By Melanie P. Moore, et al.
Each month, we publish a listing of upcoming contemplative and spiritual opportunities recommended by folks here at The Abbey. Many of us have floundered around in the past looking for community and deep engagement with other pilgrims on the spiritual path. Here we share a curated list of what we are finding, hoping you might find some of it helpful on your journey. We’ve included a Comments section with each listing detailing what we as participants have liked. If you know of something coming up in July or August and would like to have it listed here, please email the information as shown below to editor@theabbey.us by June 20 to be included in the post at the beginning of July. Please note that all times are listed in Central Time.
June
Making the Choice for a Deeply Personal God, with Ilia Delio
Dates and Times: Monday, June 3, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $35
Frequency: One-time even
Duration: 1.5 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: Is Christianity unique among world religions? Is it a secular religion compared to other transcendent religious paths? Does Christianity depart from axial religions and form a new trajectory of religious consciousness? This talk will focus on Christianity as a mutation of consciousness, a breakthrough in awareness of the experience of God. We will focus on the stories of Jesus of Nazareth, his experience of God, and the human person as the tabernacle of divinity. The ideas of Carl Jung and Teilhard de Chardin on individuation and personalization will be discussed, and the relationship between religion and evolution will be engaged. It is time to consider that Christianity was never meant to be a new institutional religion but the depth and meaning of personal and collective consciousness. That is, Christianity is a religion of evolution.
Comments: We are fans of Ilia Delio and have really enjoyed her presentations. Her combination of science, evolution, and spirituality really set her apart. And she’s “smart as a whip!” NOTE: Even though this is on June 3, you may still register and watch the recording after that date.
Practical Nonduality with Cynthia Bourgeault
Dates and Times: Monday, June 3, – Thursday, June 27
Registration: Open
Cost: $85
Frequency: Self-paced with 2x weekly emails from Cynthia
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: “Practical Nonduality” consists of eight emails by Cynthia Bourgeault, each with a short essay on an aspect of nonduality plus some practices for you to do to bring the teaching home into your body and your daily life. The emails will be delivered on Mondays and Thursdays giving you time in between to absorb each email’s teaching. You will have access to an online Practice Circle where you can share your responses to the emails with our worldwide community. As usual, Cynthia will be in the Practice Circle regularly to answer questions and offer encouragement as you work with the material. Then on June 14, 1 – 2 pm PST and in other time zones, we will gather on Zoom for a one-hour talk and Q&A session with Cynthia. The Zoom will be recorded but we encourage you to attend live and participate in the Q&A.
Comments: As known fans of Cynthia Bourgeault, we look forward to this new teaching from her. We like that this is an offering from Spirituality and Practice because they give access to the recordings and emails for life, which makes it very convenient to participate and to review at any time. One thing about this though, is that you have to like that content is in email format (asynchronous participation). This does have one live Q & A, which is recorded. NOTE: Once you’ve registered, you can log in and set the presentation emails to come to you in the future, and set the frequency to suit your preferences.
Gathering Dharma Series – The Eight Realizations: The Path to Liberation for All with Roshi Joan Halifax
Dates and Times: Monthly on Sundays, Noon – 1:30 p.m.; June 23, July 7, August 18, September 15, October 13, November 3, December 22
Registration: Open
Cost: Donation suggested
Frequency: Monthly
Duration: 1.5 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: “Gathering Dharma” is about compassion, connection and collective action. It is a time to explore social and environmental engagement and to affirm our vows in a time of great challenge on our earth. During the morning, we will touch into practice, learn together, and open to inquiry.
For each morning program, there will be a Resource Page, and the Zoom video of the morning session will be posted on the Resource Page shortly after the session. We ask that you register for each Sunday you wish to attend, and you will be sent a Zoom link for the gathering and have access to the unique Resource Page. Recordings of the session will be accessible in perpetuity.
Comments: We like Roshi Joan Halifax as well as several of the other leaders who are participating, including Frank Ostaseski and think this series would be a great way to explore compassion, connection, and collective action.
