Offered by the United Church Campus Ministry in association with The Contemplative Society, join fellow contemplatives and spiritual seekers for a transforming time of contemplation with a group of heart-centered friends. The day will include chanting in the style of Taizé, lectio divina, labyrinth walking mediation, and resting in the solitude of Finnerty Garden. Refreshments and a simple soup and bread lunch will be provided.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: FREE. Donations gratefully received.

Register now! For more information, contact Henri Lock at hlock@uvic.ca or 250-472-4159.

While we encourage you to consider carbon-reducing modes of transportation, parking is available for a flat rate of $2.50 on Saturdays. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! For building and parking information, please see the map (Interfaith Chapel is located box 4A).

Facilitated by Judith Slimmon, this workshop will define and explore the value and importance of symbolic life as represented by the labyrinth, provide a history of the labyrinth, give participants the opportunity to walk the St. Philip labyrinth, and reflect on and discuss this experience. This ritual can quiet the mind, engage the creative imagination and intuition, activate receptivity to deeper layers of our being/knowing and help us to experience our heart’s longing.

EVENT DETAILS:

Cost: $40

Coffee and tea will be provided, but please bring a bag lunch. For more information and to register, please visit St. Philip’s website, or contact Karen Fenimore at karenf@stphilipvictoria.ca.

Also, walk a labyrinth at UVic all December! See the event calendar on the Interfaith Chapel events page for more information.

Hosted by the Garrison Institute, this silent, meditation-based retreat will combine theoretical and practical learning to cultivate the transition from the sense of self anchored in personal story-telling and drama to one of more spaciousness and equanimity, also known as “The Witness”. Cynthia Bourgeault will help participants confidently navigate the stumbling blocks that arise for many Western Christians by integrating the Christian nondual perspective.

While people who practice all forms of meditation are welcome, Cynthia’s approach will be of particular interest to those practising Centering Prayer. She will be drawing on ideas explored in her book, The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Prerequisite: an established meditation practice

Cost: $590-$850 USD, depending on room type

For more information and to register, see the Garrison Institute.

The Mind & Life International Symposium for Contemplative Research (ISCR) is the flagship conference for interdisciplinary investigations of the mind, meditation, and other contemplative practices. From academics to activists, parents to philosophers, this diverse group of change-makers brings together leading research, experiential learning, and community-building all under one roof.

Cynthia Bourgeault joins voices such as Jack Kornfield and Matthieu Ricard just to name a few among many distinguished leaders in contemplative learning and practice. Please visit ISCR’s program page to learn more and register.

CONFERENCE DETAILS:

Conference fees: $175-$595 USD
Accommodations: there are a limited number of rooms available at the Sheraton Grand during ISCR for $189 USD plus tax

For more information and to register, including sponsorship opportunities and information about the new Community Resource Fair, visit the ISCR website. You may also contact them directly at programs@mindandlife.org.

Hosted by Contemplative Outreach Chicago at Benedictine University in Lisle, the seventh annual fall workshop will explore practices developed and passed down over many centuries that include the recognition and utlisation of our entire being rather than only rational thought. As taught by Cynthia, Wisdom shows us that perception and awareness are unitive experiences and Centering Prayer is a core element of this type of wisdom, helping us to release the thinking mind’s dominance over us. Join Cynthia in community to journey beyond these ideas and into practice.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $75 before October 1, and $85 USD afterward (lunch included)

For more information (including scholarship opportunities and student discounts) and to register, please visit Contemplative Outreach Chicago’s website.

A beautiful and gentle workshop to learn the meditation practice of Centering Prayer. Through silence and an inner gesture of letting go, we learn to experience Sacred Presence beyond words, emotions, and thoughts, and to release our attachment to the egoic perspective. The practice cultivates a deep relationship with sacred reality, and opens us to compassion and inner peace.

This workshop is free and open to everyone! It will give you a powerful personal tool for you to navigate the complexities of life. No previous experience necessary – come as you are!

Join Henri Lock, United Chaplain at the University of Victoria’s Multifaith Services and Miranda Harvey, Administrator of The Contemplative Society, as we explore the teachings of Thomas Keating and Cynthia Bourgeault that shape this practice. To reserve your spot, please register via this form.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: FREE. Donations gratefully received.

Parking/Map: We encourage you to help reduce toxic emissions by using alternative forms of transportation, rather than driving. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! For building and parking information, please see the map (Interfaith Chapel is located box 4A).

Hosted by the United Church Campus Ministry (Chaplain Henri Lock – hlock@uvic.ca), in association with The Contemplative Society. Register now!

For enquiries or questions, please phone Henri at 250-472-4159 or email hlock@uvic.ca.

Spirituality Beyond Borders invites you to join a piece of the global contemplative community for an interactive rebroadcast of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s CONSPIRE 2018 webcast featuring Richard Rohr, Barbara Brown Taylor, Mirabai Starr, and more who will explore the idea “Path of Descent: Path of Transformation”. The webcast will be enhanced by in-person contemplative practice nestled in the beauty of sea, sand, forest, and mountain over a convenient six-week period. Andrew Twiddy will be your local facilitator and host for theme elaboration, discussion, and practice.

SERIES DETAILS

Cost: by donation
Schedule: six Wednesdays, either 9:15 am – 12:15 pm or 6:15 pm – 9:15 pm (October 24 through November 28)

For full program details and to register, please contact 250-248-3114 or spiritualitybeyondborders@gmail.com.

Notice to the public

The Contemplative Society invites you to attend our Annual General Meeting, a great opportunity to connect with your fellow contemplatives. Everyone is welcome, but only members in attendance can vote. Desserts, coffee, and tea provided! All in attendance will also be eligible to enter a prize draw for a free signed copy of Cynthia Bourgeault’s new book Love is the Answer: What is the Question? A few signed copies will also be available for purchase.

If you are interested in electing or appointing members to be our directors and helping The Contemplative Society make important decisions about our future, we invite you to consider becoming a member. To participate at this AGM, your membership must be current (having made a donation since October 20, 2017).

We strongly encourage you to engage in this process in order to align TCS’ future with the vision of our community. If you are already a member, we will be notifying you in advance to renew your membership if applicable. To become a member or renew your membership now, visit our Support Us page. There will also be an opportunity to do so in person.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date and time: Saturday, October 20th – 4:00 pm
Location: University of Victoria’s Interfaith Chapel (3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria BC)
We encourage you to help reduce toxic emissions by using alternative forms of transportation, rather than driving. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! Parking is $3.00 on Saturdays.

For more information, please contact our administrator at admin@contemplative.org or 250-381-9650. Our AGM is open to the public, so feel free to bring your friends!

Held at Vaughan Park, join Cynthia Bourgeault for a retreat grounded in meditation and teaching both a theoretical and practical enquiry into the gradual transition from a more limited sense of self anchored in personal story-telling and drama (“narrative self”) to a more spacious and less cognitively constructed self (“witness self”). While a common concept in much Eastern spiritual practice, witnessing presence is often still a stumbling block for many Western Christians. Cynthia will approach this challenge from the perspective of Christian nonduality, attempting to help practitioners root from a place of witnessing with more confidence and ease.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost : $300-$460 (depending on accommodations; meals included in all packages)

Time: Thursday, October 11 at 4:00 pm to Monday, October 15 at 1:00 pm

Pre-requisites: open to experienced meditators on all paths, but it will be of special interest to those coming from a Christian context and who practice Centering Prayer. While not mandatory, Cynthia’s latest book The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice is recommended reading.

To register or for more information, email Bev Silvester-Clark at bev.s-c@outlook.com or phone 027-431-6205.

In conjunction with his four-night retreat on beautiful Cowichan Lake, the University of Victoria Multifaith Services, the United Church Campus Ministry, and the Anglican Diocese of BC join The Contemplative Society in welcoming the Rev. Matthew Wright for this special public event that will parse the value our culture puts on the individual above all else. In contrast, learn how the heart sees from the Whole, finding the individual’s place in relation to the Wholeness of things. Together, we’ll ask questions such as, “How do our lives fit within the larger Life to which we belong?” and “How do we live with balance and compassion?” Come and learn from the Christian and Sufi mystical traditions as we explore how to live from the heart, engaging in teaching, chant, and contemplative practice.

New to Matthew?  Rob King, a participant in our last Wisdom School on the Gospel of Thomas, had this to say about him: “If you have not had a chance to experience Matthew’s teaching, you will be in for a real treat…He has a unique ability to take what seems like difficult teachings and make them understandable and alive in a way that leads to personal transformation…[The Gospel of Thomas] became a living epistle!”

EVENT DETAILS:

Cost: by donation.
Timing: doors at 6:30 pm; talk at 6:45 pm. There may be additional programming after 8:00 pm (poetry, song, sacred dance) and if so, the public is welcome to stay and enjoy.

We encourage you to help reduce toxic emissions by using alternative forms of transportation, rather than driving. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! Parking is $3.00 on weekday evenings.

Join Cynthia Bourgeault for this Wisdom School exploring Peter Spink’s legacy from the context of “The Conscious Circle of Humanity” or, in other words, what his teaching may be calling us to engage in now. 

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost : $500 (includes meals and accommodations; special diets add another $40)

Time: Thursday, October 11 at 4:00 pm to Monday, October 15 at 1:00 pm

Pre-requisites: open to experienced meditators on all paths, but it will be of special interest to those coming from a Christian context and who practice Centering Prayer.

To register or for more information, email Bev Silvester-Clark at bev.s-c@outlook.com or phone 027-431-6205.

This retreat with Matthew Wright is made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer.

Join The Contemplative Society and the Rev. Matthew Wright for a four-night Wisdom School that will explore the metaphysics undergirding the teachings of Jesus and the early Christian Wisdom tradition, as well as their relationship to a similar stream of teaching that flows through Islamic Sufism. These teachings present us with a coherent and luminous map of the human journey from timelessness into time, and deeper into integration and conscious union. We hope you will sign up and come with us as we seek to “enter the bridal chamber”, what Jesus calls the place of mystical union already present within our own hearts, accompanied on our journey by the Gospels of Thomas, Mary Magdalene, and Philip, as well as by the words of Sufi masters from Ibn al-Arabi to Jalaluddin Rumi. Please fill out this form to register (until Wednesday, October 10 at noon).

A public event will also be held in Victoria on the evening of October 15 at UVic’s Interfaith Chapel. Visit the event page for more information.

New to Matthew?  Rob King, a participant in our last Wisdom School on the Gospel of Thomas, had this to say about him: “If you have not had a chance to experience Matthew’s teaching, you will be in for a real treat…He has a unique ability to take what seems like difficult teachings and make them understandable and alive in a way that leads to personal transformation…[The Gospel of Thomas] became a living epistle!”

Register today!

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $900 CAD (private) – a limited number of partial scholarships will be made available. If you are interested in a scholarship, please apply via this form alongside your registration (deadline: Monday, October 8).

Fees include overnight accommodations and vegetarian meals. Check out the Cowichan Lake Research Station website for more information on the venue. For more general information, please contact us by email at admin@contemplative.org or at 250-381-9650.

The Contemplative Network is hosting Cynthia in Wellington for a day-long retreat introducing some of the ideas from her latest book, The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice. Cynthia will review Thomas Keating’s teaching on the purification of narrative self, introduce the Witnessing self, and have a closer look at the Welcoming Prayer as a gateway into it. There will also be time for meditation practice, and an opportunity for Q&A.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $75 (includes a “brown bag” lunch)

For more information and to register, please contact Pip Nicholls at pip.nicholls@xtra.co.nz with the names of all attending. This event has limited capacity and registration is require to attend.

Organised by the The Enneagram Institute^®, join Cynthia Bourgeault and Russ Hudson for workshop exploring the original meaning of the Enneagram, the history of the authentic contemplative path in the Western tradition, and how these foundations of inner work can be successfully woven with the Enneagram of personality. Cynthia and Russ come together in this brand new exploration to present a dynamic and different take on how a deeper understanding of the Enneagram, grounded in its roots, can radically expedite our psychological and spiritual growth.

Topics will include:

• The various lineages of the Enneagram.
• How the Enneagram relates to cosmic laws.
• Lawful asymmetry and the dynamism of the Enneagram.
• The Enneagram as a tool for the evolution of conscious development.
• Using the Enneagram to work with flow rather than against it.

EVENT DETAILS:

Cost: $795 USD (including $500 deposit) – includes tuition, materials, lunch, and dinner.

Time: 

• Friday, September 21: 6:00-9:00 pm EST
• Saturday, September 22: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm EST
• Sunday, September 23: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm EST

For more information and to register, visit The Enneagram Institute’s event page or contact their support team at support@enneagraminstitute.com.

Spirituality Beyond Borders invites you to join their community for an immersive retreat and to view the a rebroadcast of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s webcast featuring Richard Rohr, Barbara Brown Taylor, Mirabai Starr, and more who will explore the idea “Path of Descent: Path of Transformation”. The webcast will be enhanced by in-person contemplative practice and a beautiful setting of a forested lakeside environment. Andrew Twiddy will be your local facilitator and host for theme elaboration, discussion, and practice.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $340 – $565 (residential is optional; please enquire about bursaries)
Schedule: Sunday, September 9 (4:00 pm) – Wednesday, September 12 (12:30 pm)

For full program details and to register, please visit the Bethlehem Centre website. If you are interested in the live webcast (August 31-September 2), please visit the Conspire 2018 event page.

