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, in hopes 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 November or December and would like to have it listed here, please email the information as shown below to editor@theabbey.us by October 18 to be included in the post at the beginning of November. Please note that all times are listed in Central Time.
October
Making Space for Renewal: Eremos Fall Day Retreat
Dates and Times: Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $125, includes lunch
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 6 hours
Format: In person (Five Oaks Ranch, Austin, TX)
Recording Available: N/A
Description: With plenty of time for solitary walks, journaling outdoors, rich conversations with like-hearted souls, or exploring the labyrinth, Leslie and Dianna will offer reflections and poetry inspired by the wisdom of the fall season and the trees. Leave with a renewed spirit and spaciousness to welcome fall’s blessings
Comments: We always enjoy the Eremos retreats and programs. The location is lovely with a lot of places to be outdoors, seating under trees, a creek, a labyrinth, (and some farm animals!). This would be a wonderful fall retreat for those seeking time in nature for spiritual renewal.
Living Non-Duality: Bringing Non-Dual Awareness into Daily Life (from Closer Than Breath)
Dates and Times: Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $15 or, pay-from-the-heart: free-will offering
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 1.5 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: This online retreat explores the heart of India’s non-dual wisdom tradition, exploring how the insights of Advaita Vedānta can inform, illuminate and support contemplative practice — and how they harmonize with wisdom of other other spiritual paths.
Through a balance of teaching, guided reflection, and silent meditation, we’ll engage the three classical steps of the non-dual path:
śravaṇa — attentive listening to the teachings
manana — reflective inquiry and removal of doubts
nididhyāsana — resting in contemplative absorption
Designed for interspiritual contemplatives, this retreat is an invitation to rest in the stillness of direct awareness while also discovering how non-duality can be lived into the rhythms of daily life.
Comments: We’ve enjoyed many programs presented by Closer than Breath, the quality is always good. While the presenter for this one is new to us, the topic is compelling and we like the mixture of teaching, reflection, and silent meditation of this offering.
Metanoia Journey’s Sunday In-Person Contemplative Gathering
Dates and Times: Sunday, Oct. 5, 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.
Intro to Mindfulness Meditation Workshop (From Metanoya Journey)
Dates and Times: Saturday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $75
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 4.5 hours
Format: In person (at home of David and Anna Vu Wallace in Austin, TX)
Recording Available: N/A
Description: The term meditation is mainstream today. Yet there are literally many ways a person “can meditate.” However, there are only two categories of meditative techniques: concentrative or receptive. We will explain both categories in this workshop, but what we will teach the participants is a form of receptive meditation called mindfulness meditation.
This daily practice, in basic terms, teaches us the ability to sit in silence and just notice thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without any reaction or action in response to them. We learn to see them come into our awareness and we learn to let them go. Can you see how valuable a tool this is for handling life’s stressors?
Another definition of mindfulness meditation is this: “A nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment experience.”
This workshop will provide an overview of this practice, and each participant will participate in two 20-minute group silent meditation periods. Additionally, each will learn about the benefits of meditation on the body physiology and how it counteracts the effects of stress that is a constant for people in their busy lives.
Just like physical exercise benefits the body, mindfulness meditation also benefits the body’s response to stress and teaches us an invaluable tool that, over time, will help us learn to “respond consciously to our world,” instead of “reacting blindly.”
The workshop’s registration covers snacks, beverages, and lunch. We will cap the group size at 12 people. Registrants will be contacted prior to the date with the address for the workshop.
Are you ready to learn a life-giving practice?
Comments: Metanoya is a contemplative community in Austin. The leaders are trained and experienced in leading groups and retreats like this.
Actualizing Unfaltering Engaged Practice In Our Time – EMBODIMENT with Guo Gu
Dates and Times: Sunday, October 12, noon – 1:30
Registration: Open
Cost: Free, donation requested
Frequency: One-time event (part of the Awareness in Action series)
Duration: 1.5 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: Join us in the continued commitment to social and environmental engagement and justice in this very complex time, to exploring the roots of structural violence in our social systems, and to engaging in the world in a courageous way based on contemplative practice and views that actualize non-separateness, interbeing, equity, compassion, justice, integrity, courage, dignity, and unshakable awareness.
This monthly series is stewarded by Roshi Joan Halifax, Sensei Kodo Roen, and Sensei Wendy Dainin Lau.