Practicing the Presence of God – 40-Day Summer Study with the Meditation Chapel
Dates and Times: Tuesday, May 28 – Tuesday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Registration: Open (Note that you may need to register with Meditation Chapel in order to get access to their events; you can use the link above and search calendar for May 28 to find registration link)
Cost: Free
Frequency: Weekly on Tuesday evenings
Duration: 40 days
Format: Online
Recording Available: No
Description: For spiritual seekers who delve deeply into teachings to strengthen their bond with the Divine. All are welcome to join. Work begins in May using a 40-day praxis that introduces primary reflections from Brother Lawrence’s 17th century writings. Weekly gatherings follow the pattern similar to other Meditation Chapel sessions–collect hearts and minds through an opening reading and a 20-minute sit in silent prayer (according to individual practices). Move into a period of transitional prayer, then delve deeply into the readings, augmented by Biblical texts, questions for reflections, and readings to embrace throughout the week. Facilitated by Cynthia McKinley.
Comments: We participate in some of the Meditation Chapel events and think this offering allows a rhythm to follow during the 40-day practice. We like that their offerings have a fairly standard format so you can know what to expect as you integrate the teachings and practice into your own life.
Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit (Eremos Summer Book Reflection)
Dates and Times: June 3 – 27 (4 groups meeting various times and days throughout June)
Registration: Open
Cost: $50 + cost of book
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: 4 weeks (each weekly session lasts 1.5 hours)
Format: Online and in-person (3 groups online, 1 meets in person)
Recording Available: No
Description: Following our time with Celtic spirituality leader, John Philip Newell, speaking in mid-May about the knowing that Everything and Everyone is Sacred, we invite you to travel with us in spirit to the Pacific Northwest to be inspired by the stories, science, and sacred knowledge naturalist Lyanda Lynn Haupt weaves together in her award-winning book, Rooted.
In a time when it’s easy to be overwhelmed about what to do to support the planet, Haupt says rootedness is one way—possibly the most important way—to move forward:
“Rootedness is a way of being in concert with the wilderness—and wildness—that sustains humans and all of life… rooted lives are radically intertwined with the vitality of the planet. In a time that evokes fear and paralysis, rooted ways of being-within-nature assure us that we are grounded in the natural world.” –Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Please join us on a four-week exploration of the tenets of rootedness and how living in this way can bring forth strength, peace, hope, and possibilities for your life and the life of planet earth.
Comments: We enjoy the Eremos online offerings and this year’s annual series–which participants can register for any or all weeks–looks to be a lovely way to explore this “crossroads” of science, nature, and spirit in our own lives. Those who enjoyed the book Braiding Sweetgrass may enjoy this series as well.
Contemporary Possibilites for Public Christian Theology: Faith & Politics for The Rest of Us with Diana Butler Bass, Tripp Fuller, and Tim Whitaker
Dates and Times: Tuesdays at noon on June 4, 11, 18, 25, and July 2
Registration: Open
Cost: Donation-based class, suggested donation $150
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: 5 weekly sessions
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: Our contemporary public square is increasingly chaotic, toxic, and repulsive. Yet, our challenges as a people, nation, and species are growing. The rise of Christian Nationalism repulses a growing number of Christians who have a hard time thinking and speaking from a more vibrant theological vision.
Dr. Diana Butler Bass, Dr. Tripp Fuller, and Tim Whitaker are bringing together a number of alternative theo-political visions to introduce a multiplicity of vibrant, yet neglected traditions in public theology. With the help of some of the most powerful voices in the academy, participants will be introduced to these traditions and get to put them into action as we wrestle with our present moment, discovering the potential for an alternative public Christian witness.
Comments: A self-described “Pop-up Learning Community,” this is an asynchronous, interactive series of classes presented by Homebrewed Christianity where scholars and theologians address the current moment. We have enjoyed the Ruining Dinner podcast that Diana Butler Bass and Tripp Fuller do, and this series promises to be enlightening and enjoyable in that vein.
