Alchemy 5,6,7
Alchemy is about the transformation of the self. It is transforming the base self into gold, or spiritual awareness. Stage five: Fermentation, describes the decay of one’s old self and the rebirth of one’s true self. The first four stages involved discarding our old, inauthentic self and drawing together the authentic elements within us. Stage […]
Alchemy Stages 2, 3, 4
“The secrets of alchemy exist to transform mortals from a state of suffering and ignorance to a state of enlightenment and bliss.” — Deepak Chopra
Spiritual Alchemy
Alchemy is an ancient practice whose practitioners sought to turn lead into gold, Spiritual alchemy uses the metaphor of transforming metals into gold for attaining spiritual enlightenment, or breaking down the image of who we think we are to discover who we truly are, at the soul level.
The Garden of the Self
In this poem the garden, or nature is used to illustrate a deeper meaning – to give us insight into our essential Self.
Sailing to Byzantium
In this poem W.B.Yeats considers the fleeting nature of mortality (“a tattered coat upon a stick”), compared to the timeless endurance of works of art (“Of hammered gold and gold enameling”).
The Moon
Poet, Zhang Jiuling (张九龄, 675-740 AD), is one of the most famous and popular of all Chinese poets. In fact this poem is often taught to young school children in China today. Looking at the Moon and Thinking of One Far Away, We dedicate Looking at the Moon to everyone who feels lonely and misses […]
I am the One
Hildegard von Bingen, a mystic and visionary from the Middle Ages, wrote beautiful songs, chants and poetry. This is one of our favorites — crafted into a visual meditation with beautiful and evocative imagery.
Centering Prayer Meditation
Are centering prayer and meditation the same thing? How do you meditate, and why should you do it? Our group of contemplative practitioners talks about why meditation is important and how they practice it.
Devotional vs Contemplative Practices
Our speakers discuss the difference between devotional and contemplative practices
Is Contemplation Isolating?
The Contemplative Path—is it Isolating? We asked our speakers if they felt that being a contemplative means being isolated, or removed from the world. Here are some of their responses.
Contemplation in the Material World
Where does the contemplative life fit, in terms of living in the material world? We asked our group of speakers how a contemplative practice can be assimilated into an everyday life in the material world. Their answers were varied and thoughtful.
Contemplation: Why to Practice It
The overall goal of meditation is to go beyond the conscious mind in order to experience a state of inner peace and happiness. In this episode of our series on The Contemplative Path, our speakers talk about why they practice meditation, and what the practice does for them.
Contemplation: How to Practice It
How is a contemplative practice done? A contemplative, or unitive experience, is often reached by “letting go” rather than by direct effort. Ironically, this requires an intentional effort: the goal of the contemplative is to move toward an interior quiet and an openness to life as it is in the present moment. Formal meditation is […]
The Contemplative Path
Part 1. What is it? Contemplatives of various traditions, including Jewish, Christian and Buddhist, as well as clinicians, academics and lay people, talk about their contemplative life. Contemplative practices often involve a systematic form of training of the mind, as is done in meditation. It often refers to a particular form of observation in which […]
