Podcast appearances and mentions of John Philip Newell

Nature offers a profound secular and sacred sanctuary that presents a landscape of opportunities for spiritual awakening beyond traditional walls. The divine exists within the cathedral of the earth, sea, and sky. It is at the core of every human soul. It is not confined to the walls of a physical structure, nor does it exist under the guise of any specific religion. The divine is everywhere—around us and within us. Spending time in nature offers a sacred path to individual and collective healing, but are we curious enough to discover its solace when we need it most?For a deeper understanding of how to ground ourselves in nature, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Celtic teacher and author Dr. John Philip Newell.Dr. John Philip Newell describes humanity's spiritual yearnings and offers insights into the quest for spiritual awakening through Celtic wisdom. In his book, The Great Search, he thoughtfully draws upon the teachings of revered prophets of the past, gently leading us towards a deeper connection with the Earth and, ultimately, the sacred divine that resides within us.WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Nature offers a profound secular and sacred sanctuary that presents a landscape of opportunities for spiritual awakening beyond traditional walls. The divine exists within the cathedral of the earth, sea, and sky. It is at the core of every human soul. It is not confined to the walls of a physical structure, nor does it exist under the guise of any specific religion. The divine is everywhere—around us and within us. Spending time in nature offers a sacred path to individual and collective healing, but are we curious enough to discover its solace when we need it most?For a deeper understanding of how to ground ourselves in nature, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Celtic teacher and author Dr. John Philip Newell.Dr. John Philip Newell describes humanity's spiritual yearnings and offers insights into the quest for spiritual awakening through Celtic wisdom. In his book, The Great Search, he thoughtfully draws upon the teachings of revered prophets of the past, gently leading us towards a deeper connection with the Earth and, ultimately, the sacred divine that resides within us.WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Learn more about Paths to Understanding at https://www.PathsToUnderstanding.org Join the Paths Network at https://www.PathsNetwork.org   In our last episode of Challenge 2.0, we began a conversation with John Philip Newell, the author of a new book called “The Great Search”. It explored why an increasing number of people believe organized religious institutions are failing to help them cope with the challenges of contemporary life. We continue that conversation in Part 2 of Healing Shattered Spirits, examining possible solutions, and new perspectives on questions such as “if there is a God, how could such a God allow bad things happen”.

Click here to send me a text message ...With every new war and with every new natural catastrophe, we are being driven to consider new ways of being human on this planet. This search is not new, but perhaps it's never been so critical. Celtic spiritual teacher John Philip Newell has collected nine prophetic voices in his latest book, The Great Search, to help awaken within us the realization that not only is the Earth sacred, so is the human soul. It's as inspiring a message as it is timely. ResourcesJohn Philip's website: https://www.earthandsoul.org/john-philip-newellHis two latest books:      Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell; HarperOne, 2022     The Great Search by John Philip Newell; Wild Goose, 2024Personal LinksMy web site (where you can sign up for my blog): https://www.brianepearson.caMy email address: mysticcaveman53@gmail.comSeries Music Credit"Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison, performed by Colin James, from the album, Limelight, 2005; licensed under SOCAN 2022

Episode Summary:John Philip Newell is best described as “a wandering teacher with the heart of a Celtic bard and the mind of a Celtic scholar.” Formerly the Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, John Philip joined me from his home in Edinburgh to offer a new, yet ancient way forward in a time when the empire has once again wedded and bedded Christianity.Long before the colonizing forces of imperial Christianity made their way to the British Isles, an indigenous form of spirituality nourished those sacred souls living in the borderlands of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The Celts believed divinity pervaded every aspect of life. There was no distinction between secular and sacred, human and divine. The Celtic vision of the world is essentially sacramental, perceiving God's presence in ordinary things like rocks, forests, springs, groves, hills, and meadows. “The Celtic approach to God opens up a world in which nothing is too common to be exalted and nothing is so exalted that it cannot be made common,” writes Esther De Waal. For them, the natural world is the container of the sacred and a gateway to the luminous—the holy intersection between mortals and the supernatural. These tribes bewildered the Roman church because they were relational rather than rational, inspirational rather than institutional, and indigenous instead of imperial.In this modern age, when we find ourselves divorced from the natural world, addicted to technology, controlled by institutional religion, and victims of an empire of our own making, there is a great deal to learn from the ancient Celts. We need nothing less than a reclamation of our humanity, a rekindling of the Beltaine Fire burning in every human heart.Most of us are still reeling from the recent presidential election. The dark forces of authoritarianism, patriarchy, and white supremacy are chronically ingrained in the highest levels of government, blessed and absolved by white Christianity. But here's what I'm slowly starting to believe—every dark ending births a new beginning. Evil never has the last word. We've been given a dark gift, a chance to resist and re-imagine the world as it should be. We are living in liminal time, “when we can't go back but we can't see the way forward,” writes my friend Melanie Mudge.What better time to wake up, “dream new dreams,” and rekindle the sacred flame in every human soul. As John Philip reminds us:“We live in a threshold moment. We are waking up to the earth again. We are awakening to the feminine and the desire to faithfully tend the interrelationship of all things. In this moment, politically, culturally, and religiously, we are witnessing the death throes of a shadow form of masculine power that has arrayed itself over against the earth and over against the sacredness of the feminine. This shadow form of power, however, has no ultimate future, for it is essentially false in its betrayal of the earth and the feminine. So in fear it is lashing out with unprecedented force. But it is not the deep spirit of this moment in time. Something else is trying to be born.”Celtic spirituality is needed now more than ever. Allow John Philip to lead you into deeper streams of indigenous wisdom where action and contemplation, vision and profound mystery light our collective way forward. His latest book, The Great Search, is out now. Bio:John Philip Newell (b 1953) is an internationally renowned Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of Earth and every human being.Canadian by birth, and also Scottish, he resides with his wife Ali in the ecovillage of Findhorn in Scotland. In 2016 he began the Earth & Soul initiative and teaches regularly in the United States and Canada as well as leading international pilgrimage weeks on Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland.His PhD is from the University of Edinburgh and he has authored over fifteen books, including his award-winning publication, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, which was the 2022 Gold Winner of the Nautilus Book Award for Spirituality and Religious Thought of the West. His new book, also with HarperOne (and published in the UK by Wild Goose), is The Great Search (August 2024), in which he looks at the great spiritual yearnings of humanity today in the context of the decline of religion as we have known it.Newell speaks of himself as ‘a wandering teacher' following the ancient path of many lone teachers before him in the Celtic world, ‘wandering Scots' (or scotus vagans as they were called) seeking the wellbeing of the world. He has been described as having ‘the heart of a Celtic bard and the mind of a Celtic scholar', combining in his teachings the poetic and the intellectual, the head as well as the heart, and spiritual awareness as well as political and ecological concern. His writings have been translated into seven languages. In 2020 he relinquished his ordination as a minister of the Church of Scotland as no longer reflecting the heart of his belief in the sacredness of Earth and every human being. He continues, however, to see himself as ‘a grateful son of the Christian household' seeking to be in relationship with the wisdom of humanity's other great spiritual traditions.In 2011 John Philip was awarded the first-ever Contemplative Voices Award from the Shalem Institute in Washington DC for his prophetic work in the field of spirituality and compassion. In 2022 he received the Sacred Universe Award from the Well Center for Spirituality in Chicago, IL in recognition of his significant work in furthering humanity's relationship with the sacredness of Earth.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

Toward the end of the year Earthkeepers podcast always releases a special holiday episode that breaks from the usual interview mode. In this episode, we're gifting a passage from our friend Christine Sine's book called Celtic Advent: Following an Unfamiliar Path Through Advent. Earthkeepers recommends this book because in it, Christine brings fresh, life-giving perspective on the conventional Western practices of advent. According to those Western practices, the advent season this year begins on Sunday, December 1—so why offer an advent reflection in November? In her book, Christine explains: “for Celtic and Orthodox Christians, advent begins the evening of November 15th – forty days before Christmas Day. Celtic Christians always prayed and fasted for 40 days in preparation for any major life event, whether it be the planting of a new monastic center, the beginning of a new adventure, as well as for preparation for Christmas and Easter.” Given the Celtic theme of the passage, it is read by Brother Seán Aherne, an Irish monk who is very familiar with the St. Kevin story that is featured in this episode.Christine's website, GodspacelightBook: Celtic Advent: Following an Unfamiliar PathBrother Seán Aherne ( born 1946 ) is a Celtic Christian monk living in a small monastery on outskirts of Dublin. He is Director &  founding member of the John Moriarty institute for Ecology & Spirituality in Dingle, County Kerry. Together with Míchael W.Higgins he edited : Introducing John Moriarty In His Own Words. He is a passionate supporter of John Moriarty's vision for a Christian Monastic Hedge School for Adults called Slí na Fírinne. Over the years he animated & directed many retreats on Celtic Spirituality & the Native Irish Wisdom Tradition.Keywords: Advent, Celtic Advent, creation care, Saint Kevin, spirituality, environmentalism, community, nature, God, reflection, Glendalough, John Scotus Eriugena, John Philip Newell, Christ of the Celts, Carmina Gadelica, Alexander CarmichaelTakeaways ·      Celtic Advent begins 40 days before Christmas for preparation.·      Creation is an expression of God, not a void of nothingness.·      Our view of creation reflects our attitude towards God.·      Saint Kevin exemplifies a deep connection with nature.·      The incarnation of Christ emphasizes God's care for creation.·      Recognizing God's concern for all creation is vital.·      Engaging with nature can enhance our spiritual lives.·      Reflection on creation can deepen our understanding of God.·      Welcoming creation into our lives can be an Advent practice. Find us on our website: Earthkeepers Support the Earthkeepers podcast Check out the Ecological Disciple

