Newsletter

Preview

Happy Spring! We hope you had a wonderful Easter.  April’s Spirit Journal announces that “early bird” registration is now underway for the Living Flame program that starts in October, as well as for this summer’s Eight-Day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreats. Alan Krema writes about the “Enter the Chaos” retreat he recently attended in Michigan. This retreat will be offered in our area next February

We are also delighted to publish a prayerful poem by Deb Marqui of Healing Gardens, as well as the third and final installment of a Pluck the Day . . . for It Is Ripe, by Jeff Ediger.

Finally, we provide information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon and may be of interest, along with Insights from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Howard Thurman, David Steindl-Rast, and Mary van Balen.

As always, we hope you will 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 – April 2019

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March’s Spirit Journal announces a slight change of plans affecting this summer’s Eight-Day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreats, reminds us to save the dates for the 2019-2020 Living Flame program that launches in the fall, and shares information about the final 2019 Living Wisdom workshop coming up on April 13 with Jeff Ediger.

We are delighted to publish a lovely personal reflection on Centering Prayer by Sandy Janowski, one of the leaders of our summer retreats, along with the second installment of a very interesting new long-form piece of writing we think you’ll enjoy: Pluck the Day . . . for It Is Ripe, by Jeff Ediger.

Finally, we provide information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon and may be of interest, along with Insights from Thich Nhat Hanh, Albert Einstein, Sharon Satzburg, and Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – March 2019

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Having taken January off, Spirit Journal is back with a lot of news to share!  This issue announces two important new programs: Registration will start soon for this summer’s 2019 Eight-Day Intensive/Post Intensive Retreat and for the 2019-2020 Living Flame program. Have a look at the preliminary information on each of these programs and save the dates!

We also share information about the next Living Wisdom workshop coming up March 9 with Rabbi Rami Shapiro, describe two new part-time employment opportunities with Contemplative Outreach Chicago, and share a poem by Alan Krema inspired by the Living Wisdom Program.

This month also features the first installment of a very interesting new long-form piece of writing we think you’ll enjoy: Pluck the Day . . . for It Is Ripe, by Jeff Ediger.  Finally, we provide information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon and may be of interest, along with Insights from Cynthia Bourgeault, Milarepa, Richard Rohr, and Miribai Starr.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – February 2019

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This final issue of 2018 begins with a warm and heartfelt Christmas greeting to all of our members from Contemplative Outreach – Chicago.  Then we share information about the first workshop of the 2019 Living Wisdom Program – Mystical Poetry During Times of Trouble – coming up in less than a month on January 12.

Next up is an invitation to participate in the Winter Weekend Retreat in February.  The 2019 iteration of this long-running annual event will focus on the Welcoming Prayer Practice.  We also provide information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon and may be of interest, along with Insights from Thomas Keating.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – December 2018

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In this issue of Spirit Journal, we have many ideas and announcements to share with you. We begin the November edition with Phil Jackson’s reflections on an important question: Who will replace Thomas Keating?  Next, Alan Krema writes about the Welcoming Prayer Practice, which will be the focus of our 2019 Winter Weekend Retreat, as well as one of the four sessions in the 2019 Living Wisdom Program.  The issue also includes official announcements about the Winter Retreat and Living Wisdom, with links to find out more and register for the programs.

Next, Jack Lloyd takes a brief look back at the Annual Fall Workshop that took place early this month (and invites you to do the same). We provide you with information about several additional contemplative activities that are coming up soon and may be of interest, along with Insights from Margaret Mead, Rosa Parks, Etty Hillesum, and Thomas Keating.

Finally, this issue includes the last chapter in Phil Jackson’s Spirit in the Wild series. If you haven’t been following this adventure yarn/reflection over the past seven months, please consider taking a look at it. (There’s a link for those who want to go back and start at the beginning.) We are very grateful to Phil for sharing this exciting and inspiring piece in Spirit Journal.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – November 2018

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Have you noticed that autumn has arrived?

We are now less than a month away from November 3 – the date for this year’s Annual Fall One-Day Workshop.  This event is always a great opportunity for Chicago-area contemplatives to meet face to face and get to know one another better, while learning and growing in ways that help each of us move along the spiritual path.  We hope you can join us this year for a unique opportunity to spend a full day with Cynthia Bourgeault, focused on her transformational wisdom teachings. (See below for further information and registration.)

In addition, this issue lets you know about opportunities to get involved and help Contemplative Outreach Chicago as an active volunteer, and it shares information about a number of interesting events and retreats that are coming up in the Chicago area and across the midwest.

This month’s Insights come from Thomas Keating, William Johnston, Richard Rohr, and Kahlil Gibran.  This issue also includes the seventh chapter of Phil Jackson’s Spirit in the Wild – an ongoing journal of Phil’s solo wilderness journey in the High Sierras last year.  In this chapter, dangerous weather conditions are creating an increasingly precarious situation, as Phil struggles to make progress toward safety and home.

[Read more…] about Spirit Journal – October 2018