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What is the essence of Cancer?How might ferocious protection intersect with tender care in the cardinal waters?What does it mean to wait a lunar cycle?In this episode, I invited esoteric scientist and poet Kodie Smiley to explore the archetype of Cancer, her rising sign. We discussed themes of protection, nurturing, and provocation through the lens of Cancer, filtered through Kodie's deep knowledge and experience of Human Design and The Gene Keys. We also shared the experience of grappling with our rising signs and waiting through a lunar cycle as a metaphor for coming into terms with our spiritual contracts in this lifetime.Here's Kodie's bio: "Hi, I am Kodie, a 6/3 Reflector born on the LAX of Dominion 2 (64/63 45/26). I am Virgo Sun, Cancer Rising, Aquarius Moon. I am a mother, a poet, a philosopher, a lover, a dreamer, a way finder, an innovative thinker. I am not here to conform, but to question new worlds into reality.I share from the language of Human Design. This system, to me, is not one of science but of deep self initiation into our most primordial, sovereign embodiment. Our bodygraph is the blueprint of the highly intelligent life force that we came to this world to remember.My work reveals the covert universal energetic connections that intricately weave through our existence and bind us to one another, illuminating the fascinating relationships we share with the cosmos."LINKS:The Observatory, Kodie's membership space: https://www.entertheobservatory.com/the-observatory-membershipThe Observatory Substack: https://observationsentangled.substack.com/The Observatory Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-observatory-podcast/id1763512306Kodie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kodie.smiley/ If you've enjoyed and benefited from the podcast, I invite you to apply for private mentorship and coaching with me. This is an intensive container, designed to support you in refining your self-leadership skills, moving through important life thresholds with grace, and expanding your capacity for creative expansions.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.
A 23-minute audio guided meditation with Exodus 3:1-15, using Lectio Divina. Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter “The Contemplative Window” […] The post I Must Turn Aside: Lectio Divina: Exodus 3 – The Burning Bush appeared first on Contemplative at Home.
It is easy to assume that we know ourselves. After all, who could be more familiar with me than, well, me? But contemplation teaches us that there are many layers to the self, some superficial, but others so hidden from us that only God can know us at these extraordinary depths. Enter an exploration in this episode with guidance from St. Augustine and the wisdom teachings of Jesus to discover your True Self. 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)
Contemplative prayer. Centering. Silence and stillness. These words sound peaceful—even spiritual—but are they biblical? In this eye-opening episode, Shanda sits down with Marcia Montenegro, a former New Ager turned Christian apologist, to unpack the growing trend of contemplative prayer in the church. Together, they examine: What contemplative prayer is—and how it differs from biblical prayer Why terms like “centering,” “silence,” and “stillness” aren't always as innocent as they sound How contemplative practices blur the lines between Christianity and Eastern mysticism Why these ideas are especially popular in women's ministries and spiritual formation groups What to do when a practice “feels spiritual” but doesn't align with Scripture Whether you've encountered these teachings or are just beginning to notice them, this episode will equip you to stand firm in biblical truth. Marica's Website: CANA Find Shanda www.shandafulbright.com Instagram & Facebook: @shandafulbright Email: hello@shandafulbright.com Free Resources: https://shandafulbright.com/links YouTube: http://bit.ly/ShandaYT2021 Store: www.Shandafulbright.com/shop