Stretching of the Heart: A Celtic Mini-Retreat on St. Columba with Abbey of the Arts
Dates and Times: Friday, June 7, 10 a.m. – Noon
Registration: Open
Cost: $25 – $45
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 2 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: St. Columba (or Columcille as he is known in Ireland) is most famous for founding several monastic communities, including on Iona, an island that continues to be a vibrant pilgrimage destination.
Join us two days before his feast day to reflect on the Celtic call to pilgrimage, which includes leaving behind what is known and loved and the grief that evokes, for the promise of new adventures. We will dwell in that liminal space of in-between, where we contemplate what shores we need to push off from and the ways the currents of love are drawing us onward.
Through teaching, meditation, poetry, and music, we will weave together an experience of walking the threshold of our own lives through the guidance of St. Columba’s wisdom for us.
Comments: We like the offerings we’ve participated in from Abbey of the Arts and this one, on pilgrimage, seems like a wonderful presentation in June as many people head out on vacation.
Swan Songs Remember and Reflect Gathering
Dates and Times: Sunday, June 9, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 2 hours
Format: In person at Community First! Unity Village in Austin, TX
Recording Available: N/A
Description: During this beautiful and heartfelt celebration, participants gather to honor and celebrate the lives of those they have loved and lost through poetry, music and ritual.
This link has a photo gallery and program from the 2023 event (candle lighting, music, reflection, slide show of loved ones) .
Comments: Swan Songs is an organization that coordinates concerts for people in the last stages of life (any kind of music the person wants), to bring joy to the client. This is an annual remembrance event which is a nice event to remember your loved one. This organization was founded by Christine Albert, a musician, who performed as part of Albert and Gage.
Sunday Morning Centering Prayer/Lectio Divina with Metanoia Journey
Dates and Times: Sundays, June 9, 16, and 30; 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Registration: No registration required (unless you want to be added to newsletter list)
Cost: Free
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Online
Recording Available: No
Description: On most Sunday mornings, we gather online as a community to practice Centering Prayer (a form of contemplative prayer/silent mindfulness meditation) together. This spiritual practice allows us to learn to be present to our Source who only wishes for our intentional presence in return. In this way, prayer is an intimate relationship that allows for God to reach us, amidst the noise and chatter of daily human life.
We practice this for 20 minutes at the beginning of the service, and then transition to Lectio Divina (Latin for “divine reading”), where the facilitator will read a scripture passage multiple times to us in our resting posture, allowing the Spirit to bring new meaning and understanding to our lives through these ancient words.
Feel free to join us any Sunday morning
Comments: This is a nice resource for those who want a regular online opportunity to join in centering prayer and lectio divina. They also have in-person gatherings in Austin, Texas, and you can learn more about that on their website here.
The Divine Exchange, featuring Cynthia Bourgeault, from the Center for Action and Contemplation
Dates and Times: Wednesday, June 12 – Sept. 11
Registration: Open through June 4
Cost: $195
Frequency: Weekly new topic; self-paced
Duration: 14 weeks
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: The Divine Exchange explores the idea of exchange as the dynamic medium for everything finite and infinite. Building on the foundations established in the Introductory Wisdom School, Cynthia Bourgeault continues to unpack the metaphysics of her Wisdom understanding to demonstrate how students can take the work even further through practices like kenosis and three-centered awareness.
Students will learn a simple, easily digestible metaphysical framework for engaging in transformational work. This container is used to present deeper spiritual truths. Teachings are brought to a deep level of knowing through embodiment exercises that are an integral part of the course.
This course will also look at parallels between Wisdom roadmaps from antiquity and Jesus’ Gospel teaching. Other important topics include the writings of Ilia Delio and Pierre Teilhard du Chardin, who provides a template for seeing Christian teachings from a quantum, cosmological perspective.
