Resources

Returning to God

Links:

Books:

  • Strength for the Journey, Renee Miller (p. 131-134: “A Process for Beginning a Spiritual Practice”)
  • Hour by Hour, Forward Movement Publications, 2002
  • How to Train a Wild Elephant (See Chapter 16, “Just Three Short Breaths”)
  • The Power of Now, A Guide to Spiritual Enlightment, Eckhart Tolle
  • The Naked Now, Learning to See as the Mystics See, Richard Rohr
  • Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence, Sarah Young
  • A Book of Hours, Thomas Merton

Pamphlet

  • Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, Forward Movement Publications

 

Ritual/Cyclical

Additional reading:

  • Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives, Wayne Muller

Books:

  • The Essential Rumi, Jalal al-Din Rumi and Coleman Barks
  • An Altar to the World, Barbara Brown Taylor
  • How to Train a Wild Elephant, Jan Chosen Bays (p. 64-67)

Poetry:

  • Wendell Berry
  • Mary Oliver, especially “When I am Among the Trees”

Music

  • Sounds of the Eternal: Meditative Chants and Prayers, J. Phillip Newell
  • Chanting for Peace: Praying with the Earth, J. Phillip Newell
  • A Celtic Mass for Peace: Songs for the Earth, Composed by Samuel Guarnaccia, Lyrics by J. Phillip Newell

Stillness

Additional reading:

  • Listening Below the Noise: The Transformative Power of Silence, Anne Le Claire

Links:

Phone Apps:

  1. ITunes Apple App
  2. i-Qi timer
  3. Centering Prayer

Retreats and meditation groups

  • First Friday Retreats at Richmond Hill. To learn more, contact: retreats@richmondhillva.org or call: 804-783-7903.  
    • Richmond Hill offers a weekly Centering Prayer group.
  • Mimi Weaver leads a meditation group Tuesday evenings, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Bon Air, VA, and also leads the First Friday Retreats at Richmond Hill. For retreats and classes contact Mimi Weaver at: mimi@gracemoves.com.
  • The Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) leads silent weekend retreats (Boston).
  • Shalom House Retreat Center
  • St. Stephen’s Centering Prayer Group.  This group meets at St. Stephen’s the second Saturday of each month.  For more information contact: www.ststephensrichmond.net, or call: 804-288-2867.
  • Contemplative Outreach/Silence, Solitude, Solidarity, Service www.contemplativeoutreach.org

Books

  1. Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation, Martin Laird
  2. How to Meditate, A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind, Pema Chodron
  3. Open Mind, Open Heart and Intimacy with God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer, Thomas Keating
  4. Contemplative Prayer, Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh

Movement

Video:

Thich Nhat Hanh’s video: “The Long Road Turns To Joy: A Guide To Walking Meditation”

Links:

  1. The Labyrinth Society 
  2. World-Wide Labyrinth Locator
  3. Enter Labyrinth, an interactive meditation
  4. Finger Labyrinths (See Google for shopping)

Locate a Local Labyrinth:

Permanent Labyrinths

  1. Richmond Hill, The Jerusalem Mile
    2209 E. Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23223
    804-783-7903
    www.richmondhillva.org
    Founded in 1987, Richmond Hill is an ecumenical Christian fellowship and residential community who serve as stewards of an urban retreat center within the setting of a historic monastery
  2. An outdoor labyrinth is located in the park on the corner of Westwood Avenue and Loxley Road in North Richmond.
  3. Shrine Mont
    Orkney Springs, VA about 13 miles west of Mt. Jackson, VA.
    540-856-2141
    www.shrinemont.com
    To provide a place apart for rest, devotion, fellowship, learning and education, where all may grow in the grace of God.

Portable Labyrinth

Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
8 North Laurel Street, Richmond, VA
804-359-5628
www.ghtc.org

Activist

  • A Mindfulness Class is offered at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA.  For more information see www.saintstephensrichmond.net, or call 804-288-2867.
  • www.mindful.org

Books

  • How to Train a Wild Elephant & Other Adventures in Mindfulness, Jan Chozen Bays, MD
  • Buddha’s Book of Sleep. Sleep Better in Seven Weeks with Mindfulness Meditation, Joseph Emet
  • My Stroke of Insight, Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD
  • Mindfulness in Action, Chogyam Trungpa

Generative

Relational

  • St. Stephen’s periodically offers a group on spiritual journaling.
  • The Chrysalis Gathering Space sponsors a journaling group the first Wednesday of each month.  For more information contact: www.info@chrysalisinstitute.org or call 804-359-0384.
  • “Writing for Spiritual Growth” by Richard H. Schmidt, a pamphlet published by Forward Movement Publications
  • Carolyn M. Chilton carolynmoommawchilton@gmail.corn

Spiritual Direction Resources

  • Richmond Hill 
  • Mimi Weaver ( mimi@gracemoves.com ) from Grace Moves ( Midlife Transition Coaching ) 

Creative

Books:

  • Creating Mandalas: For Insight, Healing, and Self-Expression and The Mandala Workbook: A Creative Guide for Self-Exploration, Balance, and Well-Being, Susanne F. Fincher

Links:

Other

  • www.greatfullness.org
  • The Daily Examen
  • “Reading the Bible with Your Heart” Felecia W. Smith, pamphlet from Forward Movement Publications.
  • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA has a group that meets weekly on Tuesday mornings.  The group uses a similar format. For more information contact: 804-643-3589.
  • To order a bracelet:  www.meaningtopause.com

Pamphlet

Virtual candles
www.thecenterforhealingarts.com/light-a-candle/

Actual candles in Richmond, VA:

  • Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, during services
  • St. Stephen’s Celtic Service, 5:30 PM, Sundays.  During one portion of the service you may go to a bank of candles and light one or more candles for intercession.