Episode Summary:Growing up evangelical required a preoccupation with external behaviors and moral performance, or what I now understand as sin management. My spiritual life was fear based. Behaviors like sexuality, masturbation, swearing, or drinking were litmus tests of spiritual maturity. The more you controlled, hid, or projected your external behaviors onto others, the closer you were to God. Behavior modification, external conformity, and the avoidance of sin was my ticket out of Hell. In evangelicalism, I was a problem to be fixed, not a person to be loved. What an anemic and harmful understanding of spirituality.Leaving white evangelicalism meant finding deeper streams of spiritual wisdom. Instead of this hyper-fixation on what I was doing, inner Christianity helped me recognize God's eternal presence at the core of my being, no matter what I was doing. God isn't some external deity I need to placate, God is the lover of my soul. As I spiritually mature, I'm coming to realize the importance of cultivating my inner life instead of worrying about external behaviors. Or as Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, “The only journey is the one within."External Christianity is about salvation in the afterlife. Inner Christianity is about personal transformation in this life. Contemplative or inner spirituality doesn't ignore sin—it just approaches it differently. Instead of managing sin, it invites us to be still, to listen, and to let God transform us at the root. “Christ did not preach a mere ethical or social gospel but an uncompromisingly spiritual one. He declared that God can be seen, that Divine perfection can be achieved,” writes Swami Prabhavananda in his seminal work The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta. Where does this leave us? How do we cultivate our interior life instead of focusing so much on externals? How do we focus on roots instead of fruits? I rarely quote Augustine, but he's on point about this. "Do not look outside; return to yourself. In our interior the truth resides.” I'll give that an amen. In this final episode in season five, I'm honored to be joined by psychotherapist, philosopher, and mystic Dr. Mark Vernon. Mark is a writer, psychotherapist and former Anglican priest. He contributes to programs on BBC radio, writes and reviews for newspapers and magazines, gives talks and frequently podcasts. His books cover themes including friendship and God, William Blake and Dante, ancient Greek philosophy and wellbeing. He has a PhD in ancient Greek philosophy, and other degrees in physics and in theology. Dr. Vernon's writings and teachings are deeply rooted in the inner life, exploring how we can cultivate spiritual depth and meaning in the modern world. You can connect with Dr. Vernon here!Thanks for listening!Please Follow us on social media (use the buttons below) and help us get the word out! (Also, please don't hesitate to use any of these channels or email to contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback.)If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review, or share on your socials
What skills and wisdom from my past can we bring into situations unfolding right in front of us?Which human & non-human connections are we asked to update & fortify? Which ones are we asked to sever or put aside for now?July 2025 is a juicy month astrologically. With Uranus finally moving into Gemini, we are, for the first time, experiencing the highly anticipated new cosmic backdrop in the flesh – all three outer planets in fire or air signs, the Nodes squarely in Pisces-Virgo axis, Saturn in Aries, and Jupiter in Cancer.As with any new beginnings, July brings invitations for the past to come and dance with us.Some questions to contemplate: What past skills and wisdom can I bring to the situations unfolding right in front of me?In which areas of life am I invited to update or upgrade the skills I've learned to better meet the challenges of my current life?Which human & non-human connections am I asked to update & fortify? Which ones am I asked to sever or put aside for now?Are there any past pursuits, pathways, or experiments that feel exciting to revive or revisit?I also mentioned my 2025 astrology episode with Kelsey Rose Tortorice: 194. 2025: The Cosmic Context Pt. 1 with Kelsey Rose Tortorice If you've enjoyed and benefited from the podcast, I invite you to apply for private mentorship and coaching with me. This is an intensive container, designed to support you in refining your self-leadership skills, moving through important life thresholds with grace, and expanding your capacity for creative expansions.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.
An 18-minute audio guided meditation with the letter to the Philippians, Phil 2:4-16, using Lectio Divina. When we read Paul we get a sense of his intensity, his high energy, his focussed mind. But he can also be read contemplatively. Here you are invited to connect with Paul's faith, the great experience he has had with the […] The post The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ: Lectio Divina: Philippians 3:4-16 appeared first on Contemplative at Home.
