Living with an Open Heart: A Sufi Approach to Suffering
with Omid Safi

How do we respond to a world full of suffering and injustice while staying connected to love? Join Sufi scholar Omid Safi to explore the deep spiritual call to share in our common humanity and confront the pain and polarization around us.

Omid challenges us to examine our biases—who do we believe is sacred?—and to recognize the interconnectedness of all life. We’ll discuss the role of sacred rage, the balance between contemplation and action, and how prayer alone is not enough. Omid also offers profound insights on personal suffering, showing us how witnessing, silence, and gentleness can transform our pain into deeper love. Whether you’re on the frontlines of justice or navigating your own trials, this conversation will inspire you to engage the world with both heart and courage.

ABOUT OMID

Omid Safi has published extensively on the foundational sources of Islam and Sufism. His Memories of Muhammad is a biography of the Prophet Muhammad. His most recent book is Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition (published by Yale).

Omid is also deeply committed to liberationist prophetic traditions in the legacy of Martin Luther King, Rabbi Heschel, and Malcolm X. He has been invited by the family of Dr. King to speak at Ebenezer Church on the relevance of Dr. King for today’s America, and has delivered the Martin Luther King keynote in the annual national MLK service.

Omid often appears as an expert on Islam in the New York Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, PBS, NPR, NBC, BBC, CNN and other outlets. He has a podcast called “Sufi Heart” at Be Here Now. His Illuminated Tours have taken more than a 1,000 friends from over twenty countries to Turkey and Morocco since 2002, and he is now offering Illuminated Courses for online offerings on spiritual traditions open to seekers of all backgrounds.

Lessons from a Buddhist Nun: Disruption, Embodiment, & Healing
with Kaira Jewel Lingo

What is it like to spend 15 years as a Buddhist nun, and how does that experience shape a life beyond the monastery?

In this session, Dharma teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo takes us inside her journey of entering monastic life in Thich Nhat Hanh’s community and the profound transition to lay life. We’ll explore the challenges of leaving the monastery, how her Black identity influenced her spiritual path, and the valuable lessons she learned about mindfulness, embodiment, and social justice.

Kaira shares her insights on how the dharma can help us navigate change, heal from disruption, and live with greater presence in uncertain times. Join us for an intimate conversation with a teacher whose life bridges spiritual depth and engaged action in the world.

ABOUT KAIRA JEWEL

Kaira Jewel Lingo is a Dharma teacher with a lifelong interest in spirituality and social justice. Her work continues the Engaged Buddhism developed by Thich Nhat Hanh, and she draws inspiration from her parents’ lives of service and her dad’s work with Martin Luther King, Jr.

After living as an ordained nun for 15 years in Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastic community, Kaira Jewel now teaches internationally in the Zen lineage and the Vipassana tradition, as well as in secular mindfulness, at the intersection of racial, climate and social justice with a focus on activists, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, artists, educators, families, and youth.

Based in New York, she offers spiritual mentoring to groups and is author of We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons in Moving through Change, Loss and Disruption and co-author of Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors, Joy and Liberation from Parallax Press. Her teachings and writings can be found at www.kairajewel.com.

The Radiance of Divine Darkness: Pseudo-Dionysius, Longings, and the Vulnerability of God
with Carmen Acevedo Butcher

What if one of the most influential voices in Christian mysticism has been nearly forgotten?

Pseudo-Dionysius, whose writings shaped centuries of contemplative thought (including Meister Eckhart and Thomas Aquinas!)-- remains largely unknown today. Yet his explorations of longing, divine union, and what he called "the radiance of divine darkness” reveal the vulnerable heart of God even to this day. 

Join award-winning translator Carmen Acevedo Butcher to explore Dionysius’ life, his lasting impact on Christian thought, and how his teachings invite us to embrace the unknown. What can we learn from his vision of divine darkness? And how does it speak to our deepest longings for connection with the Divine?

Join us as we uncover the enduring wisdom of this forgotten mystic.

ABOUT CARMEN

Carmen Acevedo Butcher, PhD, is an award-winning translator, poet, and workshop leader. She has been interviewed on the BBC’s Compass, NPR’s Morning Edition, Dante’s Old South, and many others given on her linktr.ee/carmenacevedobutcher.

Her Cloud of Unknowing translation received a 46th Georgia Author of the Year Award, and her translation of Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence was named on the Spirituality & Practice Best Books of 2022 List.

Cynthia Bourgeault praises Carmen’s Cloud translation, saying, “Brilliant, bold, and breathtaking. . . . I recommend this book hands down for its sheer immediacy.” Martin Laird calls Carmen’s Practice of the Presence translation “the new standard” of this spiritual classic.