Spirituality Beyond Borders invites you to join their community to view the Center for Action and Contemplation webcast featuring Richard Rohr, Barbara Brown Taylor, Mirabai Starr, and more who will explore the idea “Path of Descent: Path of Transformation”. The webcast will be enhanced by in-person contemplative practice and a beautiful setting of sea, sand, forest, and mountain. Andrew Twiddy will be your local facilitator and host for theme elaboration, discussion, and practice.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: by donation
Schedule:

• Friday, August 31: 11:30 am-5:30 pm
• Saturday, September 1: 7:30 am-5:30 pm
• Sunday, September 2: 7:30 am-5:00 pm

For full program details and to register, please email spiritualitybeyondborders@gmail.com or phone 250-248-3114.

There will also be a retreat hosted by the Bethlehem Centre in Nanaimo featuring this webcast September 9-12. Please see their website for more details and to register.

Hosted by The Shift Network, discover experiential practices to activate higher realization — and embody the deepest, most sacred aspects of your Enneagram type in your everyday life.  Russ Hudson, Jessica Dibb, and guest teacher Cynthia Bourgeault will show you how to heal “core suffering” in yourself and our world by immersing yourself in the true teachings (and purpose) of the Virtues, Holy Ideas, and Instincts.

Find out more and register for today to gain access to the 17-week video training course summit. The program starts August 9, but registration is open until September 7.

COURSE DETAILS:

Online: August 9, 2018 through January 3, 2019
Cost: $597 USD

For more information and to register, please visit TheDepthApproach.com.

At this time, registration is only open to oblates of the monastery. Space will be very limited, so check back here for public registration or visit GlastonburyAbbey.org.

Cynthia Bourgeault will spend the weekend at Glastonbury Abbey working with participants to reflect on the core Benedictine value of stability, the intuition that genuine transformation proceeds more powerfully under the conditions of confinement (voluntary self-limitation) than expansion (keeping one’s options open). The retreat will feature teaching by Cynthia based on a close reading of selected chapters from the Rule of St. Benedict, combined with individual and group meditation, as well as the opportunity to join with the community in the monastic liturgy.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: suggested $300 offering.

For registration and enquiries, please contact 781-749-2155 ext. 300 or retreats@glastonburyabbey.org. 

This retreat is now full, but you can contact Jill Benet to be added to the waitlist: jillbenet@hotmail.com.

Hosted by Holy Isle, join Cynthia Bourgeault for a retreat building on last year’s retreat on Teilhard de Chardin’s masterpiece, The Human Phenomenon. This retreat will expand on Cynthia’s more succinct e-course on the same topic, which is recommended as pre-retreat study material.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: not available

Pre-requisites: No pre-reading requires, though if you have a copy of The Human Phenomenon (Sarah Appleton-Weber is the recommended translation), please bring it along. You may also wish to read Ursula King’s Spirit of Fire.

For more information and to register, please visit Holy Isle’s event page or contact Jill Benet at jillbenet@hotmail.com.

What if you had a roadmap – a “soul-map” – for understanding who you are and what makes the people around you tick? The Enneagram can help you tap into your powerful inner wisdom and shed light on behaviours that may be undermining your journey to wholeness, true intimacy, and fulfilment.

Join Cynthia Bourgeault and 47 other experts (including her friends Russ Hudson and A. H. Almaas) on the Enneagram for this FREE online event. They will share the latest insights and applications to integrate into your own personal growth journey and take your Enneagram knowledge deeper.

Cynthia’s own talk, airing on Wednesday, June 13 at 10:00 am PST, will explore “The Asymmetrical Dynamism of the Enneagram: The Mandala That Won’t Stay On the Page”. Read her personal letter to find out more about what’s in store (in short: “While we’re used to looking at the symbol as a closed circle on a two-dimensional plane, by the very nature of the dynamism coiled within it, it wants to jump of the page into 3-d, where it presents itself as a spiral rather than a closed circle, continuously generating new realms for exploration and creative expression”).

She will also join Russ Hudson, Terry Saracino, Sandra Maitri, and host Jessica Dibb on Friday, June 15 to explore the topic “True Integration or Spritual Bypass? Toward Real Emergent Awakening, Part 1 and Part 2.”

Find out more and register for FREE today to gain access to the entire summit, including Cynthia’s talk.

SUMMIT DETAILS

Online: June 11-15, 2018 (Cynthia’s talks are June 13 and June 15)

For more information and to register for FREE, visit the Enneagram Global Summit website.

Northeast Wisdom invites you to participate in this special family-friendly wisdom event on Cynthia Bourgeault’s home island at Stonington, ME. She will be focusing the teaching on “The Good, the True, and the Beautiful”,  refocusing our attention on wonder, goodness, and truth as opposed to the violence and immorality we’ve become accustomed to on the nightly news. The program will include meditation, teaching (shared with the Rev. Matthew Wright), chanting, music, practical work, a children’s group, as well as time for adventure and exploring the local paradise.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $150-$200 program fee plus accommodation costs (approximately $500 per room per week); a $50 USD non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space.

Accommodations: Check out The Island Agency and Downeast Maine Vacation Rentals, or stay tuned for Northeast Wisdom-rented properties.

Registration is open! Please visit Northeast Wisdom to register and for more program details. You may also contact them directly for more information.

The Contemplative Society joins the local Living Presence group in inviting you to take part in an entirely self-led silent retreat. While most of the retreat will be in silence, participants will decide the structure of sits, Lectio Divina, chanting, and supportive debriefing to help bolster each other’s practice. Registration is now open!

RETREAT DETAILS

Cost: $550 CAD (including $75 non-refundable deposit)
Pre-requisite: as there is no professional leader, a minimum meditation practice of two years is recommended

Click to register now! Space is limited, and immediate payment of your non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space. Questions can be directed to Ian Brown at 250-727-2480 or yg743@victoria.tc.ca.

Following Contemplative Outreach South Africa’s National Conference, Cynthia Bourgeault will lead a contemplative Wisdom School in the Western Cape. She will be working with meditation, contemplative prayer, lectio divina, the language of sacred gesture, and the daily practices of mindfulness, inner observation, and surrender in a traditional Benedictine context.

Please note that the Wisdom School is now full, but they are taking a waitlist. To add your name, please complete the registration form and send to Penny Joy Day at pjday@iafrica.com.

RETREAT DETAILS

Pre-requisites: An established meditation practice and a willingness to participate fully in the program.

Cost: R2000 plus accommodation (includes bedding, towels, and full board) – accommodations range from R2400-R3000. Please see the registration form for more information.

Time: May 3rd at 6:00 pm to May 6th, ending with lunch

For more information, please contact Penny Joy Day at pjday@iafrica.com.

Contemplative Outreach South Africa‘s National Conference this year features Cynthia Bourgeault as their distinguished teacher.

After the conference, Cynthia will also be hosting a Wisdom School from May 3-6.

EVENT DETAILS

Full board (single – limited); full board (shared with en suite); or day-visit only attendance options available. Please contact Wendy Maree at 012-993-3525 or 082-339-9969, or by email at wndmaree@gmail.com for more information. To register, please download this form and follow the enclosed instructions.

Hosted by the Wisdom Centre, Matthew will explore the Gospel of Thomas over the course of four days, the 2000-year-old non-canonical text that features short sayings of Jesus (similar to kōans) which are often used today in the practice of lectio divina. Matthew will lead us through the ways in which Thomas can help reorient Christianity for a global, inter-spiritual age. Matthew will also refer to the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. The retreat will include teaching, periods of silent reflection, and time for contemplative prayer. There will also be a public event at St. Laurence Anglican Church on Friday, April 20 at 7:30 pm.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $550  CAD (shared) or $700 CAD (private) for three nights’ meals and accommodations. A $250 or $350 deposit (depending on room type; first $100 is non-refundable) is required upon registration.

For more information or to register, please visit the Wisdom Centre’s website.

Hosted by Spirituality & Practice, join Cynthia Bourgeault, Mirabai Starr, Camille and Kabir Helminski, Rami Shapiro, Ed Bastian, and Swami Atmarupananda for a six-week e-course where these respected teachers will share the gifts of resilience, rebirth, and renewal from the spiritual traditions that have shaped their lives. All proceeds will be donated to rebuilding the beloved retreat centre, La Casa de Maria, which was damaged by wild fires and mudslides this winter.

During this special e-course, you will receive two emails per week (12 total) with teachers’ reflections on coping and thriving in catastrophe with instructions for practices, as well as the opportunity to participate in the 24/7 Practice Circle, a community forum to connect with others and receive guidance from the teacher of the week.

E-COURSE DETAILS:

Dates: April 2 to May 10, 2018 
Cost: $59.95 USD

For more information and to sign-up or give as a gift, visit Spirituality & Practice today! For questions and concerns, please contact them directly.

Henri Lock of UVic’s Multifaith Services will lead this workshop on walking the labyrinth. The winding path that takes us to the center of the labyrinth becomes a metaphor for our own spiritual journey. Come learn about the history of the labyrinth, how to meditate while walking the labyrinth, and to reflect on your own process and journey.

For more information and to register, please contact Henri at 250-472-4159 or hlock@uvic.ca.

Also, walk the labyrinth by candlelight April 12 and 19 from 6:00-8:30 (drop-in)!

Hosted by the Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, Cynthia Bourgeault will go further than offering an introduction to her comprehensive guidebook Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening in this retreat, but will examine how the practice is related to the classic tradition of Christian contemplation, looking at the distinct nuances of its method, and exploring its revolutionary potential to transform Christian life.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $550 USD

Time: Sunday, March 18 at 6:15 pm to Wednesday, March 21 after Mass and lunch

For more information and to register, see Ignatius House’s registration page. Please contact them for any questions or concerns.

Hosted by the Cathedral of St. Philip and Contemplative Outreach Atlanta, this day-long conference will explore themes from her latest book The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice, featuring lectures, discussion and Q&A, and time for practising Centering Prayer. To register, please visit the Cathedral of St. Philip’s website.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $50 USD

For more information and to register, please visit the Cathedral of St. Philip’s website.

Following the very successful Introductory Wisdom School Part A in 2015 at Kanuga, NC, Cynthia Bourgeault, hosted by the Wisdom Way of Knowing, invites you to learn The Divine Exchange with her and another “mega” group of students. Cover the Wisdom metaphysical map, the Divine Exchange, the Vertical Exchange, Reciprocal Feeding, and the Jesus teachings based in exchange, as well as an introduction to Trinitarian Metaphysics. You will also get the chance to work more with selected logia from the Gospel of Thomas.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $1100-$1400

Pre-requisite: an established Centering Prayer or meditation practice

For more information and to register, please visit WisdomWayofKnowing.org.

Offered by the United Church Campus Ministry in association with The Contemplative Society, join us for a renewing day of quiet meditation, chanting in the style of Taizé, lectio divina, labyrinth walking meditation, and resting in the solitude of Finnerty Gardens. Refreshments and a simple soup lunch will be provided. This event is open to the public.

EVENT DETAILS:

Cost: FREE

We encourage low-impact methods of transportation to the university, but parking is available for $3 all day. To register, please fill in this form. For more information, please contact Henri Lock at hlock@uvic.ca or 250-472-4159.

Hosted by St. Philip Anglican Church, everyone is invited to this simple candlelit Taizé service on New Year’s Eve. “What an extraordinarily beautiful way to greet the new year!”

For more information, please visit stphilipvictoria.ca, or contact office@stphilipvictoria.ca or 250-592-6823.

Offered by the United Church Campus Ministry in association with The Contemplative Society, join fellow contemplatives and spiritual seekers for a renewing day of quiet meditation. The day will include chanting in the style of Taizé, lectio divina, labyrinth walking mediation, and resting in the solitude of Finnerty Garden. Refreshments and a simple soup and bread lunch will be provided.

EVENT DETAILS

Please register by November 24^th via this form: https://goo.gl/forms/DMO0cMCElEsgYDNU2. For more information, contact Henri Lock at hlock@uvic.ca or 250-472-4159.

While we encourage you to consider carbon-reducing modes of transportation, parking is available for a flat rate of $2.50 on Saturdays.

Notice to the public

The Contemplative Society invites you to attend our Annual General Meeting, a great opportunity to connect with your fellow contemplatives. Everyone is welcome, but only members in attendance can vote. Desserts, coffee, and tea provided!

If you are interested in electing or appointing members to be our directors and helping The Contemplative Society make important decisions about our future, we invite you to consider becoming a member. Additionally, members will help us to approve our new set of bylaws, outlined in the motion and download below (please review before attending!): 

Motion: Be it resolved that the draft bylaws, as circulated in the notice of meeting, be adopted in full, excepting any grammatical or formatting errors. Proposed revision of bylaws (103 kb PDF)

We strongly encourage you to engage in this process in order to align TCS’ future with the vision of our community. If you are already a member, we will be notifying you in advance to renew your membership if applicable. To become a member or renew your membership now, visit our Support Us page. There will also be an opportunity to do so in person.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date and time: Sunday, November 19th – 3:00 pm
Location: University of Victoria’s Interfaith Chapel (3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria BC)
We encourage you to help reduce toxic emissions by using alternative forms of transportation, rather than driving. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! Parking is FREE on Sundays.

For more information, please contact our administrator at admin@contemplative.org or 250-381-9650. Our AGM is open to the public, so feel free to bring your friends!

Chichester Cathedral is celebrating 2018 as the Year of Prayer so, in preparation, their Contemplative Prayer Group “Be Still” has arranged for Cynthia Bourgeault to preach there. All are welcome. Please contact bestillchichester@btinternet.com for more information.

While this event is now full, they are taking a waitlist.

Cynthia Bourgeault will be leading a special one-day teaching on “Seeing with the Eye of the Heart: Contemplation as a Path of Numinous Knowing” in London. 

