How to walk the mystical path (Hint: you’re already on it)

About this episode

The episode features a conversation with Dr. James Finley about first-half-of-life mysticism and its relevance in contemporary spirituality.

This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley, Zac and Jesuitical producer Sebastian have a conversation with Dr. James Finley about first-half-of-life mysticism. Jim is a clinical psychologist and faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation where he teaches and writes on the Christian mystical tradition. He’s also the host of the podcast, ‘Turning to the Mystics.’ 0:00 A special episode on mysticism 3:00 How Jim Finley discovered monasteries 12:00 An introduction to interior prayer 22:48 Where to start 24:30 How to stay patient 28:40 When life gets busy 34:48 Cultivating silence in your life 39:50 Finding God in trauma 41:45 Trusting your own experiences of God 48:00 Is God really inside of us? 51:00 Where mysticism and formal religion intersect 56:15 Does mystical experience relativize religion? Links for further reading: Jim’s podcast, “Turning to the Mystics with James Finley” The Center for Action and Contemplation Merton's Palace of Nowhere The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming…

People in this episode

Hosts: Ashley, Zac, Sebastian

Guest: Dr. James Finley

Topics covered

• mysticism
• Christian mystical tradition
• interior prayer
• cultivating silence
• finding God in trauma

Keywords

• mysticism
• Christianity
• interior prayer
• silence
• trauma
• spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Center for Action and Contemplation

Products: Turning to the Mystics

Books & works: Merton's Palace of Nowhere, The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation

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