Mary Magdalene is one of the most controversial characters in the Gospel story. While history has often portrayed her as a prostitute, there is so much to discover about the widely recognized ministry of the woman who earned the title “Apostle to the Apostles.” Hosted by the Center for Action and Contemplation, join Cynthia Bourgeault as she reclaims Mary’s rightful place as one of Jesus’ most important and beloved disciples: a key to unlocking the true sacrament of conscious love at the heart of the Gospel mystery.

Find out more and register until January 2 or the course fills, whichever comes first.

COURSE DETAILS:

Online: January 16, 2019 through March 12, 2019 (material available until March 19)
Cost: $120 USD (financial assistance is available; deadline for applications is December 26, 2018)

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

Check out our audio teachings Conscious Love, Mary Magdalene and the Path of Conscious Love, and Through Holy Week with Mary Magdalene to deepen your learning.

Wisdom Southwest is hosting another Wisdom School on the Desert Fathers and Mothers. These early Christians living in the desert developed a way of life that has much to teach us in this age. Cynthia Bourgeault brings a rhythm of silence,
contemplation, teaching, and personal time during these desert days at the beautiful Redemptorist Renewal Center in the northwest part of Tucson, AZ. There are no pre-requisites for attendance.

RETREAT DETAILS

PLEASE NOTE: this retreat is now full. Please follow the instructions below to be added to the waitlist.

Cost: Full board, single or double occupancy: $1100 to $1610 USD (including $300 non-refundable deposit)
Recommended reading: The Sayings of the Desert Fathers by Benedicta Ward, Listen to the Desert by Gregory Mayers, and The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton.

You might also wish to listen to Cynthia’s Desert Fathers & Mothers audio teaching from the last retreat to familiarise yourself with these concepts.

Please contact Jane Waldron Bearce at 602-725-9260, or by email at wisdomschoolsouthwest@gmail.com for more information. To register, please complete this form and follow the enclosed instructions.

This Wisdom School will trace the roots of the Christian mystical and visionary tradition as they bear on the rich lineage of teaching and practice being transmitted through Cynthia and her students. As with all Wisdom Schools, there will be a balance of teaching, meditative sitting, liturgy, and embodied practice. A meditation practice is the only pre-requisite.

Members are able to apply as of 10:00 am PST on December 11 – become a member today! Applications will open to the general public on January 15 at 10:00 am PST. 

RETREAT DETAILS

Cost: $600-$1200 CAD per person depending on accommodation type (includes teaching fees, accommodations, and meals). A limited number of partial scholarships will be made available – please apply alongside your application if needed!

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 (with two fish dishes), 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. 

More information: Nestled amidst 44 acres of Douglas fir forest with 1200 feet of secluded Cowichan Lake shoreline the centre is a full service conference and outdoor learning facility. The centre offers an inspirational setting. Visitors to the region will enjoy the spirit of adventure as they explore the West Coast temperate rain forests, mountains, wetlands, and marine environments of the Cowichan Valley. The centre is strategically located at the gateway to the majestic landscape of Carmanah-Walbran and the Juan de Fuca marine trail, as well as the spectacular rugged terrain of the world-renowned West Coast Trail. Wireless Internet is available in the main hall, and cell phone reception is available though we ask you to limit your use of devices.

In the spirit of adventure and knowledge, the centre encourages and creates a flexible and relaxed atmosphere for guests to enjoy recreational activities from hiking and swimming to birdwatching, photography, the arts and music. 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.

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.

Members are able to apply as of 10:00 am PST on December 11 – become a member today! Applications will open to the general public on January 15 at 10:00 am PST.

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

Cynthia Bourgeault, along with Marcelle Martin and Paulette Meier, invite you to join them at this Quaker Wisdom School at Pendle Hill, open to Quakers and Wisdom Seekers of all faiths. Cynthia will draw from classical and enduring mystical principles to guide your exploration of Jesus as a Wisdom teacher who invited his followers to a radical transformation of consciousness. Marcelle will enhance these teachings through the Quaker lens, helping you examine the Quaker experience of the Light of Christ within, and Paulette will deepen your learning by leading you in chants based on the words of passionate Quakers who experienced this living presence of Christ. The canonical gospels and the Gospel of Thomas will supplement these teachings, as well as communal worship, prayer, personal study, and work.

EVENT DETAILS

Cost: $540 to $985 (financial aid may be available)

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

Hosted by the Holy Family Retreat Center and co-sponsored by Copper Beech Institute, this silent retreat (with teaching) is your sacred opportunity to gather with a large group of fellow contemplative as a healing presence to the world and one another. The retreat will help deepen your Centering Prayer practice by exploring key ideas in The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice, especially on the notion of “nondual personhood”. Additionally, teachers Rev. Matthew Wright, Rev. Bill Redfield, Fr. Michael Holleran, Fr. Bill Sheehan, Allen Bourque, Miranda Chapman, and Deborah Welsh will be assisting and supporting Cynthia’s leadership.

While people who practice all forms of meditation are welcome, Cynthia’s approach will be of particular interest to those practising Centering Prayer. For those who cannot attend the full week, participants are welcome to join for the weekend of November 8-10.

RETREAT DETAILS:

Prerequisite: an established meditation practice

Cost: $275-$1150 USD, depending on length of stay and room type (commuter option available)

For more information and to register, please visit the Holy Family Retreat Center event page.