dekhomai

spirited...

I love this advert. The combination of Jose Gonzalez's music and voice and the startling images - simply stunning.

Not so long ago we were reflecting on it as an image that might show something of the Spirit of God in the world - unexpected, beautiful, abundant, joyous, kinetic, maybe slightly dangerous, most of all alive and on the move...

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Techoshamanism

I've been thinking about how technology can serve as a resource on our spiritual journey. One example is, of course, the internet. I see it as a map to journey on and this site as a place where people can offers paths and signpost to sites that they have found helpful in their spiritual journey.

Technology can serve to resource our spiritual journey in many other ways, the DJ for example could be considered a techoshaman for an evening in a club. Their object is to bring participants into a techoshamanic trance, much in the same way ancient shamans brought members of their tribes into similar states of consciousness. As one DJ put it ' the goal is to hit that magical experience that everyone will talk about afterwards. Between 120 bpm and these sounds that the human ear has never heard before, you put them to music and it appeals to some primal level of consciousness.'

Right...I'm off to tribal gathering for a techoshamanic experience!

The Baby Mind Reader

Did anyone else watch The Baby Mind Reader with Derek Ogilvie on Channel Five last night?

It wouldn't be my representative of my normal choice of viewing (having content about small children and being on Channel Five) but I was intrigued having seen some of the pre-publicity for the show. Any thoughts or reflections?

post a prayer

post a prayer from your computer

Retreating

When life is busy and stressful, finding time and space to stop can be difficult.  If you suspect that things could be different but don't know where to begin then The Retreat Association might be of help.  My own experience of taking time 'in retreat' is that, although not always easy, it is invariably a life-enhancing experience.  It has been the place where I have discovered and rediscovered that love is the mystery at the centre of the one I call God.  You could just watch it on TV, but I tend to think that reality is only discovered for yourself. I have added a link in the dekhomai links in the side bar for future reference.

Why washing your jeans can cost the Earth

“Why washing your jeans can cost the Earth” was an article in today’s Guardian newspaper. It was reporting a study done in France about the environmental impact one pair of denims made, worn and washed over a four year lifespan.

It concluded that a French jeans wearer would damage the environment the least by buying denims made of cotton from a country not too far from Europe with strict anti-pollution laws. Machine washing, tumble drying, and ironing caused 47% of the eco damage the jeans caused - 240kWh of energy a year, equal to using 4,000 lightbulbs, each of 60 watts, for an hour. Dry cleaning was "an environmental disaster".

Another great set of thought-provoking challenges about how we act as faithful stewards of the planet… oh and another great excuse to shop at howies…

You live in your jeans. Sixteen hours a day. Yet most normal denim has so many chemical residues it's kinda scary. That's why we have introduced our new organic denim. But a low impact jean like this still has to be plenty strong. That's why our denim weighs in at a heavy 12 ounces and is woven in a 3x1 construction, making it a nice comfortable all season weight, but very tough. It is woven using ring spun yarns that are dyed with a similar indigo to the colour of vintage American jeans and then eco-ball washed. Little things can add up.

sacred space

need some sacred space at work? the free downlaodable pdf may be just what the doctor's ordered... the first suggestion of going for an intentionally slow walk may sound mad but actually it's a great idea as are many of the others.

Spirituality Workbook

David Runcorn has just had his latest book published : Spirituality Workbook : A Guide for Explorers, Pilgrims and Seekers : I've had a good look through my copy and it's a real mix of stories, thoughts, meditations and exercises for those wanting to start or continue a journey through the 'many facets of Christian spirituality'.  It is broad enough for there to be something for everyone; from those just beginning to question and explore, to those whose journey is many days and nights old.  I know David personally as a man of great peace and no little wisdom and would not hesitate to recommend his guidance to any seeker wherever you are on your spiritual journey!
(It is also available in Waterstones Book Shops)

blessed

blessed are the cracked - they will let the light in

this was a quote or at least roughly what it was from francis, the monk who was tony's spiritual mentor on the wonderful monastery series. if you didn't catch it, 5 men spent 40 days in the routines of a benedictine monastery. it was reality tv with soul (more than can be said for big brother which has become truely awful and soulless in my view). last night the monastery revisited had interviews with all the men to see what difference it had made to their lives. it was again astonishing. most had redirected their lives in quite dramatic ways. the space to focus on spirituality and to be silent had changed them. ancient spirituality as relevant as ever it seems. the benedctine monks had also been changed by the encounter which was lovely to see.

brother anthony has written a book finding sanctuary:monastic steps for everyday life which we had for sale on the dekhomai stand. you can obviously order it from amazon or e-mail proost to get one. the ongoing vulnerability of the men was quite scary in its own way but maybe that's life for all of us. tony had tried to find a church community but his observations were quite damning - he used the words unreal, fake, plastic. i am happy to say that i have found a christian community that enables me to be real so they do exist, but that was a bit depressing. a wonderful series. a new series the convent starts next week on wednesdays at 9pm...

more pics

have added more pics from gareth to the photo album from the festival. if you want to see all of his he has a set here on flickr...