One of our first tasks as a human being—from the moment we're born—is to form a healthy sense of self. Without it, we can't navigate the world, form relationships, and move choicefully towards the things we want. At a certain point, though, our sense of self starts to get in the way. We start to mistake our possessions, even our ideas, for who we really are. Jesus, master teacher, saw this pitfall in our humanity and instructed us to turn away from these attachments, to accept the cross as he did. Contemplative prayer can show us the way. 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)
Contemplative Worship for June 29, 2025
We do a few short practices to help us be present to the moment and engage in a Lectio Divina from Jean-Pierre de Cassaude's classic ‘The Sacrament of the Present Moment'. Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
This month’s podcast is a study in contrasts. It features two recent performances, one outdoors during the day, the other indoors at night. The first part was at Great (Big) Pond, organized by the good folks at Stretch Metal. As the name implies it took place by a pond on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in … Continue reading Errant Space Podcast 123: Outside/Inside →
What is the role of the creative mystics in times of great change, confusion, and upheaval? How might deeply studying impermanence resource our hearts and spirit?Awakening of The Heart by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh has been a guiding text for me. It's provided an endless stream of inspiration, encouragement, and illumination. Most notably, I'm finding strength from the lucid, gentle correction he offered in understanding the concept of impermanence. Its colloquial use often connotes a certain pessimism, an attitude of "What's the point of doing anything if everything passes anyway?"In this episode, I walk through Thich Nhat Hanh's writings on the subject, while also reflecting deeply through the lens of my path as an astrologer, a mystic, and an artist. I hope this serves and nourishes you. Book your Human Design Foundational Attunement sessions with me. Across 2 sessions, you'll receive HD & energy work to support your deconditioning process and start living authentically.Join the waitlist for Mystics of The Wandering Stars, a 9-month immersion for rebirthing your inner mystic through the lens of the planets.For private mentorship and coaching, apply here.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.
There is prayer, and then there is prayer. When you pray, do you ever get the sense that you're not really praying? That nothing much is happening? Through the teachings of John Climacus, a 7th century spiritual teacher, and through personal story, Thomas speaks to the importance of attention in our prayer life. Ultimately, our quality of attention and quality of prayer turn out to be one and the same offering. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
This week, we share a For the Journey exclusive conversation between Bill Haley and Dale Gish. In addition to being a Coracle Spiritual Director, Dale is also the founder of The Ignatian Center, a ministry seeking to guide Christians of any background into the riches of Ignatian spirituality. He and Bill discuss the distinctive elements of this approach to prayer and life, and they share how praying the Ignatian Exercises transformed their relationships with Jesus.Learn More About Spiritual Direction through Coracleinthecoracle.org | @inthecoracleSupport the show
Contemplative Worship for June 22, 2025
Send us a textEef Barzelay stops by the show to discuss his latest release, 'Oh Smokey', as well as life, death, and so much more. *****Eef Barzelay of CLEM SNIDE, some what cheekily. For Eef, the intersection of hope and resignation is the genesis of his tenth album OH SMOKEYand a focal point of his upcoming tour. “I know fans like the older songs and the covers I've done, so it's really an ever-evolving mishmash... based on my blood sugar level and or deeply-rooted childhood traumas.” Clem Snide has been aiming to include unique locations in an effort to bring music back to his fans for a much more intimate and tangible experience. “I like to sing in unexpected places whenever I can,” he explains, “Mennonite churches, abandoned hospitals, houseboats taking on water...I've done 'em all!” These spec shows aren't usually private affairs. In fact, they're open to fans everywhere, travel, of course, permitting. “Mostly though I play living rooms,” he clarifies. “Just sign the mailing list and I'll come to your house!”His new album Oh Smokey, has been called “a gorgeous listen with lots of food for thought” by Americana UK, this album finds Eef combining forces with producer and devout Clem Snide fan Josh Kaufman(Bonny Light Horseman, Craig Finn, Hiss Golden Messenger) for a pastoral exploration of the human condition and finding hope when you're knee deep in existential mud. (Of note, the previous album, 2020's Forever Just Beyond was produced by fellow devout Clem Snide fan, Scot Avett of Avett Brothers).