With degrees in Medieval Studies from the University of Georgia, Phi Beta Kappa, Carmen was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London, and she teaches in the College Writing Programs at the University of California, Berkeley. An Affiliate Faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation, she has contributed to the CAC Essentials of Engaged Contemplation course. Carmen lives in the Bay Area, and is working on a chapbook of poetry and a translation. Visit Carmen’s website here and YouTube channel @CarmenAcevedoButcherPresence.

Contemplative Embodiment: Coming Home to Body and Soul
with Cynthia Winton-Henry

Join us for a gentle and nourishing body practice that invites you to reconnect with your whole self. Through Cynthia's guidance, you’ll explore organic movement, voice, words, and the stillness in ourselves, others, and the world. With easy focus and gentle releasing, we’ll attend to the physicality of grace and build on it as we dance on behalf of one another and the world.

ABOUT CYNTHIA

Cynthia Winton–Henry, M.Div, is a contemplative theologian, spiritual director, artist, and author of four books, including Dance, The Sacred Art: The Joy of Movement as a Spiritual Practice.

She cofounded InterPlay, an international creative practice and leadership program that helps people build community and unlock the wisdom of the body. She writes, teaches, speaks, and offers spiritual coaching through Hidden Monastery Online Dance Chapels and Art of Ensoulment Courses. A life-long advocate of sacred dance, she writes at The Dancing Center on Substack. Her books include Art of Ensoulment: A Playbook on How to Create from Body and Soul, What the Body Wants, Chasing the Dance of Life, Dance: A Sacred Art: Discovering the Joy of Movement as Spiritual Practice. Find her at Cynthia-Winton-Henry.com.

Contemplation and Trauma: The Healing Power of Stillness
with Tim Kelly

What happens when silence becomes a path to healing? Join us in conversation with Tim Kelly, a meditation teacher and oblate of the World Community for Christian Meditation, as we explore the profound intersection of trauma, healing, and contemplative practice. Tim’s work with refugees and marginalized communities provides a powerful lens into how meditation can offer solace and strength in the face of unspeakable suffering.

In this session, we’ll dive into Tim's experiences working with those whose lives have been shattered by trauma, exploring the delicate balance between when silence heals and when it might hurt. How do you know when someone’s nervous system is ready for silence, and how do you support them when it’s too much? We’ll also discuss the secondary trauma Tim has faced in his work and how his own contemplative practice has helped him remain grounded in the midst of so much pain.

Whether you are a meditation practitioner or someone interested in the intersection of spirituality and trauma recovery, this session will offer a compassionate exploration of how contemplative practices can open the door to healing, even in the most difficult circumstances.

ABOUT TIM

Tim Kelly is a meditation teacher and oblate of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). He serves as Social Justice Outreach Coordinator for WCCM’s International Meditatio Program. In recent years, Tim has been collaborating with experts in mind-body medicine and trauma to develop training resources for meditation teachers and service providers. He has helped to create meditation support groups for forcibly displaced migrants to promote healing, health and wholeness. Tim is a licensed clinical social worker with an M.A. in pastoral theology from Boston College and an M.S.W from the University of New Hampshire. He is a certified instructor of the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine’s Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program.

Radical Welcome: Ignatian Spirituality & Queer Christians
with James Martin, SJ

What does it mean to extend love and welcome to those who feel most excluded, especially within a Church that has often been a source of pain?

In this conversation with Fr. James Martin, we’ll explore how spirituality can be more inclusive, especially for those who feel alienated by traditional religion. We’ll dive into the wisdom of Ignatian spirituality, discovering how it offers tools for seekers both inside and outside the Church, and why the story of Lazarus offers profound lessons about letting go and new beginnings.

Fr. Jim will also share insights from his experience in Pope Francis' Synod and his vision for a Church that embraces vulnerability and compassion, even in the face of resistance. How can we create spiritual spaces that welcome everyone? What does it mean to "come forth" into a new way of being?

This conversation is for anyone seeking hope, healing, and a more open-hearted way of connecting with the divine in a divided world.

ABOUT JIM

James Martin, S.J., is an American Jesuit Catholic priest, writer, editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America and the founder of Outreach. A New York Times Best Selling author, his books include The Jesuit Guide to Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, and My Life With the Saints. 

James is also a consultor to the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications, and was invited by the pope to be one of the few non-cardinals to participate in the historic Synod taking place these past two years.

The Journey to Wholeness at Midlife
with Ben Katt

What does it mean to come home to yourself, especially at midlife? In this session, mindfulness coach Ben Katt will guide us through the rich terrain of personal transformation, sharing his insights on navigating burnout, discontent, and the deeper journey toward wholeness. We explore how moments of crisis—whether a loss of heart, burnout, or facing a life transition—can be the doorway into the unknown, leading us to a more authentic, grounded version of ourselves.

