The Contemplative Society


 

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The Contemplative Society

contemplative, silent prayer, centering prayer, cynthia bourgeault, benedictine


The Contemplative Society is an inclusive non-profit association that encourages a deepening of contemplative prayer based in the Christian Wisdom tradition while also welcoming and being supportive of other meditation traditions.


We offer a consistent and balanced path for spiritual growth and transformation rooted in prayer, silence, mindful work, and in the 1500-year-old wisdom of our Benedictine contemplative heritage.


The Society supports the work of Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault in her role of Principal Teacher and Advisor for The Contemplative Society and her vocation as a hermit and writer. We do so by sponsoring retreats, wisdom schools, and workshops led by Cynthia and other distinguished teachers of the Christian contemplative path, and through the sales of instructional and inspiration materials, in both textual and audio format, supportive of the contemplative life.


The Contemplative Society actively nurtures local teachers of the contemplative way and maintains an office to communicate with members and to provide a regular and balanced schedule of retreat, teaching, and workshop opportunities.



photo of Cynthia Bourgeault

 

A current schedule of upcoming

EVENTS with CYNTHIA BOURGEAULT

is available HERE

 

 

 

Online course: Centering Prayer with Cynthia Bourgeault

 

Centering Prayer is a simple, no-frills form of meditation in the Christian tradition. Since it was first developed by Christian contemplative monks in the 1970s, it has allowed tens of thousands of practitioners worldwide to “return home,” developing an authentically Christian meditation practice which not only delivers the healing and quieting of the mind typical of all meditation paths, but also reconnects directly to Christianity’s hidden treasury of mystical and transformational wisdom.

 

For more information or to subscribe to this online course hosted by

Spirituality and Practice, click HERE.




 

New Blog with Cynthia Bourgeault

and other contemplative teachers and friends

 

Click HERE to read the most recent posting


Reflections on THE FUTURE OF CHURCH

Observations and reflections with Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault

and Christopher Page

 

"... there exists a possibility for making a new and deeper connection between old and new, inner and outer, in a way that neither trashes tradition nor trashes human beings standing on the outside, yearning to be invited deeper within." - Cynthia Bourgeault

 

Click HERE for a pdf version of the full 12-part series.

 

Also of interest:

 

Click HERE to read a recent interview that Christopher Page conducted with Cynthia discussing her personal spiritual development, and the role that sacraments may play in the spiritual journey.


 

 

Recorded teachings by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault

 

An Introduction to the Practise of Centering Prayer

THIS SET IS NOW AVAILABLE AS MP3/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

An Introduction to the Practice of Centering Prayer - live recording


Centering Prayer is a wordless, trusting prayer practice that seeks to open us more deeply to the presence and action of God. As we rest in silence at the centre of our being, our awareness of the Divine grows. Through the regular practice of Centering Prayer, our ability to be present, flexible, and forgiving increases. We become more honest and comfortable in our own being. This CD offers a full introduction to the method of Centering Prayer. Cynthia discusses the basics such as handling thoughts and the logistics of setting up a regular practice. She has been a practitioner of Centering Prayer since 1988 and this practice is core to her teaching

 

Click HERE for our ordering page.

 



NEWEST CD RELEASE:

 

ASSISI PILGRIMAGE: Journey to the Heart of St. Francis & St. Clare (11 CD set) - live recording


Assisi Pilgrimage CD cover

Recorded at a Wisdom School in Assisi Italy, August 6-13, 2010

 

Cynthia Bourgeault is joined by Ward Bauman and Susanne Olin in an exploration of the lives of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. In this seven day Wisdom School held in Assisi Italy, Francis and Clare are presented as “models for conscious love.” An exploration of sacred artifacts and historical sites of Assisi, 'The City of God', is also included. The teaching explores surrender, embodiment, immolation, and salvation showing how they work together to create a sustained force of love in our lives. The teaching further explores the inner meaning of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as an embodiment of the Wisdom Way. As we come to know the true heart of Francis and Clare, new light is shed upon early Christian thought regarding our bodies, human sexuality, renunciation, and the natural world. Contemplative Compline with chant and instruction in grounding practices is also included.

 

Click HERE for our ordering page.

 

 


Newest book by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault


The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity

 

"It is light bursting over the waters beneath a heavy clouded sky-- it is a woman speaking out into the clear air after the heart's years of secret conversing--it is, as David Whyte once said; The opening of eyes long closed--deep seeing into the true image at the core and resolving back to our origin. I sense an energetic symbiosis of your mind and hers until I am not sure who is speaking and that is the amazing anamnesis you have achieved. The book is magnificent; another writing to live on- to love through" - Rev. Robert Pynn, poet and Dean Emeritus of the Anglican Cathedral, Calgary, Alberta

 

Read a review from The National Catholic Reporter.

 

Click HERE for a wonderful book review of The Meaning of Mary Magdalene from Victoria-based writer and spiritual teacher, Dr. David Benner

 

Click HERE for our ordering page. Note: The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, as well as The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault, will be available in ebook format for Kindle and other digital reading devices by the end of June 2011.

 



Featured recorded teaching:

 

Mary Magdalene & the Path of Conscious Love (10 CD set) - live recording


Mary Magdelene and the Path of Conscious Love - Cynthia Bourgeault

Join Cynthia Bourgeault as she takes us on a vivid in-depth journey through the Canonical and Gnostic Gospels to reclaim the highly esteemed Mary Magdalene of the early church, and to reveal her role as principal teacher and apostle. Learn to see both Mary Magdalene and Jesus with new eyes and to understand Jesus' teaching on 'relationship' with others as a tool for transformation.


Through this CD set, Cynthia leads us to uncover a "vision of Christianity based on transformative and redemptive love, versus renunciation and judgment -- a Christianity based on what connects us rather than what separates us".

