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Contemplate Lincoln
July 2025 Newsletter
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Shadow Land
Psychologist Carl Jung gave humanity one of the greatest gifts by giving us language, understanding, and wisdom to describe and work with the shadow. I have come to love the term Psychospiritual Growth as it puts together two things that have never really been separate. Co-mingling the wisdom and practices of spiritual traditions with the wisdom and practices of the field of psychology has long been a passion of mine and a framework for my growth and healing. In particular, shadow work and silence have been a deeply healing medicine for me. Over the next few newsletters, I plan to enter the shadowland and discuss this connection further. So what exactly is the shadow?
The shadow consists of everything we repress and reject about ourselves. As Jung said, “The shadow is the hidden, repressed, for the most part inferior and guilt-laden” part of ourselves. If the persona is everything we think we are, the shadow is everything we think we are not.” Robert Bly illustrates this even further with his analogy of the shadow as the long bag we drag behind us. As we grow up, our families, peers, teachers, cultures, and communities teach us, sometimes subtly or unconsciously, to reject certain parts of ourselves and put them into the long bag we drag behind us. We often think of negative attributes when we think of the shadow, but that is not always the case. Perfectly healthy and fine attributes can end up there, too. More on that in a future newsletter. Each of us goes through a filtering system that teaches us some things are good and to be desired, and some things are bad and to be despised or rejected. In response, our developing egos learn to manage within the context we live in (family, culture, religion, etc.) and repress what is labeled as undesirable.
Alongside our individual shadow is our collective shadow, which is the repressed and rejected material of the community. The collective shadow works in much the same way as the individual shadow. Again, more on that in a future newsletter.
So why does this matter? Because the shadow is a source for all kinds of unskillful living, ranging from slightly annoying others, interpersonal conflict, otherization, to violence, oppression, and genocide. Unpacking our shadow can help us live more skillfully and also share our gifts with the world.
"Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is." - Carl Jung
Quick Notes
NO Contemplative Movement on July 4th
RESCHEDULED - Next Prairie Church: Saturday, July 19th at 10:00am
Join us for Gathering to Grow: A Sunday Gathering. Every week at 11:00am. Scroll for more information.
98% of our budget comes from your generous donations and support. Consider donating or setting up a recurring donation to support our ongoing activities.
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Gathering to Grow: A Sunday Gathering
Every Sunday at 11:00am (Central Time)
Join us online for our Sunday Gathering, where we engage in contemplative practices, worship, celebrate Eucharist, and process through scripture, contemplative reflections, poetry, and art.
We meet for an hour to 75 minutes via Zoom. Bring food and drink if you plan to participate in communion with us.
A small non-denominational Christian contemplative gathering. You are welcome no matter where you may be on your journey.
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Sunday, July 6 at 11:00 AM CDT
Sunday Gathering
Gathering to Grow: A Contemplative Sunday Gathering Simple-Contemplative-Communal Join us online for our Sunday Gathering where we practice, worship, process, and close with Communion. We meet for an hour to 75 minutes via Zoom.
RSVP
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Next Meeting: July 19th at 10:00am
(Every 2nd Saturday of Each Month at 10:00am)
Join us for our monthly celebration on the prairie with drumming, short reading reflections, meditation, and a mindfulness walk through the majestic trails of Pioneers Park. Those who don’t wish to walk may sit on the Nature Center deck that faces a beautiful prairie and buffalo. We often close with a drumming circle (no experience required).
We will gather for about 30 minutes for reflections, drumming, and meditation before walking trails and regathering for a brief time of sharing.
We will meet inside the auditorium at the Nature Center. During colder months, we will meet for one hour and have a shorter walking time. In the warmer months, we will meet for 75 minutes and often meet on the back deck, weather permitting.
Bring a chair, a water bottle, and a drum. Some drums will be provided.
Nature Center and Deck are wheelchair accessible.
Location:
The Nature Center at Pioneers Park
3201 S. Coddington Ave
South Coddington- Lincoln, NE 68522
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Saturday, July 19 at 10:00 AM CDT
Prairie Church
Join us for our monthly celebration on the prairie with drumming, short reading reflections, meditation, and a mindfulness walk through the majestic trails of Pioneers Park. Those who don’t wish to walk may sit on the Nature Center deck that faces a beautiful prairie and buffalo. We often close with a drumming circle (no experience required). We...