Ben will share his personal stories, including a mystical encounter in the desert, and reflect on the “three-headed monster” of success, perfection, and approval that can drive us away from our true selves. Consider this session an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and honor the hero’s path that life is inviting you to walk, even when it feels uncertain.

ABOUT BEN

Ben Katt is a meditation teacher, spiritual coach, and storyteller known for his “powerfully wise” and “inspiring” guidance. He is the author of THE WAY HOME: Discovering the Hero’s Journey to Wholeness at Midlife.

Ben is a former ordained minister, teaches meditation in prison as the founder of the WITHIN Project, and accompanies the dying as a hospice chaplain. He lives in Milwaukee, WI with his wife and three children.

Learn more at www.benjaminkatt.com.

Surrender, Not Perfection: The True Path to Divine Union
with Michelle Jones

What happens when we let go of our desire for a "beautiful" spiritual life?

What if the path to divine union is not filled with mystical experiences or profound moments of peace but rather marked by emptiness, helplessness, and surrender?

In this session, we sit down with author Michelle Jones to explore the wisdom of Ruth Burrows, a Carmelite spiritual writer whose insights have been compared to those of Julian of Norwich and Thérèse of Lisieux.

Michelle takes us deep into Burrows' teachings on spiritual poverty, mysticism, and divine union—offering myth-busting clarity on what it means to truly surrender to God. We discuss how Burrows challenges our desire to craft a “spiritually beautiful” life, warning us about the subtle trap of prioritizing our spiritual image over genuine surrender. We'll also explore Burrows’ view that mysticism has nothing to do with extraordinary experiences and everything to do with accepting our powerlessness.

If you’ve ever felt that your spiritual life is lacking because it isn’t filled with dramatic moments, this conversation might just offer the liberation you need.

ABOUT MICHELLE

Michelle Jones lives a life of prayer in the foothills of the Porongurups - an ancient and sacred mountain range in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. She writes, edits and teaches in the field of Christian spirituality, with a particular focus on the Carmelite spiritual tradition. Michelle is the author of The Gospel Mysticism of Ruth Burrows: Going to God with Empty Hands (ICS Publications) and the editor of Ruth Burrows: Essential Writings (Orbis Books). She is currently writing a book on the spirituality of Sister Wendy Beckett (SPCK).

Opening the Sacred Door: Can Psychedelics Lead to a Mystical Experience?
with Carl McColman

Could the future of Christian mysticism involve plant medicine? In this session, we explore this provocative question with author and contemplative teacher Carl McColman, who has spent years immersed in the wisdom of the mystics. But now, his journey has taken him to an unexpected crossroads: the world of psychedelics.

How do psychedelics compare to traditional mystical experiences? Can they truly lead to divine encounters, or are they simply shortcuts to altered states? Carl shares his thoughts on the spiritual use of psychedelics throughout history, their potential role in Christian spirituality, and how plant medicine might fit into the sacramental legacy of the Church.

Join us as we explore the spiritual frontier of psychedelics and ask whether they have a place in the contemplative life.

ABOUT CARL

Carl McColman a spiritual director, retreat leader, and internationally known speaker and teacher on mystical spirituality and contemplative living. He is the author of many books, including The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart: The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life, and Unteachable Lessons: Why Wisdom Can’t Be Taught and Why That’s Okay. In the spring of 2025 his newest book, Read the Bible Like a Mystic will be published.

He is one of the co-hosts of the Encountering Silence podcast, and blogs regularly at Patheos, Medium, and his own website, www.anamchara.com.

Carl’s approach to contemplation and mysticism is inclusive and expansive; he is dedicated to exploring the common ground between faith traditions, with a particular interest in the connecting points between Christian, Buddhist and Pagan wisdom.

Carl lives with his wife, artist Fran McColman, in Clarkston, Georgia, near Atlanta. Learn more about Carl at www.anamchara.com.

Navigating the Inner Journey with the Enneagram and Contemplative Wisdom
with Suzanne & Joe Stabile

What if the Enneagram could not only help you understand yourself better but also deepen your relationships and spiritual life?

In this captivating conversation, Suzanne and Joe Stabile—two seasoned guides in contemplative spirituality—invite us to explore the profound connections between the Enneagram and the contemplative path. Joe, a former Catholic priest, and Suzanne, a master teacher of the Enneagram, will offer fresh insights into how each Enneagram type faces uncertainty, suffering, and grief.

Join us to hear the Stabile’s personal stories of using the Enneagram to bridge relationships in their marriage and family, and how to balance  the tension between desire and surrender. They speak to the current challenges of polarization and unrest, sharing their wisdom on finding hope and making sense of today’s turmoil from both an Enneagram and contemplative lens.

ABOUT SUZANNE & JOE

Joe and Suzanne Stabile are co-founders of Life in the Trinity Ministry and the Micah Center in Dallas, Texas, where they have dedicated decades to spiritual teaching and community formation.

