The unexpected crops up in our lives in both little and small ways. At times, we manage to accept these experiences easily. In other moments, the things we encounter require a bit more processing. Drawing on the wisdom of poets, children, and spiritual teachers, this week’s podcast leans into talking about that which feels like too much to accept. Do you ever find yourself bitterly complaining, blowing up in anger, or bursting into tears? Though these may not be our favorite moments, they can be doorways to something deeper when we choose to lean in. We hope you’ll join us.

Additional Resources:
Book: The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything by James Martin
Poem: Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye
Poem Quote: From Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Poem: The Poet’s Tale; The Birds of Killingworth by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
TV Series: The Chosen

#Acceptance #Gratitude #Ego #Humility #Mindsets #Spirituality #Holy Indifference #Practice

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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.

This week’s title says it all. Oftentimes, we hear people try to describe spiritual direction by likening it to something that is “similar but different.” And so this week, we offer up a working definition for spiritual direction, talk about why the word “direction” is a bit of a misnomer, and then share a bit about what sorts of things we might actually do during a spiritual direction session. Join us for an insider look at the experience of spiritual direction.

Additional Resources:
Website: Foundry Spiritual Center, Spiritual Direction Page
Song: Moon Shadow by Cat Stevens

#Spiritual Direction #Spiritual Guidance #Spiritual Companionship #Burnout #Calling #Discernment #SafeSpace #Spirituality

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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.

Human nature tends to be such that we want to figure out who we are, who “our people'' are, and then settle into whatever feels easiest and most familiar. What’s more, psychologically speaking, our brains appear to be hard-wired to seek out people who look, think, behave, and even believe similarly to ourselves. But on the other side of that coin, an increasing number of people are discovering that an even deeper faith life has become possible by leaning into differences and even celebrating them. On this week’s podcast, we talk about how enriching it has been to learn about - and share in - the faith traditions of others. Join us for a dialogue centered around the practice of nurturing our interspiritual friendships.

NOTE:  At The Contemplative Life, we take seriously our commitment to bring a quality experience to our podcast listeners. In today’s podcast, you’ll notice some moments where the audio has been affected by internet latency issues. We apologize and are working to resolve the issue for future podcasts. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Additional Resources:
Book: The Guitar Grimoire by Adam Kadmon

#Interspiritual #Interfaith #Teasdale #Tao #Curiosity #Spiritual #Compassion #DalaiLama #BrotherLawrence

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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’re joined by Nicki Nelson, Director of Spiritual Guidance Initiatives at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin, who is sharing with us today about how caretaking has a way of bringing us to the edges of ourselves. At the end of the day, it turns out, we need a way to both nurture ourselves as well as those we’re caring for. Join us as Nicki shares with vulnerability and wisdom about how the pressures of caretaking build up, what happens at the brain level, and what spiritual practices have been helpful to her personally in being able to transform her relationships with those that she provides care for.

Additional Resources:
Resource: 4 Keys to Caretaking as a Spiritual Practice
Website: www.nickinelson.com
Retreat Center: Siena Retreat Center

#Caretaking #Parenting #Spiritual #SpiritualPractices #Ignatian #HolyIndifference #Examen #CenteringPrayer #BreathingPractices #Yoga

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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.

The (Spiritual) Wilderness is often associated with times of dryness. It may be that we come to find ourselves thrust suddenly into this world by way of suffering, trauma, and loss. We may experience it alone or in community with others. But however we arrive there, it would seem that the Wilderness cannot be avoided. And so, on this week’s podcast, we talk about what might be possible during those seasons. Can we rely on something deeper inside ourselves? Can we shift our points of focus? Can we find the gifts - “the little wells that are hidden in the desert?” Join us as we talk about our experiences of feeling upside down, lonely, confused, and so much more.

Additional Resources:
Richard Rohr Quote: Experiencing Our Own Deserts
Podcast: Spiritual Bypassing
Book: The Little Prince

#Spiritual #Wilderness #SpiritualDesert #SpiritualDryness #Possibility #DesertFathers #Seasons #SpiritualPractices
Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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.

Money can be a challenging topic, fraught with emotions and baggage that we may or may not even be aware of. But on this week’s podcast, we talk about the value of having a safe space to become still, to look at our values, and to become aware of where our notions and feelings about money are coming from. In that sort of environment, we have the freedom to become gentle with ourselves, to name what we have learned, and to gain a sense of clarity around what is needed financially in this season of life. Join us as we consider how the contemplative can take a difficult subject and make it not only manageable, but transformative.

Additional Resources:
Toothpaste: Bite

#Timeline #Contemplative #Spiritual #Money #Anxiety #Generosity #Paradox #FinancialMistakes

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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’re joined by Kristina’s longtime friend, Jason Ruona, in talking about the benefits of having virtual opportunities to connect spiritually. It’s not uncommon for people to wonder if there are too many barriers to online engagement, and so today, we take some time to talk both about why virtual connection has offered us meaningful space to connect spiritually as well as what sorts of things we’ve done to keep barriers to a minimum. Join us as Jason shares a bit about the evolution of his spiritual journey and why Foundry Spiritual Center has helped him to have easily accessible spiritual connection points throughout his days.

Additional Resources:
Book: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
YouTube Channel: Foundry Spiritual Center
Hand Cream: Duke Cannon Bloody Knuckles

#Virtual #Retreats #Prayer #FoundrySpiritualCenter #FoundrySC #FSC #Online #Contemplative

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

Today we’re taking some time for a little behind-the-scenes glimpse: Who are we? What has our spiritual journey been? How did Foundry Spiritual Center, the sponsor of our podcast, come to be? Join us as we think through the desires of our hearts that have led us to this particular moment now. And then, maybe take some time for some soul searching of your own. Check out the other offerings of Foundry Spiritual Center. Give space and time for the Divine Spark within to speak to the very core of your being. 

Additional Resources:
Book: The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope
Article: We Revisited People Who Left their Jobs Last Year.  Are They (Still) Happy? written by Joshua Needelman
Book: Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono

#Spirituality #TakingRisks #EvolvingFaith #Discernment #FoundrySpiritualCenter #FoundrySC #ContemplativeFormation #Retreats #SpiritualDirection

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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.

Fasting can occur in many forms, both for religious and non-religious reasons. And, as we’ll explore on the podcast, there are many personal and communal benefits that can come from it. But also, as we’ll discover today, it’s not uncommon to find that fasting has been something that has required journey as our faith lives have evolved. It’s been helpful to ask questions like: What do I want to become aware of? What intentions am I looking to set? Join us as we talk about the gains that can be found when we say yes to letting go of something, even if only for a short period of time.

Additional Resources:
Artist: Spencer LaJoye

#Spiritual #SpiritualPractices #Fasting #Lent #DanielFast #IntermittentFasting #FastingBenefits #Ramadan #SocialJustice

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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’re joined by Jon Anderson, executive director of Collaboration Project, who’s sharing with us the win-win rewards that come when we put relationships first, listen carefully to one another, and allow good work in the community to emerge from a sense of meaningful partnership. Do you sometimes feel like you’re spinning your wheels trying to be helpful in the world around you? Maybe you like the idea of collaboration, but the barriers have been too great. Join us as Jon shares what he’s learned from over two decades of wondering why there wasn’t more help for those who want to help.

Additional Resources:
Website: Collaboration Project
Facebook: Collaboration Project
Instagram: Collaboration Project
YouTube: Collaboration Project

#Relationship #Collaboration#DeepListening #SpiritualPractices #Spiritual #Community #RelationshipBuilding #CollaborationProject #SoAllMayFlourish

Sign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/about/newsletter

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.