Tag Archives: union
Separateness Is Suffering
True Self/Separate Self Separateness Is Suffering Thursday, September 3, 2020 The idea of the two “selves” within every individual—the True Self and the separate self—is a part of the perennial wisdom and a pathway for transformation in most faith traditions. I share the thoughts of two writers, a rabbi and a Sufi Shaikh (elder), on… Continue Reading Separateness Is Suffering
God Is Our True Mother
Julian of Norwich God Is Our True Mother Wednesday, May 13, 2020 In Chapter 54 of Julian’s Showings, we find what I consider the best description I have read of the union of the soul inside of the Trinity. Julian writes, “[God] makes no distinction in love between the blessed soul of Christ and the least… Continue Reading God Is Our True Mother
Oneing
Julian of Norwich Oneing Tuesday, May 12, 2020 The place which Jesus takes in our soul he will nevermore vacate, for in us is his home of homes, and it is the greatest delight for him to dwell there. . . . And the soul who contemplates this is made like [the one] who is… Continue Reading Oneing
Made for Infinite Love
Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross Made for Infinite Love Thursday, April 23, 2020 Jim Finley, my friend and fellow teacher at the CAC, began studying the mystics at the Abbey of Gethsemani at age eighteen, with Thomas Merton as his novice master. He remembers when he first read this excerpt from the… Continue Reading Made for Infinite Love
Hope and Suffering
The Universal Pattern Hope and Suffering Friday, April 17, 2020 When we try to live in solidarity with the pain of the world—and do not spend our lives running from it—we will encounter various forms of “crucifixion.” Pain is physical or emotional discomfort, but suffering often comes from our resistance to that pain. The soul… Continue Reading Hope and Suffering
The Patterns That Are Always True
Richard Rohr introduces this week’s Daily Meditation theme on “Reality Initiating Us,” addressing our current global crisis as a collective initiation experience which we are all undergoing. Reality Initiating Us: Part One The Patterns That Are Always True Sunday, March 29, 2020 In this time of global crisis, it may be that reality is revealing… Continue Reading The Patterns That Are Always True
Emotional Sobriety
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Part Two Emotional Sobriety Monday, December 16, 2019 Step Eight: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Step Nine: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. [1] Making a list of… Continue Reading Emotional Sobriety
At the Heart
Cosmology: Part Two At the Heart Thursday, September 5, 2019 In a recent episode of our podcast Another Name for Every Thing, Brie Stoner, Paul Swanson, and I reflected on why people are so uncomfortable when we say things like “Christ is in all things.” I’ve been accused of being a pantheist, but that’s lazy… Continue Reading At the Heart
The Mystical Heartbeat
Introduction to Christian Mysticism The Mystical Heartbeat Friday, July 19, 2019 Today I share again from Carl McColman’s book Christian Mystics: The first Christian mystics appear in the Bible, figures like John the Evangelist and Paul of Tarsus. But mysticism didn’t end when the Bible was written. Great mystics appear in every century of Christian… Continue Reading The Mystical Heartbeat
Incarnational Mysticism
Introduction to Christian Mysticism Incarnational Mysticism Sunday, July 14, 2019 Years ago, someone asked if I could sum up all my teachings in two words. My response was “incarnational mysticism.” The first word, “incarnational,” is Christianity’s specialty and should always be our essential theme. We believe God became embodied. The early Fathers of the Church… Continue Reading Incarnational Mysticism
