The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers
Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Week of 11/28-12/3: Grief Work, Deep Ecumenism, and Honoring Winter’s Darkness |
Each Sunday we offer a brief summary of the meditations from the previous week as a kind of “index” inviting you to return to a previous meditation which may call to you. |
November 28, 2022. On Grief Work, Youth Work, and
Adam Bucko’s New Book.
In this meditation, in the wake of the shootings at the Colorado gay club we reflect on how humanity is capable of not only praise, but evil. Adam Bucko’s book, Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide addresses the heartbreak that seems unavoidable in our world today. We are encouraged to remember the Via Negativa, but always in the context of the Via Positiva. As Rilke says, “Walk your walk of lament on a path of
praise.” | |
Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide: Lessons in Engaged Contemplation by Adam Bucko. Book available from Indie Bound. |
November 30, 2022. Bucko and Fox on Practicing Spiritual Democracy.
Matthew Fox co-authored a book with Adam Bucko entitled Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation. In it, they explore the way spirituality is evidenced in today’s world. Brother Wayne Teasedale called it our
“interspiritual age” and Matthew, of course, calls it “deep ecumenism.” More and more people, especially the young, are going beyond any one specific tradition and embracing a more unified and inclusive spirituality, an “interspirituality.” | | | |
December 1, 2022. Deep Ecumenism, continued.
Matthew speaks of how Native American practices, as well as
Buddhism, tai chi, and interactions with rabbis and philosophers have deepened and enlarged his spiritual life. He calls this equality of paths "spiritual democracy." This topic is further explored in his book One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faith Traditions. |
December 2, 2022. Winter, Advent and Honoring the Dark.
Matthew reminds us that “the darkness has much to teach us of what is important. It contains its own wisdom and lessons, one of which is silence and quiet and repose.” Snow, too, though obviously not dark, brings us a sense of serenity and
silence. We are thus reminded that silence and nothingness are part of winter and that winter can nourish our souls. As Matthew says in his book Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth, we must “dare the dark” because there is no moving from superficiality to depth without venturing into the darkness. |
December 3, 2022. More Gifts from Winter, Advent, and the Return of the Dark.
In this meditation we explore the concept that “the inner journey of silence and darkness that is the Via Negativa, invites us to enter the shadow, the hidden or covered-up parts of ourselves and our society.” We
all, at one time or another, enter the “dark night of the soul.” Joanna Macy encourages us to: “Experience the pain. Let us not fear its impact on ourselves or others. We will not shatter for we are not objects that can break.” |
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the
earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice. Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation Authors Adam Bucko
and Matthew Fox encourage us to use our talents in service of compassion and justice and to move beyond our broken systems–economic, political, educational, and religious–discovering a spirituality that not only helps us to get along, but also encourages us to reevaluate our traditions, transforming them and in the process building a more sacred and just world. Incorporating the words of young activist leaders culled from interviews and surveys, the book provides a framework that is deliberately
interfaith and speaks to our profound yearning for a life with spiritual purpose and for a better world.
“Occupy Spirituality is a powerful, inspiring, and vital call to embodied awareness and enlightened actions.”
–—Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods | |
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual
traditions offer wisdom about each.
“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit | |
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Upcoming Events See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations.
Thursday, December 15, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT Register HERE. |
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