Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

Latest Episodes:

Emily Dickinson: Session 2 Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

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:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
The books we will be using this season are:

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠
Emily Dickinson by Cynthia Griffin Wolf, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠here. ⁠⁠

Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season?
Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until

December 03, 2026.

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you!

Dialogue 1: Tell It Slant Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

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 transcript for this episode can be found here.
The books we will be using this season are:

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠
Emily Dickinson by Cynthia Griffin Wolf, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠here. ⁠⁠

Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season?
Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until

December 03, 2026.

Emily Dickinson: Session 1 Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

This is the first 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:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
The books we will be using this season are:

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, which can be found ⁠⁠here.⁠⁠
Emily Dickinson by Cynthia Griffin Wolf, which can be found ⁠⁠here. ⁠

Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season?
Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠
Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠

We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until

December 03, 2026.

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you!

Turning to Emily Dickinson Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Season 14 of Turning to the Mystics.

This season we are turning to the poetry of Emily Dickinson for spiritual guidance. In today's episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates cover the life and person of Emily and discuss how we can work with her ideas to transform our lives.

Resources:

Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about James Finley, visit his faculty profile ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.
The transcript for this episode can be found here.⁠
The books we will be using this season are:

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, which can be found ⁠here.⁠
Emily Dickinson by Cynthia Griffin Wolf, which can be found ⁠here.

Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season?
Email us: ⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠
Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠

We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until

December 3, 2026.

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠ Thank you!

Coming Soon: Turning to Emily Dickinson Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Season 14 of Turning to the Mystics will continue with our next mystic, poet Emily Dickinson

Our journey begins on September 28, 2026.

Resources:

The books Jim will be referencing this season are:

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, which can be found here.
Emily Dickinson by Cynthia Griffin Wolf, which can be found here.

Thérèse of Lisieux: Listener Questions (Part Two) Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Kirsten and Jim answer Season 13 listener questions, which focus on the life and teachings of Thérèse of Lisieux.

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.⁠
Find out more about the Turning to the Mystics book series ⁠here.⁠

Connect with us:

This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you!

Thérèse of Lisieux: Listener Questions (Part One) Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Kirsten and Jim answer Season 13 listener questions, which focus on the life and teachings of Thérèse of Lisieux.

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Find out more about the Turning to the Mystics book series here.

Connect with us:

This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠ Thank you!

A Coaching Session on Thérèse of Lisieux May 11, 2026

Show notes

In this special episode, Jim and Kirsten review the season and offer a way for us to turn to Thérèse of Lisieux for guidance on our own spiritual path.

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

The books we will be using this season are:

Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Third Edition, translated by John Clarke, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series), edited by Mary Frolich⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with us:

Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season
Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until

May 15, 2026.

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/ ⁠Thank you!

Bonus: Fr. Richard Rohr on Thérèse of Lisieux May 04, 2026

Show notes

On this special bonus episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates interview Fr Richard Rohr about his special connection to Thérèse of Lisieux.

Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher who bears witness to the deep wisdom of Christian mysticism and traditions of action and contemplation. Founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, Father Richard teaches how God’s grace guides us to our birthright as beings made of Divine Love. He is the author of numerous books, including The Universal Christ, The Wisdom Pattern, Just This, and Falling Upward.

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
The books we will be using this season are:

Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Third Edition, translated by John Clarke, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series), edited by Mary Frolich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season?

Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until

May 15, 2026.

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/⁠ Thank you!

Dialogue 3: The Holy Face Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

In this third dialogue session, Jim and Kirsten will focus on the meaning behind Thérèse's second chosen name, The Holy Face.

Resources:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.
The books we will be using this season are:

Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Third Edition, translated by John Clarke, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.
⁠⁠⁠⁠St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series), edited by Mary Frolich⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season?

Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until

May 15, 2026.

This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/ Thank you!

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