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: suggested donation £27.50 (including booking costs).

Refreshments will be provided, but please bring a packed lunch.

Reserving your space is recommended, so please visit Silence in the City for more information. All other enquiries can be directed to them as well.

Organised by the World Community for Christian Meditation, join Cynthia Bourgeault for an evening exploring the persistent intuition of the Wisdom tradition that there is s such a thing as “a conscious circle of humanity” from which we may receive guidance, and how contemplative practice prepares us to awaken to it.

EVENT DETAILS:

Donation: suggested £10 if you can

To reserve your space or for more information, please email bristol@christianmeditation.org.uk or call Roger Layet at 01275 463727.

St. James Priory was a Benedictine foundation in 1129, and is the oldest church in Bristol. The church is wheelchair accessible. It is next to Bristol bus station. Rupert St multi-storey car park is close by, evening rate £3.50. Evening parking on Brunswick Square is £2.50. Portland Square is free.

Centering Prayer is a form of prayer in the Christian contemplative tradition that trains the heart, mind, and soul to open to Sacred Presence. Through silence and an inner gesture of letting go, we learn to experience Sacred Presence beyond words, emotions, and thoughts, and to release our attachment to the egoic perspective. The practice cultivates a deep relationship with sacred reality, and opens us to compassion and inner peace.

This workshop is free and open to everyone! It will give you a powerful personal tool for you to navigate the complexities of life. No previous experience necessary – come as you are!

Join Henri Lock, United Chaplain at the University of Victoria’s Multifaith Services and Miranda Harvey, Administrator of The Contemplative Society, as we explore the teachings of Thomas Keating and Cynthia Bourgeault that shape this practice.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: FREE. Donations gratefully received.

Registration: please register to reserve your space.

Parking/Map: We encourage you to help reduce toxic emissions by using alternative forms of transportation, rather than driving. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! For building and parking information, please see the map (Interfaith Chapel is located in the bottom-middle of map).

Hosted by the United Church Campus Ministry (Chaplain Henri Lock – hlock@uvic.ca), in association with The Contemplative Society. 

For enquiries or questions, please phone Henri at 250-472-4159 or email hlock@uvic.ca.

If you can’t attend in person, check out the live stream featuring Cynthia Bourgeault at the opening of the event, starting October 19th at 7:00 pm PST.

Science & Nonduality is an annual conference where leading scientists, philosophers, and spiritual teachers gather to explore a new understanding of who we really are, both as individuals and a society. This year’s theme is “The Emergent Universe”: when the many parts of a system interact, behaviors appear in the whole system that weren’t present in the parts themselves. These surprising “emergent” behaviors are what our universe appears to be made of, from the Big Bang, to the unfathomable complexity of Life, to the unimaginable future yet to come.

Cynthia Bourgeault is a featured speaker at this conference on October 19 and 20, lending her Christian nondual perspective to this expanding understanding of who we are as individuals, as societies, as humanity, and as cosmos. Cynthia will be speaking to “Seeing With the Eye of the Heart” – please visit SAND17’s program page for details as they unfold.

CONFERENCE DETAILS:

Pre-conference workshops: October 18 and 19
Early rate (available in June): $50-$60 USD

Main conference: October 20 to 22
Early rate (through July 15): $499 USD

Day passes are also available. For more information and to register, visit Science & Nonduality’s website. You may also contact them directly at 707-999-7263 or via their contact form.

Join Mary-Clare Carder, a seasoned contemplative, for a course over two sessions exploring the contemplative path, inner life, and the heart. Contemplative practices such as centering prayer, lectio divina, and chanting will be used. (This course is a repeat of Inner Awakening 1.)

Mary-Clare was a board member of The Contemplative Society for over five years, has coordinated the St. George’s Centering Prayer Group for eight years, and has over twenty-five years of participation in contemplative retreats.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Wednesdays October 11 and October 18, 2017;  7:00-8:30 pm

Cost: $10 suggested donation (free for low-income participants). Pre-registration is requested as space is limited. 

For further information or to register, please contact Mary-Clare at 250-380-3838 or mccarder59@gmail.com.

Registration for this event will remain open until September 26; however, after September 12 we can no longer guarantee full balance refunds should you need to cancel your registration.

We are pleased to host Mirabai Starr this fall, inter-spiritual author and teacher, best known for her accessible and evocative translations of the Christian mystics as well as her worldwide contemplative retreats.

Join us for an exploration of the interconnected wisdom at the heart of all religious and spiritual traditions. Follow the streams of mystical longing and social justice through readings from the ecstatic poetry of the mystics, investigating sacred texts of the world’s great religions, sitting in contemplative silence, chanting the names of God in an array of languages, and engaging in deep dialogue through conversation and writing. Discover the unifying teachings and experience the heart-opening practices that carry us beyond an intellectual understanding of humanity’s many spiritual paths to the place we are transformed by the love at their common core.

Want to get to know Mirabai better? Check out her website or read her books!

Registration is now open – click here to register now!

There will also be a public event with Mirabai in Victoria on September 26. To learn more, please visit our page for The Feminine Face of the Divine: A Journey Across the Spiritual Traditions.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $925 CAD (private). A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space. A limited number of partial scholarships will be made available.
Suggested reading (all books by Mirabai and available on her website): 
– God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
– Saint Teresa of Avila: The Passionate Mystic
– Saint Francis of Assisi: Brother of Creation

Fees include overnight accommodations and buffet-style meals of vegetarian and some diet-restricted options, with two fish dishes during the week. All taxes included in fees. Opportunities to car-pool will be made available. Thanks to the generosity of our membership and supporting organisations, we will also have a limited number of scholarships available. 

PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING: 

While this historic forestry camp facility offers simple, rustic charm in a lakeside, woodsy setting, it was specifically built for a team of men. There are no private washrooms in the sleeping quarters and only about 10 shared washrooms and showers; therefore, people may find they have to wait or be flexible in timing their use of these. Access to WiFi is limited, but there is cell phone reception (though we ask you to limit your use). As we have held successful and rich retreats on this site since 2014, we are confident that participants will reap many rewards at this location, especially if they come with the intention of bringing an open attitude, a sense of humour, and goodwill. Whatever challenges present themselves, Cynthia Bourgeault often reminds us these are precisely the conditions for experiencing the full benefit of a retreat. Visit their website for more information.

Although silence and meditation are components of this retreat, it is not in full silence. The schedule will include teaching sessions, time for group sharing, and question and answer sessions, as well as free unstructured time. Typically, silence will be practiced from the final sit in the evening through to the next morning session after breakfast. We may incorporate silence into more meals.

There are many travel routes to this destination, so we strongly encourage you to do your trip-planning research in advance of registering. Google Maps is a great place to start. Please note that BC’s Ministry of Transportation requires that appropriate winter tires be used on all vehicles traveling here during this time. We are offering to arrange ridesharing, though we cannot guarantee this option for anyone. For more information, please contact admin@contemplative.org.

Given all the above, we ask you to carefully consider if this event is suitable to you prior to registering. Registration is now open – register now! To apply for a scholarship, please fill out this application.

For enquiries or questions please contact admin@contemplative.org or phone 250-381-9650.

Join us for an evening of poetry and sacred prose by and in honor of women mystics from Judaism, Christianity, Sufism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism with inter-spiritual author and teacher Mirabai Starr, best known for her accessible an evocative translations of the Christian mystics. Experience the beauty of embodiment as we look through the eyes of the feminine and reclaim everything as sacred.

Want to get to know Mirabai better? Check out her website or read her books!

EVENT DETAILS:

Cost: by donation; books and audio teaching CD sets will be available for sale.

For enquiries or questions please contact admin@contemplative.org or phone 250-381-9650.

We are proud to be working with UVic Multifaith Services to bring you this event.

Facilitated by Ramana and offered by the United Church Campus Ministry, come explore your true nature and discover the power of presence. Emphasis is on direct experience and opening to new spaces in your life. All are welcome to attend!

Ramana is a direct disciple of Indian master Papaji, named after Sri Ramana Maharishi, who is continuing to carry the message of awakening to Heart Consciousness and Truth world-wide. Ramana has been teaching meditation for over 40 years and has written a book, The 7 Steps to Your Radical Awakening: Finding the Calm in the Storm of Overwhelm which, at its launch, went to #1 on Amazon.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: Free.

For more information , contact Henri Lock at hlock@uvic.ca or 250-472-4159.

Many of us long to simplify our lives, surrendering to the ancient monastic rhythm of prayer and work, which can be tough to do on our own. Join the Emmaus community for an evening where they will share their vision, some exciting new developments including the expansion of their Companion program, and discuss the possibility of Neighbourhood Co-Housing and Student Housing. All are welcome!

The Emmaus Community is an ecumenical, intergenerational, neo-monastic Christian community whose members take vows of prayer, simplicity, and presence. They live their lives guided by a shared Rule of Life and hold each other accountable in our faith journeys in Christ.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: Free.

For more information and to register, contact info@emmauscommunity.ca or 778-977-7562.

You’re invited to gather in community and listen to recorded talks by Adyashanti, participate in an Adyashanti guided meditation, and finish the evening by sharing your process (30 minutes of each). This series of Monday evenings is open to people of all levels of meditation experience, though is geared toward people of no or limited experience.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Mondays (September 11 – December 11, 2017 excluding October 9), 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Cost: Suggested donation of $30-50 (payable once on your first evening of attendance) to assist with St. Philip’s infrastructure costs. Please register and come to as many sessions as you are able. 

For further information or to register, please contact Michael at michael_flynn@telus.net.

La Casa de Maria is hosting a Wisdom School retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault where she will continue her groundbreaking exploration of Teilhard de Chardin. Focusing on the insights and tools he brings forth for a more skillful and hopeful passage through the social upheavals of our present era, she will address questions like “How do we live in deep hope and in tune with the ever-evolving universe, and where do we need to shift our perspective of the spiritual journey to do so?”

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $795-$995 USD (including $200 non-refundable deposit)
Pre-requisite: an established meditation practice. Preference will be given to those who have completed an Introductory Wisdom School and at least one other Wisdom School.

The retreat will consist of contemplation, prayer, teachings, and mindful work.

Please visit their website for more information and to register. Questions can be directed to inquiry@lcdm.org or phone 1-805-969-5031.

West Coast Ecumenical Retreats is pleased to invite you to a retreat with Fr. Michael Fish, OSB, CAM, held at the Bethlehem Centre. Together, you will explore the relevance of Christian Celtic spirituality in today’s world, specifically its respect for nature, awareness of everyday mystery, and cosmic harmony seen through the sacredness of the seasons. Rest in the liminal spaces of the imaginal world through myth, prayer, poetry, and plenty of opportunities for silence.

Fr. Michael’s retreat continues a long tradition of silent retreats with speakers from the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, CA, most notably the late Fr. Bruno Barnhart.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $475 to $750 

For more information and to register, please visit Bethlehem Centre’s website.

Cynthia Bourgeault will spend the weekend at Glastonbury Abbey directing a retreat that looks at this chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict from the viewpoint of humility as non-identification. This retreat only has room for 23 people, so sign up today!

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: suggested $300 (single rooms only); $100 non-refundable deposit required to reserve

For registration and enquiries, please contact Joan at 781-749-2155 ext. 300 or retreats@glastonburyabbey.org. 

Spirituality Beyond Borders and Bethlehem Centre invite you to a retreat featuring a rebroadcast of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s webcast featuring Angel Kyodo Williams, Richard Rohr, Mirabai Starr, and Ken Wilber who will answer the question “How do we approach evil in our world today?” by exploring our inherent unity and our belovedness. The attending group will also engage in contemplative practice to support their learning.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $95 – $260 (residential is optional)

For full program details and to register, please visit the Bethlehem Centre.

How can Mary Magdalene help us experience and cultivate an inner ”dwelling place for Wisdom” as we harken to the needs of our times? We invite you to explore this question with us as we celebrate the feast day of this special saint, known and recognized as the “Apostle to the Apostles”.

Our day together will include contemplative practice, meditation, chanting, lectio divina, time in nature, and an opportunity to honour and deepen our connection to this revered Wisdom figure.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: suggested donation $10-$20 to help cover facility rental fee
Please bring a bagged lunch. Tea will be provided. 

There is no pre-registration for this event.

For more information, please contact Liz Vickers at  lizzievickers@gmail.com or call 250-598-8405.

Spirituality Beyond Borders invites you to join their community to view the Center for Action and Contemplation webcast featuring Angel Kyodo Williams, Richard Rohr, Mirabai Starr, and Ken Wilber who will answer the question “How do we approach evil in our world today?” by exploring our inherent unity and our belovedness. The attending group will also engage in contemplative practice to support their learning.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: FREE!

For full program details and to register, please visit Spirituality Beyond Borders.

There will also be a retreat hosted by the Bethlehem Centre featuring this webcast July 23-25. Please see their website for more details as they become available.

This retreat is now full, but you can contact Jill Benet to be added to the waitlist: jillbenet@hotmail.com.

Hosted by Holy Isle, join Cynthia Bourgeault for an exploration of Teilhard de Chardin’s masterpiece, The Human Phenomenon. This retreat will expand on Cynthia’s more succinct e-course on the same topic, which is recommended as pre-retreat study material.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: £340-£455

Pre-requisites: No pre-reading requires, though if you have a copy of The Human Phenomenon (Sarah Appleton-Weber is the recommended translation), please bring it along. You may also wish to read Ursula King’s Spirit of Fire.

For more information and to register, please visit Holy Isle’s event page or contact Jill Benet at jillbenet@hotmail.com.

