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This month, we start off with an item written by Chicago chapter coordinator Alan Krema, reflecting on the ancient Wisdom tradition, which is the focus of our ongoing Living Wisdom series of Saturday workshops.

Next, we provide updates on upcoming events, including May’s Cloud of Unknowing Retreat with Father William Meninger and the Eight-Day Intensive/Post-Intensive Retreat coming up this August.  We also highlight upcoming events at Healing Gardens in St. Charles and inform you about a range of other contemplative opportunities – local, regional, and nationwide.  This issue also includes a link to Parabola, an online and print magazine that may be of interest to you, and Insights from Alan Watts, Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, and James Finley.

We’d be delighted to have your help in making Spirit Journal a valuable resource and forum for the members and friends of Contemplative Outreach – Chicago.  Please use the email address provided at the end to send in your ideas and insights.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – February 2017

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Here’s hoping 2017 is off to a wonderful, peaceful start for you!  For Contemplative Outreach – Chicago, this promises to be our busiest year yet as we offer an expanded series of events and programs to support your spiritual journey.

This month’s lead article offers a brief glimpse of the life and work of Thomas Merton – the inspiration for next month’s Winter Weekend Retreat (February 24-26), which will be led once again by the Reverend Dr. Shawn Kafader. This year’s theme is Personal Reflections on the Spiritual Journey, exploring the classic stages of the spiritual journey as reformed by Thomas Merton.

This issue of Spirit Journal also offers a remembrance of Huston Smith, a link to information about a new online program from the national organization of Contemplative Outreach, previews of local and regional retreats and other contemplative events that are coming up later in 2017, and Insights from Thomas Merton, Huston Smith, Sri Anandamaya Ma, and Richard Rohr.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – January 2017

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Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful, peaceful New Year!

We begin this issue with a Christmas reflection written by Alan Krema, the coordinator of Contemplative Outreach-Chicago.  We then provide previews of five retreats and other contemplative events that are coming up in 2017 — any and all of them provide good opportunities to deepen your spiritual development in the coming year.  Lastly, we share Insights from Martin Scorcese, Thomas Keating, Mechtild of Magdeburg, and a little child many of us associate with this special season.

Please don’t forget to give us your input and ideas for future editions of Spirit Journal: use the e-mail address at the end to send your contributions and feedback.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – December 2016

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In this issue: We take a glance back at the wonderful Annual Fall Workshop many of you attended last month and we look ahead to let you know about several upcoming retreats and workshops.  We share a beautiful new Thanksgiving Prayer written by one of the chaplains at St. Alexius Medical Center, call your attention to an online offering from the national organization of Contemplative Outreach, and offer Insights from Thich Nhat Hanh, Neem Karoli Baba, Desmond Tutu, and Leonard Cohen.

Please don’t forget to give us your input and ideas for future editions of Spirit Journal: use the e-mail address at the end to send your contributions and feedback.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – November 2016

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In this issue: We respectfully request that, if you haven’t done so already, you register right away to attend the fifth annual Fall One-Day Workshop – we are getting close to capacity, and may have to cut off registration before the event on Saturday.  Don’t be disappointed!  We also provide a link to our website for Workshop information and online registration, and to the Benedictine University website for directions and a campus map.

In addition, this issue includes information on three interesting events that are coming up in November, brief descriptions of three Contemplative Outreach – Chicago activities planned for this winter and spring, and Insights from Thomas Keating, Ethan Nichtern, Richard Rohr, and Silvia Boorstein .

Please give us your input and ideas for Spirit Journal: use the e-mail address at the end to send your contributions and feedback.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – October 2016

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This issue provides more information about our upcoming, fifth annual Fall One-Day Workshop – it’s just a month away now!  There are two articles by workshop session leaders, describing what their sessions will be about, along with links to complete Workshop information and registration.  We also update you on a number of other important events you may want to add to your calendar, November 2016 – May 2017.  In addition, we share Insights from Saint Benedict, Shunryu Suzuki, Wendell Berry and Thomas Merton.

We’d like your input, please!  To give us ideas for Spirit Journal, please use the e-mail address at the end to send your contributions and feedback.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – September 2016