There is a strong sense that the Church is in a time of transition- preparing to birth something new. John Philip Newell in his new book, The Great Search: Turning to earth and soul in the quest for healing and home, addresses this idea and speaks to the group he refers to as the Christian diaspora; those who, from both ‘inside' and ‘outside' the church, have a sense of yearning that there must be something more. Rejoining the podcast for this timely conversation, John Philip explores the tension between the wilderness and the temple. He contests that both the prophetic and priestly voices, which these represent, are needed as we share in the labour pains for this new birth, finding and creating communities to express our deepest longings. John Philip Newell, author of many books and beloved Celtic teacher, joins Dom, Peter and Sue in this second conversation for the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode James and Forrest continue with the second part of a conversation with John Philip Newell about his new book, The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Search for Healing and Home. In this book, John Philip argues for a re-imagining of how we relate to creation, to each other, to God and even to ourselves. He advocates for engaging creation as the primary means of knowing God, of seeing the sacred in all life forms, and of loving all creation as we love ourselves. And because the conversation was so full of emerging truths and insights, we split the conversation into two parts. In this, the second half of the conversation, they pick up at a point in our conversation just after John Philip has explained how some religious teachings have made us forget how to fall in love with nature, and caused us to lose sight of the divine presence in everything, all around us. Here then is part two of the conversation with John Philip Newell.Mentions John Philip Newell's website Earth & SoulIonaFindhorn EcovillageVictoria LoorzCeltic SpiritualityThomas BerryNan ShepherdEdwin Muir TakeawaysReimagining our relationship with creation is essential for healing.Pilgrimage can take many forms, even in urban settings.We must strive to see the divine in everyone, regardless of differences.Political discourse challenges our ability to see the light in others.Restoration of betweenness is crucial for understanding and compassion.Faith is more about experience than mere belief in doctrines.Childlike wonder can reconnect us to the sacred.Edgewalkers can help envision a reimagined spiritual community.The divine exists within each of us.New beginnings in spirituality require openness to transformation.Key words: nature, spirituality, healing, connection, divine, pilgrimage, political discourse, faith, edgewalkers, sacredness, Wild Church, Edwin Muir, Victoria Loorz, Thomas Berry, Nan ShepherdFind us on our website: Earthkeepers Support the Earthkeepers podcast Check out the Ecological Disciple

John Philip Newell, a "wandering teacher" from Scotland in the ancient Celtic Christian tradition, is our very special Guest Teacher. Known for blending the poetic and intellectual, Newell speaks to both the head and the heart. He will present The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home.

In this episode James and Forrest have a conversation with John Philip Newell about his new book, The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Search for Healing and Home. In this book, John Philip argues for a re-imagining of how we relate to creation, to each other, to God and even to ourselves. He advocates for engaging creation as the primary means of knowing God, of seeing the sacred in all life forms, and of loving all creation as we love ourselves. Because the conversation was so full of emerging truths and insights, the conversation is presented in two parts. Here then is part one of a conversation with John Philip Newell. Mentions John Philip Newell's website Earth & Soul Iona Findhorn Ecovillage Victoria Loorz Celtic Spirituality Thomas Berry Nan Shepherd Edwin Muir  Takeaways The urgency of accessing ancient ways of seeing in relation to Earth. Many people are experiencing a moment of religious exile. The book addresses nine great yearnings of the human soul. We need to nurture our yearnings to allow for new beginnings. The prophetic voice must be based on love, not just criticism. We need to see the sacredness of Earth and every human being. The center of the divine is everywhere, not just in religious institutions. We can find sacredness in urban environments and everyday life. Pilgrimage can happen in many forms, not just in nature. The essence of every person is light, even those who seem lost. Keywords: John Philip Newell, The Great Search, Earth consciousness, spirituality, exile, sacredness, human-earth relations, prophetic voice, transformation, eco-spirituality, Nan Shepherd, Edwin Muir, Thomas Berry, Celtic spirituality, edge walker, Iona, Findhorn, Wild ChurchFind us on our website: Earthkeepers Support the Earthkeepers podcast Check out the Ecological Disciple

This week we're talking to John Philip Newell about some FRESH ways to think about the Gospel and what might change in our world if we were do return to an awareness of the Divine at the heart of ALL THINGS. Enjoy!  SHOW NOTES: JOHN PHILIP NEWELL: https://www.earthandsoul.org/john-philip-newell THE GREAT SEARCH: https://www.earthandsoul.org/thegreatsearch MY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Rubble-Stories-Shattered-Relationships/dp/B0C7T5TJD4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B051GGV2WCSI&keywords=glenn+siepert&qid=1700157759&sprefix=glenn+%2Caps%2C399&sr=8-1 ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support SPECIAL MUSIC: Cushy (Artist) / Down South (Song Name) / courtesy of epidemicsound.com

Joe interviews John Philip Newell about his new book The Great Search. What are the things we are really yearning for? Who are the prophets to whom we should pay attention? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: John Philip Newell Etty Hillesum Simone Weil Martin Buber Edwin Muir Julian of Norwich Carl Jung

Turning to Celtic wisdom, author and teacher John Philip Newell chats with Raghu about reconnecting to our home, Mother Earth.Pick up your copy of John's new book, The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home, HERE.This week, John and Raghu get into: John's upbringing and being drawn to the natural worldThe Celtic lineage and having awareness for the sacredness of natureKnowing that wisdom resides deep within us, not outside of usSeeing the universe as an expression of the divineWhat we can learn from native traditionsA radical new beginning through humility and relation to earth and one anotherAddressing the divine in one another and in every life formBreaking cycles of war and repetitionThe contributions of Carl Jung on the collective and individual unconsciousMerging Eastern and Western traditionsCheck out The Marriage of East and West to learn more about the topics John and Raghu referenceAbout John Philip Newell:John Philip Newell is a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of Earth and every human being. In 2016 he began the Earth & Soul initiative and teaches regularly in the United States and Canada as well as leading international pilgrimage weeks on Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland. His PhD is from the University of Edinburgh and he has authored over fifteen books, including his award-winning publication, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, which was the 2022 Gold Winner of the Nautilus Book Award for Spirituality and Religious Thought of the West. His new book, also with HarperOne (and published in the UK by Wild Goose), is The Great Search (August 2024), in which he looks at the great spiritual yearnings of humanity today in the context of the decline of religion as we have known it.Join senior meditation teachers David Nichtern and Rebecca D'Onofrio for a free online discussion on the path of developing one's own meditation practice and supporting others who wish to explore this transformative path. Register for free today: The Journey of Becoming a Meditation Teacher | Sep. 19th @ 6:00pm ET“For me, it was the introduction to Celtic wisdom that awakened me to knowing that wisdom is deep within us and the divine is at the very heart of our beings. We don't have to somehow invoke or implore a distance presence.” – John Philip NewellSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Crawford speaks with author John Philip Newell about his book, The Great Search. The story of Adam and Eve's fall from innocence in the Garden of Eden is a mythical account of humanity's broken relationship with the divine, with Earth, and with themselves. In contrast, Celtic wisdom is built on a strong bond with Earth. In the prophetic figures that Newell draws from, the Garden of Eden represents the inner garden of our souls and the outer garden of Earth, which are seen as essentially one. To live in relation to what is deepest in us is to live in relation to the ground from which we and all things have come. Where are we today, in relation to our true selves and the sacredness of Earth? And how are we to find our way home again? This life-affirming, nourishing book contemplates these questions at a moment of great spiritual awakening, an era characterized by religious exile on a vast scale. We need a new sense of home spiritually, deeply rooted within ourselves and in our shared journey with each other and Earth.

In this second conversation with John Philip Newell, we explore how Celtic spirituality informs a movement back to the soul and to the earth. By framing our core human essence as well as the material world as good (contra much of the dualistic philosophy and theology that has guided Western history), we can discover deeper ways to be human beings. Guided by thoughts from Newell's newest book, The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home, we explore big concepts as well as daily practices for grounding and centering our lives.

You can find John's new book on Amazon.com in hardback, which is, in my opinion, the only way to read a book that is so full of poetry and wisdom. 

