
Turning to the Mystics with James Finley
Turning to the Mystics is a podcast for people searching for something more meaningful, intimate and richly present in the divine gift of their lives. James Finley, clinical psychologist and Living School faculty, offers a modern take on the historical contemplative practices of Christian mystics like Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, John of the Cross among others. Leaning into their experiences can become a gateway to hope, healing and oneness. Together with Kirsten Oates from the Center for Action and Contemplation, they explore listener questions and examine their own paths as modern contemplatives in this beautiful and broken world.
Latest episodes

Apr 26, 2021 • 58min
Dialogue 3: The Ascent of Mount Carmel
This is the third dialogue that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross. In this episode, Jim and Kirsten discuss Session 4, which covered The Ascent of Mount Carmel.Resources:
Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Apr 19, 2021 • 50min
St. John of the Cross: Session 4
This is the fourth session that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross, and the conclusion on The Ascent of Mount Carmel. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with a passage from St. John's The Ascent of Mount Carmel, and reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text.Resources:
Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
The transcript to this podcast can be found here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Apr 12, 2021 • 60min
St. John of the Cross: Session 3
This is the third session that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with a passage from St. John's The Ascent of Mount Carmel, and reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text.Resources:
Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
The transcript to this podcast can be found here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Apr 5, 2021 • 52min
Dialogue 2: The Ascent of Mount Carmel
This is the second dialogue that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross. In this episode, Jim and Kirsten discuss Session 2, which covered The Ascent of Mount Carmel.Resources:
Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Apr 2, 2021 • 22min
Bonus Good Friday Homily: Are We Forsaken?
This morning Jim Finley gave a homily called "Are We Forsaken?" for a Good Friday service with the Center for Action and Contemplation's staff, board, and extended community and we wanted to share it with you. We hope this finds you well this Easter weekend.

Mar 29, 2021 • 55min
St. John of the Cross: Session 2
This is the second session that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with a passage from St. John's The Ascent of Mount Carmel, and 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 Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
For the transcript to this podcast, you can find it here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Mar 22, 2021 • 41min
Dialogue 1: The Ascent of Mount Carmel
This is the first session that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with a passage from St. John's The Ascent of Mount Carmel, and reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text.Resources:
Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
For the transcript to this podcast, you can find it here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Mar 15, 2021 • 39min
St. John of the Cross: Session 1
This is the first session that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with a passage from St. John's The Ascent of Mount Carmel, and 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 Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
For the transcript to this podcast, you can find it here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Mar 8, 2021 • 1h 8min
Turning to St. John of the Cross
Welcome to Season 3 of Turning to the Mystics. In this episode, Kirsten Oates and James Finley are turning to 16th-century Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross and discovering how one might integrate his poetry and teachings into our daily lives. By the end of this episode, you will have an understanding of the life and work of St. John of the Cross and his impact on Jim Finley. Special thanks to our friend Mirabai Starr for joining us. You'll hear more of our interview with her throughout this season.Resources:
Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
The book being used for this season can be found here.
Connect with us:
Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about St. John of the Cross? Email us: podcasts@cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Feb 8, 2021 • 5min
Coming Soon: Turning to St. John of the Cross
Season 3 of Turning to the Mystics will continue with our next mystic, St. John of the Cross. We will begin our journey together on March 8th, 2021.Many have emailed and asked which book we will be working out of. You can purchase it here, although it is not necessary. We will continue to include the passages in the transcripts.Resources:Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org Connect with us:
We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org
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 cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!