Tag Archives: encounter
Living Mysticism
Interspiritual Mystics Living Mysticism Wednesday, August 7, 2019 Mysticism is a special consciousness of the presence of God that by definition exceeds description and results in a transformation of the subject who receives it. —Bernard McGinn [1] It’s not enough to have wonderful theories about God. Authentic mystical encounter radically changes us and our way… Continue Reading Living Mysticism
Feast of the Transfiguration
Interspiritual Mystics Feast of the Transfiguration Tuesday, August 6, 2019 Anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima Dom Bede Griffiths (1906–1993) was born in Britain and lived the latter decades of his life in India. Some of our Living School students have been deeply moved by studying his work which sought to make connections between Christianity… Continue Reading Feast of the Transfiguration
Gifts of Power
Black Women Mystics Gifts of Power Thursday, August 1, 2019 Rebecca Cox Jackson (1795–1871) was born into a free family in Pennsylvania. After a mystical encounter, she divorced her husband and became an itinerant preacher. She discovered the Shakers and eventually founded the first black Shaker community in Philadelphia. Jackson’s spiritual awakening was catalyzed by… Continue Reading Gifts of Power
Gift of Heaven
Black Women Mystics Gift of Heaven Wednesday, July 31, 2019 Jarena Lee (1783–1864) was the first authorized woman preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her spiritual autobiography—the first by an African American woman published in the United States—describes her childhood and her journeys across the United States. Though born to free black parents, she… Continue Reading Gift of Heaven
All in All
Black Women Mystics All in All Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Mysticism is not all ecstatic visions. People who have endured great suffering and let it open them to a new consciousness or perspective are often mystics. They discover that they are always sustained by Love’s presence. James Finley has a beautiful image for this unceasing… Continue Reading All in All
Being Christian
Mystic: Howard Thurman Being Christian Friday, July 26, 2019 Today I invite you to reflect on your own sense of identity—both as an individual and as part of a collective—as you read Howard Thurman’s thoughts on race and relationships: The burden of being black and the burden of being white is so heavy that it… Continue Reading Being Christian
Understanding the Prophet
Prophets: Part One Understanding the Prophet Sunday, June 30, 2019 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they… Continue Reading Understanding the Prophet
The First Incarnation
Feminine Incarnation The First Incarnation Monday, June 10, 2019 In mythic imagination, I think Mary intuitively symbolizes the first incarnation—or Mother Earth. I am not saying Mary is the first incarnation, only that she became the natural archetype for it. Carl Jung believed that humans produce in art and story the inner images the soul… Continue Reading The First Incarnation
Meeting Christ Within Us: Weekly Summary
Meeting Christ Within Us Summary: Sunday, May 26—Friday, May 31, 2019 The goal of Christian spirituality is to recognize and respond to the continual interior movements of the Spirit, for the Spirit will always lead us toward greater union with Christ and greater love and service of God and others. —Richard Hauser (Sunday) So many… Continue Reading Meeting Christ Within Us: Weekly Summary