The faculty for this series includes: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christiana Figueres, Ruth King, Valerie Brown, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Father Greg Boyle, Terry Tempest Williams, Konda Mason, Rebecca Solnit, Father John Dear, Guo Gu, Tara Brach, Frank Ostaseski, Sharon Salzberg, Roshi Joan, and Senseis Kodo Roen and Dainin Lau.
The focus is on recognizing and ending violence in relation to addressing the roots of war/genocide, racism, climate suffering, economics of exploitation and extraction, othering, and our own delusion that we are separate from any being or thing.
Each Zoom session will include a special introduction, teaching, community reflections, and the dedication of merit and Bodhisattva Vows. These sessions are offered freely, but donations are appreciated.
Comments: Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, the founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief, and a professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He studied under the late Master Sheng Yen for over 30 years, nine of which as his attendant monk and most senior and closest disciple. He is the author of The Essence of Chan (2012), Passing Through the Gateless Barrier (2016), and Silent Illumination(2021)
Welcoming Prayer – Two-day Retreat (from the Church of Conscious Harmony)
Dates and Times: Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 – 18, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $75
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 2 days
Format: In person (Church of Conscious Harmony, Austin, TX)
Recording Available: N/A
Description: The Welcoming Prayer is an incarnational method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to people and events in daily life. This “consent-on-the-go” embodied practice deepens our relationship with God as we move through the ordinary activities of our day, helping us to stay in the presence of God and the present moment. We will cover the human condition and the basics of the practice. There will be guided practice sessions as well as time in Centering Prayer. This will be held in person only. Breakfasts and lunches will be provided. Jill Frank and LeAnn Billups will lead the retreat. Space is limited.
Comments: We’ve always enjoyed the Church of Conscious Harmony programs. It’s great to have this deep dive into The Welcoming Prayer and they will have Centering Prayer as well. This in-person event takes place at the church campus which is a lovely natural environment. The guided sessions are helpful for new and experienced Welcoming Prayer practitioners.
Unchanging – Awakening in the Flow of Hope (from the Center for Contemplative Living)
Dates and Times: Saturday, Oct. 18, 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $70 in person, $50 Zoom (scholarships available)
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 3.5 hours
Format: In person and Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: We are living in turbulent times. In the churning, can you feel an anchor to something that is unchanging? Could it be a deep abiding hope? In this presentation, Rick Klein offers insight to a path out of the dualistic sociopolitical environments that keep us stuck.
Building on teachings from Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Rohr, Thomas Keating and others, Rick believes the key to future spiritual growth—individually and collectively—begins with hope. Not the ordinary understanding of hope, but a deeper understanding: Contemplative Hope. As we awaken to the powerful presence of contemplative hope in our lives, we reveal the unchanging universal truths hidden in plain sight.
Join us as we explore how to weave the threads of universal truth into the fabric of our lives and open to the potential of a quantum leap in spiritual “Growing Up.” This collective leap is essential if we are to show up in new ways that can diffuse the anger and fear in our world.
This presentation—Unchanging—grew out of Rick Klein’s February 2025 presentation, Unfinished: A Spirituality of Change, which explored Ken Wilber’s developmental “Growing Up” lens and left many of us wondering what is mine to do? In this new presentation, Rick continues the exploration of our collective and individual journeys. If you missed the Unfinished presentation, you will be able to watch the February recording as part of your registration for Unchanging. The recording is not necessary, however, as Unchanging is a unique presentation that builds on themes raised in the previous presentation.
Comments: While we’re not as familiar with Rick Klein, we have done programs with this center at the Contemplative Outreach of Colorado and have enjoyed the offerings and the format.
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do: Making Courageous Decisions in Seasons of Change (from Eremos)
Dates and Times: Saturday, Oct. 18, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: In person Early bird (ends Oct. 1) $77, afterwards $97; Online $47
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 6 hours
Format: In person and Online (in person at Abiding Love Lutheran Church in Austin, TX)
Recording Available: Yes
Description: In seasons of transition, after loss or conflict, or when life simply no longer fits the way it used to, the question often becomes: What now?
Whether you’re discerning a new path, navigating retirement, healing from crisis, or simply longing for clarity, you’re not alone.
