Why a Regular Spiritual Practice?

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Daniel J. Miller

Buddhists say enlightenment is always accidental, but that spiritual practice makes us accident prone. Jim Finley, clinical psychologist, teacher of the contemplative way, and former student of Thomas Merton describes contemplative practice this Read more [...]

The Three eSSential S’ – A Life line

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Daniel J. Miller

Today's Life-Line is: To return back into ourselves, there are three things needed, for which you don't require a computer, television or radio: the first is a bit of stillness. Nothing can happen without a certain stillness. We also need silence. Read more [...]

Contemplative Seeing — The Look of Love

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Daniel J. Miller

THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE involves the discipline and willingness to let the Spirit “cleanse the doors of perception,” to use William Blake’s phrase, so that when we look we see with the eyes of our heart into the heart of whom or what we see. Or Read more [...]

The Looking that is Revelatory ~ A Life-Line

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Daniel J. Miller

If someone looks long enough at almost anything, looks with absolute attention at a flower, a stone, the bark of a tree, grass, snow, a cloud, something like revelation takes place. ~ May Sarton Read more [...]

A Week with Mary Oliver — Day 7

Posted on January 26, 2019 by Daniel J. Miller

Mindful Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for-- to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world-- to instruct Read more [...]

Life-Line

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Daniel J. Miller

Today's Life-Line is: Contemplative life does not have to be seen as a special vocation reserved for some special souls only; it is open to all, and all are invited to enjoy it. You do not have to be in special circumstances to practice it because Read more [...]

Life-Line

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Daniel J. Miller

The Festival of Rain

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Daniel J. Miller

Last night it rained. It is raining still. My heart is glad for the earth here in Southern California to drink deeply having been parched for so long. Right outside my window, the rain and the wind are having their way with a lemon tree whose fruit hang Read more [...]

Contemplative Engagement: A Sensuous Practice

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller

The heavens above southern California opened up and saturated the earth last night. It was as if overnight the hills above my home had been injected with celestial steroids (celestial but natural, of course). On my morning hike, everything was greener, Read more [...]

The Sacred Braid

Helping Persons and Communities Weave Lives of Spiritual Depth.

Category Archives: Contemplative Living

Why a Regular Spiritual Practice?

The Three eSSential S’ – A Life line

Contemplative Seeing — The Look of Love

The Looking that is Revelatory ~ A Life-Line

A Week with Mary Oliver — Day 7

Life-Line

Life-Line

The Festival of Rain

Contemplative Engagement: A Sensuous Practice