June 2026 Newsletter

The Contemplative Society
Jun 4
4 min read

Updated: Jun 15

“Each one...has to be God’s microphone.”

- Bishop Oscar Romero (Canonised 2019).

In This Month's Issue...

Reflect with Therese DesCamp on Interstitial Tissue.
Embrace The Sacred Feminine in a Fractured World, a coming online TCS retreat with Cynthia Overweg.
Pray anew through TCS's new video Praying with Scripture: A Guided Lectio Divina on John 1:1–5 using the First Nations Version of the New Testament.
Grateful for our community, TCS offers a 20% discount coupon over June 2026 for purchases made through our expanded e-store.

Interstitial Tissue

by Therese DesCamp

Western medicine has recently “discovered” the interstitium, the interconnected connective tissue in human bodies; in fact, they now believe that our interstitial tissue actually acts as a third circulation system. “Discovered” is a joke: these tissues have always been there. But westerners considered them mere inert webbing, designed to hold organs in place, disconnected from each other. In surgical settings, this meant that interstitual tissues could be removed without much thought. But Chinese medicine has always recognized, honoured and worked with the interstitium. In that worldview, it’s where the chi flows. It’s an entire system, necessary to the overall health of a being.

I’m writing about interstitium because so much of the connective tissue of our collective lives is disappearing—being removed—without much thought. Churches, voluntary groups, retreat centres, religious orders—we’ve seen the abrupt closure of these trusted institutions because no one can seem to figure out how to make them work in this new world. “Compost the church” read a headline on an email recently. And I get it, frankly—the top-heavy administration and onerous procedures set in place generations ago don’t really work anymore. It may be best to let things die and see what grows from the remains.

Image taken by: George Meier.

READ THERESE'S FULL REFLECTION HERE

"As God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother."

Julian of Norwich

“We are all meant to be mothers of God.”

Meister Eckhart

The Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine are regarded as equal and complementary divine energies that are beyond gender and form. The mystery of the Sacred Feminine dwells deep in the hearts of both women and men. She invites us to give birth to the inner transformation that dissolves the illusion of separateness from each other, from nature, and from the unconditioned love that underpins the whole of life.

This online retreat has four segments: An overview of the Sacred Feminine through time; Mary of Nazareth and the birth of the Christ consciousness; the Sacred Feminine as represented in the work of Hildegard of Bingen; and the significance of the Sacred Feminine in today’s world and within ourselves. Time will be time set aside for questions/answers/discussion.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER - CLICK HERE

"Lectio Divina"

(using the First Nations Version of the New Testament Bible).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir4MvDvkEJs

Experience an ancient Christian way of praying with Scripture through a guided lectio divina on John 1:1–5 from the First Nations Version of the New Testament Bible. In this short practice, you’ll be invited to move through four simple movements: lectio (hearing the Word), meditatio (receiving a word or phrase), oratio (responding in prayer), and contemplatio (resting in God’s presence), with gentle prompts and space for silence. This guided time is designed for beginners and experienced pray-ers alike, helping you listen to Scripture with the heart and carry its invitation into daily life.

TCS again warmly thanks Nicholas Fournie for his amazing skills offered in both designing and creating our contemplative videos.

TCS E-store "20% Discount Coupon."

The Contemplative Society (TCS) is so thankful for our community of contemplatives and for your ongoing support of our spiritual activities. To extend our appreciation to you, TCS is gifting our community with a 20% discount coupon for use in our e-store. Our e-store has many new retreat recordings to select from. Be welcomed to taste some of our new and also our earlier spiritual recordings offered in our e-store by using this coupon code: TCS Thank-you 2026 to receive a 20% discount on your e-store purchases at check-out.

TCS E-STORE HERE

"Forthcoming Retreats" with TCS

"Formed by Silence: Seminarians 40-and-under, Experiencing the Tradition of Contemplative Prayer,"

In Honour of Constance Irene Burns; online with Nicholas Fournie and

Rev. Dr. Therese DesCamp.

Saturday 24 October 2026, 9:00am - 2:00pm Pacific Time.

"Why Ritual? The relationship of stability and openness in contemplative prayer,"

online with Paula Pryce.

Thursday 05 November 2026, 6:30-8:30pm Pacific Time.

An Easter-season 2027 hybrid retreat (accessible in-person & online) with

Heather Ruce, to be held on Vancouver Island. Details to come.

Thursday 22nd April 2027 (7pm) through to Sunday 25th April 2027 (12noon).

FORTHCOMING RETREATS HERE

TCS is a non-profit society and registered charitable organization in Canada run by a volunteer board and a dedicated circle of contemplatives. It was 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 lovingly carry forward this work, adapting to the changing needs of the present and future, while anchoring ourselves in the ancient Wisdom tradition.

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 about membership & support options.