• Walk Lightly

    What freedom of spirit might come from holding all of life’s experience more lightly! This is not to deny the suffering in our world and the intense engagement required, nor is it to refuse joy’s courtship and lovely gifts. My colleague’s wife is a yoga teacher and she encourages her students to move solidly into…

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  • Finding a Thin Place

    Finding a Thin Place

    Today’s post is by Bill Stone People come to Scotland looking for all sorts of things. When I first moved to Scotland six years ago, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had traveled here twice on vacation and fallen in love with both the people and the place itself. But I also knew that…

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  • Wind, Breath and The Blue Heron

    Today’s post is by Kimberly Ann Borin  Recently, I had an experience that reminded me of the life-giving power of breath, the wind and the spirit of God. Each day, I walk along a road that winds around a large lake. On the road, the wind can whip across the lake making for a strong headwind,…

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  • Integral Joy

    Integral Joy

    Today’s post is by Carl McColman A phrase from the Lakota language, mitakuye oyasin, means “all are related” or “all my relations.” It’s a way of seeing: of recognizing that we exist not as some sort of isolated cells over and against our environment or are communities, but that our existence, our very lives, are…

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  • Gravy, Not Soup

    Gravy, Not Soup

    Today’s post is by Kimberly Borin Recently, I had the good fortune of being on retreat with the Shalem Institute at the Bon Secours Retreat Center. During our retreat we were blessed with beautiful, delicious meals, which often included soup! One day, in the midst of our silent retreat all I could think about was…

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  • Music as a Doorway to Prayer

    Music as a Doorway to Prayer

    Today’s post is by the late Ann Kulp. Music has called us to prayer through the ages: the shofar, psalm, pipes, harp, trumpet, the peal of bells, the carillon, and symphony. Some of us have been stilled and called through Tibetan bowls, whose sound lingers and leads us into the silence of waiting. There is…

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Mission

Our mission is to nurture contemplative living and leadership.

Vision

In 2025, Shalem will be a dynamic and inclusive community, empowered by the Spirit, where seekers engage in transformation of themselves, their communities, and the world through spiritual growth, deep connection, and courageous action.

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