... as on a straight road

"Our inner “God detector” works. We have that strange inner sense of the divine, but the divine does..."

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:17:34 +1100

“Our inner “God detector” works. We have that strange inner sense of the divine, but the divine does not seem any closer, necessarily, because of that sensitivity. And thus the heartache of being a human caught between these two awarenesses.”

- Lynn Baumann (Sensitivity to Holiness)

"…if you are not going to join a monastery, establish some spiritual occupation, or go homeless..."

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:28:00 +1000

“…if you are not going to join a monastery, establish some spiritual occupation, or go homeless than STFU about it and get in the game. Non-materialism is not your practice, embrace that. Than find the amount of wealth that you think you want and go for it. If like me you want a more or less normal middle class life, with little stress from work, than make that. If however you want the million dollar chateau in wine country, than go for that. Balance it against your spiritual needs, but dont pretend that you are on some non-materialistic spiritual path while you sip your americano. Its just a lie.”

- Strategic Sorcery: Funny about money

"I let go my desire for security and survival. I let go my desire for esteem and affection. I let go..."

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:10:46 +1000

“I let go my desire for security and survival.
I let go my desire for esteem and affection.
I let go my desire for power and control.
I let go my desire to change the situation.”

- Contemplative Photography: The Welcoming Prayer

“Words of Advice For Young People” by William S...

Fri, 29 May 2009 22:42:41 +1000

“Words of Advice For Young People” by William S Burroughs (via BaronSCameron)

"For He is your being, and you are what you are in him, not only as your cause and your being, but..."

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:12:49 +1100

“For He is your being, and you are what you are in him, not only as your cause and your being, but because he dwells in you as your cause and being.”

- The Book Of Privy Counselling. Chap.1

"God lets the world run as it is, but if ninjas attacked, God would make sure you’d know kung..."

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:03:12 +1100

“God lets the world run as it is, but if ninjas attacked, God would make sure you’d know kung fu. But there’s no religion here, you don’t need to go to church for this, you just need to believe that God is watching out for you. This is why organized religion is in serious decline. There’s no way a Catholic God will upload kung fu when you need it. Access to that kind of transcendent knowledge requires Buddhism, or agnosticism. It requires you not to know who He is, so you can make Him into whatever you need Him to be. You’re not going to subject yourself to His rules; you’re going to subject Him to yours.”

- The Last Psychiatrist: What Was The Matrix?

"There must exist, beyond mere appearances … a ‘veiled reality’ that science does not..."

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:32:53 +1100

“There must exist, beyond mere appearances … a ‘veiled reality’ that science does not describe but only glimpses uncertainly. In turn, contrary to those who claim that matter is the only reality, the possibility that other means, including spirituality, may also provide a window on ultimate reality cannot be ruled out, even by cogent scientific arguments.”

- French physicist and philosopher of science Bernard d’Espagnat quoted in the New Scientist

Christian Mysticism of the Future « The Website of Unknowing

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:13:50 +1100

Christian Mysticism of the Future « The Website of Unknowing:

trinitarian
relational
earthy
apophatic and kataphatic in tension
interreligious wisdom
evolutionary
narrative and story, not just abstract

Sydney War Memorial being renovated into a temple of Isis.

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:35:42 +1100

Sydney War Memorial being renovated into a temple of Isis.

"Our culture is a desert culture, but one which has infiltrated our cities and become urban. It is a..."

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:02:11 +1000

“Our culture is a desert culture, but one which has infiltrated our cities and become urban. It is a wild culture in which God is everywhere, a culture of outsiders that has seen persecution. It has lain fallow, housing living information from a number of different traditions, syncretic, sacramental.”

- Summer Harvest » The Temple and The Bridal Chamber

"Gregorian chant is one of the greatest treasures of Christianity. It is music of extraordinary..."