“It's a collection of songs I've had for some years now,” he describes. “The inspiration was more just getting to work with Josh Kaufman and keeping the dream alive.” Written during a pivotal and highly - emotionally charged point in his life, the origins of Oh Smokey saw Eef going through a painful divorce, his life thrown into upheaval with his move out of Nashville, and parting ways with his longtime manager. “There's, for sure, a soon-to-be-divorced energy in some of the themes,” he continues. “But mostly, I like to think of the songs as clumsy, well-meaning attempts at prayer by a lapsed Atheist raised by godless Jews.”Contemplative and meditative, Eef and band's need for melodic lushness is never lost. From the stunning and jaunty acoustic opener, “Free” (“'Free' plays around with the idea of a post- death reunification with our eternal selves”) to the sensitive strums of “Air Show Disaster ” to the electric guitar roll of the regret-fueled “Smokey” that feels almost like an outtake from Neil Young's Harvest Moon, Oh Smokey is a deeply personal album that explores his current worldview.*****If you would like to contact the show about being a guest, please email us at Dauna@bettertopodcast.comUpcoming guests can be found: https://dmneedom.com/upcoming-guest Follow us on Social MediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedomIntro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi©2025 Better To...Podcast with D. M. NeedomSupport the show
Burnout, performance pressure, and putting profit over people are symptoms of outdated leadership models. In this powerful episode, I explore the collapse of toxic leadership and invite you to step into a new paradigm of Contemplative Leadership. This is your call to rise, not as a leader chasing power, but as one who leads with integrity, humanity, and spiritual alignment. Discover what it means to be a contemplative leader in this new era and why the future of leadership belongs to those willing to lead from soul, strategy, and service. BEFORE YOU GO! I created a sacred sanctuary for leaders ready to awaken their divine calling, embody soulful leadership, and ignite transformational impact. I want to invite you to learn more here: The Universal Leader™ WATCH PODCAST EPISODE HERE!
What would it be like if, at will, we could “silence the mind and be aware at the core of our being.” Sufi Master, Kabir Helminski writes that from these depths we receive “help from the Source of Life.” As we learn to join ourselves with this Source—some would call it God—we find that it contains all the qualities of Spirit in potential, waiting to express through our unique vessel. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
Contemplative Worship for June 15, 2025
A MONK, A SHAMAN, AND A SCIENTIST WALK INTO A BAR AT THE EDGE OF THE APOCALYPSE...Layman sits down with meditation and planetary dharma teacher, John Churchill, to enjoy a Double Venti Alchemist's Elixir and a rich, wide-ranging conversation exploring the shape of emergent integrative spiritualities at the edge of the Apocalypse.Born in London, Dr. Churchill's interest in psycho-spiritual development, Integral theory, Contemplative studies, Western Esotericism, and Mahayana Buddhism began in his adolescence, eventually leading him to spend several years as a Buddhist monk at Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland. During this time, John received the esoteric Planetary Dharma transmissions that would in time unfold as his contribution to a planetary fourth turning teaching. Dr. Churchill spent 15 years training and teaching “Great Seal” meditation in an Indo-Tibetan Mahayana lineage under the mentorship of the late senior Western teacher, translator, respected author, and clinical psychologist Dr. Daniel P. Brown. He is also a founding member of the Integral Institute led by esteemed Transpersonal/Integral philosopher, Ken Wilber.Planetary Dharma websitehttps://www.planetarydharma.com/
Jesus tells us that “unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone.” Rumi, the Sufi poet, echoes this wisdom, declaring that, “Except for dying…no other skill impresses God.” What does this mean? How do we “die before we die?” Prepare to enter the mystery in this episode and discover what “plentiful harvest” awaits on the other side of life. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
Contemplative Worship for June 8, 2025
Father Richard Rohr shared at a recent gathering that his spiritual practice nowadays is to, “ look at something till I love it. It doesn't take very long.” What could this mean? What would that be like? Thomas shares a related scripture in this episode and invites you to see with the eyes of love, and to marvel how all things are made new. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
The theme for June 2025 is Joy is The Journey.How might we orient to questions in times of uncertainty?What qualities do we choose to embody when answers don't come readily?What artificial conditions do we place on our innate joy and happiness? LAST CALL for my 1:1 offering, Creative Spirit Reading. Limited spots available until the second week of June 2025.Join the waitlist for Mystics of The Wandering Stars, a 9-month immersion for rebirthing your inner mystic through the lens of the planets.For private mentorship and coaching, apply here.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode Notes **Since the Contemplative Commons opening April 4, the building has hosted events for the University community. Sam Cole, Commons' Assistant Director of Student Engagement, discusses how the Contemplative Sciences Center is molding itself to meet students' needs and provide a wide range of opportunities for students to discover contemplative practices that can help them thrive at the University. **
Contemplative Worship for January 6, 2025
Jacqueline Wallen introduces the ideas behind the art of contemplative photography, and guides us in three ways to practice it.Jacqueline Wallen is a clinical social worker with a practice of psychotherapy and an Associate Professor Emerita in the Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park.
This month’s podcast features experimental flutist/composer Jane Rigler. Jane recently moved to the Hudson Valley, and its been fun exploring a new sonic vernacular with her. Its always interesting collaborating with acoustic instruments, and Jane spices things up by processing her flute (and voice) through her laptop. (It gets very spatial, headphones recommended!) I used … Continue reading Errant Space Podcast 122 with Jane Rigler →
What becomes available when we open up to the medicine of disappointment?What happens when we recognize other people's responses as potentially distorted reflections of our essence?How do we embrace playfulness as our guide to humility?In this episode, In this episode, I digest and deepen into some of the transmissions that came through the monthly contemplative guidance for May 2025 (Episode 204. Cultivating Self-Honesty). Book my new 1:1 offering, Creative Spirit Reading. Limited spots available throughout May and June 2025.For private mentorship and coaching, apply here.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.
At the heart of contemplation is an attitude of total surrender to the Divine. This is easier said than done, of course. In our minds, we may sincerely believe that we wish to do God's will in all things. But the moment the bitter cup is served, we often find ourselves protesting and howling at life's unfairness. Christ's prayer in Gethsemane is an archetype of perfect “willingness”: the willingness to experience exactly what life gives us to experience in each moment, trusting that it is for our good. And it's not only Christianity where the virtue of “willingness” figures prominently. Listen as Thomas takes a comparative look at the Buddhist tradition's take on this “divine abode.” Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
Sermon by Wayne Randolph. Are you new? Let us know you were here: liminalventura.org/connectioncard
This week, we share a For the Journey exclusive conversation between Bill Haley and Kelly Gould— a mother, spiritual director in training, and longtime friend of Coracle. They discuss the ins and outs and highs and lows of the contemplative life, which they describe and define in a number of compelling ways.Additional Resources:Teatime with Jesus by Kelly Gould“Are You a Contemplative (or Becoming One)?” by Bill HaleyLearn More About Spiritual Direction through Coracleinthecoracle.org | @inthecoracleSupport the show
Contemplative Worship for May 25, 2025
A 20-minute audio guided body scan, resting in God's love, Psalm 46:10 A deeply restorative meditation in the body, for the mind and spirit. You will emerge feeling calmer, more centred and more deeply connected with the Spirit of God. This kind of meditation is known as yoga nidra, and I love to offer it to […] The post Twenty Minute Body Scan – Be Still and Know That I Am God appeared first on Contemplative at Home.
