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Artwork for Turning to the Mystics

Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

Center for Action and Contemplation
Christian Mysticism
Gabriel Marcel
T.S. Eliot
The Way Of a Pilgrim
Love
Prayer
Thomas Merton
Four Quartets
God
Brother Lawrence
Fidelity
Hope
Spirituality
Jesus Prayer
Time
ThÊrèse Of Lisieux
Emily Dickinson
Meditation
Mechthild Of Magdeburg
Contemplative Prayer

Turning to the Mystics is a podcast for people searching for something more meaningful, intimate and richly present in the divine gift of their lives. James Finley, clinical psychologist and Living School faculty, offers a modern take on the historical contemplative practices of Christian mystics like Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, John of the Cross among others. Leaning into their experiences ca... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes187Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & SpiritualitySpirituality

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Artwork for Turning to the Mystics

Latest Episodes

This is the third session which focuses on Emily Dickinson. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Emily's poetry, reflects on core themes, and finishes with a meditative practice.

Resources:

• Th... more

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In this second dialogue session, Jim and Kirsten will focus on two more of Emily's poems, The Soul selects her own Society, and It might be lonelier.

Resources:

• The transcript for this episode can be found here.

• The books we will be using... more

YouTube

This is the second session which focuses on Emily Dickinson. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley reads passages from Emily's poetry, reflects on core themes, and finishes with a meditative practice.

Resources:

• T... more

YouTube

In this first dialogue session, Jim and Kirsten will focus on two of Emily's poems, There's a certain Slant of light, and Tell all the truth but tell it slant, introducing the mystical way of seeing into which Emily can draw us.

Resources:

• The ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Richard Rohr
Founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation; Franciscan friar; ecumenical teacher
Center for Action and Contemplation
Episode: Bonus: Fr. Richard Rohr on ThÊrèse of Lisieux
Carmen Acevedo Butcher
Award-winning translator, teacher, poet, and workshop leader
Center for Action and Contemplation
Episode: Bonus: Carmen Acevedo Butcher on Brother Lawrence
Gregory Sadler
Philosopher, president of ReasonIO, and educator
ReasonIO
Episode: Bonus: Greg Sadler on Gabriel Marcel
Malcolm Guite
Poet and scholar, known for his work on T.S. Eliot's poetry
Episode: Bonus: Malcolm Guite on T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets (Part 2)
Bernard McGinn
American Roman Catholic theologian, religious historian, and scholar of spirituality known for his expertise in medieval mysticism.
University of Chicago Divinity School
Episode: Bonus: Bernard McGinn on Mechthild, Eckhart, and Mysticism

Hosts

Jim Finley
Host, clinical psychologist; affiliated with Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC).
Kirsten Oates
Co-host and interviewer; facilitates listener questions and engages in contemplative dialogue.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.9k ratings
  • Episode labels

    Greeting guys!

    Love your work and have listened to every Series and session.

    Just a comment on your labelling of episodes/sessions/dialogues.

    For example, session one, episode two, dialogue two.

    Very frustrating and confusing 😳when searching past material.

    Could you possibly just label as episode one, episode two etc?

    😊🙏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IngoPuk
    Australia25 days ago
  • The enduring presence of God

    Thank you James Findlay and Kirsten Oats for continuing with these podcasts. I’m so grateful to have found them, having listened to them from the very beginning. James, your voice is so soothing and easy to listen to and your message has really reverberated with my spiritual walk. The way you speak about god has brought a huge renewing to my faith, which was full of so many unresolved questions and angst. I now find the beloved in the everyday, living in the present moment and experiencing God ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LalaMargie
    Australiaa month ago
  • Emily Dickinson’s Mysticism

    I have loved every season of Turning to the Mystics but I really appreciate including the lives and mystical poetry of Emily Dickinson (and T.S. Eliot). Thank you for creating this podcast with thoughtfulness, insight and heart.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Inorani
    United Statesa month ago
  • Akron Proud

    The love and depth that James Finley adds to these sessions on the mystics moves me to tears at times. The beauty of the teachings that has endured over the centuries is so impressive. And that they have never been forgotten. A hometown Ohio native who has overcome layers of trauma and been able to show others like me a way forward brings unparalleled gratitude. Well done and best to all of you at CAC.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Akron follower
    United States3 months ago
  • This is it for me

    This is my favorite podcast, and indeed, the only one I need. I listen to the episodes over and over, and continue to learn from them each time. Thank you Uncle Jim for being my teacher. Thank you to Kirsten and all the CAC people who make this possible. It is truly the Good News. 💞

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Annmarie Boo
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners consistently praise the hosts' compassionate, down-to-earth approach to deep mystical topics.
Audience finds the conversations accessible, soothing, and practically applicable to daily life.
Guests like Fr. Richard Rohr and other contemplatives are seen as credible and enriching complements to the host duo.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dialogue 2: The Soul's Society
Q: Do you think this last stanza is speaking to this dynamic about it might be easier to fail with land in sight?
Finley interprets the blue peninsula as divine love, which the ego cannot attain by striving; surrendering the ego's effort opens a person to a presence already given.
Dialogue 2: The Soul's Society
Q: Can you please help us understand what the definition of the soul is?
Finley describes the soul as a person's interiority and as the capacity to recognize and select what nourishes the heart, including the presence of God in people and ordinary experiences.
ThÊrèse of Lisieux: Listener Questions (Part Two)
Q: How can someone discern their vocation or deeper spiritual energy when feeling a powerful mystical connection?
The speakers describe awakenings as subtle, personal experiences that can be overwhelming, advising listeners to breathe, remain present, and trust the gradual integration of divine energy into everyday life.
ThÊrèse of Lisieux: Listener Questions (Part Two)
Q: How does ThÊrèse illuminate the role of suffering in the spiritual journey, and is suffering necessary for everyone?
They argue that suffering is not universally necessary, but for ThÊrèse it becomes a teacher that reveals the reciprocity of love and presence of God in weakness, while acknowledging different paths and the possibility of grace in various forms.
ThÊrèse of Lisieux: Listener Questions (Part Two)
Q: What is the value of choosing a devotional name, and how does it affect one's spiritual path?
They describe devotional names as a way to anchor one's spiritual identity, sharing examples from listeners and tying the practice to ThÊrèse's own choosing of her name and the transformative potential of naming in spiritual life.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Turning to the Mystics

What is Turning to the Mystics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two contemplative hosts explore Christian mysticism through conversations with and about historical figures like Thérèse of Lisieux, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Brother Lawrence. Episodes blend personal storytelling, practical spirituality, and intimate dialogue to translate dense mystical concepts—such as the “little way,” presence of God in daily life, and how suffering can become love—into accessible guidance for living with greater presence, compassion, and inner peace. The show consistently highlights humility, ordinary life as a path to union with the divine, and the balance between contemplative practice and everyday action, often featuring guest teachers and collaborative reflections from a center known for contemplative... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Turning to the Mystics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Turning to the Mystics:

1. Everything Belongs: Living the Teachings of Richard Rohr Forward
2. Learning How to See with Brian McLaren
3. The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
4. On Being with Krista Tippett
5. The Bible For Normal People

How many episodes of Turning to the Mystics are there?

Turning to the Mystics launched 7 years ago and published 187 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Turning to the Mystics?

Recent guests on Turning to the Mystics include:

1. Richard Rohr
2. Carmen Acevedo Butcher
3. Gregory Sadler
4. Malcolm Guite
5. Bernard McGinn

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