Embark upon a heroic journey of descent, transformation, and self-discovery. Learn spiritual truths to prepare for the second half of life in this unique online course based on Richard Rohr’s beloved book, “Falling Upward.”
Course Description
A self-guided online course based on Richard Rohr’s book “Falling Upward” exploring the heroic journey of descent, transformation, and self-discovery that leads us from the first half of life into the second half of life
Falling Upward: Life as a Spiritual Journey invites you to journey into a broader and deeper world, where the soul finds its fullness, connects to the whole, and lives inside the Big Picture. It is also about falling — and the beautiful necessity of falling.
This course explores 12 themes from Richard Rohr’s book “Falling Upward” and the wisdom of Carl Jung. Richard steps into his own story and models what it’s like to move beyond the first-half-of-life container. Explore the worldviews that keep many of us stuck in a mindset based on the first half of life.
This self-guided course offers a flexible online learning experience to explore second-half-of-life spirituality 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.
Learning Objectives
Students will gain insight into limiting beliefs, lost mythologies, psychological and spiritual truths, as well as:
- Foster a greater awareness of egoic motivations and thought patterns and how they operate in your daily life.
- Expand your understanding of the foundational nature of mythology and what’s needed to move into the second half of life.
- Cultivate a holistic attentiveness of your inner landscape and life as a window to God’s presence and love.
- Connect and learn with others on the journey toward experiencing life in a more connected, communal, and universal way.
Course Details
Falling Upward: Life as a Spiritual Journey is a self-guided online course with 11 units. In this online course, students should expect to:
- Move through each unit at the pace that works best for you.
- Watch and listen to video and audio lessons.
- Go deeper with contemplative practices designed to help you break down the dualistic walls separating education from practice.
- Participate in facilitated discussions.
Live Calls with CAC Staff
This course will provide ongoing opportunities for students to participate in live calls with CAC staff and are intended to support integrating the course material through conversations with facilitators and fellow students. These calls will be announced in the CAC Connect platform as they are scheduled.
CAC Connect
This online course is available on CAC’s new learning platform, CAC Connect, your companion for deeper engagement with Christian contemplative wisdom and practices. Designed for spiritual seekers and lifelong learners, it supports those seeking transformation and a deeper connection to contemplative practices. Through CAC Connect, you can explore enriching content and engage with like-valued individuals in dedicated spaces. Build meaningful relationships within a supportive community and foster both personal growth and a commitment to a more just and connected world.
Cost
The standard cost for this course is $497. While this price reflects the true cost of creating and offering it, we believe that transformation belongs to everyone and are committed to reducing financial barriers to participation. That’s why we’re offering two additional price levels — $374 and $249 — 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.
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.
Requirements
- This course is taught in English.
- There are no prerequisites for this course. The “Falling Upward” book is not required reading, though students may find it helpful as they progress through coursework.
- Learn more about the technical requirements for taking this course.
Please review our FAQs for additional requirement questions.
“Richard Rohr’s “Falling Upward” had a profound effect on me as I navigated the hardest thing — forgiving myself.”
—Angela S., CAC Community Member
Course Impact
Students enroll in Falling Upward: Life as a Spiritual Journey for many reasons. Some sought support reestablishing their identity in a new stage of life, like retiring, becoming a parent, or losing a loved one. Others said the contemplative practices helped them feel more confident in their values — particularly those in a period of faith deconstruction.
Students shared that they:
- Felt a deeper, sustained sense of inner peace with contemplative practices they could integrate into their daily routines.
- Became more confident in who they are, especially those navigating big life changes like becoming newlyweds, dealing with empty nest syndrome, or coping with divorce.
- Better understood who they want to be — and how Franciscan mysticism can help them find a deeper sense of self in their own unique Hero’s Journey.
- Reduced feelings of guilt or shame often associated with leaving old identities behind.
Watch a sample video from this course.
Course Overview
In this self-guided online course, students will explore the themes of this course through excerpts, facilitated discussions, journaling reflections, contemplative practices, a new topic of study through reflections and supplemental articles — including exclusive teachings from Richard Rohr.
