What's Happening at
SpiritualityandPractice.com
November 25, 2020
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By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Since March, we have been regularly posting Spiritual Resources for the COVID-19 Pandemic. When we stumbled upon a five-minute film called "How to Be at Home" we knew we wanted to include it. We were then delighted to discover it is one of an extraordinary collection of short films from the National Film Board of Canada about social distancing that can actually bring us together. The collection includes documentary, animation, and digitally storytelling formats, and they are free to watch on YouTube. We've embedded our favorite in this feature.
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Practicing Democracy Project |
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By Keziah Grindeland
Although we are not able to have our traditional large family Thanksgiving dinners this week, many of us will still be in touch with distant relatives via Zoom. In such gatherings, it's likely that people of different opinions and worldviews may be present. So we want to offer some spiritual practices for holding difficult conversations. These suggestions come from a group of spiritual leaders who convened in 2018 as part of our Practicing Democracy Project. We've matched them to practices in S&P's spiritual practices database and broken them into things to do before, during, and after a conversation. The leaders agreed that it is important to bring more intentionality to these sometimes fraught discussions.
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Film
Directed by Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes
Americans like to talk about the primacy of voting and the freedom that results from it. But the historical truth is that at the time of the Founding Fathers, only 6% of the population -- rich, male, property owners -- could vote. This informative documentary explores the history of voting rights and the threats to it in our time.
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By Phillip Lund
This program is appropriate for your personal use or with a small group of family or friends -- even on Zoom. Sections include: Opening Words, Check-in, Topic, For Reflection and Journaling, Check-Out, Closing Words, Practice.
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By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
You can now watch this 25-minute film on Vimeo Video on Demand for only $1.99. It's perfect post-turkey viewing on Thanksgiving Day. It reminds us that there are so many things to be grateful for! Flowers, asparagus, stories, books, slippers, toes, and Santa Claus are just a few covered in readings by Joseph Goldstein, Robert Farrar Capon, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Scout Cloud Lee, William Stafford, Richard J. Foster, Deena Metzger, Robert Coles, Shaun McNiff, Thich Nhat Hanh, Buson, and Naomi Shihab Nye.
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By Contemplative Outreach
November 27 - December 25
This e-course for Advent will be a quiet, spacious, reflective time in community. We will feast on the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating and other mystical writers as we explore the great themes of the season. We will embody this sacred time through Lectio Divina using scripture and other wisdom writings, Visio Divina with art images, and Musica Divina with musical selections -- and we will have opportunities to do these three practices in Zoom community gatherings three times a week.
Read more about this very special program and register here:
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By S&P Team
Looking for a spiritual retreat to tide you over in quiet contemplation during the holy days leading up to Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day, and Epiphany? Here are many choices — some Christian and inclusive, others multifaith — from which you can find a perfect match for your needs. Leaders include Cynthia Bourgeault, Thomas Moore, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Contemplative Outreach, and others.
Find a retreat and registration links here:
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By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
November 22 - December 31
It's not to late to join this e-course; when you do, you will find all the emails that have gone out archived on your account page. You will receive 40 daily emails with quotes from Merton's writings and related practice suggestions plus access to a Practice Circle where our community is discussing how Merton has influenced their spiritual journeys. Discover why Merton is known as a master of everyday spirituality, a spiritual activist, and a pioneer of interspirituality.
Read more about this 40-day e-course and register here:
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By Melinda Emily Thomas
Melina Emily Thomas is a writer, activist, and certified yoga instructor. This unique book is an exquisite, lyrical, and practice-oriented exploration of the path of spiritual balance. By identifying the bridges between Benedictine spirituality and yoga, Thomas reveals the richness of multifaith spirituality.
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By Isabel Wilkerson
When we think of caste, India and Germany come to mind. This hard-hitting and enlightening book looks at the history of white subjugation of Blacks in the United States over the past 400 years. Whereas traditionally this ranking of people has been considered to be a function of racism, Wilkerson sees it as a caste system.
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By His Holiness the Dalai Lama
We can all benefit from hearing the Dalai Lama's story and his teachings. This book will leave children and anyone who reads it to them with an important reminder: By watering the seeds of compassion that otherwise remain dormant in us, we can bring joy to ourselves and others.
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Directed by Thom Zimny
In this rousing and rockin' documentary, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band record a new album, and the Boss offers spiritual commentary on the songs. He ends with words appropriate for this Thanksgiving week: "How you conduct yourself and do your work matters -- how you treat your friends, your family, your lover. On good days, a blessing falls over you. It wraps itself around you, and you're free and deeply in and of this world. That's your reward. Being here."
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Directed by Nathan Grossman
This enlightening documentary focuses on Greta Thunberg, a passionate young prophet for eco-justice. Greta contends that all of us are responsible for what happens to the Earth and that means making the right choices and then having the patience and perseverance to act on them. We see and respect Greta as a prophet in our time.
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Directed by Ben Lawrence
This is a spiritually rich and immersive drama about two men dealing with the baggage of their pasts as they try to keep their friendship and marriages together. Bolstered by four astonishing performances by Hugo Weaving, Andrew Luri, Hayley McElhinney, and Bolude Watson, it is one of the Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2020.
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A Commonplace Book:
By Frederic Brussat
A Commonplace Book is an annotated personal anthology. In this post, Frederic shares a favorite Welsh text illustrating panentheism, then writes his own version of it.
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Process Musings:
By Patricia Adams Farmer
Patricia Adams Farmer reflects on the relationship between winter, COVID, and finding hope during the season of Advent.
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Remembering Spiritual Masters Project:
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
We remember Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth and internationally recognized professor and author. Our profile includes links to reviews of his books, audio and video clips, and a collection of quotes.
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The Center for Spirituality & Practice seeks a committed spiritual practitioner and high-capacity nonprofit leader to be its first Executive Director, to collaborate with Mary Ann and Frederic Brussat to advance their legacy and develop the organization into its next phase. This position is based in Claremont, CA. Please help us spread the word about this opportunity. Download a pdf of the profile here.
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Giving Tuesday falls the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to extend the season of gratitude and giving to nonprofits. We'll be writing to our supporters next week, but you may want to make a donation now to help Spirituality & Practice in this pivotal year.
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Welcome to those of you who are new to our e-newsletter! You may also want to sign up for alerts about upcoming e-courses and retreats, daily boosts of wisdom from the world's spiritual traditions, and updates from our Practicing Democracy Project. Sign up and choose how you'd like to keep in touch with us on this page .
Please also "Like" and "Follow" us on Social Media to engage with new content and projects on these platforms:
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By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
After an evening when friends shared stories about their charitable giving, the Brussats realized that what we do with our money is a sign of who we are and what we love. In this feature, they suggest some different ways to give, with the understanding that generosity is a spiritual practice that reflects an attitude of heart and mind.
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Spirituality & Practice is multifaith and interspiritual website providing resources for spiritual journeys and spiritual learning opportunities through the Internet. If you support our values, vision, and mission, we invite you to become one of our Practicing Partners.
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