In this bonus episode, Living School Faculty James (Jim) Finley and Kirsten Oates join Richard Rohr and Paul Swanson (Brie sadly wasn't there!) in conversation about the contemplative journey, what it was like to be guided by Thomas Merton, Jim's trauma work, and their new podcast with the CAC, Turning to the Mystics.
The transcript for this episode can b ... Show More
Feb 2020
What Do We Do with the Bible & Tradition?
Richard Rohr, in conversation with Brie Stoner and Paul Swanson, talk about their relationships to the Bible, the Perennial Tradition, and what we can glean from how Jesus read the Hebrew texts. The transcript for this podcast can be found here. Visit cac.org/podcast to listen to ... Show More
1h 24m
Mar 2022
Turning to The Cloud of Unknowing
Welcome to Season 5 of Turning to the Mystics. In this episode, Kirsten Oates and James Finley are turning to the anonymous mystical text, The Cloud of Unknowing. Throughout this season, we will work with the text and explore the foundations of contemplation practice. Resources: ... Show More
48m 21s
Jun 2024
Dialogue 6: The Prayer in Ordinary Life
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 ... Show More
1h 9m
Mar 2024
The Hero and Heroine's Journey With Kirsten Oates and Patrick Boland
What if loss invited us on a voyage?
In this episode, we're joined by Kirsten Oates and Patrick Boland as we continue our chapter-by-chapter exploration with Chapter 2: "The Hero and Heroine's Journey." Patrick Boland and Kirsten Oates, cohost of our sister podcast, Turning to t ... Show More
1h 29m
Mar 2021
Dialogue 1: The Ascent of Mount Carmel
This is the first session that focuses on the mystic, St. John of the Cross. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with a passage from St. John's The Ascent of Mount Carmel, and reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text. R ... Show More
41m 11s
Sep 2025
Mirabai Starr on mysticism for everyone
Host James Martin, S.J., explores the mystical dimensions of the spiritual life with Mirabai Starr, an award-winning author, contemporary translator of sacred literature, and world-renowned teacher of contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialogue. They dive deep into: - Dai ... Show More
1h 4m
May 2025
118. The Spiritual Path of Recovery with Father Richard Rohr
In this episode of In the Circle, I am extremely privileged to speak with Father Richard Rohr.Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar, author, and spiritual teacher renowned for his work in Christian mysticism and contemplative spirituality. Born in 1943 in Kansas, he was ordained a C ... Show More
1h 1m