In the middle ages — 1373, to be exact — an obscure English woman got sick, and while she was ill, experienced visions of God, Christ, Mary, and heaven. We know…
Category: Contemplation
The Difference Between Apophatic and Kataphatic Spirituality
Many years ago, my very first spiritual director recommended a book to me; she suggested that I read Gerald May’s 1982 classic: Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology. I did,…
From Mythology to Mysticism: A New Way to Think About Lectio Divina
If you have been reading this blog (or participating in Christian contemplative practices) for a while, no doubt you are familiar with Lectio Divina. If not, you can see a…
The Relationship Between Meditation, Mysticism and Contemplation
A long-term reader and patron of this blog recently wrote to me this message: Just what is a contemplative person or for that matter tradition? Is a Christian mystic by…
Where to Rest Your Awareness in Centering Prayer
A reader of this blog recently wrote this question to me: I’ve read and listened to Fr. Thomas Keating quite a bit but am still a little confused regarding where…
Too Busy to Read? Check Out My Audiobooks
Everyone is so busy these days. I get it. So many books, so little time. Which is why audiobooks are God’s gift to commuters and other busy folks. If you…
When Contemplatives Talk About Love, What Do They Mean?
In the wisdom teachings of Jesus, there are several pretty explicit (and challenging) teachings about love. Consider these words: “Love God with all your heart and with all your soul…
Mary, Mother of… Socialism?!?
A seminarian I know is currently taking a class on the theology of Mary. She’s reading lots of stuff, both ancient and modern; as we were talking, I remembered an…
Save the Dates! Here’s My List of Upcoming Events for 2024
Friends, I hope we can see each other at some point this year. Please review the list below to see the live and virtual events that I have confirmed for…
24 Meditations for 2024: Guided Meditations on Zoom for Patreon Members
Friends, I’m happy to announce that for 2024, I’m creating a series of 24 guided meditations that I will be sharing with everyone who supports this blog with a Patreon…
Encountering Silence: An Interview with Queer Contemplative/Activist Maki Ashe Van Steenwyk
The Encountering Silence team returns with an interview recorded last spring but unreleased until now! Cassidy, Kevin and I sat down for a contemplative conversation with Maki Ashe Van Steenwyk…
LSD, Anxiety, and Contemplation: Can Psychedelic Therapy Support Spiritual Growth? (and Vice Versa)
Today (November 16, 2023) is the 85th anniversary of the discovery of LSD, by the Swiss chemist Albert Hoffmann. So happy birthday, LSD! Hoffmann first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide on…