Newsletter

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Spirit Journal – November 2019

Preview

November’s Spirit Journal provides new information about Enter the Chaos, a special Winter Retreat we are offering in February in association with the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue.

This issue also takes a look back at the Annual Fall Workshop that took place earlier this month, including some survey findings that reflect participants’ impressions of the event.  We offer a fall poem contributed by Deb Marqui of Healing Gardens, information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon around our region, along with Insights from John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, and Cynthia Bourgeault.

Please let us know what you think about Spirit Journal – and start your side of the conversation – by emailing the editor at the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – November 2019

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Spirit Journal – October 2019

Preview

With a price increase set for next week, this would be the ideal moment to register for Contemplative Outreach Chicago’s Eighth Annual One-Day Fall Workshop, coming up on Saturday November 2.

This October issue also provides additional information about the Winter Retreat coming up in February. For our 2020 retreat, in association with theInstitute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue, we are offering a unique and very timely retreat experience: Enter the Chaos.

Chicago chapter coordinator Alan Krema shares his reflections on attending the recent International Conference of Contemplative Outreach, updating us on recent developments affecting the larger organization of which our chapter is a part.

For those who have registered, we offer a reminder that the seven-part Living Flame Program starts this Saturday, and we also call your attention to a number of contemplative events sponsored by others that are coming up soon in our area. Finally, we share Insights from Martin Laird, Barbara Holmes, Mirabai Starr, and Thomas Merton.

Please don’t hesitate to give us your input about any aspect of Spirit Journal by emailing the editor, using the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We love hearing from readers!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – October 2019

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Spirit Journal – September 2019

Preview

With Labor Day behind us, autumn begins, and our thoughts turn to Contemplative Outreach Chicago’s Eighth Annual One-Day Fall Workshop, coming up on November 2. This issue of Spirit Journal includes articles by three session-leaders about their plans for the Workshop, as well as a link to similar articles about the other sessions, which were published in last month’s newsletter.

Chicago chapter coordinator Alan Krema shares his thoughts on the topic of Engaging Our Place in Society from the Transformative Place of Contemplative Practice. This topic is relevant to our 2020 Winter Retreat Enter the Chaos, to a one-day workshop on the wisdom of Howard Thurman that is being planned for next May, and to several upcoming events on the history of race relations and the hope for racial reconciliation in Chicago.

We announce with mixed feelings that the capacity limit has been reached and therefore registration has ended for Living Flame program, which begins in October and continues through April 2020. The enthusiastic response to this offering has been great, but we wish there was room for everyone who might like to participate.

As always, we call your attention to several worthwhile contemplative events sponsored by others that are coming up soon in our region, and share several brief Insights, this month from Rami Shapiro, Walt Whitman, Aldous Huxley and Howard Thurman.

Please give us your input about any aspect of Spirit Journal by emailing the editor, using the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We love hearing from readers!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – September 2019

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Spirit Journal – August 2019

by Registrar on August 8, 2019 in Newsletter

Preview

This month, Spirit Journal has a lot of news to share. We begin with informative articles created by several of the presenters who will lead sessions at this year’s Annual Fall One-Day Workshop on November 2nd.  Next, Alan Krema provides a first look at Enter the Chaos, our 2020 Winter Retreat, which promises to engage the reality of human relationships from multiple viewpoints, offering a means to connect on a deeper level than the reactionary.

We recommend a wonderful new memoir by Deb Marqui and we remind you that registration is open for the seven-workshop Living Flame program, which begins in August and continues through April 2020. More than 25 people have already signed up for this outstanding program, and capacity is limited, so please don’t delay. We also call your attention to several other worthwhile contemplative events and activities coming up soon in our region.

This month’s Insights come from Wayne Teasdale, Trunga Rinpoche, Thomas Keating, and Toni Morrison.

Please give us your input about any aspect of Spirit Journal by emailing the editor, using the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – August 2019

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Spirit Journal – July 2019

by Registrar on June 26, 2019 in Newsletter

Preview

With summer at last in full swing, this issue announces the start of registration for our 2019 One-Day Fall Workshop, coming up on November 2, and provides a look at the various topics and themes we’ll be exploring together that day. We also provide information about the Living Flame, a series of seven full-day offerings of in-depth spiritual study that starts in October, and highlight a number of other upcoming events and retreats in the Chicago area and around the region.

We offer a snippet of a fascinating and meaningful Buddhist tale and a link to read the rest of the story in the noteworthy magazine Parabola. This issue of Spirit Journal also includes Insights from Tara Brach, Sharon Saltzburg, Jose Ortega y Gasset, and Dr. John.

Please take a moment to let us know what you think about Spirit Journal – and start your side of the conversation – by emailing the editor at the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – July 2019

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Spirit Journal – May 2019

Preview

This month’s Spirit Journal begins with Alan Krema’s appreciation of the abundance of spring and the similar abundance of activities Contemplative Outreach Chicago has planned for the coming year.  We also link you to information and registration for two of those programs: the Eight-Day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreats in July and the Living Flame program starting in October.

In addition, we provide information about one new and many existing prayer groups to support your individual centering prayer practice, let you know about several other contemplative activities that are coming up soon and may be of interest, and offer Insights from Cynthia Bourgeault, Ram Dass, Bob Marley, and Maya Angelou.

Please give us your input about any aspect of Spirit Journal by emailing the editor, using the address provided at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – May 2019