The Contemplative Society joins the local Living Presence group in inviting you to take part in an entirely self-led silent retreat. While most of the retreat will be in silence, participants will decide the structure of sits, Lectio Divina, and supportive debriefing to help bolster each other’s practice. Get your name on the waitlist!

RETREAT DETAILS

Cost: $525 CAD (including $75 non-refundable deposit)
Pre-requisite: as there is no professional leader, a minimum meditation practice of two years is recommended

This retreat is now full, but we are taking a waitlist – register today! Space is limited, and immediate payment of your non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space as soon as we are able to offer you one! Questions can be directed to Ian Brown at 250-727-2480 or yg743@victoria.tc.ca.

What if you had a roadmap – a “soul-map” – for understanding who you are and what makes the people around you tick? The Enneagram can help you tap into your powerful inner wisdom and shed light on behaviours that may be undermining your journey to wholeness, true intimacy, and fulfilment.

Join Cynthia Bourgeault and 42 other experts on the Enneagram for this FREE online event. They will share the latest insights and applications to integrate into your own personal growth journey and take your Enneagram knowledge deeper.

Cynthia’s own talk, airing on Thursday, June 8 at 10:00 am PST, will explore “Life Beyond the Enneagram Types”. Read her personal letter to find out more about what’s in store (in short, “Does ‘enlightenment’ (a.k.a. ‘non-dual attainment’) happen within type or beyond it?”).

Find out more and register for FREE today to gain access to the entire summit, including Cynthia’s talk.

SUMMIT DETAILS

Online: June 5-9, 2017

For more information and to register for FREE, visit the Enneagram Global Summit website.

Northeast Wisdom invites you to participate in this special family-friendly wisdom event on Cynthia Bourgeault’s home island at Stonington, ME. She will be focusing the teaching on “Wisdom Perspectives in Turbulent Times”, while also exploring spiritual voyage narratives, particularly St. Brendan, in music and drama. The program will include meditation, teaching, chanting, music, practical work, a children’s group, as well as time for adventure and exploring the local paradise.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $150-$200 program fee plus accommodation costs (approximately $500 per room per week)

Accommodations: Check out The Island Agency and Downeast Maine Vacation Rentals, or stay tuned for Northeast Wisdom-rented properties.

Registration is open! Please visit Northeast Wisdom to register. You may also contact them directly for more information.

Spirituality Beyond Borders invites you to explore key sections of the material from conference and the Center for Action and Contemplation “Trinity” webcast held April 3 to 9 at the Bethlehem Centre. This series will be held over six 3-hour sessions on either Tuesday mornings or Wednesday evenings – your choice! Exact dates are posted below.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: FREE (or by donation)!

Dates:

• Tuesdays, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm: May 23, 30; June 6, 13, 20, and 27
• Wednesdays, 6:00 – 9:00 pm: May 24, 31; June 7, 14, 21, and 28

For full program details and to register, please visit Spirituality Beyond Borders.

Cynthia Bourgeault hosts this first-time Quaker Wisdom School at Pendle Hill, open to Quakers and Wisdom Seekers of all faiths. Teaming up with Marcelle Martin (Quaker retreat leader and teacher) and Paulette Meier (singer/songwriter), they will attempt to more deeply weave these threads of the Christian contemplative tradition. The Benedictine pattern of ora et labora (prayer and work) will be complemented by the Quaker traditions of silent worship, voluntary simplicity, and attunement toward the Light within.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $540 to $985

For more information and to register, please visit PendleHill.org or call 610-566-4507, ext. 137.

This is a replay of the webcast shown during the webcast-in-community held April 6-8, 2017 at the Bethlehem Centre.

The Bethlehem Center, in partnership with The Contemplative Society, invites you to join them for an immersive, dynamic, and interactive educational opportunity. Combining gathered community, popular presenters, embodied spiritual practices, and contemplative space, this gathering will help you make a difference in your daily life and your global community. 

“Trinity: The Soul of Creation webcast-in-community”, a Center for Action and Contemplation webcast featuring Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Rohr, and Wm Paul Young, will be rebroadcast in community, and guests are welcome to discuss the content and learn together. There are residential and commuter options available.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $60-$130

For full program details and to register, please visit BethlehemCentre.com or call 250-754-3254.

Cynthia Bourgeault is part of the 22^nd annual Festival of Faiths, an interfaith event of music, poetry, film, art, and dialogue with internationally renowned spiritual leaders, thinkers, and practitioners. This year’s subject is “Compassion: Shining like the Sun”, shining a bright light on the compassionate work in Louisville, KY and continuing to honour the union between thinking globally and acting locally.

Tickets will be available soon. For more information, visit Festival of Faiths’ website where you can sign up to receive email announcements about tickets, etc. and view the incredible speaker lineup. You can also contact them directly at info@interfaithrelations.org or 502-583-3100.

Hosted by CAC, join Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Rohr, and Wm Paul Young for a special webcast. Taking a three-dimensional view of the mystery, they examine the Trinity as the foundation and template for the entire universe, and a metaphor for the nature of reality. If Trinity is the model for Creation, then it is a relational, benevolent universe. Join either in person or via webcast.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $59 (webcast only) to $375 (conference + post-conference videos). Scholarships are available.

For more information and to register, please visit CAC.org.

The Bethlehem Center, in partnership with The Contemplative Society, invites you to join them for an immersive, dynamic, and interactive educational opportunity. Combining gathered community, popular presenters, embodied spiritual practices, and contemplative space, this two-part retreat will help you make a difference in your daily life and your global community. See (and share!) the brochure for more details.

Part 1: The Conference (April 3 – April 6, 2017)
Facilitators include Andrew Twiddy, Pearl Gervais, Remi de Roo, Selinde Krayenoff, Joanne Sales, Mark Desvaux, and Ron Klusmeir.

Part 2: Trinity: The Soul of Creation webcast-in-community (April 6 – April 8, 2017)
All presentations and sessions of the Center for Action and Contemplation Annual Conference featuring Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Rohr, and William Paul Young.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $170 to $1150 (early-bird rates!)

For full program details and to register, please visit BethlehemCentre.com or call 250-754-3254.

The Gospel of Thomas is a newly discovered early Christian text which is rich in teachings, intended to re-orient us inward toward a deeper knowing and Self-awareness. Rev. Matthew Wright returns to Rivendell Retreat Centre on Bowen Island, BC to share his heart-centred wisdom and will lead us through the ways in which The Gospel of Thomas can help orient Christianity for our global, interspiritual age.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $685  CAD (shared) or $850 CAD (private)

Fees include overnight accommodations and vegetarian meals. For more information, please call 604-885-5019. To register, please call 604-885-5019 or email admin@sthilda.ca.

Hosted by the Garrison Institute, this retreat will continue a pattern of annual “deep immersion” in Centering Prayer. During this retreat, Cynthia Bourgeault’s teachings will draw from her most recent book The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice. She will focus particularly on the heart as an organ of nondual perception and how Centering Prayer helps “put the mind in the heart”.

Composed of three daily group sittings with meditative walking, silence, teaching, and time for individual reflection and spiritual guidance.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $600-$925, depending on room type

Time: Friday, March 24 at 6:00 pm to Wednesday, March 29 at 2:00 pm

For more information and to register, see the Garrison Institute.

Sponsored by The Contemplative Society, join the Rev. Matthew Wright for an evening in the beautiful Sanctuary at St. George’s. We will explore the unitive and contemplative wisdom at the heart of the teachings of Jesus, and how a heart-centred practice derived from this tradition can help us all feel more aligned with our True Selves, guarding against common ailments in social justice circles like compassion burnout and ecological despair. Together we will look at the ways Christianity has lost sight of its own contemplative heritage and how it is being recovered today and being integrated with action. Close attention will be given to the recovery of early Christian Wisdom literature, particularly the Gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene. Everyone is welcome!

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: By donation.

For more information, please contact The Contemplative Society at admin@contemplative.org or 250-381-9650.

Cynthia Bourgeault will be the keynote speaker for Contemplative Outreach Colorado‘s annual conference. Her talks will be based on her new book, The Heart of Centering Prayer: Christian Nonduality in Theory and Practice (pre-order your copy today!).

For more information, see Contemplative Outreach Colorado’s event page, or call them at 303-698-7729. To register directly, visit their online registration portal and scroll down for their “Annual Conference” options.

Inspired by the success of the weekend retreat Matthew Wright led for The Contemplative Society in 2015, he is returning to share his heart-centred wisdom over the course of five days. Together, we will explore the Gospel of Thomas, the 2000-year-old non-canonical text that features short sayings of Jesus (similar to kōans) which are often used today in the practice of lectio divina. Matthew will lead us through the ways in which Thomas can help reorient Christianity for a global, inter-spiritual age. Want to get to know Matthew better? Check out his latest blog post, his audio teaching, or this wonderful report from his last visit!

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $675  CAD (shared) or $850 CAD (private – VERY limited availability). A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space. A limited number of partial scholarships will be made available. Register now!

Fees include overnight accommodations and buffet-style meals of vegetarian and some diet-restricted options, with two fish dishes during the week. All taxes included in fees. Opportunities to car-pool will be made available. Thanks to the generosity of our membership and supporting organisations, we also have a limited number of scholarships available. 

PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING: 

While this historic forestry camp facility offers simple, rustic charm in a lakeside, woodsy setting, it was specifically built for a team of men with few private rooms. Some shared accommodations are open-concept with no doors. Also, there are no private washrooms in the sleeping quarters and only about 10 shared washrooms and showers and, therefore, people may find they have to wait or be flexible in timing their use of these. Access to WiFi is limited (though available), but there is cell phone reception throughout the grounds (though we ask you to limit your use). As we held successful and rich Wisdom Schools on this site in 2014 and 2016, we are confident that participants will reap many rewards at this location, especially if they come with the intention of bringing an open attitude, a sense of humour, and goodwill. Whatever challenges present themselves, Cynthia Bourgeault often reminds us these are precisely the conditions for experiencing the full benefit of a retreat. Visit their website for more information.

Although silence and meditation are components of this retreat, it is not in full silence. The schedule will include teaching sessions, time for group sharing, question and answer sessions, as well as free unstructured time and possibly some conscious work (like washing windows or light weeding). Typically, silence will be practiced from the final sit in the evening through to the next morning session after breakfast. We may incorporate silence into more meals.

There are many travel routes to this destination, so we strongly encourage you to do your trip-planning research in advance of registering. Google Maps is a great place to start. Please note that BC’s Ministry of Transportation requires that appropriate winter tires be used on all vehicles traveling here during this time. We are offering to arrange ridesharing, though we cannot guarantee this option for anyone. For more information, please contact admin@contemplative.org.

Given all the above, we ask you to carefully consider if this event is suitable to you prior to registering. Ready? Register now! If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please do so immediately before or after your registration.

For enquiries or questions please contact admin@contemplative.org or phone 250-381-9650.

Hosted by Aspen Chapel, Cynthia Bourgeault will continue her groundbreaking exploration of the 20^th-century scientist and mystic Teilhard de Chardin in a special live webcast with a particular eye to the insights and tools that offer a more skillful and hopeful passage through the social upheavals of our present era. How do we live from the deepest wellsprings of hope, in tune with the evolutionary imperative emerging from the 14-billion-year-old universe story itself? What needs to change in our traditional understanding of the spiritual journey in order to do so? Join the Aspen Chapel community in this two-morning workshop for this searching and timely exploration.

WEBCAST DETAILS:

Cost: $30.00 USD per day suggested donation

For more information and to register, visit Aspen Chapel today! Videos will be available for one year, and you do not need to view the livestream to access the videos at a later date. For questions and concerns, please contact them directly at 970-925-7184 or info@aspenchapel.org.

Organised by the Friends of Silence, join Russ Hudson and Deborah Rose Longo for a 5-day movements intensive. The intention is to hold space for an “experiential tria-logue” between the enneagram of personality, the Gurdjieff enneagram of transformation, and a movements immersion in the Wisdom School container. Cynthia Bourgeault will join Russ and Deborah for a special day of co-teaching.

Normally Gurdjieff movements are not taught until after a student has been in a fourth-way school for several years, so this is a rare opportunity to experience the transformative power of these sacred movements first hand with no prior experience required.

EVENT DETAILS:

Cost: $695-$795 (including $100 deposit) – scholarships are available

For more information and to reserve your space, visit Friends of Silence’s event page or contact Bob Sabath at 202-531-7572.

Hosted by Spirituality & Practice, Cynthia Bourgeault invites you to explore with her whether Gurdjieff’s “Obligolnian Strivings” might serve as a dynamic and transformative basis for Lent this year sans the usual speculation and secrecy sometimes associated with his teachings.

During this special Lenten e-course, you will receive 20 emails which include a thoughtful orientation, Cynthia’s commentaries unpacking Gurdjieff’s five strivings, “audio divina”, a 24/7 online forum Practice Circle, and much more!

E-COURSE DETAILS:

Cost: $75.00 USD

For more information and to sign-up or give as a gift, visit Spirituality & Practice today! For questions and concerns, please contact them directly.

The Contemplative Life Foundation and Codrington College present this special even in Barbados with Cynthia Bourgeault. Journey with Cynthia exploring the practice of Centering Prayer, nondual consciousness, and ancient wisdom inspired by the words of Meister Eckhart: “The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, and one love.”

