Show Notes
Fifty years ago, a young Matthew Fox asked Thomas Merton where he should go to study the mystics. What followed was a lifetime passion for Christianity’s mystical tradition, and its intimate, feminine, socially active, and uplifting spirit.
Matthew, now a spiritual theologian, is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Join us for a jam-packed conversation about: 🔸 The necessary but often-forgotten connection between mysticism and social justice 🔹 Which of the two streams of Christianity is dominant today 🔸 What caused the shift from a love-based religion to a fear-based religion 🔹 How contemplation impacts our reptilian brains 🔸 Why we need both the sacred feminine and the sacred masculine
–And so much more!
Matthew Fox is a spiritual theologian, retreat leader, and activist. He has written over 3 dozen books including Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, A Spirituality Named Compassion, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics and Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic--and Beyond. To learn more about Matthew and his work, visit www.matthewfox.org.
If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll love Matthew’s live masterclass on Julian of Norwich and Divine Motherhood! To join us live on May 7 or to access the recording, visit www.womenmystics.org.
Leave us a voicemail at https://www.spiritualwanderlust.org/ask for the chance to have your spiritual question answered live!
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Have you ever been struck by someone’s depth of presence? Like when you meet a wise, holy person. The depth of their presence overwhelms us, floods our body with their peace. Have you ever wondered what's going on on a biological level when this happens? Or, wondered why it's so much easier to feel grounded when we meditate with others vs. on our own? Or maybe been curious about how life's traumas impact the contemplative life? Get ready, everyone - this is one of my FAVORITE intersections. 🤩🤩 Neuroscience and the contemplative life. Embodiment and spirituality. The mystical and the muscles, minerals, and membranes. In today’s episode I speak with Dr. Bonnie Badenoch, who specializes in precisely this intersection. Bonnie is an interpersonal neurobiologist *and* a contemplative! She has spent decades researching how that connection, and most importantly, presence, impacts our bodies. You might think of her as the Brene Brown of presence-- combining lots of heart with accessible research.