Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

This is a mini-episode to round out our series on Thomas Merton. A common request we received during the airing of Turning to Thomas Merton was for further reading and additional resources. Jim and Kirsten put together this mini episode to give you just that. We'll see you very soon for Turning to Teresa of Avila.

On this episode, Jim and Kirsten answer questions about spiritual practices that were submitted by the listeners during the airing of the 1st season. The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about James Finley, visit jamesfinley.org Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. To do so, email us at podcasts@cac.orgHave a question you’d like Jim or Kirsten to answer on a future episode? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or, send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail 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!

On this episode, Jim and Kirsten answer questions about Thomas Merton that were submitted by the listeners during the airing of the 1st season. The transcript for this episode can be found here. To learn more about James Finley, visit jamesfinley.org Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. To do so, email us at podcasts@cac.orgHave a question you’d like Jim or Kirsten to answer on a future episode? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or, send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail 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!

In this podcast, the speaker discusses the teachings of Thomas Merton in the context of Christian Contemplative Traditions. They explore living a contemplative way, cultivating stillness and inner knowing, starting a contemplative prayer journal, and engaging with a passage to deepen consciousness and seek obediential fidelity.

In this podcast, the speaker discusses mystical contemplation and the concept of dying to everything less than God. They explore surrendering the ego and achieving infinite union with infinite love. The hosts also explore stillness and the practice of meditation, and recite the Lord's prayer.

In this bonus episode of Turning to The Mystics, as we enter Eastertide, Jim and Kirsten are focusing on an Easter message that will help us reflect on the truth of life and resurrection so that we might ground ourselves in that story during a time such as this with the ongoing pandemic.The transcript for this bonus episode can be found here.To learn more about James Finley, visit jamesfinley.org Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. To do so, email us at podcasts@cac.org Have a question you’d like Jim or Kirsten to answer on a future episode? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or, send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail 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!

Thomas Merton, mystic, explores the purifying process necessary for union with God. They discuss Merton's perspective on meeting God in darkness and the challenges of starting on the path of contemplation. The speakers emphasize the transformative journey of love and vulnerability, and the purgative aspect of this journey. The chapter concludes with a recitation of the Lord's prayer and a thank you to the listeners.

In this bonus episode of Turning to The Mystics, Jim and Kirsten are focusing on Holy Week and discussing what this ritual can offer us as we continue to process and navigate our way through this pandemic.The transcript for this bonus episode can be found here.To learn more about James Finley, visit jamesfinley.org Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. To do so, email us at podcasts@cac.orgHave a question you’d like Jim or Kirsten to answer on a future episode? Email us: podcasts@cac.org or, send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail 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!

In this episode, James Finley explores Thomas Merton's contemplative prayer, emphasizing the importance of wordless communion and the fleeting nature of God's presence. He encourages sustained attentiveness and engages listeners in meditation and reflection. The episode concludes with a modified Lord's prayer and plans for future listener questions.

In this special episode of Turning to the Mystics, James Finley is joined by Kirsten Oates to pause and reflect on this timely moment we are all in with the world facing the pandemic, COVID-19. James grounds his mystical teaching in light of the suffering world and offers guidance on how this contemplative grounding heightens our response to that suffering. In addition to that, they are answering listener questions submitted since the last episode.The transcript for this podcast can be found here.This is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments or feedback. To do so, email us at podcasts@cac.orgThis 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!Have a question you’d like Jim or Kirsten to respond to on a future episode? Email us: podcasts@cac.org Or, send us a voicemail: cac.org/voicemail