Being Presence | Turning to the Mystics Online Retreat with James Finley

Details

Building on the last two seasons of the Turning to the Mystics podcast, James Finley will guide us deeper into the teachings of Gabriel Marcel and Brother Lawrence. The retreat will help participants:  

• Create a sacred experience in the comfort of their own homes. 
• Gain insight into becoming more present to God.  
• Feel more confident, including integrating contemplative practices into their daily routines. 
• Experience the encouragement of a contemplative community — a monastery without walls — with fellow seekers, wounded healers, and everyday mystics.   

During our time together, we invite you to bring a few items that will help deepen your participation in this retreat.

• A sacred object: Please bring an item that holds personal meaning for you or keep it nearby in your space. There may be moments when you’ll be invited to share about what you chose.
• Journaling materials: There will be times for reflection and writing. Please have your preferred journaling tools ready—whether that’s pen and paper, a laptop, or a tablet.
• Yoga space: Yoga will be offered during the retreat. If you’d like to participate, we recommend clearing a comfortable space in your living room or wherever you’ll be joining from. The practice is beginner-friendly and accessible for all body types.

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. 

Registration

Registration for this event is open from October 28 through December 3, 2025. This event will be recorded. All registrants will have access to the replay for one full year.   

Cost

The cost of attending this online gathering is $497. While this price reflects the true cost of creating and offering this event, we are committed to reducing financial barriers to participation. That’s why we’re offering additional price levels — $378 and $289 — so you can choose the one that best aligns with your current financial circumstances.   

If these price levels are out of reach, you may apply for additional financial assistance, which will be open until November 25, 2025. 

These reduced options are made possible by the generosity of our donor community, who help ensure that seekers from all walks of life can engage the wisdom that calls us toward healing, wholeness, and deepening love. 

Schedule

• Day 1: Thursday, December 4, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. PT
• Day 2: Friday, December 5, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT
• Day 3: Saturday, December 6, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT
• Day 4: Sunday, December 7, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT

Friday and Saturday will include a Lunch Break from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. PT, and Yoga or Christian Meditation from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. PT.

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

Session Descriptions

Community

Experience the encouragement of learning in community. Together we will listen, ask questions, and practice. Breakout groups will provide space to connect with fellow participants. 

Teachings from James Finley

Receive the wisdom of an elder and teacher who studied directly under Thomas Merton. James’ presence invites us to “catch” wisdom as much as learn it, helping us to experience life through awakened eyes. 

Contemplative Practices 

Be drawn into more interior, meditative ways of experiencing God’s presence. Guided by the Christian mystics, you will be offered several opportunities to practice contemplation throughout the retreat. 

Reflection and Journaling

You will be invited into reflection and journaling as a way of listening more deeply to what you are learning; clarifying what you feel called to carry forward. 

Question and Response 

Following each teaching, James will engage in question and response. Participants are encouraged to ask questions that serve the whole group — James will respond to as many as time allows. 

Creative Reflection

You will be invited to engage in the ancient art of drawing and symbols as a way to deepen your embodied connection to the teachings and to the journey unfolding within you.  

Yoga

Yoga will be offered on Friday and Saturday as an opportunity to support your body as you move through the retreat.  

Silence

Participants will be invited to weave in patterns of silence according to their circumstances. Silence deepens our inner stillness — the space where union with God is realized. 

Featured Teacher

James Finley, Ph.D. 

James Finley, Ph.D is the host of the podcast Turning to the Mystics (now in its twelfth season!). He pulls from his experiences as a clinical psychologist and as a spiritual directee under Thomas Merton, to reveal how our Divine indwelling can transcend fear and shame. 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 featured in the online course Mystical Sobriety.  

Kirsten Oates 

Kirsten Oates is the cohost of our 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.