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Contemplative

Contemplation

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January 2019

January 11, 2019

“I feel called to a life of solitude. What should I do?”

A reader named Thomas wrote to me: Dear Sir; Blessings. Where can a person go...

January 04, 2019

After the Silence, or, the Long Process of Forming a Contemplative Life

So you've been to a centering prayer workshop or two, and now you participate in...

December 2018

December 18, 2018

Is Contemplation Boring?

"This article is boring." I don't know of any writer who wants to get this...

December 04, 2018

Are Art and Mysticism Two Sides of the Same Coin?

I've been thinking about the relationship between contemplation and creativity. This is inspired in part...

November 2018

November 29, 2018

An Ocean of Light — Martin Laird’s Must-Read New Book on Contemplation

Rejoice, my friends. The author who is arguably our most eloquent and learned living authority...

October 2018

October 20, 2018

The Heart Symphony: Another Perspective on a Contemplative Prayer Word

In response to my post Can Christians Use a (Non-Christian) Mantra?, a reader posted this comment...

September 2018

September 29, 2018

Two Questions on the Practice of Silent Prayer

A reader of this blog wrote to me about the practice of silent prayer. He...

September 05, 2018

Contemplating the Sacred Word

A reader wrote this message to me recently: Carl, I just recently started centering prayer...

August 2018

August 22, 2018

What’s The Point Behind Mary and Martha?

When I lead retreats, I often offer up a disclaimer: I am not an academic...

August 14, 2018

Four Keys to a Contemplative Life (Courtesy of Psalm 37)

For years now I have loved Psalm 37, for it includes one of my favorite...

May 2018

May 18, 2018

We Need to Find the Silence Within — Even in the Midst of a “Joyful Noise”

Check out this insightful, evocative quotation from Barbara A. Holme's wonderful book Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices...

May 16, 2018

Just What is Contemplation, Anyway? And Why Should I Care?

A Jesuit priest, a Trappist monk, and a Tibetan buddhist walked into a bar. (No,...

January 2018

January 18, 2018

How to Pray Every Day — Without Confusing Prayer with God

In response to my recent post about Contemplative Prayer and the Holy Trinity, a reader...

January 08, 2018

Contemplating the Trinity

The heart of Christian spirituality is the Mystery of the Holy Trinity. This is the...

January 02, 2018

Expanding our Minds: Recovering Contemplation In Pursuit of Wisdom

Today’s guest post is by Kevin M. Johnson, one of the co-hosts of the Encountering Silence...

December 2017

December 28, 2017

Holding Spiritual Experience Gently

The other day I received this message from a reader who contacted me via Facebook......

December 21, 2017

Cutting Through Contemplative Materialism

A reader of this blog wrote this question to me recently: Hi Carl, just wondering...

December 20, 2017

Contemplation and the Bible

A reader of my blog writes: "Christian Contemplative prayer gets a lot of bad press,...

October 2017

October 19, 2017

Some thoughts on Non-Dualism (East and West) and Single-Mindedness

A reader on Facebook recently asked me: How do Eastern and Western non dualism differ?...

October 16, 2017

Five Elements of a Daily Contemplative Practice — and Four Principles for Cultivating Your Practice

Recently a reader of this blog posted this question: Just curious Carl — what does your typical schedule...

September 2017

September 27, 2017

When the Pope Talked to the Trappists

You don't have to be a monk to learn from the monks, and I think...

September 13, 2017

After the Storm

Humility it what reminds us just how tiny and puny we are when faced with...

September 10, 2017

Waiting for the Storm

“There’s a storm coming, and it’s not a storm of our making.” — Neil Gaiman,...

September 07, 2017

What is the Relationship Between Contemplation and Privilege?

We live in a moment in history when, finally, our global human family seems to be starting...

August 2017

August 24, 2017

What to Do When Contemplative Prayer Leads to Sadness

A reader, who has asked to remain anonymous, writes: I have been practicing centering prayer...

August 23, 2017

What I learned from the Solar Eclipse

I don't remember much about the spring of 1970, when I was in the third...

August 10, 2017

How do Contemplatives Share the Gospel with Others?

In my recent book, Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages, I made a comment that...

August 08, 2017

Can We Measure the Scientific Benefits of Christian Contemplation?

A recent article on the UK-based website Christian Today (not to be confused with Christianity Today) poses the...

May 2017

May 23, 2017

What Is the Relationship Between Christian Prayer and Meditation?

Christian spirituality is dedicated to growing in intimacy with God. Both the prayer of silence...

May 04, 2017

Compline — Prayer for the Closing of the Day

This video presents a service of Compline, sung live by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, England, under...