In this episode, Daniel and John Philip Newell discuss his new book "The Great Search." They explore original goodness, Celtic Christianity, and how all of us have a longing for Love, Peace, and a place to call home.  Preorder "The Great Search" today: https://www.earthandsoul.org/   Subscribe to my substack for weekly posts: https://danielcrogers.substack.com  Daniel's Usual Self-promotion Daniel's new book (and audio book!): How a 25-Year-Old Learned He Wasn't the Only One Going to Heaven Daniel's blog: https://danielr.net Daniel's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielRogers  Daniel's Church Home: https://northbroadal.com

On today's episode, Ashley unpacks compassion by looking at the life of San Suu Kyi and the writings of John Philip Newell. Ashley refers to the book "The Rebirthing of God" by Newell and explores what compassion means in light of Jesus' teachings to love our enemies. You can learn more about Ashley's work at ashleylhengst.com or follow her on Instagram @ashleylhengst

In this new series, “Scripture, Science and Spirituality,” we will explore what it takes to flourish as human beings in the midst of a culture that is increasingly disconnected and despairing. Using the wisdom of the Judeo-Christian scripture as our guide, we will focus on the nature of desire, what actually satisfies our desire, and the practices it takes to thrive as human beings. In this first episode, we dive into a vision for living in balance and connection, as we avoid the ego temptations of mere appearance and the allure of false certitudes and ground our lives in courage, hope, and practices for sustained change and transformation.

This reflection was offered by John Philip Newell, Celtic teacher and author of spirituality, in Church of the Ascension, on Sunday, October 15, 2023. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/frbillydaniel/support

Quakers have a saying when they pray for someone: "I will hold you in the Light." In this episode Scott explores the connection between prayer and compassion and shares one of his favorite prayers, the Prayer for Presence, from John Philip Newell.     Download our Living Well Through Lent, 2023: Practicing Compassion daily readings devotional at www.LivingCompass.org/Lent

Have you ever wondered what Celtic spirituality is, exactly? I mean, we're familiar with Saint Patrick and Celtic music and nature-loving, but what's all the fanfare about? Why has the interest in Celtic spirituality exploded in the past decade? Because these are questions that poked and prodded me in the past - and because I've often been asked by spiritual directees for a good summary-- I put together a ten minute mini podcast. In it, I reveal the two pillars of Celtic spirituality, and why we crave them! Check it out! Into the deep, Kelly PS - If you're really curious about the Celtic world, be sure to check out our Celtic Spirituality School! We've invited all the experts - from John Philip Newell to Esther de Waal and Ilia Delio - to teach about topics like praying with the landscape, thin places, soul friends, and Celtic mysticism. Check it out at www.celticschool.org! PPS - We purposely made it affordable for everyone (micro pricing! scholarships!), so no one would be excluded! Leave us a voicemail at https://www.spiritualwanderlust.org/ask for the chance to have your spiritual question answered live!

Steve talks to Josh Kaiser, former pastor turned deconstruction coach, about the different places people tend to end up at the end of their deconstruction / faith journeys (if there even is an end). Josh has a lot of wisdom and insight to this whole crazy process, so be sure to give this one your time. Josh Kaiser's TikTok: @theLocalHeretic (https://www.tiktok.com/@thelocalheretic) Origen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen) Jerome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome) Justin Matyr (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Martyr) Augustine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo) Mark Driscoll (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Driscoll) Vivant Life Coaching (https://www.vivantcoaching.com) Brewery Vivant (https://breweryvivant.com) Christian Mysticism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mysticism) Josh's video about mysticism (https://www.tiktok.com/@thelocalheretic/video/7155234118576508202) John Philip Newell (https://www.earthandsoul.org/john-philip-newell) Cognitive Dissonance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance) Pete Enns (https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/about-pete-enns/) The Bible for Normal People (https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/) Richard Rohr (https://cac.org/about/our-teachers/richard-rohr/) Film: “Ghandi” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi_(film)) Hymn: “O Sacred Head” (https://youtu.be/p5hjdz4xZF4) Vertical vs. Horizontal Morality (https://stevecullum.com/2017/04/27/vertical-vs-horizontal-morality/) Annihilationism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annihilationism) Podcast: The Local Heretic Live (https://thelocalhereticlive.buzzsprout.com) Thomas Merton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton) Book: “The Naked Now” by Richard Rohr (https://amzn.to/3AuzOFV) Book: “The Universal Christ” (https://amzn.to/3i0S6YS) Book:“Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps” (https://amzn.to/3Vewnv0) Books by John Philip Newell (https://amzn.to/3hV1kWt) All of our music is by Daniel Wheat: * Find more music and merch at his Bandcamp (https://danielwheat.bandcamp.com) * Follow his Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/danielwheatmusic/) * And listen on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/26EjMDBdKGmxBXEwkGWCkd?si=bQ8wtAeiSImTVmf8asqxrA) Special Guest: Josh Kaiser.

David and Dorian sit-down and discuss J. Philip Newell's reintroducing an ancient spiritual wisdom from Celtic Christianity.

You can find everything about John's work at his website. 

What is Truth? : Turns out that facts aren't important as the truth Pilate asked Jesus a question that never got answered: "What is truth?" In this episode, Steve & Nathan discuss the kinds of truth, if it's relative, if it's meaningful, and how all of this fits in to our faith. Don't worry -- ALL of your questions will most definitely be answered in this episode. WARNING: This one is pretty heavy on philosophy, so you might not want to listen while you're driving. Hannah got a leopard gecko Kristi hates snakes (not Garden-of-Eden-related) Next episode is our book club reading “Love Matters More” by Jared Byas (https://amzn.to/3xQIntD) “What is truth?” - John 18:28-38 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18&version=NRSVUE) Book: “Faith After Doubt” by Brian McLaren (https://amzn.to/3Qi8dOm) Knowledge vs. confidence curve (https://understandinginnovation.blog/2015/07/03/the-dunning-kruger-effect-in-innovation/) Book: “Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul” by John Philip Newell (https://amzn.to/3zHAyrA) TikTok video by user @fatalprosellc (https://www.tiktok.com/@fatalprosellc/video/7104610981715954990?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=6954852372733036038) Bhagavad Gita (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita) Book: “Do I Stay Christian?” By Brian McLaren (https://amzn.to/3b4AxUb) “The truth shall set you free.” - John 8:32 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A32&version=NRSVUE) Tone indicators (https://toneindicators.carrd.co/) “I'm a Mac, I'm a PC” commercials (https://youtu.be/qfv6Ah_MVJU) John Hodgman (https://www.johnhodgman.com/) Book: “The Areas of My Expertise” by John Hodgman (https://amzn.to/3tzJtaE) Film: “Twelve Years A Slave” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_Years_a_Slave_(film)) Nathan needs bees! He also has no honey Get a Daniel Wheat T-shirt! (https://danielwheat.bandcamp.com/merch) Listen to Daniel Wheat's new album, “The In Between” on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/05kC0eee6JHcpfbJezRRUc?si=L3O2rI05QgSjCssAompY8w)

We at Tree Speech and Alight Theater Guild are incredibly grateful to John Philip Newell for joining us today. Newell is a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of Earth and every human being. Canadian by birth, and a citizen also of Scotland, he resides with his family in Edinburgh and works on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2016 he began the School of Earth and Soul (originally called the School of Celtic Consciousness) and teaches regularly in the United States and Canada as well as leading international pilgrimage weeks on Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland. His PhD is from the University of Edinburgh and he has authored over fifteen books, including A New Ancient Harmony, Sounds of the Eternal, The Rebirthing of God, and his latest award-winning publication Sacred Earth Sacred Soul. Newell speaks of himself as ‘a wandering teacher' following the ancient path of many lone teachers before him in the Celtic world, ‘wandering Scots' seeking the wellbeing of the world. He has been described as having ‘the heart of a Celtic bard and the mind of a Celtic scholar', combining in his teachings the poetic and the intellectual, the head as well as the heart, and spiritual awareness as well as political and ecological concern. His writings have been translated into seven languages. In 2020 he relinquished his ordination as a minister of the Church of Scotland as no longer reflecting the heart of his belief in the sacredness of the earth and every human being. He continues, however, to see himself as ‘a grateful son of the Christian household' seeking to be in relationship with the wisdom of humanity's other great spiritual traditions. In 2011 John Philip was awarded the first-ever Contemplative Voices Award from the Shalem Institute in Washington DC for his prophetic work in the field of spirituality and compassion. In 2022 he received the Sacred Universe Award from the Well Center for Spirituality in Chicago, IL in recognition of his significant work in furthering humanity's relationship with the sacredness of Earth. If you've enjoyed this episode, please like us on social media, and rate and review us on apple podcasts. Every kind word helps. To learn more about the episode see our show notes and visit us at treespeechpodcast.com, and on instagram @ treespeechpodcast. We have a newly-launched Patreon! We at Tree Speech strive to bring you insightful stories and information about trees and those who engage with them, including interviews with a wide range of people who care about them. As we keep growing, we would appreciate your support! We now have a Patreon, and every dollar helps us continue to produce this podcast. Every contribution supports our production, and we'll be giving gifts of gratitude including an invitation to Tree House, our new virtual community for patrons of all levels. Tree Speech's host, Dori Robinson, is a director, playwright, dramaturg, and educator who seeks and develops projects that explore social consciousness, personal heritage, and the difference one individual can have on their own community. More information at https://www.dorirobinson.com This week's episode was written and recorded in Massachusetts on the native lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, Pennacook, Massachusett, and Pawtucket people, in New York on the land of the Lenapee tribes as well as the lands of Edinburgh. Logo design by Mill Riot. Special thanks to the Western Avenue Lofts and Studios for all their support. Tree Speech is produced and co-written by Jonathan Zautner. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/treespeech/message

