On this episode of Nature As Beloved, Nature As Self, we continue our journey through time, surveying the landscape of Wilderness Christian Mysticism. We resume our exploration in the 14th century, where we are introduced to Meister Eckhart. A few centuries later we meet the Spanish mystics, most notably John of the Cross and Teresa of Ávila. Along our journey through time, we encounter many more mystics. As we make our way to the modern era, notable figures include John Muir, Thomas Merton, Howard Thurman, Thomas Keating, and Tessa Bielecki. We hope you enjoy and thanks for joining us on this audio journey! - - - 🌲 Help us grow! Like, share, and subscribe to join our community to stay updated about new episodes 🌻 Follow along on Facebook or Instagram @natureasbeloved 💌 We love hearing from our listeners! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback at: [email protected]

What does Christian Mysticism offer us? Many who consider themselves Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR) sometimes think that Christianity has nothing of value to offer us. Understandably, there are numerous reasons for them to be skeptical. Yet the Contemplative Christian Tradition is not bound to any one institution or denomination. The Spirit of Christian Mysticism is about relationship—deep communion with the Divine, the True Self, and all of Life. Throughout history, from the times of the Jewish and Christian Testaments and up through the centuries to our modern era, countless individuals and communities have sought after God. In their collective search, these mystics have discovered great insights about the contemplative life. Their wisdom has endured and continues to guide and inspire seekers of all kinds to this very day. Join us on Episode 03, the first of a two-part series, as we begin exploring the rich history of Christian Mysticism. This will not be an exhaustive exploration, but a survey of the landscape; a way of introducing listeners to key ideas and distinct figures throughout history. Of course, we will do so with an emphasis on Nature. We hope you enjoy this episode! - - - 📕 If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Christian Mysticism, we recommend this book: James Harpur. Love Burning in the Soul: The Story of Christian Mystics, from Saint Paul to Thomas Merton. - - - 🌲 Help us grow! Like, share, and subscribe to join our community to stay updated about new episodes. 🌻 Follow along on Facebook or Instagram @natureasbeloved 💌 Do you have a topic you would like us to explore or a question you would like answered? Do you know anyone who might be a great guest for this podcast? Or would you simply like to send us a note? If so, you are welcome to write to us at: [email protected]

Socrates famously said, ”The unexamined life is not worth living.” From the perspective of Wilderness Christian Mysticism, spiritual disciplines enable us to reflect upon life more deeply, discover our true selves, and find greater meaning in our lives. In this episode, listeners are introduced to the disciplines of Wilderness Christian Mysticism. We explore the core disciplines of meditation and contemplation, in addition to silence, solitude, simplicity, and service. Also, we discuss the importance of faith, journaling, and ”gathering the fragments of goodness scattered throughout the world.” Listen to learn how you can integrate the spiritual disciplines into your life! - - - 🌲 Help us grow! Like, share, and subscribe to join our community and never miss an episode. 🌻 Follow along on Facebook or Instagram @natureasbeloved 💌 Do you have a topic you would like us to explore or a question you would like answered? Do you know anyone who might be a great guest for this podcast? If so, you are welcome to write to us at: [email protected]

An introduction to Wilderness Christian Mysticism—what it is, why it matters, and how it can help us all live more fulfilling lives.