Comments:Note: It is recommended that you have taken Bourgeault’s Introductory Wisdom School class as a prerequisite to this one. We like the CAC presentations of Bourgeault’s work, because it makes it accessible; a wonderful starting point for those who may be tentative about engaging with this work in community–because the format is primarily online with only email interaction with other participants. This is nice for asynchronous participation.
Summer Interlude – Conversation with Lyanda Lynn Haupt, “Partnering with Nature to Thrive,” with Eremos
Dates and Times: Wednesday, June 12, Noon – 1 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: One-time event (part of Eremos Summer Interlude Series)
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes, for 1 month
Description: Naturalist and author of Rooted, Lyanda will join us for a conversation about how building a relationship with the natural world supports us in thriving throughout the twists and turns of life.
Comments: This is one in a series of one-hour presentations based on the Summer Interlude series that Eremos is presenting. It’s a great opportunity to hear the speakers who are leading the various groups this summer.
Poetry for Thriving Together: Exploring Our Common Ground, with Beverly Voss
Dates and Times: Thursday, June 13; 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Registration: Open; capacity limited to 16 participants
Cost: $25
Frequency: Individual session, part of a quarterly series
Duration: 2 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: No
Description: As Eremos explores the theme of “Thriving Together” in 2024, so too will our quarterly poetry sessions dive into what it means to thrive together amidst life challenges, a presidential election year, and world tensions.
Every quarterly session will feature a different facilitator using the wisdom of poems and quotes to speak to a unique aspect of what thriving together might look like, helping us to connect more fully to each other, and inviting you to write the words your soul longs to share in the moment.
Each session will include experiencing poetry, time for personal reflection, and an invitation to write and share. No prior experience reading or writing poetry is necessary. Sharing your thoughts and writing is always by invitation.
Comments: Offered through Eremos, an organization we admire. This looks like a good opportunity to pause, reflect, and share your thoughts and writing with a small group.
Illuminating the Roots and Edges of Practice: A Wisdom Solstice, with Wisdom Waypoints
Dates and Times: Thursday, June 20, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Zoom
Recording Available: Yes
Description: During times of cultural change, it’s easy to become disheartened and discouraged by the weight of the world. At times we get caught up in the bigger crisis, scattering our energy and fear far outside ourselves.
Join Jennifer England and friends from the Yukon, Canada for an hour of remembrance, connection and stillness in honor of Solstice.
Together we will shine the light on what keeps us from practice and illuminate the deep roots that keep us tethered. Playing with themes of darkness and illumination, groundedness, and unfurling — you’ll discover that it all belongs the more you become entangled with Divine Love.
In preparation for this hour, please bring a candle to light and a journal/paper and pen to write with.
Comments: Wisdom Waypoints is a worldwide, online community for contemplative practices. We enjoy many of their offerings and they do regular solstice events like this. We appreciate that it is free and recorded for future reference on their website.
Summer Interlude – Conversation with David Wallace and Ana Vu Wallace of Metanoia Journey, “What Prevents Us From Thriving”
Dates and Times: Wednesday, June 26, Noon – 1 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: One-time event (part of Eremos Summer Interlude Series)
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes, for 1 month
Description: Drawing on one of the foundational contemplative practices of their community, David and Anna will share how Inner Work or looking inside can help us let go of or put in its right order what needs to change within us in order to thrive. We learn to lovingly, non-critically, and non-judgmentally observe ourselves.
Comments: This is one in a series of one-hour presentations based on the Summer Interlude series that Eremos is presenting. It’s a great opportunity to hear the speakers who are leading the various groups this summer.
July
Metanoia Journey’s Sunday In-Person Contemplative Gathering
Dates and Times: Sunday, July 7, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration: Not required
Cost: Free
Frequency: Monthly
Duration: 1.5 hours
Format: In person at The Seminary of the Southwest’s Christ Chapel 501 E 32nd St., Austin, TX
Recording Available: N/A
Description: The format of this gathering will include 20 minutes of Centering Prayer, a scripture reading from the sacred texts, a “message” offered by the ministers or guest speakers, community communion, and contemplative music. We invite anyone who wants to participate in performing a role to let us know. Otherwise, just come, rest in God, and receive.