Cursed?: What to do with the curses in Genesis 3 When Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the Garden of Eden, God laid down several curses. For the serpent, the woman, and the man. But what do we DO with these curses? Are we supposed to perpetuate the ideas behind them, or move away from them? What's this story teaching us, anyway? We also discuss the sad state of gun violence in the USA. We wish we had the answers. Gun Violence in America * Article: “America's gun culture - in seven charts” (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081) * FBI Crime Statistics (https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/pages/home) * Book: “When Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough” by Taylor Schumann (https://amzn.to/3LZn3pG) * Podcast: The Holy Post (https://www.holypost.com) The Curses of Genesis 3 * Genesis 3 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3&version=NRSVUE) * Nathan's permaculture method: Hügelkultur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hügelkultur) * Celtic Christianity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Christianity) * Book: “Sacred Earth Sacred Soul” by John Philip Newell (https://amzn.to/3m01Z7M) * Star Wars character: Darth Plagueis (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Plagueis) * 4th-5th c. Monk: Pelagius (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagius) * Original sin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin) * Gnosticism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism) * Book: “The Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard (https://amzn.to/3PQu5jN) * Pyramid Texts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Texts) * Book: “Do I Stay Christian?” By Brian McLaren (https://amzn.to/3GFGKSA) * Terry Pratchett Books (https://www.terrypratchettbooks.com) * Show: “The Handmaid's Tale” (https://www.hulu.com/series/the-handmaids-tale-565d8976-9d26-4e63-866c-40f8a137ce5f) * Book: “The Handmaid's Tale” (https://amzn.to/3NJzreK) * Show: “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (https://www.hulu.com/series/brooklyn-nine-nine-daf48b7a-6cd7-4ef6-b639-a4811ec95232) * Show: “Our Flag Means Death” (https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYf3LzwJV98JifQEAAAAO) * Next book club book: “Love Matters More” by Jared Byas (https://amzn.to/3Q5X979)

We had a fantastic time hanging out with Brian McLaren to talk about his new book, "Do I Stay Christian?" – the follow-up to his book "Faith After Doubt". The book first answers with "No" then "Yes" and then discusses "How" we should live, regardless of the way we answer that question. It's a brave, humbling, and important book. READ IT! Book: “Do I Stay Christian?” by Brian McLaren (https://amzn.to/3LIGNhc) Website: www.brianmclaren.net Book: “Faith After Doubt” by Brian McLaren (https://amzn.to/3MFQPAW) “By their fruits you shall know them…” - Matthew 7:15-20 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207%3A15-20&version=NRSVUE) The Reformation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation) Council of Trent (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent) John Philip Newell (https://www.earthandsoul.org/john-philip-newell) Video: Presentation Steve attended by John Philip Newell (https://youtu.be/sDn7aGbWySo?t=1363) Richard Rohr (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rohr) Center for Action and Contemplation (https://cac.org) Black-Owned Book Stores in the United States (https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.php) Special Guest: Brian McLaren.

Dr. Joseph Howell and Lori Miller-Price speak with John Philip Newell, a Celtic teacher and author of "Sacred Earth Sacred Soul.” John Philip shares what it means to become conscious and how it's an individual journey as well as a collective journey. He also discusses spiritual communities, how it impacts the spiritual pilgrimage and how to find them.Connect with us:Email us: therealenneagram@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram: @therealenneagramVisit The Institute for Conscious Being: theicb.org

Dr. Joseph Howell reflects on his time at the island of Iona with Melanie Rodgers, Cathy and John Shoulders and Lori and Tom Miller-Price. They share their impressions of studying with John Philip Newell, a Celtic teacher and author of "Sacred Earth Sacred Soul.” They discuss the teaching of Celtic spirituality and how it relates to the Enneagram.Connect with us:Email us: therealenneagram@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram: @therealenneagramVisit The Institute for Conscious Being: theicb.org

Guest Mike McQuaid Panelists Richard Littauer Show Notes Hello and welcome to Sustain! The podcast where we talk about software sustainability for the long haul. Today, I'm very excited to have as my guest from Edinburgh, Mike McQuaid, who's a Principal Engineer at GitHub and the Project Leader of Homebrew. Mike fills us in on Homebrew, how he became the Project Lead, and the Homebrew journey towards software sustainability. We also find out how Mike applies Brené Brown's acronym “BRAVING” to his work on open source, and about his involvement with GitHub Sponsors. Go ahead and download this episode now to find out much more! [00:01:26] Mike explains what Homebrew is, who originally created it, and how he became one of the lead maintainers. [00:05:41] Since Mike is the Homebrew Project Leader at GitHub, Richard wonders why they need an OSX related package manager and Mike explains how that happened. [00:07:06] We learn how Mike worked on Homebrew as open source on company time and the importance of choosing priorities. [00:11:57] Mike goes in depth about the Homebrew sustainability journey, mentoring other maintainers, and the value of feature flagging in Homebrew. [00:16:45] Richard wonders how Mike talks to people about whether or not they're a good candidate to be a mentor. [00:20:12] We hear about the meaning of the “BRAVING” acronym from Brené Brown's podcast and book, and how it applies to Mike's work on open source. [00:25:36] Where is there room in Mike's open source boundary setting for grace? [00:31:07] Mike was on the GitHub Sponsors team and we find out how he got involved with it, and why it has been such a valuable contribution to the open source ecosystem. [00:37:05] We learn what Mike thinks the next step of sustainability might be in terms of helping open source maintainers from a non-individualistic approach. [00:42:15] Find out where you can follow Mike on the web. Quote [00:22:12] “I think boundaries are the most important part of open source sustainability, at the end of the day you should be only working on the stuff that you want to be working on.” Spotlight [00:43:16] Richard's spotlight is Forest Café in Edinburgh. [00:43:57] Mike's spotlight is a search tool called, ripgrep. Links SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/) SustainOSS Twitter (https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/) Mike McQuaid Twitter (https://twitter.com/mikemcquaid?lang=en) Mike McQuaid Website (https://mikemcquaid.com/) Mike McQuaid GitHub (https://github.com/MikeMcQuaid) Homebrew (https://brew.sh/) The Silver Searcher (https://geoff.greer.fm/ag/) Max Howell Website (https://mxcl.dev/) tea (https://tea.xyz/) The Mentorship Diamond by Mike McQuaid (https://mikemcquaid.com/2021/09/09/the-mentorship-diamond/) Stop Mentoring First-Time Contributors by Mike McQuaid (https://mikemcquaid.com/2019/02/16/stop-mentoring-first-time-contributors/) Saying No by Mike McQuaid (https://mikemcquaid.com/2022/01/20/saying-no/) Sacred Earth Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell (https://www.earthandsoul.org/sacred-earth-sacred-soul) Feature flags (https://www.optimizely.com/optimization-glossary/feature-flags/) GitHub Sponsors (https://github.com/sponsors) Open Source Economics (is not what you think). by Mike McQuaid (https://mikemcquaid.com/2021/10/27/open-source-economics/) Open Collective Homebrew (https://opencollective.com/homebrew) Brené Brown Dare to Lead: The BRAVING Inventory (https://brenebrown.com/resources/the-braving-inventory/) Forest Café (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Caf%C3%A9) ripgrep-GitHub (https://github.com/BurntSushi/ripgrep) Credits Produced by Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/) Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Special Guest: Mike McQuaid.

John Philip Newell is a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality, who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the Earth and every human being. John Philip's most recent book is called “Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World.” John Philip began … Continue reading "172. John Philip Newell – Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What our Souls Know and Healing the World" The post 172. John Philip Newell – Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What our Souls Know and Healing the World first appeared on School for Good Living Podcasts.

Can the wisdom of Celtic spirituality help heal the earth, overcome our conflicts, and reconnect us to the sacredness of the earth and one another?   John Philip Newell (born 1953) is a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the earth and every human being. In his most recent book, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, he writes: “The crises that we are in the midst of today, whether ecological, political, or societal, stem from the fact that we treat the earth and one another as less than sacred.” Each year the cathedral chooses a theme for inspiration and reflection, and in 2022 our theme is connection. Join Dean Malcolm Clemens Young for a conversation with Newell about how his earth-based spirituality can help us rediscover our connection with God, with each other and with the earth. 

