As a writer, contemplation devotee, and as someone who has worked in diverse faith and cultural communities, I have been doing much reflecting since watching the Aspen webinar, How do we respond to the times we are living through?
During covid, I completed Cynthia Bourgeault’s online course on Mary Magdalene, a topic close to my heart, and over these past few years, I have become aware of the great need for the world to respond to its troubles with a deeper heartfelt contemplation. This will help heal the world and individuals too.
We are certainly at a moment in history, where we do need, as the quakers say, to ‘lean in’, to not look away from suffering, to also address our own inner sufferings, and to rise to the challenge put before us. Discerning through the mess of highly structured, power-based ideologies that seek to constrain us, and old habits that no longer serve us, is part of this process I believe.
Many people have talked about the forming of a unitive consciousness, of having a focused intentionality in the way we do things, to move towards the sacred, but to also acknowledge and not shy away from the darkness that is also very prevalent around us. Whether we are looking at the enormous suffering in the middle east and elsewhere, or the existential and democratic crises in the west, the epidemics of loneliness, of mental illness, or the contrast between the haves and the have nots, we cannot look away, but we can look towards hope.
The much discussed, renewed reconciliation between the masculine and the feminine energies is slowly happening. It is taking place despite the powerful, reactive fundamentalism, and fear-based ideologies, that grab hold of the collective psyche and appear to have momentum in our frail democracies.
As a small ‘c’ (universal) and confirmed Catholic who navigates a broad spiritual canvas, and as a devotee and fan of dear Pope Francis, I also found myself this past month, not only grieving his death, but in nervous anticipation praying for the Holy Spirit to bring a wise, peace-loving pope as his replacement. I gained heart from Pope Leo’s appointment. He spoke about pressing for peace and hope. Similar voices for peace have also emerged from diverse sectors of the globe, particularly over this past year of great turmoil.
So, despite often despairing that we have a world run by narcissistic gangsters, I do see signs of hope. The wise voices of those who combine action and contemplation lead me to believe that something new is happening. It appears there is an underswell of this unitive consciousness, a renewed spirituality which has the power and potential of the enlightenment, yet possesses an ancient spiritual wisdom that has been residing in all our traditions for ever more, and only needs to be named and upheld to meet this present moment.
Joanna Thyer – 1.6.25
And here is Joanna's book:
