2024 Turning to the Mystics Online Retreat | An Interior Pilgrimage

Explore contemplative teachings and practices live with James Finley in this 4-day immersive retreat.

Event Type:

Online

Date:

Dec. 5 – 8, 2024

Featuring:

James Finley

Cost:

$497, $378, $289

Registration is closed

About This Event

Join James Finley and Kirsten Oates, hosts of the Turning to the Mystics podcast, on a 4-day interior pilgrimage mirroring the journey laid out in the 19th-century Russian mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim. 

“While the details of our own stories may differ from the pilgrim’s,” James says, “the underlying transformative graces remain the same.” Whether you have an established contemplative practice or are just beginning your journey, this online retreat will help deepen awareness and connection through discourse, reflection, and moments of shared silence.

Details

Building on Season Nine of Turning to the Mystics podcast, James Finley will guide us through an interior pilgrimage through the teachings of The Way of a Pilgrim. The retreat will help participants:

Create a sacred experience in the comfort of their homes.
Deepen their spiritual journey by reflecting on their paths to God.
Learn the Jesus Prayer, a key contemplative practice in Eastern Christian mysticism.
Gain confidence integrating contemplative practice in their daily routines.
Experience the support of a contemplative community—a monastery without walls—among fellow seekers, wounded healers, and everyday mystics.

Participants will need a device with reliable Internet access, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer to access Zoom. Please bring writing and drawing materials, including blank paper and colored pencils.

Event details are subject to change. If you have any questions, contact our Community Support team.  

Event Cost

The cost of attending this online gathering is $497. CAC believes that finances should not be a barrier to participation. For that reason, we have made three additional price levels available at $378 and $289. We encourage you to select the price you are most able to afford. If none of these costs are within your means, additional financial assistance may also be available.

Registration

Registration for this event is open from Oct. 23 through Dec. 3, 2024. This event will be recorded. All registrants will have access to the replay for one full year. 

Schedule

Each day will include activities to support your interior pilgrimage, including wisdom teachings, contemplative practices, reflection activities, question and response sessions, and optional opportunities to connect with other seekers.

Day 1: Thursday December 5, 3:30pm – 5:00pm PST (6:30pm – 8pm EST, 11:30pm – 1am GMT) 
Day 2: Friday December 6, 9:00am – 5:00pm PST (12pm – 8pm EST, 5pm – 1am GMT) 
Day 3: Saturday December 7, 9:00am – 5:00pm PST (12pm – 8pm EST, 5pm – 1am GMT) 
Day 4: Sunday December 8, 9:00am – 12:30pm PST (12pm – 3.30pm EST, 5pm – 8.30pm GMT)

Participants will receive a detailed agenda and online access info closer to the start of the retreat.  

Session Descriptions

Community

Participate in a community of people embarking on an interior pilgrimage together, guided by the wisdom of the mystics. Each day, optional breakout discussion groups will be available for those longing to connect with like-minded individuals, offering space for shared reflection.

Teachings from James Finley

Experience the wisdom of an elder and teacher who studied directly under Thomas Merton. Wisdom is caught as much as taught when we are open, and Jim will help us deepen our understanding and experience of what life looks like through awakened eyes.

Contemplative Practices

Together, we will learn and practice the Jesus Prayer, journeying alongside the pilgrim. As we engage in this sacred practice, we join a long tradition of seekers who have used this prayer to quiet the mind, open the heart, and experience the mercy and love of God.

Reflection Practices

Throughout the retreat, you will be invited to explore various prompts for reflection and journaling, supporting your interior pilgrimage. James and Kirsten will also guide you through writing and drawing practices aimed at moving beyond surface-level thinking to access deeper wisdom within. To participate fully in this experience, please bring writing and drawing materials, including blank paper and colored pencils.

Question & Response

James will participate in question and response sessions after each talk. We encourage participants to offer questions that benefit the group, and Jim will answer as many as time allows.

Featured Teacher

James Finley, Ph.D.

Dr. James Finley is a clinical psychologist and contemplative practitioner. Drawing from his experience as a former monk and spiritual directee of Thomas Merton, Jim offers trustworthy guidance for the spiritual journey through this website, online courses, and retreats. A faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation, he is the author of “Merton’s Palace of Nowhere” and “The Healing Path,” and the host of CAC’s podcast “Turning to the Mystics.”

Kirsten Oates

Kirsten Oates is the cohost of CAC’s podcast “Turning to the Mystics” with James Finley. She’s a Spiritual Director and an Executive Coach who brings wisdom and insight into the intersection of spirituality and leadership.

“The monastery without walls is a gathering place for those searching for something more—a place to receive trustworthy guidance in the search for fulfillment.”