The Contemplative Life

Today we are joined by spiritual guidance trainer, Jo Giarrante.  Together we explore what Jo has learned in her decades of spiritual guidance ministry and hear wisdom as it relates to her hopes for the future of this work. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for your...

Today we are joined by spiritual guide and avid paddler,  Becca Langhough.  Learn how she combined her love for canoeing, spiritual direction and outdoor adventure.  Additional Resources: becca55nb@gmail.com Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for your support.

Today we explore a modern contemplative, Brother Roger.  Join us as we talk about the inspirational community in Taize, France and how it has captured the imagination of people around the world. Additional Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngA8BFbjrE0 Check out past episodes of exploring contemplative figures: The Contemplative LIfe, episodes 130-136 Sign up for our newsletter here : http...

Today we talk about the Desert Fathers and Mothers from the 3rd-5th Centuries.  Join us as we explore their values of hospitality, storytelling, and the spiritual landscape of the desert. Additional Resources Check out past episodes of exploring contemplative figures: The Contemplative Life, episodes 130-136 Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looki...

Today we discuss the legacy of Clare of Assisi.    Learn how her choices as a young teen continue to inspire people today in the areas of focus, mission and care for the poor. Additional Resources Check out past episodes of exploring contemplative figures: The Contemplative Life, episodes 130-136 Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looking up resour...

There is much to learn from the lives of contemplative people in history.   Today, we explore the legacy of Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.  Learn how his spiritual exercises continue to influence our modern lives and ways we can apply and adapt for the 21 century. Additional Resources: Pray As You Go app Jesuits Guide to Almost Anything by James Martin, SJ Learning to Pray by James Ma...

Regardless of your country of origin, election years can be stressful.  Join us today as we explore practices that can help us love our neighbors as ourselves. Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for your support.

Join us today as we explore 4 ways we are currently engaging in nature.   We hope this inspires you to find your own inspiration outdoors. Additional resources: https://www.scottericksonart.com/ https://www.instagram.com/scottthepainter/ Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Th...

Today we are joined by Stephanie Spencer, co-founder of the organization 40 Orchards.  We discuss the Jewish practice of Midrash, the value of asking questions in community and how to expand our engagement with ancient texts.  Learn more at: 40orchards.org Searching the Sacred podcast Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get...

Today we are joined by Pastor & Certified Forest Bather, Zayna Thomley.  We discuss what to expect in a forest bathing session, the importance of community and nature and how to embrace obstacles that might come with the outdoors. Follow Zayna at: https://wisdom-and-wonder.com/ Some of our show notes contain affiliate links.    We want to save you the effort of looking up resources + we get a...

Today is a special episode where we hear from Dr. Kristina Kaiser about her doctoral work with the topic of Joy.   It also marks the final episode with Kristina as our co-host, as she plans to focus more time and energy towards this work.  Tune in as we learn more about the academic, emotional and spiritual aspects of joy. To follow Kristina: kristinamkaiser@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedi...

Today we are joined by spiritual director Heather Watts exploring the journey of deconstructing faith.  We discuss how spiritual guidance can provide space to be heard, wonder together and sit with uncertainties one faces in these seasons. Additional Resources Listening and Caring Skills by John Savage Sign up for our newsletter here : https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter Some of our show notes...

Today we welcome Dr. Jan Lundy to the podcast who is talking with us about what it looks like to companion people through their grief. Though grief is something many people find difficult to talk about, it's likely that each of us is experiencing loss continually. Join in as Jan shares with us about what it looks like to stay with someone through their experience of wilderness in ways that he...

On this week’s podcast we hear from Tom Buhler, a certified spiritual guide offering mindfulness to prisoners. Tom shares with us about the powerful transformations possible when using mindfulness, particularly in the midst of high-stress situations. Join us as Tom relays how formal practice can lead to shifts in perspective that help us become more aware of our thoughts, emotions, and physical se...

Many of us have heard that we ought to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. But how many of us have heard that we ought to treat ourselves with the same kindness and respect we offer to others? Certainly, loving ourselves sounds good in theory, but the daily practice of it is quite another thing. It can be helpful to ask ourselves: What protective measures have we put in place that...

Stress is a part of life and can happen in both big and small ways. On today’s podcast, we consider how the contemplative life can help us recognize what’s happening so that we can respond in more balanced ways more and more often. Do you find yourself sometimes feeling flush with emotions? Or, on the opposite side of that, do you sometimes try to ignore emotions in favor of just the facts? When w...

On this week’s podcast, we’re talking about what it takes to be present to those things that are taking up mental real estate in our heads, buzzing in the background, ticker taping through our heads, and the like. Do you sometimes find yourself blowing up when you normally would have been able to remain calm? Having trouble sleeping? Feeling the need to put everyone and everything on mute? All of...

Do you ever find yourself feeling frustrated or confused about which way to go next? In this episode, we talk about the helpfulness of being able to take a pause as a way of getting our bearings again, whether those pauses are related to something in particular, a season of life, or the need for discernment within a larger group. Wondering if you have enough capacity for what’s being asked of you?...

Join us as Dr. Jeanette Banashak shares with us about a new certification program being offered in Outdoor Companioning that has come about as a result of her own lifelong desire to connect with the more-than-human world. Are you a spiritual guide or working in some form of service profession? Outdoor Companioning teaches us how to integrate the natural environment, both in our work lives and in o...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay and is rapidly changing our world. For some, a tool like this can bring about equity in their lives. But in our individualistic society, where we are applauded for the ways in which we can stand out, will everyone be willing to applaud this equity? At the same time, many have taken to warning us about the dangers of AI. Join us as we talk about how the...

Do you ever feel lonely, even if you’re in a room with other people? Do you sometimes feel like you’re missing that sense of meaningful connection in your life? If so, you’re not alone. For a variety of reasons, common social interactions have shifted over the years, leaving us with an epidemic of loneliness. Join us as we talk about how the contemplative life can be of use to us in our current en...

How many times have we heard someone say, “Let me just play devil’s advocate here for a moment.” For many of us, it’s a total mind shift to ask a question in the opposite spirit. What if instead of asking what could go wrong we spent even a little bit of time asking what could go right? Who would be served? What possibilities might open up? What freedoms might be gained? In a world where we’ve lea...

After several weeks of hearing from others about how they think about self-care given their particular experiences of life, we turn our attention today to thinking about the community. Who do we turn to when we need help? And fo that matter, do we believe that we can turn to others? Or do we tend to live with the feeling that we have to do it all alone? Join us as we talk about how being both give...

Join us as Ryan Bauers, Consultant and Organization Development Specialist, shares with us about why self-care is so important in the business environment and how it positively impacts those businesses. Hear about his own journey that led him to finding self-care so important: working to the point of total exhaustion, receiving from mentors who offered him a new trajectory, and now living that out...

For those who have a tendency towards helping others, feelings of guilt and shame can often lead to overworking. And what’s more, depending on our family or cultural contexts, we may not even feel permission to do what we need to do in order to keep ourselves feeling whole and healthy. Join us as Rev. Dr. Beth Brown shares with us about what helps her continue to feel centered and grounded. Be ins...