EVENT DETAILS:

Retreat: Friday, February 17 at 7:00 pm to Sunday, February 19 at 6:00 pm
Location: Codrington College
Accommodations: Please contact info@codrington.org or contemplativelife@outlook.com (phone 1-246-416-8051) for more information
Cost: $300 USD (retreat and meals) + accommodations

Public event: Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30 pm
Location: venue to be announced

Ecumenical Clergy Presenation: Wednesday, February 22 at 10:00 am
Location: Codrington College

To reserve your space or for more information, please email info@codrington.org or contemplativelife@outlook.com, or phone 1-246-416-8051.

Codrington College is  the oldest seminary in the West.

Join Mary-Clare Carder, a seasoned contemplative, for a course over two sessions exploring spiritual progression and unitive or nondual consciousness. Contemplative practices such as centering prayer, lectio divina, and chanting will be used. The course in intended for those with a centering prayer/meditation practice or who have taken the Inner Awakening 1 course.

Mary-Clare was a board member of The Contemplative Society for over five years, has coordinated the St. George’s Centering Prayer Group for eight years, and has over twenty-five years of participation in contemplative retreats.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Wednesdays January 25 and February 1, 2017 at 7:00-8:30 pm

Cost: $10 suggested donation. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. 

For further information or to register, please contact Mary-Clare at 250-380-3838 or mccarder59@gmail.com.

Cynthia Bourgeault will begin this retreat on Teilhard de Chardin, with Ilia Delio taking the lead on January 8 and 9. Cynthia will then continue to deepen our understanding of Teilhard de Chardin’s worldview.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $1,400 USD single occupancy / $1,100 USD double occupancy (suites, upgraded rooms, and hermitages available for an additional $180)

Deposit: $300 nonrefundable deposit due with registration

Sponsored by Wisdom School Southwest, all enquiries can be directed to Jane Waldron Bearce at wisdomschoolsouthwest@gmail.com or 602-725-9260. To register, please download the registration form and follow the instructions there to reserve your space (spaces are limited; only double-occupancy and upgraded rooms are still available).

Join Cynthia Bourgeault for a conversation on the radical contemplative path and a trailer for her forthcoming book, The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice. At a time of growing fear and polarization, we desperately need a new way of thinking and being. Centering Prayer is one of the most practical methods for opening our minds and hearts to nondual, heart-centered awareness. Cynthia offers guidance for both beginners and seasoned practitioners as well as some tantalizing glimpses into the windows this practice opens upon Christianity’s well-hidden nondual path. During the live webcast hosted by the Center for Action and Contemplation, viewers may submit questions for Cynthia to address as time allows.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: 4:30-6:00 pm MST

Cost: $1 USD and up – pay what you can!

Registration opens December 5^th. For more information and to register, visit CAC.org.

Join Cynthia Bourgeault for a conversation on the radical contemplative path and a trailer for her forthcoming book, The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice. At a time of growing fear and polarization, we desperately need a new way of thinking and being. Centering Prayer is one of the most practical methods for opening our minds and hearts to nondual, heart-centered awareness. Cynthia offers guidance for both beginners and seasoned practitioners as well as some tantalizing glimpses into the windows this practice opens upon Christianity’s well-hidden nondual path.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $1 USD and up – pay what you can!

Available on-demand until February 5, 2017. For more information and to register, visit CAC.org.

Mark your calendars to join Cynthia Bourgeault for retreats and other events in 2017.

• Wisdom School on Teilhard de Chardin with Cynthia Bourgeault and Ilia Delio in Tuscon, AZ (January 7-12)
• Teaching in Barbados (February 17-22)
• Keynote presentation for Contemplative Outreach Colorado (March 18)
• Centering Prayer Retreat in Garrison, NY (March 24-29)
• CAC Conference on the Trinity with Richard Rohr in Albuquerque, NM (April 6-9)
• Wisdom School with a Quaker theme in Pennsylvania (May 14-19)
• Wisdom Ingathering in Stonington, ME (June 4-11)
• Holy Isle Wisdom School in Scotland (June 21-26)
• Glastonbury Abbey retreat on Chapter 7 of the Rule of St. Benedict: Humility (August 4-6)
• Wisdom School at La Casa de Maria in Santa Barbara, CA (September 10-15)

Check the Events with Cynthia page for more details again soon. You can also sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page for timely updates, or follow us on Facebook.

Hosted by St. Philip Anglican Church, everyone is invited to this simple candlelit Taizé service on New Year’s Eve. “What an extraordinarily beautiful way to greet the new year!”

For more information, please visit stphilipvictoria.ca, or contact office@stphilipvictoria.ca or 250-592-6823.

Cynthia Bourgeault returns to Aspen Chapel for a one-day workshop based on her soon-to-be released book, The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice (pre-order your copy today!).

EVENT DETAILS:

Cost: $65 suggested donation

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit Aspen Chapel’s event page or contact Nicholas at nicholas@aspenchapel.org.

The Emmaus Community is a New Monastic community whose recognition of Christ in our midst leads them to walk the Way of Love through prayer, simplicity, and presence. Together with Nathan McDonald (sacred chanting), and Heather and Christopher Page (Centering Prayer), you are invited to come together for a day of workshops and a shared vegetarian soup and bread lunch.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: By donation.

For more information and to register, contact info@emmauscommunity.ca or 250-208-7296.

This event has been cancelled. Please see the new webcast, scheduled for April 6-9, 2017.

Hosted by CAC, join Cynthia Bourgeault, James Finley, and Richard Rohr for a special webcast.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: December 6, 2016; 4:30 – 6:00 pm MST

Cost: Check their website for more information. Registration typically opens one month prior.

Offered by the United Church Campus Ministry in association with The Contemplative Society, join fellow contemplatives and spiritual seekers for a renewing day of quiet meditation. The day will include chanting in the style of Taizé, lectio divina, labyrinth walking mediation, and resting in the solitude of Finnerty Garden. Refreshments and a simple soup and bread lunch will be provided.

EVENT DETAILS

Please register by December 2^nd. For more information and to register, contact Henri Lock at hlock@uvic.ca or 250-472-4159.

While we encourage you to consider carbon-reducing modes of transportation, parking is available for a flat rate of $2.50 on Saturdays.

Earth Literacies, with support from St. Aidan’s United Church, invites you to prepare for the season of Advent with Bruce Sanguin. This experiential workshop will use the seasonal scripture readings to explore living with more intimacy, intensity, and immensity, complemented by resources such as poetry, stories, and spiritual practices to help us unite in Wisdom and connection to the Source, each other, and the Earth.

Bruce is a former United Church minister and currently practices psychotherapy in Vancouver, BC. He is the author of six books, including If Darwin Prayed: Prayers for Evolving Mystics, and his award-winning and latest work, The Way of the Wind: The Pat h and Practice of Evolutionary Christian Mysticism.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Friday, November 18 lecture from 7:00 to 9:00 pm; Saturday, November 19 reflections from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm

Cost: $15-$50

For more information, visit Earth Literacies’ website, or register now!

Organised by the World Community for Christian Meditation, join Cynthia Bourgeault for an evening exploring the power of contemplative prayer and the meaning of Christian nonduality.

EVENT DETAILS:

Donation: suggested £10 if you can

To reserve your space or for more information, please email bristol@christianmeditation.org.uk or call Roger Layet at 01275 463727.

St. James Priory was a Benedictine foundation in 1129, and is the oldest church in Bristol. The church is wheelchair accessible. It is next to Bristol bus station. Rupert St multi-storey car park is close by, evening rate £3.50. Evening parking on Brunswick Square is £2.50. Portland Square is free.

Cynthia Bourgeault will be introducing the theme of her new book, The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice, over two events at Silence in the City. The Thursday evening event will serve as an introduction, while the Saturday event will be a more in-depth opportunity for practice.

EVENT DETAILS

• Centering Prayer and the Road to Nondual Awakening
  • Time: Thursday, November 3 (refreshments, 6:30 pm; talk, 7:00-9:00 pm)
  • Venue: Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Ave, London SW1P 0QJ
  • Suggested donation: £10
• Christian Nonduality – Seriously? (fully booked)
  • Time: Saturday, November 5 (10:30 am – 4:30 pm)
  • Venue: Greencoat Place, 24 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1RD

To book, please visit Silence in the City’s booking page. All other enquiries can be directed to them as well.

Hosted by Spirituality & Practice, this long-awaited e-course, taught by Cynthia Bourgeault, leads you step-by-step into the heart of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

Email messages will be sent to you on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for five weeks, helping you make your way around the basic building blocks of “The Teilhardian Synthesis”, his great overarching vision. There will also be opportunities to work with the spiritual resources he drew on through special spiritual practices based on Teilhard’s writings. Most importantly, you’ll have 24/7 support via the online Practice Circle where you can post your reflections and questions, receiving answers from both Cynthia and your fellow students. Additional resources will also be available to supplement your learning, but are optional.

E-COURSE DETAILS:

Cost: $75.00 USD

To sign-up or give as a gift, visit Spirituality & Practice today! For questions and concerns, please contact them directly.

This year, Naropa Univerisity‘s Breeze of Simplicity lecture series features Cynthia Bourgeault. While Naropa students may take the event for credit, the public is warmly welcomed to attend and engage with the work. The intimate two-day weekend workshop will be followed by a public talk Sunday night.

EVENT DETAILS

Weekend workshop: Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23 (9:00 am – 5:00 pm)

Public talk: Sunday evening (7:00 pm)

Cost: $20-$200 USD

Tickets are available for the entire weekend (including the public talk) or the public talk only. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit Naropa’s Eventbrite page.

The Contemplative Society invites you to attend our Annual General Meeting, a great opportunity to connect with your fellow contemplatives. Everyone is welcome, but only members in attendance can vote. Desserts, coffee, and tea provided!

If you are interested in electing new members to our board and helping The Contemplative Society make important decisions about our future, we invite you to consider becoming a member. We strongly encourage you to engage in this process in order to align TCS’ future with the vision of our community. If you are already a member, we will be notifying you in advance to renew your membership if applicable. To become a member or renew your membership now, visit our Support Us page. There will also be an opportunity to do so in person.

For more information, please contact our administrator at admin@contemplative.org or 250-381-9650.

Centering Meditation is a form of prayer in the Christian contemplative tradition that trains the heart, mind, and soul to open to Sacred Presence. Through silence and an inner gesture of letting go, we learn to experience the Sacred Presence beyond words, emotions, and thoughts, and to release our attachment to egoic concerns. The practice cultivates a deep relationship with sacred reality, and opens us to compassion and inner peace.

Join Henri Lock, United Chaplain at the University of Victoria’s Multifaith Services and Miranda Harvey, Administrator at The Contemplative Society, as we explore the teachings of Thomas Keating and Cynthia Bourgeault that shape this practice.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: FREE. Donations gratefully received.

Registration: http://web.uvic.ca/multifaith/learning/CenteringPrayer.html

Parking/Map: We encourage you to help reduce toxic emissions by using alternative forms of transportation, rather than driving. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! For building and parking information, please see the map (Interfaith Chapel is located in the bottom-middle of map).

Hosted by the United Church Campus Ministry (Chaplain Henri Lock – hlock@uvic.ca), in association with The Contemplative Society. 

For enquiries or questions, please phone Henri at 250-472-4159 or email hlock@uvic.ca.

Cynthia Bourgeault will be leading this retreat on Teilhard de Chardin at Glastonbury Abbey. Her teachings will be on the spiritual lessons we can learn from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin which will help us flourish on a planet that is: relational; in motion; not there yet; messy; and intensely coherent. The morning talks will explore the intrinsic compatibility between Teilhard’s singular cosmovision (”The Teilhardian synthesis” as it’s called) and the Trinity — or, more specifically, ternary metaphysics as laid out in The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three. We will look at how Teilhard’s intuitive grasp of a world “in fieri” — in the process of becoming — is deepened and expanded when brought into direct relationship with the Trinity understood as a mandala of dynamism and new creation. In the afternoon, talks we will be exploring Teilhard’s own understanding and practice of prayer of the heart as the ground of his visionary seeing.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $800 single / $750 double / $525 commuter (a $150-$200 deposit is due by August 1; 50% scholarships are available)

Please fill out the registration form, and follow the instructions to apply. Patricia Speak will be the registrar for this Northeast Wisdom-sponsored event. For more information, email Patricia or call her at 412-963-0409.

Contemplative Outreach Boston hosts Cynthia Bourgeault for a day of reflection, opening new ground with The Cloud of Unknowing by proposing that what its anonymous author is actually describing by the word “contemplation” is the transition to unitive or nondual consciousness. She will lead a brief discussion of what this activity entails, how this new perspective helps to clear up some of the notoriously difficult passages in The Cloud of Unknowing, and why Centering Prayer is so essential in the process.

She will also discuss her new book The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice.

EVENT DETAILS:

Donation: $45 (monies raised fund scholarships, guest speakers, and programs for Contemplative Outreach Boston)

Additional resources: The Cloud of Unknowing audio teaching by Cynthia Bourgeault

Please purchase your tickets online. For more information, please contact Rosemary Shirley, Spiritual Director and Chair of COB: 781-244-8364 or rshirley66@gmail.com.

Local Contemplative Society teacher, Christopher Page, takes participants through a discussion over three evenings, exploring the journey back to faith. He and the group will explore many questions, including:

• What is “religion”?
• Why do people leave “religion”?
• Is there any loss in the departure from “religion”?
• What calls people back to faith?
• How do people find their way back?
• How do faith and silence relate?
• How might the current interest in meditation point a way forward?

EVENT DETAILS

Dates: Wednesdays October 12, 19, and 26

Cost: FREE.

For more information, please visit stphilipvictoria.ca or call 250-592-6823.

Christopher Page is also the priest at St. Philip Anglican Church in Victoria, BC.

