/morsl/taxonomy/term/312/all en /morsl/article/interfaith-dialogue/interfaith-dialogue-colloquium-spirituality-young-people <p>On Wednesday, March 22nd,?students, professors, faith leaders, and members of the greater Montreal community gathered together for a Colloquium on the Spirituality of Young People. The colloquium was organized in collaboration with the School of Religious Studies, with MORSL director Carlene Gardner and Dr. Gerbern Oegema, Professor of Biblical studies offering opening remarks and co-facilitating the talks and panel that followed.?</p> Wed, 05 Apr 2023 18:27:39 +0000 Sana Mohtadi 2527 at /morsl /morsl/article/shuni-e-ceremony-reflections-xiu-er-hui <p><i>Shuni-e?</i>(修二会) is a ceremony that takes place at (among other temples) the To?dai-ji temple in Nara, Japan, happening this year between March 1 - 14. It is also known as?<i>o-mizutori</i>?(お水取り), which is the name for the water ceremony on the final night.?<i>Shuni-e?</i>The ceremony involves many components that are not open to the public, but the most famous part, the fire ceremony, is.</p> Fri, 17 Mar 2023 17:08:28 +0000 Ryan Brown 2514 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/differentiation-and-religion <p>When we grow up within a faith tradition, it’s typical to have a parent/child type relationship with faith institutions. Traditions inform us of how we should live and what role we should play in society. They equip us with a sort of map showing what is right and wrong and true and false about the universe, the divine, and ourselves, and it can feel like we must accept all this to belong in our family and community.</p> Wed, 22 Feb 2023 18:11:38 +0000 MORSL 2497 at /morsl /morsl/article/ways-knowing <p>"From the most rigorous calculations...there is overwhelming evidence that we cannot detect 95% of the physical universe. Dark matter and dark energy are neither perceptible nor observable by any scientific instrument or human faculty. Yet unless we posit their existence, the equations we use to make sense of what we can observe don't work.</p> Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:12:40 +0000 MORSL 2475 at /morsl /morsl/article/holidays-and-holy-days/new-beginnings <p>The word "solstice" comes from the Latin word "solstitium", which is derived from two words: sol meaning "the sun" and sistere which means "to stand still". During the winter solstice, the axis of the Earth pauses, shifts, and changes direction. This change of direction can serve as a powerful metaphor for us, as we shift the direction and intentions of our own lives in the new year.?</p> Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:10:45 +0000 MORSL 2412 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/doubt-and-faith-work-together <p>What is the relationship between doubt and faith in spiritual life? Sometimes we lack experience talking about doubt in spiritual contexts. When we participate in religious communities, it may appear others are certain of their faith; in some cases, we may be taught to avoid doubts and questions. When personal doubts arrive, they can feel threatening. We might feel as if the spirituality woven into us is starting to unravel, not unlike a knit sweater with loose yarns being pulled.</p> Tue, 29 Nov 2022 18:21:16 +0000 MORSL 2404 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/lessons-nature <p><em>Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.?</em> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??</p> <p>? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?- John Muir</p> Tue, 22 Nov 2022 20:05:27 +0000 sophia.penner@mail.mcgill.ca 2398 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/pondering-eternity <p>The poet Mary Oliver spent most of her life outside writing about nature walks and her search for the divine. In her early years, she was fascinated by the possibility of eternal life. Later, despite never having attained clear answers to many of her spiritual questions, she was intrigued by her recognition that eternity and continuance are realities of existence. Time and matter continue indefinitely, and as she describes, "everything’s a little energy: you go back, and you’re these little bits of energy, and pretty soon, you’re something else. Now, that’s a continuance.</p> Tue, 22 Nov 2022 18:53:38 +0000 Candice Wendt 2397 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/breathing-balance <p>Balance comes in many forms. We balance ourselves physically, on tight-ropes of in yoga poses; mentally, when we weigh the pros and cons of a situation, and emotionally, when we decide we need a hug or an hour to ourselves. But where do we look to balance ourselves spiritually?</p> <p>Some of us attend a synagogue, a temple, a mosque, or a church. Others play music or create art. And some of us meditate.?</p> Fri, 11 Nov 2022 21:43:16 +0000 Sarah Mitchell 2388 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/thoughts-meditation-and-prayer <p>Recently I've read various thoughts about meditation and prayer that have stuck with me.?Journalist Johann Hari's book <i>Lost Connections</i> discusses the power of regular meditation to bring healing from anxiety and depression. It opens space for transcendent insight and new meanings and choices available to us. Meditative states allow us to shed the weight of our egos, including worrying about what others think, self-defensiveness, self-criticism, shame, etc.</p> Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:28:18 +0000 Candice Wendt 2361 at /morsl /morsl/article/spiritual-wellness/thoughts-reciprocity-and-gratitude <p>Indigenous botanist Robin Kimmerer offers a vision of reciprocal relationships with the earth in her book <i>Braiding Sweetgrass</i>. In this passage, she describes how at a powwow she attends, some of the oldest teachings from her culture are practiced through a tradition called <i>minidewak, </i>during which gifts are freely given to all and received in gratitude. About this exchange, she writes:</p> Tue, 25 Oct 2022 18:07:19 +0000 MORSL 2364 at /morsl