This is a “contemplative service,” with 20 minutes of silent, meditative prayer. For those that attend that have not practiced Centering Prayer before, we have a copy of the brief Guidelines to practice the prayer available at the entry to the Chapel for people to follow along.
At this time, we do not have an area for children to gather separately or have a children’s ministry. Older children are certainly welcome if they can rest in silence during that time.
Comments: This is an opportunity to connect with other contemplative practitioners in person in Austin. While these are primarily Christian contemplative services, all are welcome.
Summer Interlude – Conversation with Rev. Dr. Mona West, “Lessons From the Garden on How to Thrive”
Dates and Times: Wednesday, July 10, Noon – 1 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: One-time event (part of Eremos Summer Interlude Series)
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes, for 1 month
Description: Using her passion for gardening, Mona will weave together stories of wisdom from the garden to help us cultivate spiritual practices for thriving.
Comments: This is one in a series of one-hour presentations based on the Summer Interlude series that Eremos is presenting. It’s a great opportunity to hear the speakers who are leading the various groups this summer.
Wild Goose Festival
Dates and Times: Thursday, July 11 – Sunday, July 14, 2024
Registration: Open (as a reader of Practicing Presence, use the code ABBEY at checkout to save 20%.
Cost: Winter Special $269 (ends March 19); Spring Special $299 (ends June 20)
Frequency: Annual event
Duration: 4 days
Format: In person, VanHoy Farms, Union Grove, NC
Recording Available: N/A
Description: Wild Goose Festival is a transformational community grounded in faith-inspired social justice. At our nationwide festival, we learn and grow by co-creating art, music, story, theater, and spectacle, engaging in a wide variety of robust, courageous conversations with each other and with thought leaders and artists from other communities. We are welcoming and hospitable to people of all faiths – or no faith – who join us in seeking the common good. We fully affirm and celebrate people of every age, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual identity, education, bodily condition, religious affiliation, and economic background, particularly those who are most often marginalized. We are rooted in progressive Christianity. For us this means moving beyond belief to center ourselves in justice and compassion, to walk toward those in need and to solidarity with the marginalized and the oppressed, acknowledging our own privilege and actively working to use our power to alleviate suffering and achieve wholeness.
Comments: We look forward to attending and have heard wonderful and affirming things about this festival. For example, in 2022, Diana Butler Bass’s sermon at the festival went viral as she shared Elizabeth Schrader Polczer’s groundbreaking work on Mary Magdalene. This year promises to be another rich experience of speakers, musicians, co-creators, and personal transformation for those who attend.
Contemplation and Care for Creation Certificate Program
Dates and Times: Starts in June 2024 and runs to May of 2025
Registration: Open – Deadline to apply is May 1
Cost: $1,300 with $500 deposit due with application
Frequency: Bi-monthly (see details here)
Duration: 11 months
Format: Zoom with 2 in-person retreats
Recording Available: N/A
Description: This is a year-long ecumenical program that shares the theology and spirituality of creation care. Learn to encounter the sacred in nature, interpret that experience, and reflect on its implications for your own life, your church, and society. Immerse yourself in the contemplation of nature in company with other participants, based on classical monastic spiritual formation. Study the integral relation of creation to the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. Create a rule of life for yourself based on a right relationship with God and the glorious elements of God’s world.
Comments: We are familiar with the leaders of the Center for Deep Green Faith and have found them to be very compelling in presentations we’ve seen. They are well-informed environmentally and theologically.
August
Summer Interlude – Conversation with Dianna Amorde, “Refreshing Your Spirit Through Pilgrimage”
Dates and Times: Wednesday, Aug. 28, Noon – 1 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: One-time event (part of Eremos Summer Interlude Series)
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes, for 1 month
Description: Blessed to be joining a few Eremos friends on a pilgrimage to Inishmore (one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland) in mid-July, Dianna will share stories, pictures, and more about her experience and invite you to go on your own pilgrimage, even if only in your imagination.
