Given the current situation in America right now, our team of moderators in The Virtual Chapel wanted to say something to our community and the world at large. This post had already been written and was scheduled to come out in September for the first Sunday of the month, when we normally feature guest posts, … Continue reading The Crossroads of Liberation and Mysticism →

Last week I talked to you about Contemplative Meditation and the ways that the practice of pondering profound writings and the nature of our condition changes as we progress through the contemplative life. In a very similar fashion personal prayer changes as well. By using the term personal prayer the author of The Cloud wants … Continue reading A Short Prayer Pierces the Cloud of Unknowing →

My friend Toto (who is also one of my patrons) recently asked me "A topic that is often at the front of my mind is balance. What to do with the flood of insight and feeling? What to do with the numbness and apathy? How did Jesus and the early Christian mystics approach distraction, how … Continue reading Maintaining Balance in a Time of Pandemic →

Throughout May and June we will be having a series of reflections shared by Michael Petrow. Michael is a scholar of Origen, who was a brilliant early Christian theologian from the second century. Even though Origen's name has been tarnished with the label of heresy, his writing has had as much impact on Christianity as … Continue reading We Always Enter the Story in the Middle →

This a continuation of last week's article Study, Reflection, and Prayer. The Cloud of Unknowing says that these three practices are absolutely necessary for beginners, and even those somewhat advanced, in contemplation. The word reflection is actually used synonymously with the word meditation. Meditation means to think over something and reflect upon it. Before we … Continue reading Contemplative Meditation: Seeing Spiritual Truths →

Today I would like to share with you a guest post from my friend Kenneth McIntosh. He is a wise teacher of Celtic Christianity, a minister in the United Church of Christ, and regularly leads forest church gatherings where he lives in New York. Kenneth is the author of Water from an Ancient Well: Celtic … Continue reading Do the Little Things Even in a Time of Pandemic →

Throughout May and June we will be having a series of reflections shared by Michael Petrow. Michael is a scholar of Origen, who was a brilliant early Christian theologian from the second century. Even though Origen's name has been tarnished with the label of heresy, his writing has had as much impact on Christianity as … Continue reading Befriending Death: Harry Potter and Origen of Alexandria →

Over the next 3 weeks I would like to talk to you about how The Cloud of Unknowing suggests we develop our contemplative practice. What many people know today as Centering Prayer is one of many practices laid out in The Cloud. These other practices range from a handful of tips to let go of … Continue reading Study, Reflection, and Prayer in The Cloud of Unknowing →

In this time of global pandemic, when everyone is social distancing, one of my favourite mystics has a great deal to say. Julian of Norwich was a champion social distancer. She was an anchoress, which was a very particular kind of nun who lived an especially ascetic life. An anchoress was 'anchored' to the side … Continue reading Social Distancing and Julian of Norwich →

Over the next couple months we will be having a series of reflections shared by Michael Petrow. Michael is a scholar of Origen, who was a brilliant early Christian theologian from the second century. Even though Origen's name has been tarnished with the label of heresy, his writing has had as much impact on Christianity … Continue reading Somethings We Can Never Know →