In today's episode, Michael talks to John Philip Newell, a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the earth and every human being. Together, they discuss Celtic Christianity and the modern-day application of its wisdom. 3:00- Michael asks what the scope of Celtic Christianity is 7:50- Michael asks why this wisdom is difficult to practice together 12:50: Michael reads some quotes and John Philip discusses the divine feminine 20:30: Michael and John Philip discuss the intersection between sexuality and spirituality 29:30: Michael asks John Philip what God isn't 41:00: They discuss distinctions between ego and soul 47:00- Michael asks what the Celtic Christian view of Jesus Christ is

In this week's episode we sit down with John Philip Newell to talk about his amazing book "Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul" where he gives us a peek into the lives of some of the greatest Celtic thinkers the world has ever known.  If your soul is longing for a different perspective on God and faith and all of the things ... look no further. Enjoy! -- MY BOOK - https://www.amazon.com/Re-Thinking-Everything-Spiritual-Journey/dp/B09QNV8QX7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1643047504&sr=1-2  PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/whatifproject BUY ME A COFFEE - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatifproject HERETIC SHOP - https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-heretic-shop/ JOHN PHILIP NEWELL - https://www.earthandsoul.org/john-philip-newell  JP'S BOOK - https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Earth-Soul-Reawakening-Healing/dp/0063023490/ref=sr_1_3?crid=U2EYTPWJAHQK&keywords=john+philip+newell&qid=1644376724&sprefix=john+philip+newell%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-3  JOIN THE COMMUNITY - https://www.facebook.com/groups/whatifprojectcommunity SPECIAL MUSIC (YUNG CITIZEN)  - APPLE - https://music.apple.com/us/artist/yung-citizen/945553400 - WEBSITE / MERCH - https://www.yungcitizen.com 

This week I had the privilege of sharing conversation with John Philip Newell. John is an internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher and speaker who helped show me the beautiful tradition of Celtic Christianity. The Celtic wisdom tradition can enable us to rediscover the natural rhythms of life and deepen our spiritual connection with God, each other, and the earth. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Sacred Earth Sacred Soul (Book) The Rebirthing of God (Book) EarthAndSoul.Org (John's Website)

In this episode of Rebel Spirit Radio, I speak with John Philip Newell, the former Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, and author of over 15 books. We discuss his latest publication, "Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World." Newell discusses the Sacred Feminine, the radicalism of Celtic teachings, re-thinking the concept of original sin, rewording the world, and a panentheistic vision of God in which God flows through all things. John Philip Newell's School of Earth and Soul https://www.earthandsoul.org/ Sacred Earth Sacred Soul HarperCollins https://www.harpercollins.com/products/earth-soul-john-philip-newell?variant=32959409324066 Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/books/sacred-earth-sacred-soul-celtic-wisdom-for-reawakening-to-what-our-souls-know-and-healing-the-world/9780063023499 Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063023490?tag=harpercollinsus-20 Support Rebel Spirit Radio paypal.me/rebelspiritradio

How can we give voice in our spiritual traditions to what the soul already knows? Religion can seem to be in the business of dispensing truth without giving credit to the knowledge we already have of the sacredness of the earth and of the human soul.  How we rediscover these natural rhythms of life and deepen our connections with God, each other and the earth determines our ability to respond to present ecological, social and spiritual crises. Writer and speaker and beloved Celtic teacher, John Philip Newell joins the podcast from Edinburgh to bring the wisdom from this rich tradition to enlighten our time.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can buy Dr. Newell's new book on Amazon here. And check out more about the Earth and Soul project here. It might even lead you to a pilgrimage of your own.  

Today we're celebrating a new milestone in Following the Fire history - we've passed 25 episodes! And it's Steve's turn to tell about his family's first foray into the “other churches” world. Intro * It's our silver anniversary! * Steve & Nathan are apparently NOT gift-givers * We have a Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/followingthefire) Visiting the UCC * Tv show: “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (https://www.disneyplus.com/series/star-wars-the-clone-wars/1wYXzjabXGVZ) * Book: “Faith After Doubt” by Brian McLaren (https://amzn.to/3AOaNmM) * “Ghosting” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosting_(behavior)) * United Churches of Christ (https://www.ucc.org) * Plymouth Congregational church (https://www.plymouthucc.org) * “Casa del Sol Prayer of Jesus” by John Philip Newell (https://www.facebook.com/johnphilipnewell/photos/520225848014498) * Pilgrim history (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrims_(Plymouth_Colony)) * Anglican Church (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism) * Song: “Imagine” by John Lennon (https://open.spotify.com/track/7pKfPomDEeI4TPT6EOYjn9?si=082aea1f34194e9c) * Book: “The New Testament” translated by David Bentley Hart (https://amzn.to/3yWvfBv) * Pseudepigrapha (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudepigrapha) * Song: “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck (https://open.spotify.com/track/5p6me2mwQrGfH30eExHn6v?si=b59cc4b5a0f5457c) Visiting the DoC * Disciples of Christ (https://disciples.org) * Restoration Movement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement) * Heart of the Rockies Church (https://heartoftherockies.org) * Heartside Hill project (https://heartoftherockies.org/landuse/)

We are joined by John Philip Newell, who talks about his new book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul. In a wide-ranging interview, John Philip talks about the sacredness of the earth and of every human being, the concept of original sin, and giving expression to what the soul already knows. John Philip Newel- Earth and Soul

In this episode, we feature a Celtic teacher and spiritual author to help you learn how to reawaken your inner nature and heal the psychological wounds of empirical religion that still haunt your unconscious.  John Philip Newell's most recent work is entitled, "Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World".In the book, he explores Celtic leaders who were seen as heretics by the Church and excommunicated for their beliefs.  We talk about why Christian empires across history have fought hard to silence visionaries and the open-minded world views they deemed punishable. Find out why ancient Celtic wisdom is a timeless tradition and how you can use it to shape a better world in the 21st century, even as an atheist.====================0:00 Intro2:45 John Philip's religious upbringing5:47 George MacLeod's impact 8:04 The connection between the word compassion and the word compass9:40 What's the Celtic vision of sacredness?14:37 Holiness is not separate from matter17:37 Getting in touch with our natural knowing20:39 What happens when the flow of the Divine is blocked?22:43 How did the Celtics conceptualize Christ?24:28 The sick doctrine of original sin30:44 What is Grace?34:15 What does fear cut us off from?41:25 To be made of God is to be made of imagination46:27 Why did Alexander John Scott get thrown out of the Church?51:25 Why are rituals important?55:25 What does peregrination mean?57:21 "One Final Question"====================Buy the book! "Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World"John Philip Newell====================To support us (thank you!)Let's get in touch! Join the discussion in the episode comments on our YouTube channel or social media pages...InstagramTwitter

“In almost every area of life, humanity is being invited to turn its attention to reestablishing our original unity with the earth.” – John Philip Newell "Life’s essential harmony is within each of us. So also is life’s brokenness. To be part of transformation is to look falseness in the face, to passionately name it and denounce it in our world, and at the same time to clearly identify its shadow within our own hearts and do battle with it there." – JPN John Philip Newell is a modern-day Celtic bard and spiritual teacher in the prophetic tradition who communicates across the boundaries of religion and race, following in the footsteps of other “wandering” teachers from the Celtic diaspora scattered across the centuries. He writes and speaks eloquently and passionately on behalf of a “New-Ancient” way of seeing with the heart, of a cosmology in harmony – relating the parts to the whole, the heavens to the earth, all opposites seen as One. He stresses that what we do to a part, we do to the whole, whether in family, state, or natural world, advocating for a wellness that is founded not in isolation, but in relationship with each other and with the earth. As part of his calling, and with an increasing sense of his own spiritual exile as an ordained member of the Christian church, Newell in 2020 relinquished his ordination as minister of the Church of Scotland. In a recent talk addressing his decision, he invoked the inspiration of Gandhi’s “No” to oppression, alongside his “No” to the Christian church’s denial of the sacredness of the earth and of all peoples, while invoking a “Yes” to the wonder and Unity of life. “Yes to the sacred essence of the earth, and of every human being,” he says. “Yes to the wisdom of other spiritual traditions. Yes to the Divine Feminine within us and among us. Yes, yes, yes!” “The spiritual yearnings that have led us into exile hold within themselves seeds of a new vision stirring in the human soul,” he writes, referring to forms of exile faced by many of his teachers, including St. Brigid of Kildaire in 4th century Ireland—who as embodiment of the sacred feminine dwelt in the liminal realms between birth and death, human and divine, crafting a wholeness of the opposites and an inclusion of all; 19th century Scottish minister and prophet of the awakening soul, Alexander John Scott, who championed the Imagination as primary tool for moving into transformation and new ways of being; and 20th century French scientist and priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who taught, “the deeper we go into matter, the closer we come to the heart of God.” In a new book released this month, Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, Newell weaves together the powerful teachings of these and five other teachers from his “School of Earth and Soul,” stressing the need for us to awaken to, and reimagine new beginnings. From the book: There is a groundswell of waking up to the dignity of every human being and every race. There is a reawakened awareness of the sacred feminine. There is a sharpened scientific understanding of the single flow of life that courses through the body of the universe. There is a rediscovery of the power of native song and story to help inspire our rituals and narratives of sacredness today. There is a new openness to the intuitive and the imaginative as essential tools in discerning the way forward in our lives and world. There is an explosion of earth awareness in our human consciousness, the likes of which we have never known before…There is a growing mindfulness of compassion and how to embody it in our lives and relationships. And there is an ever-awakening realization that humanity must journey forward into a new reverence for the earth, if the world as we know it is to survive Seminal in his own life’s journey was his first trip to India in his mid-30s, when Newell was taken by a friend to visit the Benedictine monk Bede Griffiths at his Tamil Nadu ashram. Several powerful dreams and experiences there served to help overturn his suspicion of what he framed as the “subjectivity” of Indian mysticism. Having been trained that truth was outside of himself, accessed through the intellect and propositional truths, encountering India’s unforgotten knowledge that “God is immanent” was a breakthrough.  “I had not even begun to imagine that the East and the realm of the unconscious were also part of my inheritance.”  His own daughter soon afterwards travelled to study Indian dance in India, and later married an Indian and moved there.  As with his vocation and that of his spiritual forebears, Newell’s own life has not been spared struggle and brokenness.  His parents’ political and religious heritage bridged difficult divides – his atheist Socialist grandfather and his devout Protestant grandmother emigrated from Belfast to Canada. The echoes of the religious struggle between his parents as well as that of the Irish Civil War, and World War II, lingered in his cell memory as breakages to grapple with. In his own married family life, one of his two sons in his late teens suffered a severe mental breakdown, which has left him living in fear and paranoia. Newell writes, “the longer we have lived with mental illness within us as a family, the more I have come to believe that Brendan’s illness is not his, in a limited sense… And I have come to believe that Brendan will not be truly well until we are well, and that we will not be truly well until Brendan and others like him are well. Our healing belongs inextricably together.” Canadian by birth, Newell is a citizen also of Scotland, where he resides with his wife and family in Edinburgh. In 2016 he began the School of Earth and Soul (originally called the School of Celtic Consciousness). He teaches regularly in the United States and Canada, and leads international pilgrimage weeks on Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland. He received his PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has authored over fifteen books, including Sounds of the Eternal, and The Rebirthing of God, and his major forthcoming publication, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul.   Join Diana Badger and Owen O Suilleabhain as they come together with this teacher of depth, heart, and soul, as well as far-reaching mind, to discuss the journey from separation to wholeness, from dismemberment to remembering, of deep humility and interconnectedness in the name of the sacred that embraces us all. Our longings are a unique manifestation of the universe’s longings. In listening to the depths of life, within our lives and within every life, we will hear the longings of the One that are deeper than the fears that divide us.  – John Philip Newell