Students are encouraged to progress through each theme at their own pace.
- Welcome & Introduction
Prepare yourself for the course, get familiar with contemplative practices, reflection exercises, and create a sacred space. - Unit 1 — A Call to Adventure
Explore the Hero’s Journey through a study of mythology and practices in awareness and attention. Learn what it means to discharge your “Loyal Soldier.” - Unit 2 — Crossing the First Threshold
Delve deeper into creative tension, the Paschal Mystery, the path of descent, essentialism, and existentialism. Learn contemplative practices for stillness and awareness. - Unit 3 — The Mentor Offers Insight into Our Dilemmas
Follow the evolution of Christianity from Medieval times to the modern world. Learn contemplative practices exploring the ego, grief, loss, and forgiveness. - Unit 4 — The Mentor Offers Practical Tools
Learn contemplative practices for beholding, welcoming, breathing, floating, stillness, and letting go. - Unit 5 — On the Road of Trials
Explore prerational, transrational, and archetype teachings. Learn rituals and practices for moving beyond false stories. - Unit 6 — Approaching the Inmost Cave (Part 1)
Explore the four archetypes and go further with the Three Domes ofMeaning. Reflection activities breakdown the four archetypal symbols and the roles they play in your life. - Unit 7 — Approaching the Inmost Cave (Part 2)
Engage in shadow work around the four archetypes. Reflection activities and contemplative practices explore Core Energy and Shadow Energy. - Unit 8 — Crossing the Threshold into the Inmost Cave
Explore True Self, False Self, and the ego. Learn contemplative practices for paying attention and receiving. - Unit 9 — Facing Our Wounds
Start with an introduction to Sacred Wounds. Practice the Sacred Wound meditation. - Unit 10 — Tests, Enemies, and Allies
Dive deeper into Fr. Richard’s teachings on evil and its impact on your life and the world. Explore contemplative practices to release “momentary baggage.” - Unit 11 — Beginning the Journey Home
Explore reflection activities revealing Jesus as the archetype of falling upward. Learn about connections between Jesus and True Self, Jesus and Sacred Wounds, and Jesus and Sin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find our most frequently asked questions about our online courses. If you’re unable to find what you are looking for, please contact our support team.
The desired learning outcomes of your participation in the Falling Upward: Life as a Spiritual Journey course consist of categories:
- What we hope you will know
- How we hope you will grow
- How we hope you are inspired to show up in this course and in the world
These desired outcomes serve as the guiding framework for learning by way of your thoughtful engagement and interaction with the course lessons, with the course facilitator, and with your fellow students.
What we hope you will know
- The concept of the journey from the first half of life to the second half of life and how we can allow the second half of life to naturally unfold – recognizing that life is our ultimate teacher and we ourselves cannot be the architect of our own transformation.
- The concept of the “path of descent” and how we can allow ourselves to sit in agreement, disagreement, comfort, and discomfort.
- The frameworks of archetypes, mythology, The Hero/Heroine’s Journey, and What do we do with Evil, and how they relate to the concept of “Falling Upward”.
- The value of ritual through invitation of using ritual in their lives to heal wounds and embrace shadow.
How we hope you will grow
- Through learning about and participating in several different contemplative practices, which you may incorporate into your daily life.
- Through learning and practicing how to sit with discomfort and using contemplative tools to let the second half of life naturally unfold.
- Through practice and study with teachings and documenting the transformation you witness in your life through self-reflection, journaling, and discussions.
- Through learning and practicing with the Three Domes assessment tool.
- Through identifying your core archetype – including both its light and shadow expressions and using the archetype model to chart a personalized path of growth by embracing your shadow and intentionally stretching into the qualities of the other archetypes.
How we hope to inspire you to show up in this course and in this world
- By asking enduring questions
- By seeing and holding paradox
- By leaning into your own discomfort
- By helping to build a sense of connection and community
- By moving into seeing how my transformation contributes to loving action
The format you can expect for the Falling Upward course is as follows:
- Ongoing access: Once you enroll, this course will always be accessible to you as long as CAC Connect exists.
