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Interest in Christian mysticism is on the rise. What was once peripheral to yoga-and-meditation “spiritual but not religious” seeker culture has made its way into the mainstream, particularly through a steady flow of podcasts and pop spirituality publications. But what is “Christian mysticism”? Even more so, what is "mysticism"? This workshop dives deeply into the Christian mystical tradition, offering both an overview as well as in-depth engagement. A master of being at once scholarly and accessible, David Odorisio will explore the Biblical and neo-Platonic roots of Christian mysticism, with a focus on the resurgence and explosion of mystical writings in and around Paris in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Mystical theologians from the medieval Abbey of St. Victor and the University of Paris, such as Meister Eckhart and Saint Bonaventure, attempted to map “the mind’s journey into God,” articulating heightened stages of consciousness that ultimately went beyond mind, either through ecstatic union with the divine or through the void of apophatic unknowing.
Odorisio will also explore significant figures who have stirred more interest today, including Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, and the anonymous author of the Cloud of Unknowing. Throughout this workshop we will tie these ancient mystics and texts to the resurgence of interest in mysticism today, particularly through the lens of psychedelia and “altered states of consciousness.” Join us as we journey together through the “High” Middle Ages. This workshop will also include gentle, guided meditation practices to begin and end each session. The Friday and Saturday sessions can be purchased individually, or attend the entire series!
TEACHER BIO
David M. Odorisio, PhD, serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Psychology, Religion, and Consciousness MA/PhD program at Pacifica Graduate Institute. David has edited five volumes, including MYSTICISM AND THE MARGINS: FROM THE HIP-HOP UNDERGROUND TO THE PSYCHEDELIC REFORMATION , as well as THOMAS MERTON IN CALIFORNIA. He is co-editor of DEPTH PSYCHOLOGY AND MYSTICISM . His present research includes a book-length study of the transformation of consciousness and inter-religious mysticism of twentieth-century Trappist monk and author, Thomas Merton.
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Event Venue
The Alembic, 815 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710-2754, United States
Tickets
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