Join Rev. Dr. Angela Gorrell, author, speaker, and spiritual teacher, for a day of wisdom, story, and reflection. Drawing on her own pivotal life changes and stories from people across generations, Dr. Gorrell will guide you through essential steps for making wise and courageous decisions and transitions, even when the way forward feels uncertain.
Throughout this day of shared learning and personal discovery, you’ll gain:
Insight into the ways fear, doubt, or overthinking can sabotage your ability to move forward.
Simple, powerful practices to help you listen for God’s guidance amid noise, pressure, or confusion.
What it looks like to honor your own wisdom and life experience, even when you’re not sure what’s next.
Stories of brave decisions made in real-life moments of transition, loss, reinvention, or deep discernment.
Opportunities to connect with others walking through similar seasons, and space to be gently honest with yourself.
Time for personal reflection on your own path ahead.
Comments: Eremos consistently offers high-quality programs that we enjoy and this one looks like a good one for the fall season. The in-person location, Abiding Love Lutheran Church, is a lovely venue for a program like this.
Mary Magdalene: Apostle, Beloved, and Wise Alchemist, with Heather Ruce (from The Contemplative Society)
Dates and Times: Saturday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Nov. 22, Noon – 2 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $100, $75, $50, $25, $0 Pay as you are able
Frequency: Monthly
Duration: 2 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: Offered by The Centre for Spiritual Renewal, this retreat series with Heather Ruce, will explore the teachings and themes from Cynthia Bourgeault’s book “The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity.” Each retreat session will focus on one of the three parts from her book blending a time of teaching, embodied practice, interactive reflection—encouraging you to bring your own questions, intuitions, and self-concept models into creative encounter with Mary Magdalene’s legacy—and time for sharing what arises.
Comments: We recommend the book and this mini-retreat series is led by Heather Ruce, whose programs we have enjoyed. Ruce is a Wisdom Spiritual Director and longtime student of the Christian Wisdom tradition and Cynthia Bourgeault.
Mindful Mondays (from the Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing)
Dates and Times: Monday afternoons, Noon – 1 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes, for 1 week after each session
Description: Join the Earl. E Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing for an informal hour of gentle movement and guided meditation. Our experienced facilitators will guide you through a series of mindful movement and meditations that will leave you feeling rejuvenated. No prior experience or special clothing is necessary.
We rotate through various modalities of gentle, mindful movement. Please check the Mindful Monday’s registration webpage to learn the specific mindful movement planned for each week’s session. Prior to each session, as best you can, you may wish to secure a space that will accommodate mindful movement and where you won’t be easily interrupted for the duration of the hour-long session
Comments: This is a new offering to us. We saw a forest meditation video produced by this group, found their website, and thought this would be interesting to explore.
Fall Programs from Parker Palmer’s Center for Courage and Renewal
Dates and Times: Current Program Calendar includes monthly offerings through February 2026
Registration: Open
Cost: Varies
Frequency: Varies
Duration: Varies
Format: Online and In person programs are listed
Recordings Available: Yes
Description: Visit our program calendar to find a full slate of programs and retreats that can help you build the courage to live more authentically, expand your capacity to listen, strengthen your ability to build trustworthy relationships, and renew your passion for your life’s work.
Comments: We are fans of Parker Palmer’s writing and speaking. The Center for Courage and Renewal was founded by him and includes a wide variety of programming topics and experiences. Too many to list individually–so we linked to the entire calendar for your to peruse.
November
Metanoia Journey’s Sunday In-Person Contemplative Gathering
Dates and Times: Sunday, Nov. 2, 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.
The Science of Transformation: An Experiential Integration Day of Hope-filled Practice (from Contemplative Outreach of Colorado)
Dates and Times: Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: In person $120; Online $65
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 6 hours
Format: In person and Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: These times call for a need to unify the seeds of contemplative practice–to return to our fundamental essence and realize our shared human purpose as conscious transmitters of faith, hope and love. In the words of Bede Griffiths, we can learn to “join the growing Christ.”
Jonathan’s presentation style includes teaching, practice and unifying the power of gathered intention. His themes focus on the importance of surrender, community, service, silence and the practice of learning to directly sense the inner body, or inner-man as St. Paul refers to it. Learning to sense the inner body gives us a physiological rootedness where we can stand in a strong, compassionate witnessing presence amid polarization.
Together we will engage prayer exercises that imprint both Jesus’ recollected presence and self-emptying nature more deeply into our being. Most spiritual traditions have tended to emphasize one or the other: enstatic practices (service through conscious presence) or ecstatic practices (service as self-giving) but not both. The integration of the two supports our collective awakening in becoming people who can change the events of our world from the inside-out without our attention getting hi-jacked by manufactured desire.
We offer this day of experiential integration and hope-filled practice on behalf of all beings throughout creation and to bring spiritual healing to our lives and, by God’s grace, to this precious planet.About Jonathan Steele:
Jonathan L. Steele, M.A., is a retreat leader, spiritual teacher and companion on the spiritual journey. His work draws deeply upon the transmission of the Christian Wisdom lineage and the Christian Contemplative and Inner-Traditions. In addition to his lived integration through contemplative practice, study and service, he leans on the works of Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, Valentin Tomberg, G.I. Gurdjieff and J.G. Bennett. Jonathan currently serves as the Devotional Minister at the Church of Conscious Harmony, a Contemplative Christian Community in Austin, TX.
Comments: This is led by the new Devotional Minister at the Church of Conscious Harmony in Austin, TX. He is in the Wisdom Tradition of Cynthia Bourgeault, one of our favorite spiritual teachers.
Contemplative Enneagram Summit – Waking Up Whole: Personality, Presence, and the Inner Journey of Beccoming (from the Closer than Breath)
Dates and Times: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 – 9, Various times
Registration: Open
Cost: Suggested Standard $119, Pay it Forward $149, Reduced $99 (scholarships available)
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 1 Weekend
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: The Contemplative Enneagram Summit invites you to embrace your wholeness: personality + presence, ego + essence, psyche + spirit.
What you’ll experience:
* Enneagram teachings from a contemplative lens to illuminate the inner journey
* Guided meditation & Centering Prayer to ground insight in your body & spirit
* Live interactive Q & A with seasoned contemplative teachers
* Shared silence throughout the weekend, allowing stillness to do its quiet work
* Global community connection with fellow spiritual seekers
Attend from anywhere – join us live online or watch later with full recordings.
Comments: We have enjoyed participating in offerings from Closer than Breath. This event brings their signature depth to the to the Enneagram. This is the first Enneagram program they have offered. There is a variety of speakers as well as a bonus presentation on Friday evening prior to the start of the summit on Saturday.
Actualizing Unfaltering Engaged Practice In Our Time – BRIDGING with Tara Brach (from Upaya)
Dates and Times: Sunday, November 9, noon – 1:30
Registration: Open
Cost: Free, donation requested
Frequency: One-time event (part of the Awareness in Action series)
Duration: 1.5 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: Join us in the continued commitment to social and environmental engagement and justice in this very complex time, to exploring the roots of structural violence in our social systems, and to engaging in the world in a courageous way based on contemplative practice and views that actualize non-separateness, interbeing, equity, compassion, justice, integrity, courage, dignity, and unshakable awareness.
This monthly series is stewarded by Roshi Joan Halifax, Sensei Kodo Roen, and Sensei Wendy Dainin Lau.
The faculty for this series includes: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christiana Figueres, Ruth King, Valerie Brown, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Father Greg Boyle, Terry Tempest Williams, Konda Mason, Rebecca Solnit, Father John Dear, Guo Gu, Tara Brach, Frank Ostaseski, Sharon Salzberg, Roshi Joan, and Senseis Kodo Roen and Dainin Lau.
The focus is on recognizing and ending violence in relation to addressing the roots of war/genocide, racism, climate suffering, economics of exploitation and extraction, othering, and our own delusion that we are separate from any being or thing.
Each Zoom session will include a special introduction, teaching, community reflections, and the dedication of merit and Bodhisattva Vows. These sessions are offered freely, but donations are appreciated.
Comments: Tara Brach is a meditation teacher, psychologist and author of several books including international bestselling Radical Acceptance, Radical Compassion and Trusting the Gold. Her popular weekly podcast on emotional healing and spiritual awakening is downloaded 3 million times a month.
Contemplative Activism in Challenging Times: An Online Retreat with Cynthia Bourgeault (from The Contemplative Society)
Dates and Times: Saturday, Nov. 29, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $60, or Pay from the Heart
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 2 hours
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: This online live teaching time with Cynthia embraces the sacred calling to be “Contemplatives with grit!”
As our world and planetary systems reel in the grip of what many sense to be a thickening pandemic of evil, the Wisdom perspective is urgently needed. We believe that only from this broader cosmic and integrative perspective can sufficient leverage be found to work effectively with the escalating disintegration—political, cultural, ecological, spiritual—so apparent in our own times.
Contemplatives of all spiritual pathways are invited to join together for this online teaching. Cynthia will draw from spiritual and psychological sources to show us how to strengthen our inner resources and deepen our commitment. In particular, she will revisit the concept of ‘holy obedience’ found in the teaching of Quaker mystic Thomas Kelly, who nearly 100 years ago stepped up out of his Quaker conscience to speak truth to power.
We invite you to attend this gathering together with others in your contemplative community. TCS will be providing a series of reflection questions for small groups to address “in real life” after the Zoom gathering.
Comments: Cynthia Bourgeault is one of our favorite teachers and this presentation, to us, looks like just what we need in the current moment. We like that there are reflection questions for small groups who choose to watch together.
Give Me a Word: An Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year
Dates and Times: Sunday, Nov. 30, – Tuesday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: $140 standard fee ($180 sponsorship fee; $100 reduced fee)
Frequency: Daily
Duration: 1.5 hours/day
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes, you have lifetime access to all online programs.
Description: A companion retreat to the book of the same title. A key phrase, repeated often in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers, is “Give me a word.” When a seeker went out to the wilderness to approach one of the ammas or abbas and said, “Give me a word,” they were not asking for a command or solution. They were opening their hearts to a communication which would slowly transform their lives.
The retreat begins with a live Zoom gathering led by Christine Valters Paintner, which will include teaching, meditation, ritual, and reflection. She will be accompanied by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan who will offer the gift of his own soulful music and reflections.
The rest of the retreat is asynchronous which means each day a new creative practice or meditation is posted to our online retreat platform to help you listen for your word, receive your word, or carry your word forward into the world. Five-plus weeks allows a slow process of unfolding and receiving, not rushing through or grasping. You are invited to attune yourself to a different way of being in the world.
We will also have a vibrant facilitated forum as a place for you to share your discoveries, noticings, and questions, with with Christine Valters Paintner, Aisling Richmond, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Claudia Love Mair, Dena Jennings, Jamie Marich, Jo-ed Tome, John Valters Paintner, Melinda Thomas, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, and Simon de Voil.
It is highly recommended to order a copy of Christine Valters Paintner’s book Give Me a Word to have the text version of all the materials.
Comments: This is a program based on the new book by Christine Valters Paintner, the founder and Abbess of Abbey of the Arts. We’ve followed Abbey of the Arts for some time and enjoy their offerings. This is a series, self-directed except for the initial live Zoom event. We like that you get lifetime access to every program you attend.
December
Honoring Winter: A Time for Deep Rest & Reflection (from the Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing)
Dates and Times: Tuesday, Dec. 9, Noon – 1 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: One-time event
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: As the natural world enters a quiet state of dormancy during the winter months, there is a corresponding invitation for us to slow down and focus inward as well. During this experiential webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to explore practices that awaken the senses, soothe the nervous system, and open the heart. We invite you to honor the season of winter by tapping into deep rest and reflection with live musical meditation, breathwork, and mindful movement.
No experience is necessary, and you may participate as much or as little as you’d like. We recommend having something to write with and write on nearby for optional journal reflection time. If possible, you may wish to find a quiet space without distractions and have somewhere comfortable to sit or lie down.
Whether you’re seeking rest, renewal, or inspiration, this session will offer a space of rejuvenation to attune to your inner energy and the natural world.
Participants will be off camera and muted.
Comments: The Bakken Center is new to us, but this looks like an enriching, experiential, and accessible presentation. We like that participants are off-camera and muted so that participation can feel less intimidating in some ways. It’s a nice lunchtime break for an hour. Also, we like that it’s free.
Ongoing
You’re Not the Only One (from Eremos)
Dates and Times: Weekly on Mondays, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Registration: Open
Cost: Free
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Zoom
Recording Available: No
Description: Join us weekly (or as often as you desire) to share how you’re feeling right now about life, what’s unfolding in the world, or whatever you need to speak into the circle.
No fixing, no ranting, no trying to make it better.
Just listening attentively to each other in support and always closing our time together with what gives us hope or what we’re grateful for.