“In almost every area of life, humanity is being invited to turn its attention to reestablishing our original unity with the earth.” – John Philip Newell "Life’s essential harmony is within each of us. So also is life’s brokenness. To be part of transformation is to look falseness in the face, to passionately name it and denounce it in our world, and at the same time to clearly identify its shadow within our own hearts and do battle with it there." – JPN John Philip Newell is a modern-day Celtic bard and spiritual teacher in the prophetic tradition who communicates across the boundaries of religion and race, following in the footsteps of other “wandering” teachers from the Celtic diaspora scattered across the centuries. He writes and speaks eloquently and passionately on behalf of a “New-Ancient” way of seeing with the heart, of a cosmology in harmony – relating the parts to the whole, the heavens to the earth, all opposites seen as One. He stresses that what we do to a part, we do to the whole, whether in family, state, or natural world, advocating for a wellness that is founded not in isolation, but in relationship with each other and with the earth. As part of his calling, and with an increasing sense of his own spiritual exile as an ordained member of the Christian church, Newell in 2020 relinquished his ordination as minister of the Church of Scotland. In a recent talk addressing his decision, he invoked the inspiration of Gandhi’s “No” to oppression, alongside his “No” to the Christian church’s denial of the sacredness of the earth and of all peoples, while invoking a “Yes” to the wonder and Unity of life. “Yes to the sacred essence of the earth, and of every human being,” he says. “Yes to the wisdom of other spiritual traditions. Yes to the Divine Feminine within us and among us. Yes, yes, yes!” “The spiritual yearnings that have led us into exile hold within themselves seeds of a new vision stirring in the human soul,” he writes, referring to forms of exile faced by many of his teachers, including St. Brigid of Kildaire in 4th century Ireland—who as embodiment of the sacred feminine dwelt in the liminal realms between birth and death, human and divine, crafting a wholeness of the opposites and an inclusion of all; 19th century Scottish minister and prophet of the awakening soul, Alexander John Scott, who championed the Imagination as primary tool for moving into transformation and new ways of being; and 20th century French scientist and priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who taught, “the deeper we go into matter, the closer we come to the heart of God.” In a new book released this month, Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, Newell weaves together the powerful teachings of these and five other teachers from his “School of Earth and Soul,” stressing the need for us to awaken to, and reimagine new beginnings. From the book: There is a groundswell of waking up to the dignity of every human being and every race. There is a reawakened awareness of the sacred feminine. There is a sharpened scientific understanding of the single flow of life that courses through the body of the universe. There is a rediscovery of the power of native song and story to help inspire our rituals and narratives of sacredness today. There is a new openness to the intuitive and the imaginative as essential tools in discerning the way forward in our lives and world. There is an explosion of earth awareness in our human consciousness, the likes of which we have never known before…There is a growing mindfulness of compassion and how to embody it in our lives and relationships. And there is an ever-awakening realization that humanity must journey forward into a new reverence for the earth, if the world as we know it is to survive Seminal in his own life’s journey was his first trip to India in his mid-30s, when Newell was taken by a friend to visit the Benedictine monk Bede Griffiths at his Tamil Nadu ashram. Several powerful dreams and experiences there served to help overturn his suspicion of what he framed as the “subjectivity” of Indian mysticism. Having been trained that truth was outside of himself, accessed through the intellect and propositional truths, encountering India’s unforgotten knowledge that “God is immanent” was a breakthrough.  “I had not even begun to imagine that the East and the realm of the unconscious were also part of my inheritance.”  His own daughter soon afterwards travelled to study Indian dance in India, and later married an Indian and moved there.  As with his vocation and that of his spiritual forebears, Newell’s own life has not been spared struggle and brokenness.  His parents’ political and religious heritage bridged difficult divides – his atheist Socialist grandfather and his devout Protestant grandmother emigrated from Belfast to Canada. The echoes of the religious struggle between his parents as well as that of the Irish Civil War, and World War II, lingered in his cell memory as breakages to grapple with. In his own married family life, one of his two sons in his late teens suffered a severe mental breakdown, which has left him living in fear and paranoia. Newell writes, “the longer we have lived with mental illness within us as a family, the more I have come to believe that Brendan’s illness is not his, in a limited sense… And I have come to believe that Brendan will not be truly well until we are well, and that we will not be truly well until Brendan and others like him are well. Our healing belongs inextricably together.” Canadian by birth, Newell is a citizen also of Scotland, where he resides with his wife and family in Edinburgh. In 2016 he began the School of Earth and Soul (originally called the School of Celtic Consciousness). He teaches regularly in the United States and Canada, and leads international pilgrimage weeks on Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland. He received his PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has authored over fifteen books, including Sounds of the Eternal, and The Rebirthing of God, and his major forthcoming publication, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul.   Join Diana Badger and Owen O Suilleabhain as they come together with this teacher of depth, heart, and soul, as well as far-reaching mind, to discuss the journey from separation to wholeness, from dismemberment to remembering, of deep humility and interconnectedness in the name of the sacred that embraces us all. Our longings are a unique manifestation of the universe’s longings. In listening to the depths of life, within our lives and within every life, we will hear the longings of the One that are deeper than the fears that divide us.  – John Philip Newell

We are delighted and humbled that Titan of Celtic Christianity, John Philip Newell, joined us from Edinburgh, Scotland to talk about his upcoming book, Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul.John Philip is one of the leading Celtic teachers and authors of spirituality in the world. He calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the earth and every human being.Hyphenated Life bonds with JP around the similar paths we take towards breaking down the wall between the sacred and the secular by recognizing the sacredness in everything and everyone.

You can check out Lorie's website, find out more of her story & order her series of meditations here: http://loriemartin.comSome of Lorie's sources of inspiration:1. Cynthia Bourgeaulthttps://cynthiabourgeault.org2. Father Thomas Keatinghttp://www.fatherthomaskeating.com3. Father Richard Rohr https://cac.org4. Celtic Benediction by John Philip Newell 5. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Andrew 6. The Inner Voice of Love by Henri Nouwen 

Daily offering

Dara Molloy is a truly fascinating individual. Along with the likes of John O'Donohue and John Philip Newell, Molloy is considered to be among one of the few experts on the subject of Celtic Spirituality. In this episode James sits down with Dara to discuss his spiritual journey from Roman Catholic priest in Dublin to Celtic priest, monk and druid on Inis Mor (the largest of the Aran Islands). They also discuss a number of topics explored in Dara's upcoming book titled ‘Holy God – Journey from Belief in God to a Spirituality.' These include, what Celtic spirituality is and how it differs from organised religion; how the dominant religions have misunderstood the notion of faith; and why monotheism and its globalisation is a root cause of the loss of both cultural diversity and biodiversity on the planet.In the final part, Dara shares his personal wisdom and recommends that we explore the vast resources that can be found in the Celtic spiritual tradition. Check out www.aislingpublications.com where you can pre-order Dara's latest book ‘Holy God – Journey from Belief in God to a Spirituality' and purchase his and Tess Harper's other publications. Music credit: Amhrán Mhuínse / The Song of Muínis – LíadanSee more at: https://www.thehutnearthebog.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Daily reading

Rob offers evening prayer

Rob offers morning prayer

Rob offers evening prayer...

Rob reads Thursday morning prayer...

Rob reads evening prayers...

Rob offers morning prayer...

Wednesday Night Prayer - Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter by John Philip Newell

Wednesday Morning Prayer from Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter by John Philip Newell

Rob reads Tuesday night prayer...