Today's episode offers a longer, deeper meditation to help you integrate the themes and skills from the past 7 episodes. Practice fasting not just from food and drink, but from thought and feeling. Consent to God's Presence and action within. Cling to nothing. Risk getting lost— forget even who you think you are. And trust that you hold in hand the only key you need to unlock the Divine Force in your life. 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
Contemplative Worship for May 18, 2025
Today, Matt Nightingale and I talk about why we need queer only spaces for spiritual conversations. Matt Nightingale (he/him) is a pastor, musician, speaker, writer, and spiritual director from San Francisco's North Bay Area. He is the founder and executive director of Common Sanctuary, and co-pastor of a progressive American Baptist church called The Quest.As a gay Christian, Matt is passionate about the intersection of sexuality and spirituality, and he works to create safe, sacred spaces for people exploring these identities. His TEDx talk, “Choosing Gratitude and Hope,” with his former wife, Luanne Nightingale, tells their story of a mixed-orientation marriage, an evolving understanding of faith and sexuality, and the choice to divorce with gratitude and hope.Matt is the husband of Alejandro and the father of four adult children. You can find Matt on socials @mattnightingale. Check out all the resources Matt mentioned on his website, mattnightingale.com, and commonsanctuary.org. Join the Found Family crew on Substack and get the Found Family Cheat Sheet! Support the show
In a sense, contemplative prayer is none other than the practice of deepening one's faith in God. But faith manifests in many guises. Perhaps a less obvious quality of faith is confidence. What does it mean to sit with a “restful confidence,” fully trusting that God is bringing about a mighty work in you? Listen to this episode as Thomas draws from the inspired thinking of Sri Aurobindo as well as a favorite scripture of his from back home. May you live prayerfully, always with a “perfect brightness of hope.” 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
This talk was given by Ines Freedman on 2025.05.08 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* Video of this talk is available at: https://youtube.com/live/ba46UcX_FPM?feature=share. ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
In Part 2 of Introducing the new Living Compass mobile app, Scott addresses the questiion, "What is Contemplative Psychology?" and explains how the new app is grounded in this approach to psychology. Download the app for Iphones at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/living-compass/id6738334257 Donwload the app for Google/Android phones at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.livingcompass&hl=en
It feels assuring to know the answers to the most important questions in life. It takes more humility to admit we might not know where we're going, and at a deeper level, who we even are. Thomas reflects in this episode on the vulnerability of not knowing and shares a poem from Thomas Merton that shows this special kind of faith in action. And now that Thomas is all done with graduate studies, he'll be dedicating more time to his teaching practice and the broader community. Learn more about two of his upcoming offerings: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
The theme for May 2025 is Cultivating Self-Honesty.What makes accessing honesty so challenging?How does self-honesty serve as the foundation to authentic creative expressions?How might connecting with the wisdom of the body and the heart assist in remembering our interdependent nature? Book my new 1:1 offering, Creative Spirit Reading. Limited spots available throughout April and May.I also offer deep dives into your 2025 Astrology and Human Design, designed to help you live in deeper harmony with your unique flow.For private mentorship and coaching, apply here.Listen to & purchase my new song Friends on Bandcamp. You can also listen to it on your favorite streaming platforms.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.
It's common in Christian life to focus on the aspects of God that we can know and understand—we say God is merciful, patient, loving like a parent…It is less common for most of us to attend to the aspect of God that is too subtle to perceive, too deep to fathom. In this school, to say anything of God is to say too much. This is classically known as the via negativa, leading to the unknowable God. And yet walking this path of unknowing, we come to know things, we come to a new intimacy with God that we couldn't have previously imagined.
Sermon by Ben Downing. Are you new? Let us know you were here: liminalventura.org/connectioncard
Let's pause together to rest and breathe in the quiet with God for 15 minutes. Remember that this practice is for your whole self. As Thomas Keating wrote, "Contemplative prayer is not so much the absence of thoughts as detachment from them. It is the opening of mind, body and emotions—our whole being—to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond words, thoughts and emotions." Send us a text!Support the showIf you enjoy the benefits of Exploring Peace Meditations: Check out Whitney's books: With God in Every Breath, Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit and Fully Human, Fully Divine Join our
Living Compass has launced a new mobile and web based app that focusees on the integration of contemplative spirituality and wellness. You can download the app on your Apple phone at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/living-compass/id6738334257 You can download the app on youor Google/Android phone at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.livingcompass&hl=en You can also access all the content in the app on your web browser at app.livingcompass.org
A 21-minute audio guided meditation, with text from John 19:38-42 Though it is wildly tempting to rush to Easter morning, I invite you to tarry a while with me, to stay here in the holy, devastating moments as the body of Jesus is removed from the cross. As Michael Rosen so wisely said: we can't go […] The post When God is Absent: A Meditation for Holy Saturday appeared first on Contemplative at Home.