- Asynchronous: This is a self-paced course so you can go at the pace that works best for you and your journey of transformation. There is no set schedule or expectation for how long you spend with any given lesson.
- Teaching modality: Course content is presented in written format, audio, and videos you can watch and/or listen to. Transcripts are provided for all video and audio content.
- Student Engagement: Lessons include opportunities for practice, reflection, and participating in facilitated peer interactions on CAC Connect.
- Optional Live Calls: There are occasional live calls hosted by CAC staff on Zoom for enrolled students. These calls will be announced when scheduled with call recordings made available in the course in the weeks after they happen.
Transformation belongs to everyone. CAC is committed to reducing financial barriers so that seekers from all walks of life can engage the wisdom that heals and inspires. That’s why we offer reduced price levels for all our online courses—so students can choose the one that best aligns with their financial circumstances.
If those price levels are still out of reach, students may apply for additional financial assistance.
Please wait to register for a course or event until you’ve received confirmation of your financial assistance status.
Students will have unlimited access to course materials and discussions as long as CAC Connect is available. We encourage students to go at a pace that fits their lifestyle and supports their transformational journey.
Yes! CAC is currently in the process of transitioning courses to a new community learning platform called CAC Connect (powered by Mighty Networks). Courses on this platform will offer multiple opportunities for discussion, practice, and engagement with others within the course and beyond.
Each course will have a Course Facilitator whose role is to facilitate interactions that support contemplative study, reflection, practice, and application of what is learned. Students will interact with each other throughout the course lessons and discussion feed. Additionally, each course includes a student list that allows students to meet, follow, and chat with fellow participants.
CAC online courses are available on computers and mobile devices, like tablets and smartphones.
If you’re having problems, you might be able to solve them by making sure you’re using a supported browser or device, and making sure it’s updated.
CAC Connect Web Access:
- Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (latest versions recommended).
- Operating System: Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later.
- Internet Speed: At least 5 Mbps for general browsing; 10+ Mbps recommended for livestreaming and video uploads.
- Screen Resolution: Minimum 1024×768 for the best viewing experience.
CAC Connect Mobile Access:
- iOS App: Requires iOS 15.0 or later (compatible with iPhone and iPad).
- Android App: Requires Android 7.1 or later.
- Storage Space: At least 200MB free for the app installation, more for media uploads.
- Permissions: The app may require access to notifications, microphone, camera, and storage for full functionality.
Yes, CAC Connect has a mobile app for both iOS and Android users! With the app, you can easily access and engage with your online courses, connect with fellow students, and explore enriching content that supports your spiritual journey while on the go.
The iOS version requires 15.0 or later (compatible with iPhone and iPad), and the Android app requires Android 7.1 or later. Students will need at least 200MB free on their device for the app installation, with more available for media downloads. For full functionality, the app may require access to notifications, microphone, camera, and device storage.
To reset your password, visit connect.cac.org and click the “Forgot Password?” link. Please be sure to verify that the email you use is the one associated with your CAC Connect profile and that your email address has been entered correctly. All passwords are case sensitive.
1. Have you received the course invite link?
After purchasing and registering for the course, you will receive an invite link via email to log in or sign up for CAC Connect. This email will come from [email protected]. If you don’t see it in your inbox within a few minutes, please double check your spam folder.
If you haven’t received the invite link, please contact our support team here.
2. Are you using the correct email to log in or sign up?
Once you have received the course invite link, make sure you are signing up or logging in with the exact email address used for the student registrant details at checkout.
Double-check the email you used when registering for the course. If you’re unsure, refer to your purchase confirmation email from [email protected].
Note: The invite link is tied to the student’s email. Only the student will receive the invite. If you received this course as a gift, please check with the purchaser about what email address they used in the purchase confirmation email.
3. Still experiencing issues?
If you have received the invite link, are using the correct student email, and still cannot access your course, please contact our support team for further assistance.
Students can request a full refund for any online course for up to 30 days from the date of purchase.
To request a refund, please contact our Community Support team.