This talk will embrace new evolutionary ground as we explore the mystical and visionary thinking of Teilhard de Chardin and his contribution to ecology. His work, as made more accessible by Cynthia Bourgeault, is critically important for shaping a renewed spiritual path for the 21st century and enabling us to embrace the future with compassion, courage, and spiritual intelligence. Throughout the talk, Cynthia will balance teaching with some contemplative and embodied practice.

Download and share the poster!

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: FREE. Donations gratefully received.

Parking/Map: We encourage you to help reduce toxic emissions by using alternative forms of transportation, rather than driving. If you need to drive, consider carpooling! For building and parking information, please see the map.

There is no advance registration for this event, so please arrive early to get your seat.

Hosted by the United Church Campus Ministry (Chaplain Henri Lock – hlock@uvic.ca), in association with The Contemplative Society. 

For enquiries or questions please phone 250-381-9650 or email admin@contemplative.org.

This Wisdom School with Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault is made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer.

Applications are now closed. Follow us on Facebook for updates from the Wisdom School! To increased your chances of coming next time, become a member!

This Wisdom School will embrace new evolutionary ground as we explore the mystical and visionary thinking of Teilhard de Chardin. His work, as made more accessible by Cynthia Bourgeault, is critically important for shaping a renewed Christian path for the 21st century and enabling us to embrace the future with compassion, courage, and spiritual intelligence. As with all Wisdom Schools, there will be a balance of teaching, meditative sitting, liturgy, and embodied practice.

RETREAT DETAILS

Cost: $800 CAD shared / $1000 CAD private (includes teaching fees, accommodations, and meals). A limited number of partial scholarships will be made available.

Deposit: A $100 CAD non-refundable deposit will be requested from you once your application has been accepted, and you have received your offer to attend. 

Fees include buffet style vegetarian meals, including vegan and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions. All taxes included in fees. Opportunities to car-pool will be made available. Thanks to the generosity of our membership and supporting organisations, we will also have a limited number of scholarships available. 
 
While this historic forestry camp facility offers simple, rustic charm in a lakeside, woodsy setting, it was specifically built for a team of men with few private rooms. Also, there is not a surplus of washrooms and showers and, therefore, people may find they have to wait or be flexible in timing their use of these. As we held a successful and rich Wisdom School on this site in 2014, we are confident that participants will reap many rewards at this location, especially if they come with the intention of bringing an open attitude, and a sense of humour and goodwill. Whatever challenges present themselves, Cynthia often reminds us this is precisely the conditions for experiencing the full benefit of a Wisdom School. 

Performing daily Benedictine work will also be an integral part of the Wisdom School. This will include some type of physical task such as light work on the grounds or housekeeping, such as bathroom clean-up, sweeping, etc. This will allow us to move more into our bodies as we balance the work of our time together. 

Although silence and mediation are a component of Wisdom Schools, they are not full silent retreats. The schedule will include teaching sessions, time for group sharing, and question and answer sessions, as well as free unstructured time. Typically, silence will be practiced from the final sit in the evening through to the next morning session after breakfast. 

Given all the above, we ask you to carefully consider if this event is suitable to you prior to applying.

Applications are now closed. To increased your chances of coming next time, become a member!

For enquiries or questions please phone 250-381-9650 or email admin@contemplative.org.

Centering Prayer is a form of meditative prayer, rooted in the ancient Christian tradition of silence as a spiritual practice. Join Christopher and Heather Page for this introduction to the practice, and the first event of a new project called “Star of the Sea Centre for Spiritual Living and Practice”.

Christopher and Heather regularly lead retreats together and share in teaching Centering Prayer. Christopher Page, the rector of St. Philip Anglican Church in Victoria, BC, is a writer and retreat leader. Heather Page is the president of The Contemplative Society, a certified presenter of Centering Prayer, and assists regularly in the leadership of silent retreats.

DETAILS:

Cost: $25 (or what participant can afford)

To register or for more information, contact Elaina Hyde-Mills at revelaina@hydes.com. Please bring a bag lunch, but tea and coffee will be provided. 

What if you had a roadmap – a “soul-map” – for understanding who you are and what makes the people around you tick? The Enneagram can help you tap into your powerful inner wisdom and shed light on behaviours that may be undermining your journey to wholeness, true intimacy, and fulfilment.

Join Cynthia Bourgeault and 24 other experts on the Enneagram for this FREE online event. They will share the latest insights and applications to integrate into your own personal growth journey and take your Enneagram knowledge deeper. Read Cynthia’s special invitation to learn more.

SUMMIT DETAILS

Online: June 7-10, 2016

For more information and to register for FREE, visit the Enneagram Global Summit website.

This event is now fully, but they are maintaining a waitlist. Please visit Northeast Wisdom’s event page for more information.

Northeast Wisdom invites you to participate in this special wisdom event.

The first part of the week will feature the usual blend of daily teaching (by Cynthia Bourgeault), meditation, chanting, and conscious practical work, as well as some unprogrammed time for exploring the natural paradise at Stonington, ME and reconnecting with old friends. Darlene Franz will be in attendance to lead chanting and offer harmonium teaching, and we look forward to a day and a half of guest teaching with spiritual teacher and musician Amir Vahab. On the weekend, Cynthia will lead a more formal seminar on Teilhard de Chardin’s great masterwork, The Human Phenomenon.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: Program fee of $150 per person (or $200 per family unit), which includes daily lunch, for the entire week or weekend alone. A $50 nonrefundable deposit is required to hold your space upon registration. A limited number of scholarships are available – contact Wendy at christpath77@yahoo.com, or by phone at 207-348-3093 (home) or 717-926-6912 (mobile).

Accommodations: various price ranges – Stonington is a picturesque Maine fishing village with many rental and motel options, as well as NEW-managed accommodations available. See the Wisdom Ingathering page for more details.

Wisdom Forge invites you to this Special Topics Wisdom School that will focus on the works of Teilhard de Chardin. Join with Cynthia and a dedicated group of seekers in exploring the intertwined scientific, mystical, and visionary thinking of Teilhard, along with the critical importance of these ideas for shaping a renewed Christian identity in the 21st century.

RETREAT DETAILS

It is expected that participants will have attended at least one introductory Wisdom School. The registration process will require applicants to respond to spiritually introspective questions, but answers will not be used for screening except in cases where no prior Wisdom School experience is apparent. Priority will be given to applicants from the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

The Treacy Levine Center in Mount Vernon is located in a beautiful and natural setting about an hour north of Seattle. More information on the center can be found on the Treacy Levine Center website. Accommodation will be hotel-style rooms with two, or occasionally three, people per room.

A range of special diets can be accommodated. Transportation to and from SeaTac airport will be arranged by the event organizers and provided to any participants arriving by air for a small additional fee.

Fees (including room and board): $750 USD per person. Generous scholarships are available – please enquire.

A list of recommended readings is available on this blog post.

As of February 23, 2016, there are a few spots available. To register, please email wisdomforge@gmail.com and include the following information:

• Names of registrants
• The city and state/province of residence for each registrant
• Past Wisdom School experience (please identify the specific Wisdom Schools)
• Briefly describe each registrant’s prior or present practice of contemplative prayer or silent meditation

Further details of the registration timeline, including payment and travel information, will be provided once registration status is confirmed. Questions may be directed to Darlene Franz or Terrie Botts at wisdomforge@gmail.com. 

Wisdom Forge is a Seattle-based initiative offering quarterly practice days and occasional chant circles for contemplatives and other interested seekers, and this is the second Wisdom School they have organised on Cynthia’s behalf.

This event has been postponed until Fall 2016. For more information, please contact the organiser below.

Earth Literacies and St. Aidan’s United Church invite Bruce Sanguin, author of the award-winning The Way of the Wind: The Path and Practice of Evolutionary Christian Mysticism, to present the foundations of evolutionary spirituality. A public lecture will be followed by a Saturday afternoon workshop, which will be an experiential exploration of the eight core practices of evolutionary mysticism. Using poetry, group exercises, and a Q&A period, we will explore these core practices which include:

1. Listening for the Crackle of the New
2. Speaking True Words
3. Failing Bravely
4. Stewarding Spaciousness
5. Exemplify the Adventure of Becoming
6. Face Crisis as Opportunity
7. Take Responsibility: Receive Freedom
8. Surrender to Grace

EVENT DETAILS

Friday lecture: 7:00-9:00 pm

Saturday workshop: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

Cost: $90 (Friday only: $30, Saturday only: $70)

The first 25 registrations will receive a free copy of The Way of the Wind: The Path and Practice of Evolutionary Christian Mysticism.

For more information and to register, visit Earth Literacies’ website. Enquiries can be directed to Margaret Walters at margaretwalters53@gmail.com.

Sponsored by The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, join experienced contemplative teachers and learn some of the basic practices of the Christian contemplative Journey.

• Centering Prayer led by Christopher and Heather Page
• Lectio Divina led by Mary-Clare Carder
• Taizé Chant led by Rob Crosby-Shearer
• Anglican Rosary led by Heather Cutten
• Benedictine Prayer led by Phyllis Thompson

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: no cost, but donations are accepted gratefully.

Please bring a brown bag lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided. To RSVP or for more information, please contact the Rev. Heather Cutten at heathereisan381@gmail.com or 250-537-0031.

Wisdom Schools Southeast brings you your chance to join Cynthia Bourgeault as she explores the teachings of Teilhard de Chardin in the setting of a Wisdom School. The event is now full, but a waitlist is being taken.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Tuition (includes housing, meals, program, and materials):

• $1,100 for double occupancy (with a roommate)

Sign up for the waitlist today!

For more information, please contact Robbin Whittington at robbin@contemplativewisdom.com or 828-231-3923.

What makes a text sacred? Have there been gender biases in the translations of sacred texts? Why are the newly-discovered gospels of Thomas, Philip, Judas, and Mary Magdalene so important?

Hosted by author Phil Cousineau, Inside Sacred Texts explores the origins, translations, and interpretations of sacred or revered texts, and sheds light on the mystical experience these texts often originate from. This unique program brings knowledgeable, engaging scholars, translators, and practitioners (Willis Barnstone, Cynthia Bourgeault, and Ken McLeod) from three faiths together to explore how these seminal texts, which form the foundation of most world religions and have influenced entire civilizations are, in some cases, now being reappraised.

BROADCAST DETAILS

Streamed globally: 7:00 pm PST / 10:00 pm EST / 3:00 am GMT

LinkTV broadcast: Direct TV channel 375 or DISH Network channel 9410 (4:00 and 7:00 pm PST / 7:00 and 10:00 pm EST)

For more information (including guest bios and sneak previews), to view the live webcast, and to access the Conversation Guide, visit the Inside Sacred Texts page.

This intensive exploration of the Gurdjieff Movements, hosted by Friends of Silence, is led by the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault with Deborah Rose Longo.

Serious Wisdom students not formally engaged in the Gurdjieff Work are invited to experience firsthand the transformative power of the Gurdjieff Movements. This rare opportunity will take place over five days, which will include approximately four hours per day on the movements floor, teaching by Cynthia and Deborah, practical kitchen work, daily spiritual practice, and time for individual and group reflection and discussion. There will also be special projects and an informal final movements demonstration in which everyone will participate.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Extraordinary fitness or athletic training is not required, but it is expected that participants have basic physical, mental, and emotional stamina to participate in the daily schedule outlined above.

Pre-requisites: completion of at least one introductory Wisdom School and/or prior familiarity and serious interest in Gurdjieff Work, including the Sacred Dances.

Cost: $545, including lodging and meals for six days

For more information and to apply, please visit the Friends of Silence event page, or contact Bob Sabath at bob.sabath@gmail.com or 202-531-7572.

Led by the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault with Rev. Matthew Wright, this retreat is hosted by Holy Cross Monastery.

Ending on the 61st anniversary of Teilhard’s death, we will concentrate on how the mystical vision he first glimpsed during his stretcher-bearer days in World War I became the pole star guiding his entire life, and particularly the approach to his own death, as he found himself increasingly subsumed in Christ. Readings will be drawn from Mass on the World, The Divine Milieu, Hymn of the Universe, and The Heart of Matter. Suggested preparatory reading is Teilhard’s Mysticism by Kathleen Duffy.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Cost: $415; deposit $80

For reservations and more information, please visit Holy Cross’ contact page for details.

Hosted by St. Philip Anglican Church, all are welcome to join for this special service for Palm Sunday with meditation, contemplative reading of scripture, prayers, and chants in the style of Taizé.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: March 20, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Cost: Free and open to to the public.

Visit www.stphilipvictoria.ca for more information or email office@stphilipvictoria.ca.

This series is a continuation of Margaret Walter’s earlier Introduction to Teilhard de Chardin series, held over four Tuesdays: March 8, 15, 22, and April 5

Cynthia Bourgeault proposed that 2015 be the year of Teilhard, a trend that is continuing into 2016, and is encouraging everyone to explore his ideas that resonate so powerfully at this time when so many thinkers indicate that we are on the cusp of a leap forward in consciousness.

During these four sessions, we will investigate the struggle of Teilhard’s life between the dialectic he framed in his cosmology: ‘adoration or suicide.’ His journey of surrender to Omega was ongoing to the end of his life when he could say that God’s presence was with him all the time. His passionate love of manifest reality caused him to swim against the current of his time which flowed towards otherworldly transcendence, and he insisted, “There is a communion with God, and a communion with the earth, and a communion with God through the earth” (Writings in Time of War). We will look at the intimate relationships Teilhard had with strong women who opened and affirmed his feminine nature. Through all the difficulties of his life he developed an ever stronger trust in Christ who was both the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Cosmic Christ – the fulfilment of all being through the divinization of the Cosmos. What can we learn from Teilhard’s example?

