Kenosis: The Practice of Emptying

In this episode, Niall speaks with Cynthia Bourgeault, an Episcopal priest, author, and teacher of contemplative practice and the Wisdom tradition. She is the author of multiple books, and has spent decades exploring the relationship between Christian mysticism and consciousness transformation. In this conversation, they explore: — Why the discovery of the Nag Hammadi texts suggests a more diverse early Christianity — How Jesus’s mission may have centred on the transformation of human consciousness — The practice of kenosis and why “clinging to nothing” is central to spiritual development — What the resurrection reveals about different levels of consciousness and being — Why human beings may serve as a bridge between material and non-material realms And more. You can learn more about Cynthia’s work at https://wisdomwaypoints.org. --- Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader. She divides her time between solitude and sailing the waters around her seaside hermitage in Maine and a demanding schedule traveling globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative and Wisdom paths. Cynthia is a core faculty emeritus at the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been honored by the annual Watkins Review as one of the 100 most spiritually influential living people in 2021. Cynthia grew up in the rolling countryside just west of Philadelphia and experienced her first tastes of silence and mystical presence during the weekly Meeting for Worship at the Quaker school she attended. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies, where she specialized in early music and liturgical drama: training that would prove to serve her well in her later work as a spiritual teacher. She studied at the Philadelphia Divinity School and was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1979. In 2013 she became a core faculty member of the center for Action and contemplation, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The strength of a lineage depends on the strength of its students, Cynthia believes. From the start she has taken an active interest in mentoring a new generation of Wisdom teachers and leaders, and it has been a joy to watch their emergence. You will meet many of them right here on this website, featured in the forum and profile sections, or leading the practices and book groups While retirement continues to elude her, she does steal as much time as she can for hermit solitude, exploring the spiritual cutting edges, and “messing about in boats.” You can learn more about Cynthia’s work at https://wisdomwaypoints.org. --- Interview Links: — Cynthia's websites: http://wisdomwayofknowing.org and https://wisdomwaypoints.org — Cynthia's book: https://amzn.to/4rW8SXs