Comments: We’ve met this leader (as a participant) in past programs and have found her to be very thoughtful in her sharing. This looks like an enriching ongoing group.
Meditation Resources for those New to Meditation (from Tara Brach)
Dates and Times: Self-directed, flexible
Registration: N/A – this is a collection of resources
Cost: Free
Frequency: Self-directed
Duration: Varies
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: You are embarking on a journey that can deeply transform and enrich your life. The most important thing to remember is to approach practice with a friendly, curious, non-judgmental attitude.
There’s no one style of meditation that is “best” or fits all people. We’ve offered you some basic practices below that you can explore to see which serve you well. You might end up with two or three that you use regularly as you establish a practice. Over the weeks and months you’ll internalize the instructions and probably practice more and more regularly without the guided meditation. But at times, you’ll find they will help in gathering your attention.
Resources for those new to meditation or if you’d like a refresher:
Beginner’s Meditation Kit – a introductory mini-course
Mindfulness Daily – a free 40-day online course to help to establish a mindfulness meditation practice
How to Meditate FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How to Meditate (PDF)
Comments: This is a wonderful introduction to (or refresher for) establishing a meditation practice. A well-known and respected meditation teacher, Tara Brach’s teachings blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. The result is a distinctive voice in Western Buddhism, one that offers a wise and caring approach to freeing ourselves and society from suffering. To learn more about her training, background, and leadership, click here.
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.
The Abbey Spiritual Discussion Group
Dates and Times: Tuesdays, 5 p.m.
Registration: Not required
Cost: Free
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: 1 hour
Format: Zoom
Recording Available: No
Description: This group reads books to deepen our spiritual lives and to build community among participants. Newcomers are welcome to join the group anytime. Register on The Abbey website and we will send you a Zoom link.
Comments: The group is currently reading Practice the Pause. We enjoy this group and the lively discussion both in small-group breakout rooms and with the whole group.
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.
The Welcoming Prayer – Videos (from Contemplative Outreach)
Dates and Times: Always available
Registration: N/A
Cost: Free
Frequency: N/A
Duration: Varies, from 5 minutes to 1 hour, most are about 30 minutes
Format: YouTube
Recording Available: Yes
Description: A collection of videos on the Welcoming Prayer (34 videos). There was a series of 8 videos which are part of a larger curriculum for a self-guided online course on this practice, “Embracing Living: The Welcoming Prayer,” which is offered by Contemplative Outreach in conjunction with Spirituality & Practice).
Comments: We regularly enjoy offerings from Contemplative Outreach and are always eager to learn more about The Welcoming Prayer. Some of the 34 videos linked here are from early in the Pandemic (when we were all trying to figure out how to be in community when we couldn’t meet in person), and some videos are more recent.
The Tears of Things: Integrating the Prophetic Path (from The Center for Action and Contemplation)
Dates and Times: Self-paced
Registration: Open
Cost: $100 (or $80 or $60, based on financial circumstances)
Frequency: Self-paced with 9 prophetic themes)
Duration: Varies
Format: Online
Recording Available: Yes
Description: A self-guided online course based on Richard Rohr’s new book, “The Tears of Things.” Explore the wisdom of prophets from ancient times to modern day, and discover how we can transform our anger into compassion in our modern “age of outrage.”
“The Tears of Things: Integrating the Prophetic Path” will lead you on a journey from righteous anger at injustice, through grief for the world’s suffering, and—for those committed to the path—finally to grace-filled love for everyone and everything.
Students will explore themes from “The Tears of Things,” like radical grace, collective evil, and the alchemy of tears. Discover deeper meaning in the Hebrew prophets and find inspiration from today’s truth-tellers like Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Etty Hillesum, Howard Thurman, Joanna Macy, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Oscar Romero.
This self-guided course offers a flexible online learning experience to explore prophetic themes from the sacred space of your home. You can enroll anytime and access all course materials through CAC Connect, our new online learning platform. Engage with the material in a space that’s safe for questions and deepen your understanding alongside fellow seekers.
Comments: We’ve previously enjoyed many offerings from the CAC and Richard Rohr. This offering is an online, self-paced program based on his new book, but we are not sure if he is speaking in it. There doesn’t appear to be a live portion of this course and we are not sure if there is online interaction (though they usually do offer that).