“Let us leave the surface, and, without leaving the world, plunge into God…Let us establish ourselves in the divine milieu.”

This event is offered by Earth Literacies and facilitated by Margaret Walters. Margaret Walters is the author of The Cosmic Pilgrim (2010, Wipf and Stock, Eugene, Oregon), which is a spiritual exploration of the new story of science and religion through journeying with Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Berry, and Brian Swimme. Margaret has worked in teaching, parish ministry, workshop facilitation, and spiritual direction. Currently she is working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Four Tuesdays (March 8, 15, 22, and April 8, 2016), 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Cost: $75 or $20 drop in (or by donation – please do not let cost deter you)

For more information and to register, visit Earth Literacies’ website. Enquiries can be directed to Margaret Walters at margaretwalters53@gmail.com.

Join Mary-Clare Carder, a seasoned contemplative, for a course over two sessions exploring the contemplative path, inner life, and the heart through silence, centering prayer, lectio divina, and chanting. Prepare for transformation!

Mary-Clare was a board member of The Contemplative Society for over five years, has coordinated the St. George’s Centering Prayer Group for seven years, and has twenty-five years of participation in contemplative retreats.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Saturdays February 27 and March 5, 2016 at 10:00-11:30 am

Cost: There is no fee. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. 

For further information or to register, please contact Mary-Clare at 250-380-3838 or pmcc1@telus.net.

Contemplative Outreach of Greater Vancouver invites you to this workshop led by Susan Komis.

Those who engage in a regular practice of Centering Prayer are leaders as each demonstrates, with the help of the Spirit, a life in Christ. Contemplative service is a conscious movement to affect an interior resurrection in oneself, in others, in our environment, and in our world. The process not only transforms those we serve, but gently transforms and heals the servant-leader in body, mind, and spirit. This workshop is offered as leadership and spiritual enrichment for Centering Prayer facilitators and others who wish to enhance and develop their leadership qualities and understandings.

Susan Komis began service in Contemplative Outreach in 1990 as a volunteer for the St. Louis, Missouri Chapter, continued as coordinator, and currently serves as a commissioned presenter. She is Director of Chapter Programs and Services (CPS) and supports Coordinators and Contact Persons throughout the Contemplative Outreach spiritual community. Susan is also a certified Pastoral Minister, experienced in Adult Faith Development and various other Ministries, including spiritual direction and InterSpiritual dialogue.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Friday, February 26, 2016 (registration 6:30 pm; program 7:00-9:00 pm) and
           Saturday, February 27, 2016 (9:00 am – 4:00 pm)

Cost: $50. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. 

To register, please send in the registration form with payment. Registration with payment confirms attendance ($20 non-refundable).

For more information, please contact Jan Miko at jkmiko@shaw.ca or 604-261-2651.

La Casa de Maria is hosting a Wisdom School retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault exploring the mystical and visionary thinking of Teilhard de Chardin and its critical importance to shaping a renewed Christian identity for the 21st century.

Please visit their website for more information and to register. Questions can be directed to peggy@lcdm.org or phone 1-805-969-5031.

This Wisdom School is encouraging people register for the waiting list. Please contact bev.s-c@outlook.com or 027-431-6205 (011-64-027-431-6205 if calling from North America).

Join Cynthia Bourgeault for a Wisdom School to deepen the process of formation through a practical exploration of how Wisdom is “caught, not taught” through the increasing ability of each practitioner to wield the energy of attention and intention through conscious presence.

Cynthia has requested that an established meditation or prayer of silence practice be a prerequisite for this Wisdom School. For more information, please visit Contemplative Network’s website.

This retreat is encouraging people register for the waiting list. Please contact bev.s-c@outlook.com or 027-431-6205 (011-64-027-431-6205 if calling from North America).

Teilhard de Chardin was described by Cynthia Bourgeault as a star “now rising powerfully on the horizon, heralding the dawn of an entirely new kind of Christian theology…connecting scientific cosmology and Christian mystical experience on a dynamic new evolutionary ground.”

Join Cynthia for a retreat diving into the teachings of Teilhard at the Vaughan Park Retreat Centre.

As the series continues and evolves, so does the format. More of Adyashanti’s teachings and more silence in community will be emphasised with no formal break in the evening. Topics include The Freedom of Not Knowing, Precise Enquiry, and The Importance of Facing Life.

On these Monday nights, we will maintain silence in the main chapel, while networking and discussion will be reserved for the foyer of the church. Recordings will be listened to in their entirety, with a closing meditation.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: ten Mondays (January 18 – March 21, 2016), 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Cost: There is no fee; however, there will be a donation box to assist with St. Philip’s infrastructure costs. Please register and come to as many sessions as possible. 

For further information or to register, please contact Michael at 250-598-5228 (text 250-744-0992) or michael_flynn@telus.net.

Hosted by St. Philip Anglican Church, everyone is invited to this simple candlelit Taizé service on New Year’s Eve. “What an extraordinarily beautiful way to greet the new year!”

For more information, please visit stphilipvictoria.ca, or contact office@stphilipvictoria.ca or 250-592-6823.

Join Cynthia as she continues her “Year of Teilhard” for another workshop on his understandings of spirituality, hosted by Aspen Chapel.

She will be exploring Teilhard de Chardin’s comprehensive way of viewing our relationship with God, drawing on ancient sources, where God is the One in whom we all live and move and have our being. Teilhard expands traditional individual spirituality and expands it into a shared planetary destiny.

Over the two mornings, Cynthia will help us to understand Teilhard’s ideas and share practices to complement them, working to deepen our own spirituality.

Workshop fees: suggested donation of $60, but all gifts are welcome.

Please visit Aspen Chapel’s event page for more information, or contact them at 970-925-7184 or info@aspenchapel.org.

This retreat, featuring the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, celebrates the Advent season with silence, group meditation, participation in the monastic liturgy of Glastonbury Abbey. Thomas Merton’s birthday will be celebrated on December 10th, and his teachings and readings will be incorporated throughout the retreat.

To participate in this event, the only requirement is that you have an established meditation practice.

This event is now full and is not taking a waitlist. Contact Patricia Speak at p4j8s11@gmail.com for more information, or phone 412-963-0409.

Join us for a renewing day of quiet meditation. Chanting in the Style of Taizé, Centering Meditation, lectio divina, labyrinth walking, and resting in the solitude of the Finnerty Garden.

Refreshments and a simple soup and bread lunch will be provided.

Please register by November 27, 2015 by filling in this form. 

FREE, and donations gratefully received. Parking: flat rate of $2.50 for Saturdays.

Offered by the United Church Campus Ministry in association with The Contemplative Society. For more information, please contact United Chaplain Henri Lock: hlock@uvic.ca, 250-472-4159.

A map for the Interfaith Chapel is provided on UVic’s website.

This e-retreat, hosted by Spirituality and Wisdom, is guided by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault. 

In this season of preparation towards the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, explore the teachings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Short koan-like sayings and examples transmitted through the ages help to cultivate a life of deeper awareness and mystical union.

Participate through daily emails featuring a saying from the Desert Fathers and Mothers, a commentary by Cynthia Bourgeault, a practice suggestion, and a link to the online Practice Circle where Cynthia will join you for a discussion of the day’s saying.

Retreat fee: $49.95

Subscribe today via Spirituality and Practice’s website.

Please note that the event is now full, but we are taking a waitlist.

A larger public event will be held on November 19 at the University of Victoria.

Visit the event page for more information.

 The Rev. Matthew Wright is an Episcopal priest, writer, and retreat leader working to renew the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider inter-spiritual framework. He is also a student of Cynthia Bourgeault.

This retreat will offer periods of teaching, meditation, chant, and dialogue to explore the ways that the Christian Wisdom Tradition is coming of age as a vital path for the 21st century, and its place in the emerging world of inter-spirituality and transformed consciousness. We will give particular attention to Bede Griffiths and Teilhard de Chardin as icons and prophets for where we are headed.

To learn more about Matthew, see Margaret Walters’ recent article published in Island Catholic News, or watch this video from Science and Nonduality.

  
Check-in: Mid-afternoon on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

Check-out: After lunch on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015
 
Space is limited. All interested participants must register online. Retreat details below. Please note that the event is now full, but we are taking a waitlist.
  
RETREAT DETAILS
 
Retreat fees: $275 (Fees include buffet style meals including vegetarian and some diet-restricted options. All taxes included in fees.)  
 
A non-refundable deposit of $50 or full fee is payable upon registration to secure your space. Details will be provided in your confirmation email.

  
A limited number of scholarships are being made available. Apply here.

   
Accommodations are simple and rustic. Some facility and site photos are available here. Camp Pringle is approximately 42 km (60-minute drive) north of Victoria, BC. We will provide some assistance for those requesting ride-shares. Map and directions here.    

  
For enquiries, please phone 250-381-9650 or email admin@contemplative.org.

The Wisdom Path with the Rev. Matthew Wright, M.Div. is made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer.

The Rev. Matthew Wright, M.Div is an Episcopal priest, writer, and retreat leader working to renew the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider inter-spiritual framework. He is a student of Cynthia Bourgeault and a teacher for Northeast Wisdom.

In addition to the sold-out retreat he is leading the following weekend, Matthew is holding a public event at the University of Victoria Interfaith Chapel. We will examine a global shift in spiritual understanding that is resetting contemporary religious experience in a “non-dual” or unitive framework, and will specifically explore Christianity as a path of contemplative awakening within this context. We will look at the ways Christianity has lost sight of its own unitive ground, and explore the heart-centred nature of the Christian awakening.

Watch this video to learn more about Matthew, or read this article.

Registration is not required. Entry by donation.

Enquiries may be directed to Henri Lock at hlock@uvic.ca or 250-472-4159.

Jointly sponsored by the UVic United Church Campus Ministry and The Contemplative Society.

This event will include advanced student apprentices and assistants, and 200 students.

A full event description can be found at the Center for Spiritual Resources’ website.

This series is a repeat of the one held earlier this year in April

Cynthia Bourgeault is proposing that 2015 be the year of Teilhard and is encouraging everyone to explore his ideas that resonate so powerfully at this time when so many thinkers indicate that we are on the cusp of a leap forward in consciousness.

During these four sessions we will look at the major themes in Teilhard’s work: the rise of consciousness, the divine radiance of matter, the centrality of Love energy, the Noosphere, the teleology of the cosmos and the role of human consciousness – all held together by the overarching story of evolution. We will place Teilhard within the religious and cultural context of his times and trace the mystical thread that holds his cosmology together and fuels the fire within him. Finally, we will see Teilhard’s gift to the Integral Spirituality movement emerging today.

This event is offered by Earth Literacies and facilitated by Margaret Walters. Margaret Walters is the author of The Cosmic Pilgrim, (2010, Wipf and Stock, Eugene, Oregon) which is a spiritual exploration of the new story of science and religion through journeying with Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Berry, and Brian Swimme. Margaret has worked in teaching, parish ministry, workshop facilitation, and spiritual direction. Currently she is working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria.

There will be a special introductory event on October 31 as well. See the event page for more information. 

Cost: $75 or $20 drop in (or by donation – please do not let cost deter you)

For more information and to register, visit Earth Literacies’ website. Enquiries can be directed to Margaret Walters at margaretwalters53@gmail.com.

The afternoon event will feature a dialogue with Adyashanti and Cynthia Bourgeault hosted by Sounds True founder Tami Simon and will include two guided heart-opening practice sessions led by Cynthia and Adya.

For more details and registration please visit the Sounds True event page.

More information on Adyashanti can be found on his website.

Cynthia Bourgeault is proposing that 2015 be the year of Teilhard and is encouraging everyone to explore his ideas that resonate so powerfully at this time when so many thinkers indicate that we are on the cusp of a leap forward in consciousness.

This event introduces a four-day series that will look at the major themes in Teilhard’s work: the rise of consciousness, the divine radiance of matter, the centrality of Love energy, the Noosphere, the teleology of the cosmos and the role of human consciousness – all held together by the overarching story of evolution. We will place Teilhard within the religious and cultural context of his times and trace the mystical thread that holds his cosmology together and fuels the fire within him. Finally, we will see Teilhard’s gift to the Integral Spirituality movement emerging today. For more on the series, please visit the event page.

This event is offered by Earth Literacies and facilitated by Margaret Walters. Margaret Walters is the author of The Cosmic Pilgrim, (2010, Wipf and Stock, Eugene, Oregon) which is a spiritual exploration of the new story of science and religion through journeying with Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Berry, and Brian Swimme. Margaret has worked in teaching, parish ministry, workshop facilitation, and spiritual direction. Currently she is working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria.

Cost: $60

For more information and to register, visit Earth Literacies’ website. Enquiries can be directed to Margaret Walters at margaretwalters53@gmail.com.

This retreat explores a spiritual contemplative approach to healing focusing specifically on the ways in which spirituality can be a resource in healing suffering, trauma, and the restless longings of our minds and hearts. Emphasis will be given to intimate and practical ways to be more compassionate, present, and skillful in action with others and ourselves. We will be exploring the rewarding and challenging process of forming new paradigms of healing that integrate sound clinical practice and empirical research with the ancient wisdom of the contemplative traditions. The retreat is tailored toward those in the healing professions and meeting the interests of a wider audience. The setting and subject matter are meant to provide the “medium as message”.

