November 2022 Newsletter
- The Contemplative Society
- Nov 20, 2022
- 3 min read
Hello Contemplatives,
In this part of the world, cold chill is in the air, leaves are tumbling off the trees, the sun is lower in the sky, days are shortening, and hummingbirds are competing for nutrients from the feeder. Winter is settling in and we’re all responding in our own God-given ways to the changing of the seasons.
In the turning of the Christian seasons, we’re about to await and celebrate the Advent of Christ and know the Divine Love and Light that is ever present, illuminating all darkness.
In this newsletter we flag various ways that you can enter into this season with conscious awareness, opening to the living, intimate, presence of divine love in our own bodies and in creation.
Advent Blessings!
Henri Lock
The Contemplative Society
For Advent this year, Wisdom Waypoints will host an online, interactive Wisdom retreat based on the Audio Teaching Series:
INTEGRAL LIGHT SHINING IN THE DARK:
Exploring Advent through the Eyes of Jean Gebser and G. I. Gurdjieff
Starting November 27 to December 23, 2022
Advent Silent Mini-Retreat
Saturday, December 3, 9:30am – 1:30pm
Doors Open at 9:15am
In-Person at the UVic Multifaith Centre,
Victoria BC
Join us for a morning of quiet contemplative practice during this Advent season – Chant, lectio divnia, labyrinth walking, journaling, mindful sketching, or contemplative strolling in the solitude of Finnerty Garden.
Refreshments and a simple soup/bread lunch at the end of the event will be provided.
We welcome your donation, $0 – $20, at the door to help cover expenses.
This event is hosted The Contemplative Society in association with the UVic Multifaith Centre.
For more information, email admin@contemplative.org
For those in the Aldergrove, BC region, TCS Board Member Lorie Martin is hosting this in-person gathering:
Time with Mary
An Advent Retreat
Saturday Dec 3
9am – noon In Person
with Rev David Taylor & Rev Lorie Martin
We will join Mary, Mother of God, on our Advent journey. Mary is the Archetype of the followers and carriers of God. Her life models many components of the journey of those who say “Yes.” This retreat invites you to reflection stations, songs of Mary, art expression, and lightly guided community connecting. This is an annual tradition at the Parish of St. Dunstan.
Drinks & Snacks are included.
$40 $20 $10 $0
Parish of St, Dunstan
3025 264 St
Aldergrove, BC
V4W 2W4
Heather Ruce, a new member of The Contemplative Society Board, hosts Collective Contemplative Pauses daily meditations. She lives in San Diego and recently co-lead the Relearning Trust Retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault. We hope to have Heather lead us in a Retreat sometime in the Spring of 2023.
Wisdom Meditation and Chant on Zoom
Coordinated by Wisdom Waypoints
Hosted by various leaders in the Wisdom Community
An Advent sale item from our audio collection:
Going Deeper Into the Mystery of Christ – MP3
$19.95 CAN – 25% off our regular price of $29.95
In this classic teaching recorded live in 2008, Cynthia Bourgeault explores the meaning for us of the Advent of Christ birthing into earthly being. Cynthia Bourgeault looks at some of the great mystical texts in the Christian tradition that speak, for example, of “all things being gathered into Christ” and “the image of the unseen God”. She asks: “Is there a fundamental law, an organizing principle in this particular space time continuum, in this great relational field, that is planted in the hearts of all sentient beings and that is wired to the Divine Mercy?“ She argues that Jesus in his risen being, continuous with his earthly being, is the image of that principle. And further that if we have him we have the principle; and if we have the principle we have him. Christ is the originating principle of coherence that holds everything together. He is a “direct arrow into the divine ordering principle” and that if we “encamp next” to him and to that principle then “things become as simple as child’s play”.Recorded LIVE 2008, at Sorrento BC – Revised and re-released 2014.
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.
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