conferences
teachings on the spiritual life & the mystical path
SIMON BARRINGTON-WARD
‘THE JESUS PRAYER’
SAT 26TH SEPTEMBER 09
REPORT
We enjoyed a really rich day of teaching from Bishop Simon on the Jesus Prayer at the end of September. It was not simply interesting information but what he carried and embodied that made a real impact on those there.
As well as teaching, in line with the values of StillPoint there was also a period of prayer practice which Simon led us in.
We’ve had some very positive feedback so it sounds like it was a helpful day for everyone.
RICHARD ROHR
‘CONTEMPLATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE CONSCIOUSNESS’
TUES 24TH AUGUST 2010
10AM-4PM | OU CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY
The enlightenment we seek has been present in Christianity from the beginning. Fr. Richard Rohr, a global leader in spiritual awakening, helps us to recognize the forces (such as ego resistance and dual thinking) that separate us from our deeper selves. Then, drawing from the Gospels and the greatest Christian contemplatives, he shows us what it means to be spiritually awake. We will learn how to:
* Awaken our desire for God
* Free ourselves from the fears that cripple us
* Connect to the joy already within us
* Transform ourselves and inspire others
* See as the mystics see
* Live in full awareness of the naked now
Fr. Richard Rohr is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, a guest on the radio show Oprah and Friends, a regular contributor to Sojourners and Tikkun, and the author of books such as Adam’s Return, The Enneagram, Everything Belongs, Simplicity, and Things Hidden.
GREGORY OJN
‘A GAZE OF LOVE, A BODY OF JOY’
SAT 13TH MARCH 2010
Across the world, spiritual writers of different faiths describe contemplative awakening in amazingly similar terms. They speak of an awakening of presence from anxious distraction, compassion from alienation, and wholeness out of a fragmentation. Christianity offers something unique to contemplative culture in the person of Jesus, chiefly a relational depth of loving and being loved that stabilizes the contemplative experience and spills over into a renewed joy in the physical body and vibrant meaning in our social bodies — our families, communities, and
churches.
In this all-day workshop, sponsored by StillPoint Fr. Gregory Fruehwirth of the Order of Julian of Norwich will offer teaching aimed at assisting people practically in the experience of
contemplative awakening, explore how this is given a unique sense within the Christian Faith, and reflect on how this changes our experience of the physical and social world.
HOLISTIC SPIRITUAL PRACTICE RETREAT
10-12TH SEPTEMBER 2010
THE ABBEY, SUTTON COURTENAY, OXFORDSHIRE
StillPoint’s first residential retreat took place in September 2010 at The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay. Matt and Ian were joined by yoga teacher James Jewell for a highly experiential weekend of spiritual practice - combining contemplative prayer and meditation with yoga and working with our bodies. It was a weekend for beginners and those more experienced alike and was particularly good for those looking to incorporate yoga into their spiritual practice.
Ian, Matt and James are running another retreat in October 2011.
ROBERT KENNEDY
‘ZEN AND CHRISTIANITY’
SAT 2ND APRIL 2011
10AM-4PM | OU CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY
Robert Kennedy, author of “Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit” and “Zen Gifts to Christians”, is one of three Jesuits in the world called 'Roshi' or Zen Master.
He is also a psychotherapist and professor of theology at St Peter's College in New Jersey. He is a representative of the Institute for Spiritual Consciousness in Politics at the United Nations. Robert gave the John Main Seminar 2009 .
In this day conference Fr Kennedy will be looking at the relationship between Christianity and Zen and how the two spiritual traditions can enrich each other.The event will include teaching, Q&A, and periods of meditation.
Robert Kennedy will draw on his knowledge of both the Christian and Buddhist spiritual journey and explore questions such as: Can Christianity be considered as another Eastern Religion?, What part can meditation play in the exploration of these traditions? And how does Jesus' journey compare with that of other religions?
There is a set of photos from the day on our flickr pages.
IAN ADAMS
‘CAVE, REFECTORY, ROAD - MONASTIC RHYTHMS FOR CONTEMPORARY LIVING’
SAT 30TH APRIL 2011
10AM-4PM | FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, OXFORD
Ian led is in a day of teaching, stillness and contemplative practice, which explored how we might incorporate the wisdom and patterns of the monastic way into everyday life.
There is a set of photos from the day on our flickr pages.
Our second residential retreat takes places in October 2011. The format is the same as our 2010 retreat - contemplative prayer teaching and practice led by Ian Adams and Matt Rees and yoga sessions led by professional yoga teacher James Jewell. This is a weekend for all who are looking to deepen holistic spiritual practice integrating body, mind and soul and will be helpful for beginners and those more experienced alike. More details on our booking page here.
HOLISTIC SPIRITUAL PRACTICE RETREAT
7-9TH OCTOBER 2011
THE ABBEY, SUTTON COURTENAY, OXFORDSHIRE
now booking:
CYPRIAN CONSIGLIO
THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO CONTEMPLATION
15TH OCTOBER 2011
ST ALBANS CHURCH, CHARLES ST, OXFORD
Cyprian Consiglio is a monk of the Camaldolese Congregation, musician, composer, writer and teacher. Much of both his music and his teaching revolve around the Universal Call to Contemplation through spirituality and the arts.
A student of the writings of Bede Griffiths and Abhishiktananda, Cyprian has a great love for comparative religion, has done work in inter-faith ritual and world music, regularly leads conferences on meditation, and has been to India and other countries in Asia several times, both studying and teaching. He has written numerous articles and a book, “Prayer in the Cave of the Heart: The Universal Call to Contemplation,” for Liturgical Press.
StillPoint are delighted to host this evening with Cyprian in Oxford where he will teach, lead meditation practice, and play music.
More details are available on our booking page here.
IAN ADAMS
‘CAVE, REFECTORY, ROAD - MONASTIC RHYTHMS FOR CONTEMPORARY LIVING’
SAT 5TH NOVEMBER 2011 945/10AM-4PM | HARBOUR HOUSE, KINGSBRIDGE
With insights from ancient monasticism, modern jazz and contemporary design, writer-poet Ian Adams offers patterns, poems and practices for personal stillness, reshaping of community and renewal of the earth. More details are available on our booking page here.
previous events :
HOLISTIC SPIRITUAL PRACTICE RETREAT
27-29TH JULY 2012
EPIPHANY HOUSE, TRURO, CORNWALL
Our next residential retreat takes places in July 2012. It’s our first retreat in the South West where both Matt and Ian have links. The format is the same as our previous retreats - contemplative prayer teaching and practice led by Ian Adams and Matt Rees and yoga sessions led by professional yoga teacher James Jewell. This is a weekend for all who are looking to deepen holistic spiritual practice integrating body, mind and soul and will be helpful for beginners and those more experienced alike. More details on our booking page here.
