June Blessings! We hope you’ve been enjoying the magnificant blossoming flowers and soaking in the rays of sunshine that bless us during these warm summer months.
This newsletter includes some exciting news. First, we are pleased to release Part 3 of Practicing Living Presence: Discovering the Mind of Christ Within, a teaching by Cynthia Bourgeault. Below, Brian Mitchell shares a reflection of this teaching. A huge thank you to the team of volunteers who prepared this recording for our learning and enjoyment.
We are also grateful to welcome Miranda Harvey as the new Executive Director of The Contemplative Society! In this newsletter, we introduce Miranda and how she came to this role.
As we welcome Miranda, we also send a tremendous, heartfelt thank you to Henri Lock for all his incredible work as outgoing Executive Director. Henri’s work and dedication to TCS has been a blessing to the organization and all those involved, as reflected below.
In this newsletter you can also learn about an upcoming Wisdom School course with Cynthia Bourgeault, beginning on August 16th.
By the end of the month, we’ll also be sending out a beautiful reflection by Paula Pryce, on the The Silence of Snowmass and loss of St Benedict’s guesthouse and monastery.
Warm Blessings,
Tabitha Black-Lock,
Communications Coordinator,
The Contemplative Society
AUDIO RECORDING RELEASE!
Practicing Living Presence, Part 3: Discovering the Mind of Christ Within
Available for purchase as MP3, CD set, USB flashdrive, & PDF transcript
$19.95 – $67.95
“Since the Wisdom principle is imperishable in the human soul, it is built right into the blueprint of who we are as people.” (Living Presence, Chapter 1, Cynthia Bourgeault)
In this last of Cynthia’s reflections on Living Presence she completes her comprehensive exploration of Helminski’s text within the context of inner Christianity. As I’ve alluded to in earlier blogs these teachings will last. They are based on the Wisdom teachings of the two great traditions of Sufism and mystical Christianity. The sharing of ideas between her and the students with whom she worked with for three years brought to light much that had previously been hidden. Aligning attention, will/willingness and surrender with the bottom line which is Presence she makes us conscious of the fact that we are capable of living in time what we actually are.
Participating in, and doing the work, that Cynthia, Helminski and Bauman describe during these three volumes will unfold parts of you that have hitherto been hidden – which, in turn, will help in the transformation of our world. And, God knows, we need that.
~Brian Puida Mitchell (read the Brian’s full reflection HERE)
Welcome Miranda!
I’d like to introduce our new Executive Director, Miranda Harvey. I first met Miranda when we were both board members at TCS. I have been a huge fan of her abilities and enthusiasm ever since. I can’t believe our good fortune in having her join us at this time!
Miranda Harvey first started out with The Contemplative Society in 2014 as a board member after building a strong connection with the University of Victoria’s meditation community during her undergrad years. After lending her fundraising and technological expertise to the board for over a year, she became the society’s administrator. In addition to various tasks like managing the society’s books, processing countless audio teaching orders, and cultivating a vibrant community of practice and mutual support, she helped coordinate many events and retreats. Some of her favourite memories are of the intimate moments attaching microphones to teachers such as Cynthia Bourgeault and Matthew Wright, and all the meals and meditations shared with members of The Contemplative Society.
Working with TCS is just one chapter in a 14-year history of working with non-profits, and an even longer history of volunteering. Before and after TCS, she worked in advancing roles in the University of Victoria’s Development Office, as well as worked and volunteered for many other non-profits in her community in her spare time. The combination of her spiritual journey and her experiences volunteering to provide mental health support culminated in her pursuit of a Master of Counselling degree, the decision that prompted her departure from TCS’ administrator role in 2018. Since 2022, she has been balancing counselling work as a Registered Clinical Counsellor with non-profit work, and is thrilled to return to The Contemplative Society as the Executive Director. She hopes to channel this expanding skillset into running a non-profit multidisciplinary health centre one day.
When not working or studying, she can most often be found enjoying her extensive music collection, dabbling in writing, or enjoying time with friends exploring Vancouver Island’s sensuous splendours.
Sincerely,
Kim Gye
TCS Board Member.
Thank you Henri!
Having worked closely with Henri Lock in his tenure as Executive Director I saw his tremendous dedication to the Society and the Board. He steered us gently and capably through many issues and challenges during this period of changes–always demonstrating a tangible spirituality that made contemplative events of even the most practical board meetings. Although I know he had frustrations, he solved problems patiently and gracefully. He gave new board members the space to emerge into and shape their new roles they now fulfill so adeptly. We are fortunate to know that as the society continues to discern and adapt to its purpose, Henri will remain a major presence within The Contemplative Society.
– Gerald Morton, Treasurer
The Center for Action and Contemplation will be hosting an Introductory Wisdom School featuring Cynthia Bourgeault, from August 16 to November 15, 2023.This 14-week online course explores the Christian Wisdom way of knowing and its relevance to our realities today. Cynthia Bourgeault blends teaching with contemplative practices to help students engage in their conscious work on an embodied level—aligning the mind, body, and heart.
If you are interested in participating in this course, registration will be open from June 28 – August 8, 2023. For more information and a reminder to register, visit the link below.
Thank You for your Support!
It is only with the support of our members and community that we are able to do what Cynthia calls “good planetary work”: providing support and resources for contemplative practitioners around the world and helping to promote the work done by local and international teachers. Our deepest thanks to all who have donated and support this work!
TCS is a non-profit society run by a volunteer Board and a dedicated circle of contemplatives. Formed in Victoria BC Canada in 1997 to serve an emerging contemplative renewal and to support and spread the teachings of Cynthia Bourgeault and other distinguished Wisdom teachers.
We would love for you to join us as a member and to help sustain and build our offerings with a donation of any amount.
Please visit our website to find out more:
How wonderful- am referring to the knowing hear forst about the third part of Practicing Living Presence. This is a gift to those who are deeply moved by the work of inner Christianity. Many thans!