" Communauté des Frères de Taizé", Emmanuel Cattier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons For decades, the small village of Taizé in Burgundy, France, has been a pilgrimage site for those seeking the "springs of faith." What began as a refuge during wartime has blossomed into a global movement of reconciliation and peace. The Taizé style of worship is defined by its contemplative rhythm. It invites participants to enter a "common prayer" that requires no hymnal or sermon to u

Archives des jésuites de France, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons What happens when you want to offer Mass but have no bread, no wine, and no altar? This was the reality for Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955), the Jesuit priest and paleontologist, during a scientific expedition in the Gobi Desert. Lacking the elements for the Eucharist, he realized that the world itself (its work, its suffering, its evolution), could be his offering. He composed The Mass on the World

" Fresco of Virgin Orans in conch of apse in Church of the Theotokos Peribleptos in Ohrid, Macedonia", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Centering Prayer teaches us how to release thoughts in the safety of silence. But what happens when we leave the chair? How do we maintain that sense of surrender when life hits us with frustration, pain, or even overwhelming joy? This is where The Welcoming Practice begins. At The Contemplative Society, we view this as the essential c

Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Prayer has not always been a practice of words. For centuries, before the written page became the primary vessel for devotion, the faithful encountered the Divine through the language of image, colour, and form. This visual path is known as Visio Divina (Latin for "Divine Seeing"). Rooted in the understanding that God chose to become visible in the person of Christ, this practice affirms that the physical world, and the ar

Chant leader at The Contemplative Society Retreat (2022) For many of us, prayer is something we do with our minds (thinking) or our hearts (feeling). But in the Christian Wisdom tradition, prayer is also something we do with our bodies —specifically, through the vibration of our own voices. This practice is found at the heart of all sacred traditions worldwide, and for very good reasons. At The Contemplative Society, Sacred Chant is a core practice. It is not a performance.

" Side altar in a Christian church in Tunisia" Dr. Ondřej Havelka (cestovatel), CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons For many of us, reading the Bible can sometimes feel like a study session, a search for historical facts, theological arguments, or moral rules. But there is another way to approach the text, one that is less about information and more about transformation. This way is called Lectio Divina . At The Contemplative Society, we cherish this ancient practice as a way t

Festival of Faiths from Louisville, United States, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons In a world defined by noise, productivity, and the constant demand for our attention, silence can feel radical. Yet, it is in silence that the Christian wisdom tradition has always found its deepest connection to the Divine. At The Contemplative Society, Centering Prayer is one of the core practices we support. It is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contempla

Ivan Kramskoi , Christ in the Wilderness (1872), Public Domain Contemplation is the heartbeat of the Christian wisdom tradition. It is a word that carries the weight of centuries of prayer, silence, and the earnest search for union with God. Yet, even for dedicated practitioners, its precise meaning can sometimes remain elusive. Is it simply deep thought? Is it different from meditation? For The Contemplative Society, contemplation is not a fleeting trend, but the anchor of

She’s 7.5 lbs, about a year old according to our veterinarian’s office that scanned the stray dog after she came into our lives earlier this week. No chip, no collar, unclaimed days later. My wife named her Mia. Cradled in my arms and lap, I note her slow breath and feel the comforting beat of her heart. We are connected in this moment of stillness. I project my thoughts in imagining what she thinks and feels—here and now I am safe and all my needs are met. Here and now, I am

February 2026 brings exciting news on our upcoming events and projects. Take some time to read on February's reflection "Love Holds Us" by Victor Acquista.

"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.   From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien: "The Riddle of the Strider." From his novel, The Fellowship of the Ring. In This Month's Issue... Reflect with Erin Carson DeWolfe on Creation Over Consum

When I was 11 years old, my dad—then a programmer analyst at UVic—told me about this new thing called “the internet,” which he had just started playing around with at his office. (I later learned that the ’net had been around since the 1960s, but only at the dawn of the 1990s was it beginning to gain global traction.) There was this tool called “email” that allowed you to send an electronic “letter” almost instantly to somebody else, anywhere in the world, who also had a comp

Having a heard time orienting our new platform? Take a look at our new site tutorial resource. Dear Friends and Community, The Contemplative Society (TCS) is pleased to share that a refreshed version of our website will be launched on December 10th, 2025. For nearly a quarter century, ever since our first site went live in 2001, our digital home has helped us stay connected across distance, share teachings, and support one another in contemplative practice. Over time, however

"The reason why so few contemplative persons are found, is that so few know how to separate themselves entirely from what is transitory and created.” - Thomas à Kempis: "The Imitation of Christ." Book Three, The Thirty-First Chapter. In This Month's Issue... Reflect with Paula Pryce on The You-ness of Me. Listen for God's promptings through Here I Am , an Advent 2025 online retreat with Therese DesCamp, Lorie Martin and Milla McLachlan, to be held on December 11, 2025. Await

And yet for some time now, the Divine has been seeking my hand. I can sense her corporeal warmth, as though the Queen of Heaven is opening her arms to me in invitation.

All photos courtesy of Leslie Sandra Black Fr Thomas Keating taught “ Divine Therapy ” through “ opening to the Presence and Action of God within”.   His core contemplative practice is Centering Prayer; mine is Energy Healing.   As a contemplative method, energy healing helps us connect with the present moment and encourages transformation. With mindful intention, practitioners can support holistic wellness and spiritual growth, following the modelling of Jesus.   Let’s refl

“Every seeing, no matter how calamitous to the ego, is an enhancement of Being….” – Cynthia Bourgeault: “Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening,” Page 132.   In This Month’s Issue… Reflect with Leslie Sandra Black on  Energy Healing: A Contemplative Practice. Journey in image through TCS’s “A Wisdom School on Wisdom Rhythms & Relationships, held with Heather Ruce @ Sorrento Centre”. Explore Contemplative Activism in Challenging Times, through an online retreat with Cynthia Bou

“The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love…. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things….”

     Discussing the ineffable with the devotedly non-religious can be tricky. For my efforts to engage them, I’ve found that their alternative perspectives can sometimes elbow me out of blind spots. Sometimes unsettling, but ultimately always welcome. That happened at a dinner party I recently hosted. It all started with spidey senses and flying fish.

Exploring the Heart of Christian Wisdom For more than two decades, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault has been one of the leading voices in the Christian Wisdom movement. Through her books, she invites readers into a deeper encounter with silence, prayer, and the transformative path of contemplative living. Whether you are new to Cynthia’s work or a long-time student, her writings open doorways into the rich lineage of Christian mysticism while also engaging in conversation with oth