Foundry Spiritual Center

Because our offerings and ways that we’re engaging in the world have shifted recently, this podcast will no longer be available come Thursday, September 22, 2022. We do hope, however, that we can continue to be a part of one another's spiritual journeys. Below are a few ways that you can be in touch with us so that we can stay connected:Website: www.foundrysc.comNewsletter: https://foundrysc.com/connect/newsletterFoundry Spiritual Center You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAV2kwc_uIpv2_lSjDD9-tAThe Contemplative Life Podcast: https://foundrysc.com/podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/foundryscInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundryspiritualcenter/We hope you’ll continue to join us on your own spiritual journey.

Discussion One- What was that like for you?- What did you notice or hear?Job 12:7-8 (NIV)Discussion Two- What was that like for you?- What did you notice or hear?

Foundry Spiritual Center: A collective for spiritual growth and wellness.What is spirituality? - A belief that there is something greater than ourselves and that we are one part of the greater wholeJohn 4:15 (NIV), John 4:21-23 (NIV)Discussion One:- What do you hear that interests you?- What questions or curiosities do you have?- What fears or worries do you have? Education- Online Book Study Discussion Group- The Contemplative Life PodcastReflection- One-on-One Spiritual Direction- RetreatsPractice- Online Drop-In Contemplative Prayer- Online Spiritual Formation SeriesAlso see:- Calendar page:  https://foundrysc.com/connect/calendarDiscussion Two- Is there anything you’d like to hear more about?- What other questions do you have?- Anything you feel particularly excited about or interested in?

NON-DUALITY“Both/And” expands our awareness of God, others and the world around us.Why Non-Dualism is so helpful for us:- We develop an ability to hold things in tensionSpiritual practice: Letting goPhilippians 2:6-7 (Berean Study Bible)Discussion One:- What does it cause you to think about?- Do you have your own examples of how “clinging” has been unhelpful to you?- What has helped you in developing an ability to hold things in tension?Why Non-Dualism is so helpful for us:- Non-duality helps us accept the difficulties in lifeSpiritual Practice: RestMatthew 11:28-30 (NIV)Quote: - Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr, p. 31, 32Discussion Two:- Do you relate to needing help to accept the difficulties of life?- How do you navigate trying to have a moment-by-moment relationship with God?- Is there anything you’re wondering about?

NON-DUALITY“Both/And” expands our awareness of God, others and the world around us.Philippians 4:7 (NIV)Nondualistic thinking - Sees subtlety, exceptions, mystery, and a bigger pictureDiscussion One:- Have you heard of Non-dualism before?- Can you see how this framework of Both/And might serve you?- Do you have your own examples of how this both/and experience comes up in your life?Nondual Awareness- Another term for union with God. Luke 17:21, Mark 1:15, John 18:36, Psalm 139:1 & 11Discussion Two:- Are there ways that you sometimes become aware of God’s presence? How do we experience this in our actual lives?- How do we engage in a life where the Kingdom of Heaven lives within us?- What do we wonder about?

INNER WISDOMWe engage in deep listening to discover the inner wisdom of the Spirit.Discussion One:- What are some initial thoughts that come to mind when you think about inner wisdom? - What appeals to us?   - What challenges might we encounter?Proverbs 20:5 (NIV)Acts 15:28 (NIV)Proverbs 11:14 (NLT)Discussion Two:- What are some ways you have accessed inner wisdom?  - Who are examples of people who have drawn out of you?

LIFELONG LEARNERSWe are lifelong learners committed to curiosity and growth.Proverbs 2:6, 10-11 (NIV)- Life gives us many choices.- God can teach us these things about ourselves - Living as lifelong learners can help us remember to engage with our Divine GuideDiscussion One:- What sorts of choices do you make that help you engage with learning?- Does joy as a byproduct of learning resonate with you?Mark 4:14-20 (NIV)Discussion Two:- Can you relate to the struggle of learning by way of failure?- How does Jesus’ explanation of the Parable help you? - Is there anything you wonder about?

