Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

On this special bonus episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates interview Malcolm Guite about the nature of poetry to speak to directly to the heart, as it attempts to give shape and form to the ineffable. They also discuss the first two of T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets, providing additional depth and insight into Eliot's use of pattern, exploration of time and place, as well as his references to the mystics.Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. A free version can be accessed online here.  Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail  We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until November 7th, 2024.This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

In this fourth dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on quartet four, Little Gidding.Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. A free version can be accessed online here.  Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail  We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until November 7th, 2024.This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

This is the fourth session that focuses on the poet T.S. Eliot and his work, Four Quartets. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from Four Quartets, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice.Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. A free version can be accessed online here. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until November 7th, 2024.This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

In this third dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on quartet three, The Dry Salvages.Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. A free version can be accessed online here.  Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail  We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until November 7th, 2024.This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

Dive into T.S. Eliot's 'Four Quartets' as the podcast reflects on the delicate balance between nature and technology, emphasizing nature's enduring power. Explore personal growth through the insights of the Bhagavad Gita, celebrating love and nonviolence. Discover the evolving journey of self, urging mindfulness in the present while navigating time. Delve into the richness of prayer and its connection to eternity, highlighting the need for sincerity and deeper spiritual engagement in a distracting world.

In this second dialogue session Jim and Kirsten focus on quartet two, East Coker.Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. A free version can be accessed online here.  Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail  We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until November 7th, 2024.This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

Dive into T.S. Eliot's poetic depths as they explore themes of time and existence in 'East Coker.' Discover the solitude and interconnectedness of nature, revealing the beauty beyond linear perception. Contemplate existential fears, identity, and mortality while reflecting on our shared human journey. Experience the transformative 'dark night of the soul,' leading to profound spiritual awakenings. Finally, embrace the art of waiting, finding fulfillment within divine love and collective healing through meditative introspection.

Dive into T.S. Eliot's poetic landscape, where spirituality meets emotional depth. The dialogue highlights how personal suffering can lead to profound insights about faith and salvation. Through evocative metaphors, themes of mortality and interconnectedness unfold, encouraging a deeper appreciation of life's complexities. The transformative power of mercy and divine contemplation is explored, with reflections on memory's role in transcending time. Finally, the speakers connect Eliot's wisdom to mystical traditions, revealing the rich spiritual journey embedded in poetry.

This is the first session that focuses on the poet T.S. Eliot and his work, Four Quartets. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from Four Quartets, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice.Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season can be found here. A free version can be accessed online here. Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until November 7th, 2024.This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/ Thank you!

Dive into the mystical world of T.S. Eliot as his poetry transforms spiritual journeys. Discover how mysticism and poetry interweave, reflecting deep emotional truths. Explore the poet's public acclaim alongside his introspective life. Unpack the profound themes of suffering and divine presence in works like 'The Waste Land.' Experience the serenity of 'Burt Norton' and the concept of the 'still point.' Join the conversation on Eliot's 'Four Quartets' for a deeper connection with the divine.