Contemplative Motherhood Podcast

In this episode, Chelsea gives life updates and notices how this season is opening up new ways for creativity. Erin and Chelsea are taking a mid-season break before releasing the last 9 or so episodes. The reason for this is actually what the Ammas teach about staying present to the...well present. Both Erin and Chelsea realized that to be honest with themselves and their life situations that the best thing to do is to be honest with their spirit. Listen and learn how Chelsea is noticing how finding margins (opening oneself to the unexpected) is exactly what it says. Unexpected situations that the Ammas actually teach about are now opening ways that the Divine is speaking.When we notice the need for margins, it can teach us the art of letting go. The Ammas are all about the letting go and the freedom that comes from it. As Chelsea says, The freedom to know life is not to be controlled but to simply live. Check out www.contemplativemotherhood.org for more updates!

This is part 2 of 2 episodes profiling the Christian Desert Ammas. These women lived in the 3rd-6th century and helped shape Christianity. Often ignored and undervalued, they had a tremendous impact on the culture and people around them. They were sought after for their advice and connection with the Divine. They worked alongside the Abbas of the desert and many influenced the early Church fathers. This is a labor of love for Chelsea, who has spent the past 3 years studying these amazing and life-giving women. To all they met, they were spiritual midwives helping to transition each person in unity with God. This episode will talk about the desert ammas as spiritual midwives, spiritual guides and unveil their spiritual practices.The two books mentioned (although there are too many to put here - we will list our favorites in our after the show blog next week):Praying with the Desert Mothers by Mary FormanThe Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness by Mary EarleCheck out www.contemplativemotherhood.org for blog posts, bonus content, and to sign-up for our newsletter!

This is part 1 of 2 episodes profiling the Christian Desert Ammas. These women lived in the 3rd-6th century and helped shape Christianity. Often ignored and undervalued, they had a tremendous impact on the culture and people around them. They were sought after for their advice and connection with the Divine. They worked alongside the Abbas of the desert and many influenced the early Church fathers. This is a labor of love for Chelsea, who has spent the past 3 years studying these amazing and life-giving women. To all they met, they were spiritual midwives helping to transition each person in unity with God. This episode will talk about the desert ammas as spiritual midwives, spiritual guides and unveil their spiritual practices.The two books mentioned (although there are too many to put here - we will list our favorites in our after the show blog next week):Praying with the Desert Mothers by Mary FormanThe Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness by Mary EarleCheck out www.contemplativemotherhood.org for blog posts, bonus content, and to sign-up for our newsletter!

Erin and Chelsea discuss Rabi’a al-Adawiyya and her connection to Sufism in Islam. As a 9th century amma from Persia, her writings and poem bring life into so many disciples and modern-day contemplatives. Her trailblazing path by describing the Divine as the Beloved leaves us wanting more and more of her teachings. Journey with us as we dive deep into her life, her inspiration, and find ways to drink the living waters of the Beloved found in all of us. We discuss her in two episodes so our listeners can walk with us as we slowly uncover the wealth of her being. She shows how simple unity with the Beloved is and how we can uncover the Beloved found within us all.Check out the After The Show blog posted on Wednesdays at www.contemplativemotherhood.org

Erin and Chelsea discuss Rabi’a al-Adawiyya and her connection to Sufism in Islam. As a 9th century amma from Persia, her writings and poem bring life into so many disciples and modern-day contemplatives. Her trailblazing path by describing the Divine as the Beloved leaves us wanting more and more of her teachings. Journey with us as we dive deep into her life, her inspiration, and find ways to drink the living waters of the Beloved found in all of us. We discuss her in two episodes so our listeners can walk with us as we slowly uncover the wealth of her being. She shows how simple unity with the Beloved is and how we can uncover the Beloved found within us all.Check out the After The Show blog posted on Wednesdays at www.contemplativemotherhood.org

Erin and Chelsea explore Ayya Khema, a modern-day Buddhist nun. From a Western world, great tragedy in her life led her on a spiritual journey that took decades to finally formulate. Her practical view of spirituality is a lesson for all of us that hope to grasp a contemplative journey for ourselves. Amma Ayya has so much to explore that her story is broken up in two episodes. The second episode will explore the practical wisdom she departs to all of us mothers and caretakers as we journey through life. We will learn about meditation, how to be present, what freedom from worry can help us to experience more joy and learning to let go. Amma Ayya's life experience gives us practical lessons that will stick with us no matter what we face. Listen to her beautiful ways to live an extraordinarily ordinary life. 

Erin and Chelsea explore Ayya Khema, a modern-day Buddhist nun. From a Western world, great tragedy in her life led her on a spiritual journey that took decades to finally formulate. Her practical view of spirituality is a lesson for all of us that hope to grasp a contemplative journey for ourselves. Amma Ayya has so much to explore that her story is broken up in two episodes. The first episode will explore her early life and how those tragedies began her journey of seeking. Erin and Chelsea scratch the surface and learn how to be present as a mother and caretaker. Come journey with us and learn from this amazing spiritual mother!

We profile our very first Amma of the season, Miriam from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim tradition. Miriam, who is known as the sister of Moses, is much more than an afterthought. As one of the first Jewish female prophets, her youthfulness sprung out of her as she drew the lines for her people. Listen to her boldness, her willingness to fight for the oppressed, and her connection to the Divine. We will all leave inspired to take up the mantle that Miriam creatively leaves for us. She challenges us all to use our feet as our prayer, our voice to sing loudly, and our hearts to keep pushing for change.Check out www.contemplativemotherhood.org for bonus content, blogs, and sign up for our newsletter.