RSVP
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On The Cathedral
RSVP on The Contemplative Cathedral to receive links, reminders, and updates. The Contemplative Cathedral also connects you to the larger community and ongoing conversation.
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Monday, July 7 at 1:00 PM CDT
Rooted Discussion Group
In Rooted, cutting-edge science supports a truth that poets, artists, mystics, and earth-based cultures across the world have proclaimed over millennia: life on this planet is radically interconnected. Our bodies, thoughts, minds, and spirits are affected by the whole of nature, and they affect this whole in return. In this time of crisis, how c...
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Monday, July 21 at 1:00 PM CDT
Rooted Discussion Group
In Rooted, cutting-edge science supports a truth that poets, artists, mystics, and earth-based cultures across the world have proclaimed over millennia: life on this planet is radically interconnected. Our bodies, thoughts, minds, and spirits are affected by the whole of nature, and they affect this whole in return. In this time of crisis, how c...
RSVP
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Monday, July 7 at 9:15 AM CDT
Lectio Divina
Join us as Pastor John Duling leads us in Lectio Divina often referred to as praying the scriptures. We read a small scripture several times with brief periods of silent reflection closing with a time of sharing.
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Monday, July 7 at 6:30 AM CDT
Monday's Contemplative Prayer Sit: A Space to Practice
Join us in community for a 20-minute contemplative prayer sit. You are welcome to use whatever your silent prayer or meditation practice may be (centering prayer, Jesus prayer, etc.). Instructions for Centering Prayer will be provided. We often begin with community time which includes a short poem or other invitation into conversation followed...
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Thursday, July 10 at 7:00 PM CDT
12- Step Gathering
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Friday, July 11 at 4:30 PM CDT
Contemplative Movement
Contemplative Movement engages our physical selves in spiritual practice to promote wholeness, balancing activity with stillness. The practice is accessible by all body types and experience levels. Chairs, mats, cushions, straps, blocks, eye and bolster pillows may be used. Each practice may contain elements of body awareness, dance, yoga, praye...
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Sunday, July 6 at 11:00 AM CDT
Sunday Gathering
Gathering to Grow: A Contemplative Sunday Gathering Simple-Contemplative-Communal Join us online for our Sunday Gathering where we practice, worship, process, and close with Communion. We meet for an hour to 75 minutes via Zoom.
RSVP
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Sunday, July 6 at 2:00 PM CDT
Contemplative Conversations: Films, Videos, and Presentations
Join us for a time of contemplation and conversation centered around videos with insights from some of today's most influential theologians and spiritual teachers. Videos from The Work of the People and other sources include Richard Rohr, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Walter Brueggemann, Brene Brown, Barbara Brown Taylor, Barbara Holmes, Ilia Delio, and man...
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Tell Your Story & Support
Contemplate Lincoln & The Contemplative Cathedral
Help us tell the story of our community by sharing your experience. We know one of the best ways to invite others into our community is through the stories of those who have benefited from Contemplate Lincoln and The Contemplative Cathedral.
Excerpts from your gifts of sharing will be used in social media posts and newsletters. If you have benefited from our contemplative community consider adding your story through the link below.
Many Thanks,
Adam
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The Contemplative Cathedral
A Space to Deepen Your Spiritual Life
Join us online for contemplation and community. So many of us on the contemplative path eventually get to the point where we can go no further alone. The Contemplative Cathedral is a response to the inner yearning of many contemplatives for community. It looks a little like other social media platforms, but it is so much more. It's a space to conspire, connect, and contemplate, and our online home for all of our event info (both online & in-person), links, and groups. It also serves as a way to stay connected in between events.
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Meeting Links
Below are the Zoom links to events (Central Time Zone)
Sign up on The Contemplative Cathedral to receive alerts, and reminders, and be part of the ongoing conversation.
Lectio Divina - Mondays at 9:15AM: Link
Contemplative Prayer Lab - Mondays at 6:30AM: Link
Contemplative Movement - Fridays at 4:30PM: Link
Sunday Gatherings - Sunday’s at 11:00AM: Link
Contemplative Conversations - Sundays at 2:00PM: Link
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PO BOX 29341, Lincoln, NE 68529
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