Category Archives: Learning from Early Friends

Giving Birth to Christ in Our Time

Posted on December 25, 2018 by friendmarcelle

As Christmas nears, I often think of words by Meister Eckhart, a radical 14th-century Dominican priest, who said, We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the Divine … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplative spirituality, Learning from Early Friends, Mysticism, Quaker Faith Today, Radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Best of A Whole Heart

Posted on December 30, 2017 by friendmarcelle

In celebration of five years of writing A Whole Heart, I’ve looked at my WordPress statistics that show which blog posts have been most popular. The blog was created in November 2012, in a burst of intense inspiration, just before … Continue reading →

Posted in All of Life is Sacred, Facing Life with Faith, Learning from Early Friends, meditation, Quaker Faith Today, Radical Christianity, spiritual practices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Hidden Stories of Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2017 by friendmarcelle

On the winter solstice, a friend sent me a link to a web page about Reindeer legends of northern lands. It’s natural for myths to change over time, but it’s sad to see how myths and cultural legends that once celebrated women, as well as female reindeer, were replaced by a man and a lead reindeer named Rudolph. When it comes to stories of Light coming into the world, however, there’s a far more important story that’s been hidden for many centuries. Continue reading →

Posted in All of Life is Sacred, Learning from Early Friends, Radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Opening to Divine Guidance

Posted on December 31, 2016 by friendmarcelle

We each have an amazing inner connection to divine wisdom and guidance, always available. The challenge is to turn our attention toward it and stay focused long enough to receive benefit. Here is a link to a guided meditation to help us focus on situations in our lives that require more understanding. Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplative spirituality, Learning from Early Friends, meditation, Mysticism, Quaker Faith Today, spiritual practices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The End of Life and After

Posted on May 7, 2016 by friendmarcelle

When my father’s health took another precipitous decline in March, we needed to face the mysteries of dying and life after death. My family members had different beliefs and experiences. I wondered what my Quaker faith had to say about those mysteries. Sitting at my father’s bedside taught me some important things. Continue reading →

Posted in Facing Life with Faith, Learning from Early Friends, Quaker Faith Today | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Shifting to the Heart

Posted on March 29, 2016 by friendmarcelle

“Meeting for worship is a Quaker technology for shifting levels of consciousness,” Bill Taber sometimes explained. Descriptions of gathered worship reveal that the divine Presence is revealed when the mind is still, and this opens the heart.
Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplative spirituality, Learning from Early Friends, Mysticism, Quaker Faith Today, Radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Fruit of Long Labor

Posted on March 11, 2016 by friendmarcelle

For decades I’ve dreamed of finishing a book that would encourage others and empower their spiritual journey. Our Life is Love: the Quaker Spiritual Journey finally arrived on my doorstep the day the cherry tree blossomed. Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplative spirituality, Learning from Early Friends, Quaker Faith Today, Radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

We Work Through Prayer

Posted on October 31, 2015 by friendmarcelle

For more than two and a half decades, I’ve held the intention of following God’s purpose–or will–for my life. And all of that time, I’ve struggled with a strong desire to do things my own way. When confronted with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning from Early Friends, Quaker Faith Today, Radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Streams of Living Water

Posted on May 20, 2015 by friendmarcelle

In April 2015, Pendle Hill conference center offered an extraordinary opportunity for a merging of  the Christian contemplative tradition and the faith and practice of Quakers. Fifty people desiring to immerse themselves more fully into the waters of the Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplative spirituality, Learning from Early Friends, Quaker Faith Today, Radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Gathering in the Divine Mystery

Posted on May 12, 2015 by friendmarcelle

In the Quaker practice of group worship on the basis of silence come special times when an electric hush and solemnity and depth of power steals over the worshippers. A blanket of divine covering comes over the room, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning from Early Friends, Quaker Faith Today, Radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments