Cynthia Bourgeault

Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader. She is the original creator of the Wisdom School and has been organizing and teaching schools since 1999. Founding director of the British Columbia-based Contemplative Society and the Aspen Wisdom School, she has now returned home to the East Coast to divide her time between Wisdom teaching, writing, and solitude at her small hermitage on Eagle Island in Maine. To find out what Cynthia's up to, you can view her master teaching calendar.

Do Not Be Afraid

Cynthia Bourgeault | November 6, 2024

“Do not be afraid, little flock. It is my Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” These sublime words from Luke 12 accompany me this morning as I awake […]

A Wisdom Community at the Ready

Cynthia Bourgeault | October 31, 2024

One of the signature features of our particular lineage of contemplative Wisdom is that contemplation and action simply cannot be separated. A contemplative lifestyle does not mean simply letting the […]

The Veepstakes and the Law of Three

Cynthia Bourgeault | July 25, 2024

In a recent Facebook exchange with Matthew Wright, I hopped on Matthew’s bandwagon, agreeing that a Kamala Harris/ Andy Beshear ticket was probably the Democrats’ strongest option and commenting that it might indeed carry powerful third force. Marty Schmidt queried me about where I saw third force in it. His insightful question has led me to further pondering on my initial “seat of the pants” response, and I will share that fuller response with you here. The occasion really invites our entire Wisdom Community to ponder the precipitous events of last week from a Wisdom perspective and consider how we might collectively help hold the space between now and November 5, regardless of our individual political perspectives.

Ten Practical Guidelines for Conscious Aging

Cynthia Bourgeault | July 20, 2024

As the humiliating debate around whether Joe Biden has “aged out” of the presidency continues to play front and center on the American political scene, it becomes more and more clear that America is basically repelled by the aging process and largely clueless about the deeper spiritual possibilities that may lie coiled within it.

Operation Coadjutor

Cynthia Bourgeault | July 17, 2024

What the Episcopal Church may have to have to teach the Democratic National Party

Prospero to Joe Biden: Time to “Break Your Staff, Drown Your Book?”

Cynthia Bourgeault | July 11, 2024

Suspended animation…. those timeless few seconds between the instant you know the crash is inevitable and the moment of actual impact. A single blank freeze frame that takes in the […]

A World Gone Mad

Cynthia Bourgeault | January 1, 2024

Abba Anthony said, “A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, ‘You are mad, you are not like us.’ “

Highlights of Cynthia’s Fall and Winter Teaching Schedule

Cynthia Bourgeault | July 12, 2023

I know that many of you are beginning to arrange your fall and winter schedules and are trying to figure out which on-the -ground CB retreats will work best with your particular interests and experience base. With that in mind, I thought I’d walk you through some of the highlights of my fall and early winter teaching schedule. Most of these events are now posted on both Wisdom Waypoints and cynthiabourgeault.org, but here’s the quick summary.

Holy Saturday: A Journey Through Holy Week

Cynthia Bourgeault | April 8, 2023

Passion Libretto Part V: Remembrance This is the final day of this six day Holy Week offering. On this Holy and still Saturday, in the Passion Libretto Part V: Remembrance, Cynthia reminds […]

Holy Friday: A Journey Through Holy Week

Cynthia Bourgeault | April 7, 2023

Passion Libretto Part IV: On the Cross This is day five of a six day free Holy Week offering. Cynthia speaks of this Holy Friday, in the Passion Libretto Part IV: On the […]