Comments:This is one in a series of one-hour presentations based on the Summer Interlude series that Eremos is presenting. It’s a great opportunity to hear the speakers who are leading the various groups this summer.
Ongoing
Contemplative Chant
Dates and Times: Wednesdays at 4 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: Ongoing
Duration: 30 minutes
Format: Online
Recording Available: No
Description: 30 minutes of contemplative chant from Wisdom Waypoints, with chants led by Susan Latimer and Elizabeth Combs. Chanting is a wonderful practice for bringing both the Moving Center (body, breath, tone) and the Emotional Center (open heart) online. It is a spiritual practice that opens our hearts, nourishes our nervous systems, prepares us for prayer and meditation as a bridge into stillness, and connects us to our innate joy, courage, steadfastness, peace, beauty, truth and goodness. In times of great uncertainty and change, we find chant to be one of the things that most grounds us. These sessions draw chants from Wisdom Schools, various spiritual and religious traditions, sacred texts, old hymns and poetry. Because of the limitations of synching sound on Zoom, all participants are muted except for the one leading. This allows everyone to chant along in their own space. (Great if you are shy about sharing your voice! Fun if you like to try harmonies!)
Comments: Some of us join this contemplative chant weekly and enjoy it very much. We find it a wonderful contemplative practice. Wisdom Waypoints is the wisdom community started by Cynthia Bourgeault, one of our favorite wisdom teachers. Note that this is a small and warm group of regular participants. Therefore, it can be more difficult to participate anonymously.
The Abbey Tuesday Morning Meditation
Dates and Times: Tuesdays at 8 a.m. (Meditation at 8 a.m., optional discussion at 8:30 a.m.)
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: Ongoing
Format: Zoom
Recording Available: No
Description: A 20-minute sit, followed by a brief reading and discussion.
Comments: Of course we love this meditation group! It’s The Abbey, our own contemplative community.
Word of the Week
Dates and Times: Emails sent on Sundays, meets each Tuesday at 8 a.m. and Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Registration: Sign up for weekly emails here.
Cost: Free annual subscription (with recommended donation of $95/yr)
Frequency: Weekly, per above
Duration: One hour
Format: Zoom – link is sent weekly in the email on Sunday
Recording Available: No
Description: A beautiful email is sent on Sundays with the reading of Lectio Divina that will be done. There is a sit and then the Lectio Divina.
Comments: We like this because it’s a chance to revisit the reading for the week—and they always include beautiful artwork (it’s Lectio and Visio Divina!). We like the sense of community. It’s a pretty stable group and there’s a chance to share. We also like the balance of it—they are very mindful of the time, it’s just an hour. There’s a rhythm of it that we like. We read the emails each week and appreciate having the email in advance to sit with it a little before the group reading. There are also opportunities to interact online with the group during the week. We will note that it can be difficult to find the link for the Zoom in the weekly email; it is also spelled out here—the third bullet has link to the zoom with poorly brown highlighted “Click on this link,” but it also provides the zoom code and passcode in the email.
Wisdom Waypoints Daily Centering Prayer/Meditation
Dates and Times: Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m.; Monday/Wednesday/Sunday 6 p.m.; Saturday 10:30 a.m.
Registration: No registration required, join via website
Cost: Free
Frequency: Daily, per above
Duration: 30 minutes
Format: Zoom
Recording Available: No
Description: A collective wisdom pause for “Silence and Stillness.” Wisdom members lead each sit with a brief reading, chant, and meditation/stillness.
Comments: We like this because it is a way to maintain our personal practice alongside others with the degree of anonymity (or not) with which we are each comfortable. Wisdom Waypoints is a part of Cynthia Bourgeault’s network of teaching and practice resources.