LIFELONG LEARNERSWe are lifelong learners committed to curiosity and growth.Childlike FaithMatthew 18:3 (NIV)Beginner’s Mind: To see as though for the first timeDiscussion One:- What helps you to engage a Beginner’s Mind where you can “see as if for the first time?”- Are there ways that you can identify with feeling blocked because of your own existing ideas and experiences?Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)Discussion Two: - Do you resonate with feeling like you need to have all the answers?- Does Jesus’ invitation to ask and to rest feel encouraging to you in any way? Is there anything you wonder about?

Spiritual Journey: We’re on a spiritual journey to uncover the emerging soul.To see the entire Kaiser's Hero's Journey Video : https://youtu.be/2-N0k540Hcw“The Special World is unpredictable and full of unknowns.”Discussion One:- Can you relate to the experience of feeling a struggle between something inside and the external world?- Has it been helpful to try to proceed with strength and courage or did you find something else helpful? Hero's Journey: Later StagesDeath: Jonah 1:17 (NIV)Transformation: Jonah 2, Jonah 3:1 (NIV), Jonah 3:10 & 4:1 (NIV)Special Knowledge: Jonah 4:11 (NIV)Reward/Elixir: - God’s desire is to relate to all people with Love and CompassionDiscussion Two:- Is there anything that surprises you about Jonah’s story?- What do you wonder about?- Does it inspire you towards anything?

One way we discover who we are and what we’re doing:- Following the still, small voice within- 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV)- John 16:13a (NIV)A framework for what this can look like: - The Hero’s JourneyHero’s Journey Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA Discussion One: - What do you like about the Hero’s Journey framework?- Are there things you wonder about or struggle with in regards to the Hero’s Journey?Companions- Galatians 6:2 (Good News)Discussion Two:- Can you identify a time in your life when you felt like you entered the special world?- What was the importance of companions in that time?- How might we experience more companionship in our lives? - Or, does anything stop us from wanting that?

Frameworks:Bounded vs. Centered SetJoseph Campbell's The Hero's JourneyScripture: John 14:1, 2, 6Discussion One:- How do you relate to this idea of journey as movement?  - What emotions emerge as you consider this frame?  - Does anything trigger you as you hear about this notion of a “way?”Discussion Two:- Can you relate to the notion of a troubled heart versus a trusting heart?- What does this framework for Journey bring up for you?

Today's Focus: Spiritual Journey: We are on a spiritual journey to uncover the emerging soul.Scripture: Mark 8:34-36, Genesis 12:1, Exodus 3:10, Luke 10:3, Luke 14:21, Acts 8:26 Discussion One:- What are ways that help you connect from a soul space?- Are there inspirations you’re feeling as we talk? Discussion Two:- In what ways does the notion of a spiritual journey resonate with you?- What is your own experience of spiritual journey?

Limiting mindsets can show themselves in so many ways: The Inner Critic, Imposter Syndrome, Feeling Stuck…and they tend to show up even more profoundly when we’re growing and changing. But that said, they can also occur in smaller ways, impacting our joy for entire seasons at a time. So today we talk how being aware of those mindsets, and then engaging more mindfully, can make a huge difference in how we experience our days.  Additional ResourcesPDF: Limiting Mindsets: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eSaFnaLSMleeXbebUhPbIpFv22ecZcxg/view?usp=sharing#LimitingBeliefs#Faith#Companions#RecurringThoughts For Transcript:Go to the "Transcript" Tab.If you are in a player that does not have the Transcript Tab, use the link below:https://thecontemplativelife.buzzsprout.com/1642654/10029488-ep-56-limiting-mindsets

Scriptures: John 12:3, Luke 10:25-37, John 4:20, 24Perennial Wisdom Value:  We value wisdoms that exist across faith traditionsPerennial Wisdom: Knowledge that continually recurs.Compassion: A common perennial virtueWhy do we care about perennial wisdom?  - It gives us the opportunity to learn from one another without pressure to change the other.Discussion One:- Have you ever experienced a barrier to having a mutual experience due to cultural or religious differences?- Any other thoughts, insights, or wonderings coming up for you?Why do we care about perennial wisdom? - It’s meaningful to become aware of the shared human experience.Discussion Two: Has there been a time when you had a shared experience with someone from another culture or religion? Have you noticed where you have even shut down because of another person’s religion or culture?

