Center for Action and Contemplation

Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

Religion EN ↓ 181 episodes

Turning to the Mystics is a podcast for people searching for something more meaningful, intimate and richly present in the divine gift of their lives. James Finley, clinical psychologist and Living School faculty, offers a modern take on the historical contemplative practices of Christian mystics like Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, John of the Cross among others. Leaning into their experiences can become a gateway to hope, healing and oneness. Together with Kirsten Oates from the Center for Action and Contemplation, they explore listener questions and examine their own paths as modern contemp...

Author

Center for Action and Contemplation

Category

Religion

Latest episode

Jun 22, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Turning to T.S. Eliot 09.09.2024

Welcome to Season 10 of Turning to the Mystics. This season we are turning to T.S. Eliot for spiritual guidance. In this episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates cover the life and person of T.S. Eliot and discuss how we can work with his poetry to transform our lives. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit...

Coming Soon: Turning to T.S. Eliot 19.08.2024

Season 10 of Turning to the Mystics will continue with our next mystic, T.S. Eliot. Our journey begins on September 9th, 2024.

A Way of a Pilgrim: Listener Questions 26.07.2024

In this episode, Kirsten and Jim answer listener questions from Season 9, focusing on the teachings of the Way of a Pilgrim. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: 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 podcast...

A Coaching Session on the Way of a Pilgrim 01.07.2024

In this special episode, Jim and Kirsten review the season and offer a way for us to turn to the Jesus Prayer and the Way of a Pilgrim for guidance on our own spiritual path. Resource Section: A transcript for this episode can be found here. A video to the meditation within this episode can be accessible here. The book we will be using this season, The Way of a Pilgrim, can be found here. Connect...

Dialogue 6: The Prayer in Ordinary Life 10.06.2024

This is the sixth dialogue session that focuses on the 19th-century mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim, which covers sections of the first chapter. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile at the Center for Action and Contemplation here. The transcript for this episode can be found here....

The Way of a Pilgrim: Session 6 03.06.2024

This is the sixth session that focuses on the 19th-century anonymous text, The Way of a Pilgrim. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from The Way of a Pilgrim, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contem...

Dialogue 5: The Realm of the Heart 27.05.2024

This is the fifth dialogue session that focuses on the 19th-century mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim, which covers sections of the first chapter. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile at the Center for Action and Contemplation here. The transcript for this episode can be found here....

The Way of a Pilgrim: Session 5 20.05.2024

This is the fifth session that focuses on the 19th-century anonymous text, The Way of a Pilgrim. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from The Way of a Pilgrim, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contem...

Dialogue 4: The Prayer Takes Hold 13.05.2024

This is the fourth dialogue session that focuses on the 19th-century mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim, which covers sections of the first chapter. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile at the Center for Action and Contemplation here. The transcript for this episode can be found here....

The Way of a Pilgrim: Session 4 06.05.2024

This is the fourth session that focuses on the 19th-century anonymous text, The Way of a Pilgrim. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from The Way of a Pilgrim, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Conte...

Dialogue 3: The Pilgrim Learns to Pray 29.04.2024

This is the third dialogue session that focuses on the 19th-century mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim, which covers sections of the first chapter. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile at the Center for Action and Contemplation here. The transcript for this episode can be found here....

The Way of a Pilgrim: Session 3 22.04.2024

This is the third session that focuses on the 19th-century anonymous text, The Way of a Pilgrim. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from The Way of a Pilgrim, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contem...

Dialogue 2: The Teacher Arrives 15.04.2024

This is the second dialogue session that focuses on the 19th-century mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim, which covers sections of the first chapter. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile at the Center for Action and Contemplation here. The transcript for this episode can be found here....

The Way of a Pilgrim: Session 2 08.04.2024

This is the second session that focuses on the 19th-century anonymous text, The Way of a Pilgrim. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from The Way of a Pilgrim, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Conte...

Dialogue 1: The Journey Begins 01.04.2024

This is the first dialogue session that focuses on the 19th-century mystical text, The Way of a Pilgrim, which covers sections of the first chapter. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile at the Center for Action and Contemplation here. The transcript for this episode can be found here....

The Way of a Pilgrim: Session 1 25.03.2024

This is the first session that focuses on the 19th-century anonymous text, The Way of a Pilgrim. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from The Way of a Pilgrim, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contem...

Turning to The Way of a Pilgrim 18.03.2024

Welcome to Season 9 of Turning to the Mystics. This season we are turning toThe Way of a Pilgrim for spiritual guidance, a 19th-century account of a pilgrim's journey towards unceasing prayer through the practice of the Jesus Prayer. In this episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates explain the significance of the anonymous author and the practice of contemplative prayer. Jim shares his personal exp...

Mechthild of Magdeburg: Listener Questions (Part 2) 04.12.2023

Welcome to the listener questions series from our sessions on Mechthild of Magdeburg. Due to the volume of questions this season, we have decided to make two episodes dedicated to listener questions. This is the last of the two episodes on Mechthild of Magdeburg. In this episode, Jim Finley and Kirsten Oates reflect on listener questions about Mechthild of Magdeburg and other mystics. They discuss...

Mechthild of Magdeburg: Listener Questions (Part 1) 28.11.2023

Welcome to the listener questions series from our sessions on Mechthild of Magdeburg. Due to the volume of questions this season, we have decided to make two episodes dedicated to listener questions. This is the first of two on Mechthild of Magdeburg. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Join us December 7 - 10, 2023 for Turning to the Mystics Online Retreat: The Way of th...

Bonus: Bernard McGinn on Mechthild, Eckhart, and Mysticism 06.11.2023

On this special bonus episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates interview Dr. Bernard McGinn about Christian mysticism and how Cristian mystics guide us in living faithfully to the mystical dimensions of God's presence. They also discuss the distinctive approaches of Christian mystics Meister Eckhart and Mechthild of Magdeburg and how their teachings complement one another. Resource Section: A trans...

Coaching Session: May God Bind Us All 23.10.2023

In this special episode, Jim and Kirsten review the season and offer a way for us to turn to Mechthild for guidance on our own spiritual path. To help you participate, we have provided the worksheet in the Resource Section below. Resource Section: A transcript for this episode can be found here. The worksheet for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season, The Flowing Li...

Dialogue 3: A Love That Binds 16.10.2023

This is the third dialogue session that focuses on the Beguine mystic, Mechthild of Magdeburg. James Finley and Kirsten Oates talk about the third session which focused on passages from Mechthild of Magdeburg's book The Flowing Light of the Godhead. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season, The Flowing Light of the Godhead, can be found he...

Mechthild of Magdeburg: Session 3 09.10.2023

This is the third session that focuses on the Beguine mystic, Mechthild of Magdeburg. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from Mechthild of Magdeburg's book The Flowing Light of the Godhead, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be f...

Dialogue 2: A Loving Exchange 02.10.2023

This is the second dialogue session that focuses on the Beguine mystic, Mechthild of Magdeburg. James Finley and Kirsten Oates talk about the second session which focused on passages from Mechthild of Magdeburg's book The Flowing Light of the Godhead. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The book we will be using this season, The Flowing Light of the Godhead, can be found...

Mechthild of Magdeburg: Session 2 25.09.2023

This is the second session that focuses on the Beguine mystic, Mechthild of Magdeburg. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with passages from Mechthild of Magdeburg's book The Flowing Light of the Godhead, reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be...

Listen to the Turning to the Mystics with James Finley podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.