About Us
The work of the Contemplative Society is to nurture and support the growth of contemplatives—to hold space for people to mature in their spiritual journey. We focus particularly on the Christian Wisdom tradition, although we work with and are open to the wisdom of all traditions.
The Contemplative Society's work is rooted in the practice of Centering Prayer; the 1500-year-old Benedictine heritage of ora et labora (conscious work and conscious prayer); the practice of embodied awareness;
and a felt connection with place and the more-than-human world.
We draw upon the wisdom of Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, our founding teacher, and numerous other spiritual elders from North America and beyond. We work with these wise teachers to offer both in-person and online retreats, courses and groups, and to provide instructional and inspirational materials in both textual and audio format. We also collaborate with other groups working in the area of contemplative practices, and we now host the Cynthia Bourgeault archives for scholars and students of the contemplative path.
The Contemplative Society maintains an administrative presence to communicate with members and to support a regular and balanced schedule of retreat, teaching, and workshop opportunities.
Your Spiritual Home
Experience the heart of community, reflection, and spiritual growth with The Contemplative Society. Let this video offer a glimpse into the welcoming spirit and shared journey found here, where every step is honoured and every seeker has a place.
A Brief History
The Contemplative Society was formed in 1997 on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia with four original members united in their desire to support contemplative renewal in the area. The group sought a teacher to lead retreats and workshops, and to encourage the spiritual life by living a contemplative life of deep prayer and spiritual practice.
In January 1998 the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, Episcopal priest, hermit, author, musician and teacher, arrived on Salt Spring Island at the invitation of the Society to take the role of resident teacher. Cynthia’s presence generated tremendous energy and excitement for the work and vision of the Society.
With Covid 19, TCS turned its focus to online retreats and workshops. We’ve developed hybrid retreats (both in-person and online) and are experimenting with satellite options, where small groups attend the online sessions and do the work of the retreat together. What began as a place-based vision has now spread across the globe.
As Cynthia’s work expanded beyond TCS, we have added to the roster of wise leaders who offer both in-person and on-line retreats and workshops. These have most recently included James Finley, Heather Ruce, and Matthew Wright. The Board has fleshed out a bold and broad new vision, one that links our long-time members for mutual support, continues the work of retreats and workshops, and connects to unexpected new partners in the world around us. This nascent vision includes a clear commitment to and engagement with the land, water and beings with whom we share this planet.
The Contemplative Society was registered as a Canadian charity on August 07, 1997. Our registered charity number is 878177161RR0001.
Values
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Living the Christian Wisdom tradition,
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Practicing meditation regularly is foundational to the spiritual journey,
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Grounding in scholarship which illuminates the Christian contemplative (spiritual) life,
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Honouring the contemplative Christian lineage as expressed in the life of Jesus, the early Desert Community, and Christian mystics through the ages,
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Welcoming all people who wish to engage with the Christian contemplative tradition,
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Respecting diversity within the many approaches to spiritual life,
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Acknowledging the importance of our interconnectedness with the earth, and
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Learning from the contemplative practices of other traditions.
Land Acknowledgement
"View from Baynes Peak, Saltspring Island", Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The Contemplative Society was founded on Salt Spring Island, known in Hul’q’umi’num’ (Hulquminum) as Tl’elhum (Tlayl-hum), and in SENĆOŦEN (Sencoten) as ĆU,ÁÁN (Choo-ahn), part of the homelands of the Hul’q’umi’num’ and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. Today, while The Contemplative Society's reach spans the globe, our administration is based in Victoria BC, on the traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) peoples (the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations), who have stewarded this land for thousands of years. We honour their ongoing presence, wisdom, and care for these lands and waters, and seek to walk our contemplative path with gratitude, humility, and respect.
For more information on the sacred land that gave birth to this community, please refer to "Indigenous Placenames
of Salt Spring Island" by the Salt Spring Island Archives.