning
SpiritualDirection
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Today we are talking with Steve Spilde, Associate Director and Spiritual Director at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, WI.
What is it about vulnerability that is just so amazingly hard and what makes vulnerability so special anyway? No doubt, we’ve probably all been a room where we were the minority. And probably each of us would be able to articulate the differences we felt in that situation.
Join us as we talk about the various influences of our day that contribute to a shut-down society and what sorts of models might be available to help us shift into a more complete picture of ourselves.
Additional Resources:
Steve Spilde: Fransican Spirituality Center
Author: Richard Rohr
Author: Brené Brown
Video: How Wolves Change Rivers
SpiritualCompanioning
SpiritualDirection
GenderStereotypes
JungianArchetypes
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What can help us when words and experiences make us feel isolated, shut down, and less than?
In this episode, we contemplate the struggle that comes along with triggering words and situations. We explore the cause and effect nature of these things, visiting a number of great thinkers along the way. If you struggle with various triggers in your life, you are definitely not alone. Join us as we explore some themes that have encouraged us. And as always, you’re invited to add your voice in the comments.
Note: There are a couple moments where Kristina’s internet wasn’t cooperating on this day. So if you hear a couple of blips, it’s not you. It’s us. :)
Additional Resources:
Author: Ronald Rolheiser
Video: Father James Martin on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talking about Lent
Podcast: This Jungian Life
Book: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
Book: The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
French Philosopher: Paul Ricoeur, 2nd Naïveté
Completeness
Harmony
Mystical
SpiritualDirection
SpiritualCompanioning
SpiritualDevelopment
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If church doesn’t work for us, what does it look like to grow in our spiritual awareness?
Join us as we reflect on the spiritual self. Each of our lives holds meaning and purpose. But many of us struggle to unpack what that is exactly. In this episode, we consider the pathways available to us all, regardless of titles, schedules, or belief structures.
Additional Resources:The Jesuits Guide to Almost Everything by James Martin
Blog Post: 6 Pathways to God
For Light by John O’Donohue
Deepak Chopra
**#SpiritualCompanioning
SpiritualDirection
SpirituallyIndependent
NotReligious
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How do we go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to faith?
In this episode, we talk about the joys of discovering why we love the things we love and how we uncover the rhythms that can help us feel spiritually nourished. We also explore the benefits of stepping out of our everyday rhythms to find even more things that help us connect in real and meaningful ways with God, with ourselves, and with the world around us. We’d love to hear your experiences, too! Join us in the comments.
Additional Resources
Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas
Sacred Pathways Free Online Test
Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Five Love Languages Free Online Quiz
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Is it possible that the Shadow Side of our personalities are hijacking our spiritual life?
In this episode we talk about how our personalities may be affecting our spiritual experience and how reflection about that can help us discover an evermore fulfilling spiritual experience. Join us as we explore the many ways that lead us to connect with the Divine!
Additional Resources:
Invitation to a Journey by Robert Mulholland Jr
For more info on the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment
All Creatures Great and Small
Divine Hours Prayer
PraythePsalms
Nature
CommunalContemplation
Contemplative Dialogue
Silence
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Can the contemplative help us with social justice?
In this episode, we spend time asking where the work of justice begins and we talk about how the contemplative might help us find our way into long-lasting impact. We'd love to hear from you. Please join the conversation in the comments.
Additional ResourcesThe Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams
Dave's Bread
RBG Documentary
Benedictine Spirituality
JoanChittister
LovingKindness
ActsOfKindness
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Feeling like your spiritual life nees a pick-me-up?
It may be that what we need isn't something entirely new, but rather something "old." Join us as we talk about the ways in which each of us has welcomed new-to-us traditions that are bringing us a sense of grounding and connection we hadn't even known was possible.
Additional Resources:
The Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle
Centering Prayer | Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault | 2017 Festival of Faiths
The Daily Examen | Ignatian Spirituality
Sleeping with Bread by Dennis Linn
SpiritualDirection
LifeCoaching
Consolations
Desolations
Examen
Chant
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What if dissonances we feel around our spiritual practices are trying to tell us something?
At one point or another, most of us probably find that some of our usual faith practices just aren't helping us connect anymore. In this episode, we talk about both the spiritual practices we've tried in the past and what we're exploring now. Join us and add your voice in the comments!
Seasons
Awareness
Intention
Additional Resources:
Malazen Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
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