Rob reads Tuesday morning prayer

Rob reads Monday evening prayer

Rob reads Monday morning prayer

Rob reads evening prayers...

Rob reads morning prayer...

John Philip Newell, the author of Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality, is one of the most prominent Christian teachers of spirituality in the Western world. Formerly Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, he now divides his time between Edinburgh, where he does most of his writing, and … Continue reading One of my favorite authors… →

Matthew 5:1-12; "Maybe: A Story about the Endless Potential in All of Us," "The Blessings of Jesus" from "Praying the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace," by John Philip Newell; beatitudes by Carter Heyward

              Artwork: Jailer in Philippi, Engraved by Joseph Mulder (1658 – ca. 1728) from the design of Arnold Houbraken; from the collections at Pitts Theological Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University; http://pitts.emory.edu/dia/image_details.cfm?ID=130228 Song: As a Deer Longs by John Philip Newell, sung by Suzanne Butler* (https://heartbeatjourney.org/books/) *Used with permission

              Photo: Saint Gertrude’s Monastery, Cottonwood, Idaho; taken by Todd A. Spencer Music: Let Me Hear by John Philip Newell, sung by Suzanne Butler* (https://heartbeatjourney.org/books/) *used with permission

Rather than based around an interview, this episode is in the style of our Nomad Devotionals, which our patrons enjoy each month. Ruth Wilde of Christian Peacemaker Teams reflects on the practice of "getting in the way", and John-Philip Newell reflects on a spirituality deeply rooted in the material creation. And we ask what does it look like to become peace makers between humanity and creation? David weaves these reflections together with readings, music and songs. If you want more from Nomad, check out our website, and follow us on Facebook and twitter. Nomad can only keep going because a small group of faithful listeners help us pay the bills. Our donors gain access to the Nomad community, which manifests in such ways as Nomad Book Club, The Beloved Listener Lounge, Nomad Contemplations and Nomad Devotionals. And you may find yourself the proud owner of a Beloved Listener mug! Head over to our Patreon page for more information. If you're not fussed about the bonus content, you can make a one-off or regular donation through PayPal, the links to which you can find on our support page. You might also want to have a look at our blog, which we're now using to share the stories of the evolving faith of our podcast listeners.  And if you're looking for other people to share this journey with, then register on our Listener Map, and see if any other nomads are in your area.

John Philip Newell in conversation with The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm C. Young.

Sunday 11 a.m. Sermon

“In everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to the Lord.” Philippians 4:6-7“We pause to listen to the beat of your Presence in all things.” - John Philip Newell

Last night was one of those nights where our kids swiftly re-asserted who’s in charge. You get into these rhythms where everyone is sleeping through the night, in their own beds, going to bed at bedtime, waking up when it’s reasonable to wake up… But last night was not one of those nights. All it takes is one night to remember that we’re at the mercy of these little jerks.    Avi was up a bunch, wanted to sleep in our bed… We let him lay with us for a bit but then brought him back into his room. When I put him down, I noticed Lily was out of her blankets but curled up in a ball, looking cold, so I did the right thing, and simultaneously the worst thing possible, by putting her back under her covers. And then she was up. And then Avi was up.   Long story short, at 4am both kids wanted to be in our bed and I figured it was easier for me to just get up and go to the 5am class at the gym.    The gym was good, then came home at 615 to a quiet house, poured myself some homemade cold brew with some branch-chain amino acids in it and sat down to read more of John Philip Newell’s “Christ of the Celts,” which I can’t recommend highly enough… It’s outstanding. Really amazing…   Then Elyse came down, and we had a great conversation together, about all sorts of things. Friends that disagree with us theologically, and all of the beautiful, life-giving things we’re learning from some of these spiritual giants we sit under. It made the lack fo sleep worth it… to reconnect with her before the day started, to talk about things that matter to us, and to sort of spur one another’s spirits on, into a good day ahead.    Energy works like that, doesn’t it? When we bring positive energy into a conversation, we can transfer that energy to the person we’re with. On a spiritual plain, on a quantum physics level… We can quite literally re-energize the cells and spirit of the person we’re with. Particles are jumping off of us and landing onto them, all seemingly invisible, but we can feel it, can’t we?    You can certainly feel it when it’s the opposite… When someone brings negative energy into a conversation and there’s this transfer of negativity: anxiety, worry, a weight of despair or a feeling of being helpless… These things can just jump from one person to the next… And it might actually make the first person feel better. It typically does. Someone comes in carrying a heavy spirit, they off-load it to you, they walk away feeling lifted, and we walk away burdened.    Whatever language you want to use for this, you know what I’m talking about. Some interactions leave us feeling lighter, some leave us feeling heavier. Other people’s problems thrust onto our shoulders, and we lighten their burden, but add to ours.    Then, the question is… What are you gonna do with all of that negative energy?   You have three choices.    First would be to pretend it’s not there. Ignore it. I don’t really see that as an option because I’m big on awareness and paying attention to what’s going on in my heart. Being unaware of these things is a recipe for disaster. If you’re holding a grenade and the pin has already been pulled, you’d want to know. You don’t want to accidentally blow up on the next person that walks by.    The second option is to transfer that negative energy to someone else… Which is what I most commonly do, and maybe you do too. You have a heavy conversation and you immediately need to call someone ELSE and offload some of it to them, even if it had nothing to do with them… We find the nearest or most reliable scapegoat in our lives (typically a spouse or parent) and we vent. And they catch all of it. We feel great, they probably feel significantly LESS great, but we don’t really notice. We feel good! It worked! Phew, onto the rest of our day! Not great, long-term, to live like this.    The third option is to absorb it. And this is the hardest but perhaps the most Christlike option. This is what Jesus was up to on the cross… He didn’t take all that negative energy and then transfer it BACK to humanity, continuing the cycle of sin and death and “eye for an eye” and violence and retaliation. He absorbed it. He chose not to continue the cycle.    Negative energy tends to spin up and get worse and worse. Like Sonic the Hedgehog but of darkness. It gains steam like a hurricane, everyone’s negative energy feeding into it and escalating again and again until it’s out of control.   In Exodus 21:24 it lays out an “eye for an eye” form of justice, because that WAS actually progressive 3000-4000 years ago. That was a radical form of justice, because people had a habit of escalating things. At that point it was more like, “if you take my eye, I’m going to take your children.” or “You cut me off in the parking lot and I’m going to ram your car.” or “You tweeted a threat to me so I’m going to fire off a nuclear bomb.”    This was Mosaic wisdom, this was Moses trying to keep order amongst his people. "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”    This is what the world looks like if everyone were to choose the second option, TRANSFER. I received this negative thing, I’ll pass it on to you.   This is where the incredible wisdom of Jesus shines. He comes on the scene a millennia into this “eye for an eye” type of justice and flips it on its’ head. In Matthew 5, Jesus says, "38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”    He introduces the absorption method of dealing with negative energy. Break the cycle, in the face of an enemy, bless them.    The famous quote of Mahatma Ghandi was basically him riffing on Jesus’ teaching, when he said, “an Eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”    During the US Civil War, hatred became entrenched between the North and South. In one instance, President Abraham Lincoln was criticized for speaking of benevolent treatment for the Southern rebels. The critic reminded Lincoln that there was a war going on, the Confederates were the enemy, and they should be destroyed. But Lincoln wisely responded, “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”    When an absorber steps in... it changes everything. It disrupts the cycle; throws it off balance. When someone decides to NOT pass that negative energy on, they win. They defeat that energy. It dissipates. The world is quite literally a better place. This little demon that was once alive, jumping from person to person, disrupting God’s shalom, is now dead. And you killed it. Good job.   But how do we become absorbers that don’t eventually get exasperated? Because there is definitely an unhealthy was to absorb other people’s garbage… I see it all the time, and sometime’s I’m guilty of it too. We take a burden off of someone’s shoulders and feel pretty proud of ourselves, but then accidentally might end up feeling bitter or angry or sour towards that person. Or our self-righteousness gets to be too much, we have a little Messiah complex that needs dealing with.    To absorb this negative energy in a healthy way, we have to break it down. We have to process it and properly digest it. We have to break it back down into its’ original ingredients. Deconstruct it from the little demon it had become and recognize all the little puzzle pieces that made it what it was.    “Oh, here’s a little bit of discouragement that paired with confusion. Here’s someone’s dream getting overlooked, here’s some pain from a back-handed comment someone else made… And look, it all manifested into this angry little demon.”    No wonder. It didn’t just come out of nowhere… It was financial stress that came out of a lack of discipline that paired with a lack of sleep and an unhealthy self-image that had some bass note of a bad childhood memory reverberating under it all… That’s how this little demon was born, and you broke it back down into those parts… And what that created in you wasn’t more darkness or anger or negativity…   It was compassion. Compassion.    An empathy for where that darkness came from. An understanding. Not a judgement, but an alignment with the perpetrator. Compassion.    And all of a sudden you find yourself invested. You have skin in the game to actually see this person get healthy, or succeed, or realize their true self in Christ… To find freedom and joy.    “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”    To absorb it doesn’t mean becoming a victim. It means becoming victor. With the right tools and proper perspective, we actually become victorious over the darkness in the world. And we, quite literally, make the world a better place to live. A safer place for our children, a more joyful neighborhood to live in, a healthier church family, a more successful and healthy work environment.    So, today… And hopefully tomorrow, and the day after that: Keep your eyes peeled for this. You’ll inevitably have someone load some sort of burden off on you, and rather than ignoring it, or simply transferring it to someone else to deal with… Process it. Break it down. Dissect it. Absorb it. Understand it. See where it came from, and allow that negative energy to convert into compassion.    I know it’s a lot for a podcast episode, but it’s important. I’ll probably spend the next few weeks processing this idea and seeing how it plays out in the real world. I invite you to do the same.    And if this idea is helpful to you, maybe tell a friend about it and have them give a listen as well.   I love you guys, make it a good day. 