In this episode I am joined by Rebekah Sturghill, mother, school teacher, and convert to Orthodox Christianity. Rebekah details her upbringing in a Texan evangelical church and how encounters with authoritarianism and questions about her sexuality saw her leave the religion. Rebekah describes a period of passionate teenage atheism before becoming deeply involved in feminist activism beginning in university. Rebekah explains why she remains a feminist but left activism and how, through a powerful visionary experience, she converted to Orthodox Christianity. Rebekah also explores the mechanisms of conversion, considers the line between faith and extremism, and comments on the pros and cons of a new trend of conversions to Orthodox Christianity driven by internet influencers and discussion communities. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep302-my-conversion-to-orthodox-christianity-rebekah-sturghill Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Evangelical Christian upbringing in Texas 04:17 - Studying theology and philosophy at St Johns College 04:38 - Encountering Jesus through reading the Gospels 05:39 - Feminist activism 06:09 - Joining the Orthodox Church 08:18 - Anger at religion and questioning sexuality 11:22 - Authoritarianism in the church 12:26 - Why Rebekah's family left the church 14:05 - Religious community vs contemplative practice 16:19 - Contemplative emphasis in the Orthodox Church 17:10 - Youth groups and community emphasis 18:16 - Radical atheism phase and the impact on family 23:18 - Becoming a feminist activist 25:50 - Questioning feminist theory, struggles with relativism and essentialism 26:52 - Becoming a 2nd wave feminist 28:34 - Influence of the internet on Rebekah's various conversions 31:35 - Conversion or coming home? 33:42 - What feminism really is 35:18 - Frustrations with 3rd wave feminism 40:08 - Why feminist activism? 44:34 - Still a feminist? Which views Rebekah still holds 48:00 - Orthodox Christian view of the individual and equality 49:47 - Are Rebekah's views controversial? 51:43 - In-fighting and leaving activism 54:17 - Religious extremists and extreme activism 55:53 - Losing oneself in extremism 57:50 - Critical mass of buy-in needed for conversion 58:13 - Embracing the dharma or losing oneself? 01:01:46 - CS Lewis' “The Great Divorce” 01:03:36 - Dying to oneself 01:04:54 - Theosis and losing oneself 01:05:42 - Popularity of Orthodox Christianity online, a new wave of converts 01:07:26 - The practice of Orthodoxy Christianity and the supernatural 01:09:05 - Lent 01:09:55 - High profile conversions to Orthodoxy and an internet pipeline 01:11:22 - Rebekah's conversion through relationships and community 01:13:15 - The moment of conversion 01:14:41 - Powerful first conversation with an Orthodox priest … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James
A 21-minute audio guided meditation in John's Gospel, John 18:1-14, using Lectio Divina. A meditation with John's account of the arrest of Jesus. Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, […] The post Arrest: Lectio Divina: John 18:1-14 appeared first on Contemplative at Home.
What is the wisdom path Neptune in Aries leading us into?How do we alchemize the challenges we inherited from our ancestors to build the future?How do we hold our tender hearts when nothing seems certain?In this episode, I connected with Neptune in Aries as a teacher for collective liberation, healing, and encouragement. Along with upheavals and disruptions, Neptune in Aries is a guide for remembering the unique medicine of our path. Book my new 1:1 offering, Creative Spirit Reading. Limited spots available throughout April and May.I also offer deep dives into your 2025 Astrology and Human Design, designed to help you live in deeper harmony with your unique flow.For private mentorship and coaching, apply here.Listen to & purchase my new song Friends on Bandcamp. You can also listen to it on your favorite streaming platforms.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.