Jim Finley, PhD is a modern day mystic and Merton scholar. He lived as a Trappist monk at the Gethsemane Monastery in Kentucky where the Christian monk and author Thomas Merton was his spiritual director. He earned his doctorate in psychology from the School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary in 1989. He has led silent retreats on contemplative living and the contemplative dimensions of healing throughout the United States, Canada, and in several countries in Europe. He is also a current Master Teacher for the Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Additional information and registration is available through Two Rivers Consulting. You can access the event information page on their website HERE.

In this retreat, Cynthia will open new ground with the Cloud by proposing that what its anonymous author is actually describing by the word “contemplation” is the transition to unitive or non-dual consciousness. She will lead us in an exploration of what this actually entails, how this new perspective helps to clear up some of those notoriously difficult passages in the Cloud, and why Centering Prayer is so essential to the process.

Information and registration available HERE. Questions can be directed to Cathy McCarthy at cmccarthy574@gmail.com.

Following the success of the first retreat talk series at St. Philip, “Jesus: Unifying Human and Divine”, we will share this second series of recorded talks. Adyashanti explores the nature of the Soul and the embodiment of Spirit. Examining the sacred values of the Soul, we are invited to enquire about trust, intimacy, openness, and spiritual authenticity. Adya challenges us to recognize these values in ourselves and to commit to their expression in our daily lives.

On these Monday nights we will listen to the recorded talks, experiment with discussion formats, and close the evening with Adya’s 30-minute guided meditation from this retreat.

Please register and come to as many sessions as possible. There is no fee; however, there will be a donation box to assist with St. Philip’s infrastructure costs.

  
Dates: six Mondays (September 28 to November 9)

Time: 7:00 pm to 8:45 pm 

Co-hosted by Michael Flynn and Christopher Page

  
For further information or to register, please contact Michael at 250-598-5228 (text 250-744-0992) or michael_flynn@telus.net.

***A special LIVE event is taking place in San Rafael, California on November 1 featuring Cynthia Bourgeault and Adyashanti. Visit Sounds True for more information.***

This e-course, hosted by Shambhala Publications, is taught by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Non-dualism as it relates to the teachings of Jesus
• Kenosis: meaning and connection to “non-attachment”
• “Living remembrance” with reference to Gospels of John and Thomas

The course format will include downloadable video lessons taught by Cynthia, three live conference calls, weekly practices, facilitated discussions, and the eBook edition of The Wisdom Jesus (with guided reading assignments). Please visit the Shambhala page for more information and to register (be sure to click “SHOW MORE”). They are offering a discounted price if you register by August 20.

The Wisdom Centre is so pleased to be able to offer a short three day retreat with contemplative Pip Nichols.  Pip Nichols is a contemplative who lives in Wellington, New Zealand.  Her contemplative seeking led her to Buddhism in the 70’s and she spent a year in a Thai Buddhist Monastery in 1979.  In the 90’s, through her studies with Tessa Bielecki and the Carmenlite Spiritual Life Institute, she returned to her Catholic roots.  Pip became a Spiritual Director in 2006 and has since studied with many spiritual teachers including Thich Nat Hanh, Br David Stendhl-Rast and Cynthia Bourgeault.  Pip is creative in providing her spiritual gifts to both individuals and groups in a country where people are spread out, being willing to use current technology such as Skype and traveling throughout New Zealand as well as Australia.

Cynthia Bourgeault describes Pip saying:

“Pip Nichols is one of the wisest, warmest and most spiritually grounded AMMAs I have ever met.  She has worked extensively with spiritual masters in both the Christian contemplative and Buddhist traditions and has also been deeply formed in the Maori traditions of her native New Zealand.  She combines wisdom, generosity, common sense and compassion in equal measures.  A highly respected spiritual mentor and guide, she is the founder of the New Zealand Contemplative Network. …She is truly a contemplative of and for the entire world, deeply rooted in her own Christian lineage but with her wings spreading to greet the spiritual unity of the entire human family.”

Pip describes her plan for the retreat saying: “Perfectly Flawed! – Welcome to Incarnation.” Wabi sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that allows us to see the sacred in the everyday and the beauty of ordinary imperfection.  We too are wabi sabi.  We too are perfectly flawed, sacred and permeated with everyday beauty. Compassion, unconditional love, loving kindness – whatever we name this extra-ordinary quality – is the sacred aesthetic that allows us to find this ‘treasure fo great price’.  To experience beauty and peace in everyone, everything and everywhere.

During this retreat, we will engage in contemplative practice to deepen our compassion for self, others and all creation.  It will entail slowing down, silence, simplicity, stillness, spaciousness…

More information and registration at www.wisdomcentre.ca.

This event is open only to current registered students of Living School.  Information on Living School is available  HERE. Please direct any questions to livschooladmissions@cac.org.

For many years, now the Celtic poet, peacemaker and scholar, John Philip Newell, has been teaching the sacredness of being, the of-Godness that is at the heart of our lives and all life.  In our retreat ‘The Rebirthing of God’, he will ask what it would look like if these true depths were to come forth again in radically new ways.  And, he will challenge us to ask what Christianity’s blessing for the world could be if there were to be fresh birth from deep within.  Through presentations, meditation, conversation and sharing, we will explore the major features of this birthing, especially coming back into relationship with the Earth as sacred, reverencing the Wisdom of other religious traditions and living the way of Compassion.  Do we wish to be part of this new holy birth?

John Philip Newell, internationally acclaimed Celtic teacher from Edinburgh, is the celebrated author of Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality.  In 2011, he received the first-ever Contemplative Voices Award from the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC for his work as poet, peacemaker and scholar.  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.

This event will have time for teaching and spiritual practice in the mornings and evenings and time for hiking in the afternoons.

More information about the type of retreat Dr. Newell leads is available at his website www.heartbeatjourney.org. Registration and more information at www.wisdomcentre.ca.

Refreshments provided. Suggested donation £20.

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE:   Register HERE.

Event poster available HERE

Time:7-9pm Refreshments from 6.30pm

Suggested donation £10.

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE:  Register HERE.

A weekend devoted to the “core, sacred gesture” of self-emptying or kenosis through the practices of centering prayer and sacred chant in the Quaker tradition.  Information and registration available  HERE.

The ten days between Ascension and Pentecost comprise one of the most extraordinary ‘thin places’ in the entire Christian year.  On one side of the gap stands the human Jesus — to be sure, the resurrected Jesus, but with his identity still tied to a specific human person and historical space/time.  On the other side stands the cosmic Christ, the foundational evolutionary field ‘in which all things hold together’, driving creation toward its inevitable Omega Point.  What goes on in the mysterious liminal space?  Can our own attuned hearts follow the sublime interweaving of form and formless?  That is the mystical terrain we aim to explore. This mostly silent retreat will include meditation, sacred chanting, teaching, private time for individual prayer and reflection, simple Benedictine work, and a chance to share in the divine office and daily Eucharist together with the good brethren of Glastonbury Abbey.

This will not be a heavy reading retreat, but texts will be drawn from Ladislaus Boros (particularly the Easter-to-Pentecost section, pp 148-165), Teilhard de Chardin, my teaching on “The Messianic Trinity” in the Holy Trinity and the Law of Three (pp 166-169), and portions of the Biblical Song of Songs.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. To be added to the wait list or for more information please contact Patricia Speak at email: p4j8s11@gmail.com,  or call 412-963-0409

The Four Voices welcomes the specific wisdom of each part of our being—even when they’re diametrically opposed, in a way that brings them into harmonious solidarity. Hosted by The Contemplative Journal, this groundbreaking class is based upon Cynthia’s never-before-taught personal discernment practice. Her method of inner listening incorporates many facets of our being as we make decisions both large and small. The nafs (or ego), soul, spirit, and heart all have distinctly valuable contributions to make in guiding us toward the best choice in any situation.

Participants will become co-creators of the Four Voices Method of Discernment as Cynthia draws from her interactions with the class in the Student Forum and in the group teleconference!

More information and registration can be found HERE, including a video conversation with Cynthia discussing her plans for the “maiden voyage” of this learning opportunity.

The Desert Mothers and Fathers were Christian hermits, ascetics, monks and nuns who lived mainly in the  deserts of Egypt, Palestine and Syria beginning around the third century CE.   In these deserts their path of prayer and spiritual insight transformed the spirituality of their day and their influence lasts through to our day.  During this four day silent retreat, Cynthia will offer twice daily teaching sessions and in addition a rhythm of meditation with an evening session of integration and compline.

Please contact Bev Silvester-Clark: bev.s-c@clear.net.nz for information or to request a registration form

In Waking Up, Sounds True publisher and founder Tami Simon speaks with over 30 of today’s leading authors and teachers who will share their personal understanding of spiritual awakening—how it takes place, what changes (and what doesn’t), and how their experiences can inspire and inform our own realization. Listen to Cynthia speaking on the topic of “Dropping the Mind into the Heart”.

You can register HERE. Free for 30 days starting May 1^st, after which the series will be available for purchase.

Location:  The Cathedral Church of St. Michael’s & All Angels, 608 Sutherland Ave., Kelowna, BC Canada

Dates:  Thursday, April 30 – 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday, May 1 – 9:00 am – noon. These two talks will not be the same but the latter will continue from the first.

Event Description:

Drawing from the teachings of St. Julian of Norwich, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, the Cloud of Unknowing, Thomas Merton, Zen Masters, and related sources, James Finley will provide an in-depth, experiential introduction to the heritage of the Christian tradition (open to all traditions).  The emphasis will be on the guidance that the mystics offer us on recognizing that we are being called to more interior, contemplative ways of experiencing God’s presence.   We will explore the path, the way of life that the mystics mark out for us as a way that we can come to a profound experience of God, one with us in all things.  Suggestions will also be made for simple ways to practice contemplative prayer.  In addition, we will learn ways to read the wisdom writings of the mystics in order to take full advantage of the help that they are offering us.

Presented by James Finley, Ph. D. – International Spiritual Teacher/Speaker/Psychologist

Registration available HERE

Information and registration is available HERE. Inquiries can be directed to Caroline Pearce: chpearce@adam.com.au,  or phone (08) 8344 4357

Location:  St. Philip Anglican Church, 2928 Eastdowne Road at Neil in north Oak Bay

Time: 7:oo – 8:30pm

A contemplative event based on Adyashanti’s retreat talks (recorded December 2014), co-hosted by Michael Flynn and Christopher Page.

Jesus: Unifying Human and Divine

This 4 week series invites participants into the direct experience of being fully human and fully divine with Adyashanti’s references to the life of Jesus, gospel quotes and the experience of the Christian mystics. Each of these Monday evenings closes with Adyashanti’s clear and simple guided meditation, recorded from the retreat. Series poster available HERE.

Everyone welcome. No fee but pre-registration is essential by texting your name and phone number to: 250 744-0992 or by calling 250-598-5228

Location:  Cowichan Lake Research Station Conference Centre, 7060 Forestry Road, Mesachie Lake, Vancouver Island, Canada

Dates:  April 13-18, 2015 – Monday afternoon to Saturday noon

Event Description:

An opportunity for a small group (max. 20) to be immersed in sustained silence. The Intensive will be co-led by participants. Each retreatant will have the opportunity to lead or assist in daily sits, lectio, and chants. Enjoy the lake-side facility with plenty of opportunities for long forest walks. Accommodations are simple and rustic. Some facility and site photos available here. Cowichan Lake Research Station Conference Centre is approximately 100 km (90 minute drive) north of Victoria BC.

Pre-requisite: 5 years or more of regular meditation practice as well as some experience with longer silent retreats.

Cost: $500 private ~ Deposit: $100 due by Feb. 28th. Please use this online registration and follow payment process HERE.

Cynthia Bourgeault is proposing that 2015 be the year of Teilhard and is encouraging everyone to explore his ideas that resonate so powerfully at this time when so many thinkers indicate that we are on the cusp of a leap forward in consciousness. During these four sessions we will look at the major themes in Teilhard’s work: the rise of consciousness, the divine radiance of matter, the centrality of Love energy, the Noosphere, the teleology of the cosmos and the role of human consciousness – all held together by the overarching story of evolution. We will place Teilhard within the religious and cultural context of his times and trace the mystical thread that holds his cosmology together and fuels the fire within him. Finally, we will see Teilhard’s gift to the Integral Spirituality emerging today. Offered by Earth Literacies and facilitated by Margaret Walters.

Date: 4 Wednesdays, April 8 – 29
Time: 7:00 pm – 9-pm pm
Cost: $75 or $20 drop in (or by donation – please do not let cost deter you)
Location: Friends Meeting House, 1831 Fern St. Victoria

Margaret Walters is the author of The Cosmic Pilgrim, (2010, Wipf & tock, Eugene, Oregon) which is a spiritual exploration of the new story of science and religion through journeying with Teilhard de  Chardin, Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme. Margaret has worked in teaching, parish ministry, workshop facilitation and spiritual direction. Currently she is working with the St Vincent de Paul society in Victoria.

This School is open only to those who have completed both segments of the Wisdom School at Valle Crucis, or both parts of the introductory Wisdom School (The Way of the Heart, Part I, and The Divine Exchange, Part II), and those who have completed Part I Advanced Wisdom School Southeast in October 2014.

This event will include advanced student apprentices and assistants, and 200 students.

More details and registration is available HERE.

Building on groundwork already laid down in the Introductory Wisdom School, this special topic Wisdom School will focus on Cynthia Bourgeault’s ground-breaking book, The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three. We will be looking at the Trinity not simply as a theological dogma but as a dynamic and still largely untapped metaphysical template governing all transformation, both inner and outer and containing within it the potential to radically re-vision and renew the heart of Christianity. This School is open to those who have completed an introductory Wisdom School.