Christianity in the West is collapsing. Poet, peacemaker and scholar John Philip Newell believes we can either deny it’s happening, try to shore up the foundations of the old thing, or we can radically reorientate our vision and ask what new thing is trying to be born. So we ask John Philip what this new thing is that is trying to emerge from deep within us and from deep within the collective soul of Christianity. Interview begins at 6m 3s If you want more from Nomad, check out our website, and follow us on Facebook and twitter. Nomad can only keep going because a small group of faithful listeners help us pay the bills. Our donors gain access to a wide range of bonus content, such as Nomad Book Club, The Beloved Listener Lounge, Nomad Contemplations, Nomad Devotionals, and of course, the Beloved Listener mug! Head over to our Patreon page for more information. If you're not fussed about the bonus content, you can make a one-off or regular donation through PayPal, the links to which you can find on our support page. And if you're looking for other people to share this journey with, then register on our Listener Map, and see if any other nomads are in your area. 

Photo: Sunrise Hike in Arizona by Todd Spencer Music: Hidden Things by John Philip Newell and Linda Larkin, sung by Suzanne Butler* (http://heartbeatjourney.org/books/) *used with permission    

Photo: Morning in Chacreseca, Nicaragua with Volcanos in view by Todd Spencer Sung Chant: As a Deer Longs, by John Philip Newell and Linda Larkin, sung by Suzanne Butler* (http://heartbeatjourney.org/books/) *used with permission      

John Philip Newell, the celebrated author of Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality, is one of the most prominent teachers of spirituality in the Western world. In 2011 he received the first-ever Contemplative Voices Award from the Shalem Institute in Washington DC in recognition of his work in spirituality and peacemaking. His PhD is from the University of Edinburgh and he has authored over 15 books, including Christ of the Celts, Praying with the Earth, A New Harmony, and his most recent visionary title The Rebirthing of God: Christianity’s Struggle for New Beginnings.

Matthew 2:1-12 Introduction to Scripture: Today we are celebrating Epiphany, a day when something new was revealed. As we read this familiar text today, let us look for something to be revealed that we had not seen before. There is a rabbinical story that can help us in this task. “It is the story of the burning bush in the Hebrew Scriptures in which Moses sees a bush on fire, but the bush is not consumed. The rabbis say that the important thing about this story is not that the bush is burning but that Moses notices, because every bush is burning, every bush is on fire with the divine presence, everything in the universe shines because God is at the heart of it. So it is in our epiphany story. It is a story that invites us to open our eyes to the light that is everywhere.” 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” 7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. For a number of years now, my bucket list of places to visit is Yosemite National Park. 2017 looks to be that year. My son, Stephen, heard of our plans and gifted me with a book of John Muir’s wilderness essays. Muir was a 19th century naturalist, His activism not only helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley but played a part in it becoming a national park. Among the essays in the book is one titled, “A Near View of the High Sierra.” There was something about the Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra that fed his soul. It just so happened that it was Epiphany day as I was reading about his travels in the High Sierras. Epiphany day is the day we as Christians celebrate the travels of the Magi to Bethlehem to pay homage to the new born king. As I enjoyed Muir’s gift for prose, I wondered if one of the magi had had the same gift for prose as Muir did and had recorded his or her travels, what a gift that would be to those of us who also in a vicarious way long to have the same experience as those magi did almost 2,000 years ago. What story would the Magi have told? How would they have described their journey? How did they explain to skeptics their willingness to invest more than two years of their lives and a significant amount of money to follow a star that supposedly might lead to a new king. To invest this amount of time and capital, there had to be something special about that star that they were following. As I was thinking about Muir’s devotion to the wilderness that gave him a focus for his life, and as I was contemplating what it might have been like for the Magi to devote several years of their lives to follow a star, I came across a poem by William Stafford that I believe gives voice to what it means to devote one’s life to a specific purpose. Stafford’s poem “The Way It Is’ takes a poetic image that William Blake used, that of a golden string, and builds upon it. Blake said this of the golden string, "I give you the end of a golden string, Only wind it into a ball, It will lead in at Heaven's gate Built in Jerusalem's wall." Stafford takers that thought and writes, “There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. People wonder about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread. But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old. Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding. You don’t ever let go of the thread.” For Muir, something in the wilds of the High Sierra’s contained that golden thread. Clearly when one read his writings, one can tell that Muir is never lost for he is always holding on to that thread that binds him to heaven’s gate. For the magi, there was something about that star that became for them the golden thread. I am sure that the Magi had a difficult time trying to make people understand what it was that they were pursuing. Just like we wonder what they were pursuing, surely people then wondered just as well. Why would the Magi give up so much of their life to follow this star? In many ways, many of us here in this room are on a similar journey as that of the Magi. We caught a glimpse of that vision of what could be when the Christ truly enters our world and we became intrigued enough to follow that vision to see where it would take us. As we journeyed, as we followed that star, the vision unfolded before us was one that declared that all people, regardless of nationality, race, gender, sexual identity, etc..etc., that all people are children of God. The golden thread revealed to us that all creation is a gift to be cherished. Sadly as the biblical story suggests, not all people catch this vision, not all people grab hold of that golden thread. In the gospel story, we read of two groups of people that missed out of heaven for lack of eyes to see what was right before them. One group, those with power, this group was embodied by that of King Herod. Herod had no interest in any new King to come. He was all about holding onto the power that he held. Power had become his god. He could not imagine giving up any of his power or riches to consider joining the magi on their quest, even if, as Blake writes, it would lead him to heaven’s gate. The other group was the wise people of that day. The magi inquired of them as to where they might find the Christ, the light of the world. The wise people of that day, the chief priests and scribes, knew scripture and were able to tell the magi where to find the Christ. It is interesting to note that the magi went where the wise ones had told them, but not a single learned person went with them. It makes me wonder why not. What about their wisdom kept them from seeing the Christ in their midst? What about our wisdom keeps us from seeing the Christ that is in our midst? What is it about our understanding of faith that keeps us from grasping hold of that golden thread that will lead us to Heaven’s gate? Just as Muir saw in the wilds of the High Sierras something magical that fed his soul, and just as the Magi caught a glimpse of a star that not only held their gaze but beckoned them to leave the comfort of home and venture into the unknown, as we enter this season of Epiphany, we too are being called to grab hold of that golden thread that will lead us to Heaven’s gate. Granted, that thread may take us places that are out of our comfort zone. That thread may very well challenge us to love those whom others say not to love, or it may challenge us welcome those whom others exclude. That thread may very well pull us to give more of ourselves, our time, and our treasures than we had earlier planned. Despite the challenges that thread will lead us to Heaven’ gate if we are willing to follow it. The question is now before us. Will we be like Herod, and miss out on what could be because we are afraid to give up our power? Or, will we be like the learned ones of that day, full of knowledge but unwilling to step out in faith to truly place our trust in the truth. If we follow in the way of Herod and the learned ones of that day, we may very well miss out on what God is doing in our midst. But if we are willing to let go of those things and to grab hold of that “golden thread” that is before us, Heaven’s gate is waiting. The choice is ours to make. Will we hold on to it or not. ___________________________________________________________ 1From Day1.org, “The Light Within All Life,” by The Rev. Dr. John Philip Newell, January 06, 2013

Celtic scholar John Philip Newell visited Wellshire in May 2016 to provide a Friday evening lecture, Saturday workshop, and sermon in Sunday worship.

Subscribe to our new Heartbeat podcast. Interfaith relationship, earth honoring spirituality, healing and transformation. Hosted by Ben Lindwall and featuring interviews and lectures from John Philip Newell and Heartbeat friends. Join us on the journey! We launch the full show in January!

Genesis 1:26-31 John Philip Newell, through his gentle and grace-filled spirit, invited over 400 weekend workshop participants into listening to the heartbeat of God which resides deep within each of us, reminding us that each of us is precious in the sight of God and that all of us are precious creations of God.

John Philip Newell, minister with the Church of Scotland and author of more than 15 books, brings his passion for peace among the religions to this conversation about the importance of  harmony within us as well as between us. Join Rev. Newell and Rev. O'Brian to explore the meeting place of Yoga and Celtic spirituality, especially as these traditions honor the Earth and help us find healing in our lives today. Capture the vision of our essential oneness and be part of the new harmony coming into planetary awareness.

Join host Rev. Paul John Roach and his guest John Philip Newell, Celtic scholar and spiritual director.