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 A Note on Death and Love →

Today is the first Sunday of the month when we share guest posts from people living and teaching the Contemplative and/or Celtic Christian way around the globe. One of the beautiful things about the internet is that people doing amazing things in isolated parts of the world can learn from one another and grow together. … Continue reading Finding God in Creation: A Celtic Perspective →

Today I would like to share with you a guest post from Marc Thomas Shaw. Marc is an author and instructor focusing on the contemplative path as a means of inner transformation. He has been a Centering Prayer Practitioner for over a decade and is a commissioned presenter with Contemplative Outreach. He is also the … Continue reading An Architecture For Silence →

Today I would like to share with you a guest post from Michael Petrow. Michael is a student of Origen, a spiritual director, and a scholar of early Christian mysticism and depth psychology. He currently lives in New Mexico where he works with The Center for Action and Contemplation as well as The Guild for … Continue reading The True History of Wisdom →

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 →

Today I would like to share with you a guest post from Michael Petrow. Michael is a student of Origen, a spiritual director, and a scholar of early Christian mysticism and depth psychology. He currently lives in New Mexico where he works with The Center for Action and Contemplation as well as The Guild for … 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 →