Community of contemplatives
Contemplative Outreach Perth Western Australia are a community of contemplatives in ordinary life with a desire to - deepen their identity in a loving in-dwelling presence; cultivate wisdom for uncertain times and embody hope and compassion in a changing world and planet. We are guided by the Contemplative Christian path. Its ancient wisdom converges at the headwaters with wisdom faith traditions.
Wanju Wadjuk Nyongar Waarden Boordjar. We acknowledge and gather on the ancient people’s land of the Wadjuk Nyungar people. We offer our respect and gratitude for elders- past, present and future.
The contemplative path offers way-points—places to pause, re-orient, and remember what matters. It is not self- improvement and does not remove difficulty, but through ancient time-honoured practice, it teaches us not what to see, but how to see through the ‘eye of the heart’.
We begin to perceive the world in its interconnectedness with a deeper trust we are being transformed by a’ love that keeps us sane’. This helps us meet life with greater engagement, steadiness, kindness and capacity to hold paradox and uncertainty.
“Christian Contemplation, within the monastic tradition, is a profound spiritual practice that transcends mere intellectual understanding. It is an experiential encounter with the Divine, characterized by deep silence, receptive awareness, and transformative presence’. (Philip Boon from Contemplative Outreach Palmyra) Read more here
The contemplative path
The Christian contemplative worldwide community
The international networks we are linked to and grounded in are
Center for Action and Contemplation and
Teachers we are enriched by in the re-emerging Contemplative tradition are Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Rohr, Dr James Finlay, Ileo Delio and mystics down through the ages including Thomas Merton, Teilhard de Jardin, Terese of Avila, St John the Cross, Saint Francis and many more.
What happens when we gather in Perth suburbs and online
“It is in community we are aware of a ‘pooled silence’ from which we ‘drink from the well of living water that rises up from the centre of the circle’. (The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living)
Our gatherings are simple and spacious:
a short arrival into sacred space
20 mins of centering prayer a receptive meditation practice. (or any silent practice one uses including World Christian Meditation practitioners)
Lectio Divina: reflection on scripture, sacred texts and poetry through sacred sharing and listening