October 2025 Newsletter
- The Contemplative Society
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 13
“The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love…. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things….” – Thomas à Kempis: “The Imitation of Christ,” Book 3, Chapter 5.
In This Month’s Issue…
Reflect with Paula Pryce on Double Unity: Flying Fish, Witnessing Presence, and Keeping it all in Perspective.
Explore Contemplative Activism in Challenging Times, through an online retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault, to be held on November 29, 2025.
Listen for God’s promptings through Here I Am, an Advent 2025 retreat with Therese DesCamp, Lorie Martin and Milla McLachlan, to be held on December 11, 2025.
Notice of AGM 2025 for TCS, to be held on Thursday 20 November 2025, from 6:30-8:30pm Pacific Time, via Zoom.
Double Unity:
Flying Fish, Witnessing Presence, and Keeping it all in Perspective.
by Paula Pryce
Discussing the ineffable with the devotedly non-religious can be tricky. For my efforts to engage them, I’ve found that their alternative perspectives can sometimes elbow me out of blind spots. Sometimes unsettling, but ultimately always welcome. That happened at a dinner party I recently hosted. It all started with spidey senses and flying fish.
My guests were faithfully secular, yet had no trouble diving into questions about mysterious experiences and the unknown. We were artists and writers, each committed to the social good and environmental activism. I was the only one who threaded spirituality into the mix. My friends welcomed curiosity and wonder, even reverence, they said, and each had known uncanny sensations of unity and connectedness with people and the universe beyond. But they wondered why I would turn to religion to explain such things. My friends admitted they were a little confused by my commitment to study contemplative Christianity.
The Contemplative Society Presents…
Contemplative Activism in Challenging Times.
An online retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault.
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Time: 10 am – 12 pm Pacific Time (PT).
This online live teaching time with Cynthia embraces the sacred calling to be “Contemplatives with grit!”
The Contemplative Society Presents…
Advent 2025 – Online Retreat: Here I Am.
With Therese DesCamp, Lorie Martin and Milla McLachlan.
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm Pacific Time
Notice of Annual General Meeting
This serves as formal notice that The Contemplative Society (TCS) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025 as follows:
Thursday 20 November 2025,
From 6:30-8:30 pm, via Zoom.
The formal Agenda, a Special Resolution, and supporting documentation to be considered at this AGM 2025 will be circulated to TCS members whose membership is current at the end of October 2025. TCS members will be asked to pre-register for participation in AGM 2025 and those members who pre-register will then be sent the Zoom link to participate in this AGM.
To renew as or to become a member of TCS, please visit:
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.
Our mailing address is:PO Box 23031, Cook St. RPOVictoria, British ColumbiaCanada, V8V 4Z8
E-mail: admin@contemplative.org
Telephone: +1.250.381.9650
Copyright © 2025 – The Contemplative Society. All rights reserved.
Comments