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:42:08 +1000

“Gregorian chant is one of the greatest treasures of Christianity. It is music of extraordinary beauty and purity. There are chants for everyone - simple chants for the congregation, chants for the choir, and special chants for soloists. Chant is our closest link with the Church of the Apostles. The sound of Gregorian chant is the sound of the early Church singing its faith. Gregorian chant is the music of the undivided Church. It is the authentic sound of unity: it overrides all distinctions between men, all historical differences. Gregorian chant is the music of the Spirit. It heals, refreshes, revives the spirit, and makes one feel at peace. You cannot sing or listen to Gregorian chant without being aware of the presence of God and find that you are praying. *”

- Why Should You Learn Gregorian Chant?

"At 7.20 on the morning of 22 March, something awesome and profoundly moving occurred. Though very..."

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:44:00 +1000

“At 7.20 on the morning of 22 March, something awesome and profoundly moving occurred. Though very weak and heavily drugged, Vivian suddenly threw off the influence of the morphine. She sat up, and her eyes became intensely radiant. There shone in her eyes a light of recognition and of welcome. It was not for me, or for the friend who was keeping me company at her bedside. Vivian was in a state of high spiritual exaltation and the vibrancy of the atmosphere was thrilling. She was looking upon something, someone, wonderful. She smiled, a smile of exquisite sweetness. Then gently she uttered the words, “I know, Mother. I know,” and very quietly said an ancient prayer to the Celestial Queen. Thereafter she sank into a coma. She died early on the morning of 23 March. In death she looked utterly peaceful; very beautiful, very dignified. It was remarked that every item of clothing and bedding that had been in contact with her body had a quality of sweetness and freshness. In the room in which she died, an elusive perfume, something like frankincense, lingered for almost twenty-four hours after her passing.”

- Ogdoadic Notes - Documents - In Memoriam

Prinknash Abbey Incense - the world's finest resin incense.

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:36:07 +1000

Prinknash Abbey Incense - the world's finest resin incense.

"My conclusion is that greed and the competitive drive are not inherent human qualities. They are..."

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:35:13 +1000

““My conclusion is that greed and the competitive drive are not inherent human qualities. They are continuously stimulated by the kind of money we use. There is more than enough food and work for everyone. There is merely a scarcity of money.””

- Competing for Money

Oversight, but no see

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:20:41 +1000

Oversight, but no see:

an Anglican take on episcopi vagantes

"We are an independent organisation, registered as a Foundation in the Netherlands, supporting the..."

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:03:31 +1000

“We are an independent organisation, registered as a Foundation in the Netherlands, supporting the people in the frontline of the human rights struggle, working with partners and friends worldwide to bring about lasting social change.”

- Dignity International: ABOUT - ABOUT US

Save Darfur

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:02:04 +1000

Save Darfur

Saint Uriel's Gnostic Community | a narthex of the Apostolic Johannite Church

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:01:27 +1000

Saint Uriel's Gnostic Community | a narthex of the Apostolic Johannite Church:

Our local community. Come join us.

A new Gneuby...

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:54:27 +1000

Just before heading off for the Christmas/New Year break, and after a few email conversations with the Formation Director and a certain amount of pondering, I submitted an application to St. Raphael the Archangel Theological Seminary] to enter their priesthood formation programme.

What this means, is that I undertake a four year distance education programme which, all things being equal, ends with me becoming ordained as a priest in the Apostolic Johannite Church.

Yep, a Gnostic priest. Possibly not as great a surprise as all that to people that know me.

For the moment though, I am what is called colloquially among the brothers and sisters in the seminary a “Gneuby”, gleefully reading the early history of the church and trying to drag myself into writing the several essays that make up my first batch of assignments.

Not certain what else to say. Drop some questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.

(this post first appeared on He’s Just Had Coffee in January)

Love, Truth, Beauty, Pluralistic Spirituality · Why God does not need a Throne

Sat, 26 May 2007 07:51:01 +1000

Love, Truth, Beauty, Pluralistic Spirituality · Why God does not need a Throne