​The School of Christian Mysticism
A new initiative founded in Wales making available the inner path of Christianity​

       Mysticism is a way to experience unity, a state which is for most of us a forgotten mode of being. Many people have a sense of nostalgia or yearning for “times gone by” or perhaps not yet come, when life felt more peaceful, less stressful, when we felt nurtured and cared for, when we felt connected and in right relationship with ourselves, others and the natural world.
​       This forgotten mode of being when remembered, changes the way we experience ourselves, others, life and the world around us. From a state of unity, our view naturally becomes more inclusive, accepting, compassionate and respectful and our actions more harmonious. We are less concentrated in our minds, on what we believe and what defines and separates us from others, and more centred in our hearts and on our experience of unity, harmony, love and what we have in common.
       In such a state we are simply present, aware of things as they are, rather than caught in regret or sadness about the past or anxiety about the future. We are aware of the infinite mystery of life embedded in our everyday lives, however challenging, indeed we find that our everyday lives become an experience of the sacred. Jesus called this experience “The kingdom of heaven” which is “within you”. He said that it is like a mustard seed that starts out tiny but can grow to become a huge tree, not only having a life of its own but also benefitting others by giving them
  shelter and food. In the same way, our experience of wholeness and peace is small and easily undermined by life’s challenges at first, but it can grow to benefit ourselves and others. ​    
       The purpose of the SCM is to make accessible ways to experience wholeness and sacredness through the practices, teachings, life and example of Christ Jesus, and the Christian mystics, women and men, who accompanied Jesus and have followed him since. It also offers contemporary perspectives on the New Testament arising from explorations of the original languages of the texts and studies of the gospels of Mary, Philip, Thomas and other non-canonical material from the Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hamadi finds. 
       The SCM is open to anyone and everyone, women and men, Christians and non-Christians alike. Likewise it is open in attitude to all spiritual traditions considering all to be offering different ways to an experience of the sacred unity, believing that only through increasing and deepening sister and brotherhood, and joining with each other in the transformative journey available through all traditions deeply travelled, can humankind stop turning the page to its own and the Earth’s demise and step hand in hand into a loving and heartfelt future.

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In Matthew’s Gospel, the risen Christ tells Mary Magdalene in the garden that he is going ahead of his disciples to Galilee, as he told them at the Last Supper that he would. Of course, we know that Galilee was a literal material place. But there is more here. The word comes from Hebrew ha galil, close to the Welsh llan, 'place', but it means centre. The SCM will help you to go to your own centre, where Christ is and where you are who you really are. ​ Luke's Gospel reports Jesus teaching the erring religious authorities of First Century Palestine, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17.21).

Your true self calls. Will you answer?

BREATH

There are many Christian practices which involve working with the breath. Some of them are practices in themselves while in many cases, focusing on the breath can help us prepare for contemplative prayer.

SCRIPTURE

Contemplating Holy Scripture, passages from the Bible and other Christian  sources can be deeply illuminating, spiritually. Lectio Divina, Psalm Meditation, Self-Insertion and poetic, imaginative and artistic interpretation are all part of our rich contemplative Christian heritage

NATURE/SENSES

Sensual experience and finding the Divine in nature were natural to our Celtic ancestors,through whom the Celtic church emerged in the islands of the Britons. Indeed, they were for so many indigenous cultures throughout the world. Such practices can be very powerful for us too.