Ecumenical Engagement + Perennial Wisdom- We value the diversity of the Church and the wisdom that exists across faith traditions.Scriptures (NIV):Matthew 22:37-39, Galatians 5:14, 1 John 2:15a, 17Why is Perennial Wisdom Compelling:- Great to feel connection- New wisdoms and insightsExample: “We want to engage externally while letting go internally.” - Learn spiritual practices from other faith traditionsDiscussion One:- What experience, if any, do you have with Perennial Wisdom?- What have you found helpful about Perennial Wisdom?What are Challenges?- Walking on a slippery slope.- If I learn from other faith traditions, will I feel compelled to ignore my own tradition?- Fear of losing connection with others - Fear of the demonicDiscussion Two:- Are there fears that you’re hearing named that you resonate with?- What other questions or wonderings have you had about perennial wisdom?

ECUMENICAL ENGAGEMENT + PERENNIAL WISDOM- We value the diversity of the Church and the wisdom that exists across faith traditions.Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV), Colossians 3:10 & 11b (ERV), Ephesians 6, Matthew 28:19-20Styles of Prayer- Declarative- Scripted- Petition- Without WordsDiscussion One:- Are there ways of praying that you have felt a strong connection to?- Have you noticed shifts in your prayer experiences and ways you connect to God?- Are there ideas here that surprise you or that you wonder about? Styles of Biblical Engagement:- Proclaimed- Lectionary- Bible Study- Images/MetaphorsDiscussion Two: - Can you identify quadrants that have been a part of your own story?- How does a diagram like this one help your engagement with others?- Are there things you feel curious or wonder about?

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Colossians 1:17, Ephesians 2:15b-16 Notes:Ecumenical: The entirety of all Christian faith communitiesPerennial Wisdom: Wisdom that spans across faith traditionsOur Guiding Value: - We value the diversity of the Church and the wisdom that exists across faith traditions.To Begin: - Diversity is good. - Diversity is hard.Confirmation Bias: The human brain welcomes information that confirms what it already thinks and resists information that disturbs or contradicts what it already thinks.Complexity Bias: The human brain prefers a simple lie to a complex truth. Discussion One:- What do you welcome about ecumenical diversity?- How have you found ecumenical diversity challenging?To Continue: - Connection is good.- Connection is hard.Quote - Bishop Michael Curry: - To love does not mean we have to agree. But maybe agreeing to love is the greatest agreement. Discussion Two: - What blesses your life about connection?- In what ways do you need Christ’s help with connection?

Additional Resources:The Contemplative Tree: https://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/treeScriptures: Psalm 1:3 (NIV), Psalm 84:1-2 (ERV), Psalm 63:1 (NIV)DISCUSSION ONE: What stands out to you? What do you notice?Do you find anything that piques your interest or that makes you wonder? What are some of your initial impressions?DISCUSSION TWO: How does this tree reflect the evolution of your own faith life?What sparks do you sense within you?

Additional Resources:Richard Rohr Daily Meditation, Tuesday, March 22, 2022Scriptures: John 3:17, Galatians 3:28, John 12:24, Revelation 21:5Our definition of Evolving for this series:- We, both collectively and individually, tend to move and develop from simplistic experiences and understandings of faith towards more nuanced ones.Mystery• Greater meaning - beyond understandingMystery of the Cross• Power over death • Power to make things newTo Ponder: • What if all “deaths” lead to resurrection? Spiritual Practice Reflection:• How is this true in our lives?• Where are we seeing signs of resurrection?- Lord, would you bring to mind those signs of newness in our lives.- Take a moment to pause and listen for anything else you have to say to us.- Rest for a moment in the presence of God

Notes: We (collectively) tend to move and develop from simplistic experiences and understandings of faith towards more nuanced ones.- Ever-expanding Faith-  “Both/And” - Transformation- Contemplate: Expand our gaze and awarenessScriptures: 1 Corinthians 4:15, Romans 16, Galatians 3:28, 2 Corinthians 3:18Discussion Questions Part One:- What has evolving church looked like for you?Disucssion Questions Part Two:- How have we seen this be true in our lives? - What else is coming up for you that you’d like to share?