 

 

Click HERE for our ordering page.

 

 


Featured Presentations and Interviews with

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault:

 

 

New Zealand journal features Cynthia in article entitled "A Deeper Communion"

Cynthia shares her thoughts on the vital role of meditation and an evolving model of church with Michael Fitzsimmons for the New Zealand-based Tui Moto journal.

Click HERE to read this article.

 

 

Audio Interview with Tami Simon: Encountering the Wisdom Jesus

Sounds True founder and interviewer Tami Simon recently spoke with Cynthia about kenosis and Jesus’ life understood as a sacrament, the Welcoming Practice, and a number of other enlightening topics.

Click HERE to listen or download this podcast or access the full transcription of this interview.

 

 

Listen to Cynthia's beautiful and bold sermon delivered on Palm Sunday:

As Cynthia starts her sermon she refers to the congregation having just heard the traditional reading of the passion narrative, and invites us to consider an alternative message - one that places the mystery of love at the center of the Easter story. (Recorded April 17, 2011 at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, BC Canada)

Click HERE to access this recorded sermon.

 

 

anointing image

"Being" Mary Magdalene - A young woman shares her profound and personal experience of being touched by the Magdalenic energy while "being Mary" at a recent anointing service with Cynthia:

"As the entire congregation chanted over and over in beautiful melody, it felt obvious that opening as love requires no knowledge of scripture, no baptism, no earning of anything, especially worthiness. It didn’t matter that I don’t know the full story of Mary Magdalene because I was not doing anything. All that was required of me was to open in love."

Click HERE to read the full posting by Chela Davison.

 

 

Listen to Cynthia's radio interview discussing The Meaning of Mary Magdalene:

Jean Feraca from Wisconsin Public Radio, interviews Cynthia about her newest book.

As Cynthia asserts in the conversation, "to reclaim Mary Magdalene is to reclaim Christianity." (Recorded April 27, 2011)

Click HERE to access this recorded interview.

 

 

Cynthia speaks on Mystics and Contemplatives as Visionaries and Prophets:

In this new percolation of the spirit that is often being called nowadays “The Emerging Church,” Cynthia suggests it is the mystics and contemplatives who will emerge as the prophets and visionaries— because their contemplative practice makes this evolution virtually inescapable. (Recorded at the Lenten Noon Forum at St. John the Divine in Victoria, BC Canada, March 23, 2011)

Click HERE to access this recorded presentation.

 

 

Listen to Cynthia's presentation on Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening: An Ancient Contemplative Practice for Our Own Time:

Listen to Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault speaking at Washington National Cathedral, May 2010 on the ancient path of Christian meditation, as it has been adapted for the twenty-first century. Click HERE to download or listen to this MP3 recorded presentation.

 

 

photo of Cynthia BourgeaultVideo interview with Cynthia Bourgeault discussing religion and spirituality:

 

 

Watch an interview from The Life Divine as Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault explores religion and spirituality, and specifically Christianity and the Christ as an awakened one, inspiring our own awakening.

Click HERE to view this video.

 

 

 

Audio interview with Ken Wilber:

Ken Wilber from Integral Life talks with Cynthia about her book The Meaning of Mary Magdalene.

Click HERE to listen to this audio interview.

 

 

photo of Cynthia Bourgeault

Gwyneth Paltrow interviews Cynthia for her newsletter:

Q: What is this book about?

A: Obviously, it’s about Mary Magdalene, but in her three interlocking roles as apostle, intimate friend of Jesus, and purveyor of sacred Wisdom. The point of my book is that you can’t separate these roles, as people have been trying to do for centuries. And when you put all the pieces back together into a single person, what emerges is not only an astonishing new portrait of Mary Magdalene, but an astonishing new portrait of Christianity as well: a portrait that promises healing and forgiveness for Christianity’s notorious wounds in the areas of human intimacy and relationships, and a bold new Christian vision of enlightened consciousness.

Click HERE to read this full interview.

 

 

Audio Interview with Cynthia Bourgeault and David Riordan:

Integral Life is exploring the Future of Christianity with a myriad of Progressive Christian teachers and philosophers including Ken Wilber, Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Rohr and many more.

Click HERE to access this interview.

 

 

YouTube Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault on YouTube

 

 

Shalem Institute Director interviews Cynthia on The Meaning of Mary Magdalene:

Carole Crumley, Shalem's Senior Program Director talks with Cynthia about Mary Magdalene in relation to her three primary roles as apostle, intimate friend of Jesus, and purveyor of wisdom.  When these three roles are put together the implications for Christianity are profound and transformative. (Recorded on November 14, 2010)

Click HERE to access this YouTube video.

 

 

photo of Cynthia Bourgeault

Seeking the Divine host interviews Cynthia on The Meaning of Mary Magdalene:

Dr. Patricia Ann Hill from Seeking The Divine TV show interviews Cynthia on "The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity". Click HERE to access this YouTube video.

 

You can access the full hour-long interview HERE.

 

 

 

Seeking the Divine host interviews Cynthia on The Wisdom Way of Knowing:

Dr. Patricia Ann Hill from Seeking The Divine TV show interviews Cynthia on "The Wisdom Way of Knowing". Cynthia discusses her understanding of the meaning of Wisdom, including the differences between information, knowledge and Wisdom, and Wisdom as an integration of mind, body, and spirit.

Click HERE to access this YouTube video.

 

You can access the full hour-long interview HERE.

 


 


 

The Contemplative Society - Recent Newsletters

 

Most recent newsletter:

 

Newsletter - Spring 2011

 

Previous newsletters:

 

Newsletter - Autumn 2010

 

Newsletter - Spring 2010

 

 


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