Suzanne is a renowned Enneagram Master with over 30 years of experience, leading more than 500 workshops on the Enneagram across the U.S. and internationally. She is also the author of several books, including The Path Between Us and The Journey Toward Wholeness, which explore the Enneagram's impact on relationships and personal growth.

Joe Stabile is an ordained United Methodist minister with a deep commitment to social justice, spiritual formation, and contemplative practice. Together, Joe and Suzanne lead retreats and workshops aimed at fostering spiritual growth and self-awareness, integrating the Enneagram and Christian spirituality to help people better understand themselves and others. Through their work, they continue to inspire countless individuals on their journeys toward spiritual wholeness and compassion.

The Shadow of Spirituality
with Connie Zweig

Join us for a session about all things SHADOW, and how they relate to the spiritual path. What is the shadow? How does it show up in religious circles? How does psychology explain the phenomenon of deconstruction? And how do we each do our inner work to prevent the harms that can come from acting out of our unexamined shadows?

ABOUT CONNIE

Connie is a contemplative, retired Jungian therapist and coauthor of the groundbreaking books, Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow. 

She has been meditating for over 50 years, and shares a podcast with her husband, called Dr. Neil’s Spiritual Awakening to Non-Duality.

Her award-winning book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, explores Shadow-work in midlife and beyond, and shows how aging can be a spiritual practice. 

The book she explores the most in the Summit is Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening. In it, she extends shadow-work into religion and spirituality. 

Navigating the Inner Wilderness with Celtic Saints
with Justin Coutts

What if the ancient stories of Celtic saints weren’t just historical accounts but living symbols, offering us guidance for the challenges we face today? In this conversation with contemplative writer and spiritual director Justin Coutts, we’ll explore how the rich symbolism of the Celtic tradition intersects with the modern practice of Internal Family Systems (IFS). Justin, abbot of the online community In Search of a New Eden, invites us to contemplate the lives of saints like St. Brigid, St. Columbanus, and St. David of Wales—not for their historicity, but for the deep spiritual meanings they hold.

Drawing on his diverse spiritual background—including Canadian indigenous traditions, Quakerism, Wiccan, and Christianity—Justin reveals how these saints’ stories can serve as archetypes, illuminating parts of our inner selves. We’ll discuss how symbols like wolves, angels, and even the wilderness itself can offer powerful tools for healing and self-discovery, and how these stories can be used to navigate inner conflicts, trauma, and moral injury. We’ll also delve into the practice of consolation, detachment, and how these ancient teachings offer both comfort and challenge in a modern, fast-paced world.

ABOUT JUSTIN

Justin Coutts is the primary author and founder of In Search of a New Eden. His writing and practice as a spiritual director are informed by his diverse background. Over the course of his life, he received spiritual formation in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Indigenous ceremony (Ojibwe and others), and the United Church of Canada. He currently teaches Celtic Christianity with a particular emphasis on the monastic tradition and its application for people today. You can find him at NewEdenMinistry.com.

My Life Among the Saints: Mystics, Rebels, and Seekers
with Robert Ellsberg

Imagine being shaped by some of the most remarkable spiritual figures of the 20th century—walking alongside them, learning from their quirks, their passions, and their faith. Robert Ellsberg, editor and publisher at Orbis Books, has spent decades in close company with people like Dorothy Day, Henri Nouwen, Sister Wendy Beckett, and Daniel Berrigan. In this session, Robert will share intimate stories from his vibrant spiritual journey, offering a window into the lives of these modern-day saints and how their radical commitments changed the world—and his life.

Along the way, Robert will offer insights into the themes of justice, suffering, and hope, and reflect on what it means to live a life inspired by holy restlessness.

ABOUT ROBERT

Robert is the publisher of Orbis Books, where he has worked for 37 years. Robert served as the editor of the Catholic Worker newspaper, has edited five volumes of writings by Dorothy Day, and is best known for his many books about saints and holy witnesses. These include All Saints, Blessed Among All Women, The Saints Guide to Happiness, and A Living Gospel: Reading God's Story in Holy Lives. His most recent book is Dearest Sister Wendy... A Surprising Story of Faith and Friendship.

Meditation & Mantra
with Matt Reeves

Join us for a transformative meditation session where you will be invited into silence, stillness, and simplicity as pathways to deep connection with God. Drawing from the rich heritage of early church desert monastics, this meditation encourages the use of a mantra or sacred word to quiet the mind and allow your heart to rest in divine presence. Informed by the teachings of Fr. John Main OSB, this practice offers a refreshing way to let go of distractions and embrace the peace that comes from being fully present.

ABOUT MATT

The pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Chesterland, OH, Matt Reeves is a Benedictine Oblate of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) and the National Coordinator for the WCCM-USA. He holds degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (D.Min.).