Chelsea & Erin welcome back all the listeners and give a more in-depth view of what Season 2 has in store for us. After a "long pause" Erin and Chelsea share what they noticed about themselves after recording Season 1. They break down where they are in their spiritual journey and how all those wonderings from Season 1 landed them perfectly to launch Season 2.This season will talk about Ammas and what these women can teach us, modern-day listeners. Inspired by Maya Angelou who said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” Tune in to hear those stories and be left wondering, what is that untold story inside of you.

We are back! Listen for a preview of our second season of the Contemplative Motherhood Podcast. Episode 1 drops on March 28, 2022.

In this episode, Erin discusses the spiritual practice of gratitude and what that may look like as a practice in companionship with our children. Unpack the concepts of a competing culture and how we can be present and intentional by guiding our children in the spiritual practice of gratitude. 

Join Erin  Thomas in another episode of bonus content from "The Contemplative Child." On this week's episode, Erin will discuss the importance of margin for our children. What is margin and how do we achieve this in our family lives? Erin will also unpack the hurried lifestyle components that feel contrary to Contemplative Life, how that impacts our children and why this lays a foundation for practical spiritual disciplines. Erin will also provide simple steps for integrating the practice of silence with our children, a seemingly impossible task. This is the quentessential episode of a "gentle start" to spiritual practices with our children.  

In a bonus episode with a child centered lens, Erin takes us down the road of building the framework of a Contemplative Child. Erin discusses spiritual formation in children and the interwoven aspects of a child's development. She also touches on the importance of recognizing unrealistic expectations and laying heavy shame based responsibilities on ourselves as parents when it comes to our children's spiritual development. Tune in to hear how the framework of being a "listening companion" for your child can be an act of freedom from parenting beyond our emotional capacity and shame based children's spiritual development narratives. Lay out a vision and get back to the basics with "The Contemplative Child." Featured  Resources : "Spiritual Conversations with Children"

In the last episode of Season 1, Erin and Chelsea discuss what they have individually noticed about Season 1 and the topics presented. They dive deeper into the effect their kids have on their spiritual lives, why saying No was such a difficult episode for both of them, and saying goodbye to mom guilt. Erin, who recently went on a retreat, talks about her experience and what she discovered about the contemplative lifestyle that made her change her outlook. Nothing is left on the table in this episode.To keep in touch with them please email them at contemplativemotherhoodpodcast@gmail.comLook out for details of Season 2!

In part 2 of our conversation, we unpack specifically motherhood being a spiritual practice both the negative aspects and the positive aspects. Motherhood is not all that we are but it is a big part of how we relate to the world. Instead of thinking spiritual practices add more to our to-do list, we reframe the question of how can we look at being a mother through the lens of the Divine? Join us as we dive deeper into the conversation and find ways to be who we are, chaotic and beautiful.

This episode is part 1 of a 2-part conversation that will be shared in the exploration of the topic “Is Motherhood a spiritual practice?”Throughout season one, you have heard us unpack some of the basic tenants of spiritual practices in our own lives. These are not exhaustive and to be honest, they barely scratch the surface of the Contemplative Motherhood lifestyle. But for the following two episodes , we hope to weave together tokens from this season that will aid us all in putting together a tapestry of the picture of the Contemplative Motherhood life.Contemplative Books that Erin and Chelsea have found helpful on their journey:An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown TaylorBeing Nobody, Going Nowhere by Ayya KhemaEarth, Our Original Monestary by Christine PainterFalling Upward  by Richard RohrMerton’s Palace of Nowhere by James FinleyTales from the Land of the Sufis by Mojdeh Bayat and Mohammad Ali JamniaThe Contemplative Heart by James FinleyThe Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, translated by Marshall DavisThe Sayings of the Desert Fathers translated by Benedicata Ward, SLGThe Way of Paradox by Meister Eckhart, translated by Cyprian Smith, OSBThe Way of the Heart by Henry Nouwen*Note: This is not an exhaustive list and one that continuously is added to as our journey progresses...

Saying No can be the hardest word to say as a mother. Maybe not to our kids but to the outside world. In this episode, Erin and Chelsea tackle how Saying No can become a contemplative practice, when we learn what to say no to and why it is important. Often, it is our ego saying yes instead of our heart center. The discussion will center around how operating out of our heart center and protecting our boundaries can lead to a more intimate life for ourselves and our children, allow us to get to know ourselves better, and give us space for intentional work.

In this episode, Erin and Chelsea discuss the importance of alone time away from kids, activities, chores, and finding space with the Holy. It is not always easy but solitude creates openings where we get to know ourselves, reset our priorities, and discover the Sacredness of our daily life. Chelsea describes different ways solitude can be accomplished in the midst of the daily and how, for her, solitude gave way to a deeper appreciation and compassion for her kids. Erin and Chelsea also dive deeper on what to do during solitude time and how to throw away the to do lists and what's next, in order to be present to the Divine.

In this episode, Erin and Chelsea explore navigating the unexpected (and sometimes unwelcome) moments of life. These moments can crack open unexpected spiritual practices that teach us the desires, needs, and benefits of intentional practices. Listen as Erin shares how deep grief led her to the practice of gratitude. This shift in perspective after overcoming the loss of a child led her to an unexpected moment of desire, the desire to pursue gratitude as a spiritual practice. 

In this episode Erin and Chelsea tackle our everyday mundane routines and rhythms and transform them into a Sacred Connectedness. What does that mean? Finding that the everyday mundane can be an invitation to enter a Sacred space. When we stay present in these activities they can become rituals. Rituals that begin to open a Divine Presence surrounding us while we do laundry, dishes, drive kids around, pick up the same toys over and over, etc.