Q: In The Contemplative Outreach News, December 2009, you had an article entitled, ‚ÄúReflections on the beginning: 1983.‚Äù In it, you mentioned Fr. Keating recommending four spiritual exercises; one of […]
The Dark Nights, Who Does It Affect?
Q: I wonder, can one experience the dark nights, if one is not practicing centering or contemplative prayer, but is just a devoted Christian? I somehow get the impression that […]
Restlessness During Centering Prayer
Q: I was a regular practitioner of Centering Prayer in the 1990’s. For the last few years, however, I make time for it in the mornings after reading some Scripture, […]
Is “God is All, in All” a way of saying that God’s immanent?
Q: I see the title of the new DVD in your store, ‚ÄúGod is All, in All‚Äù, and it makes me wonder about the transcendent nature of God. Is God […]
Read More… from Is “God is All, in All” a way of saying that God’s immanent?
Does God Judge?
Q: My small groups was watching the Heartfulness DVD series with Thomas Keating and Betty Sue Flowers, in particular, the section on sin. At the end, we were discussing the […]
Music During Centering Prayer
Q: I once asked my prayer group if it was permissible to have a melody running through one’s head while centering, and their answer was no. Often I have a […]
God’s Unconditional Love and the Last Judgment
Q: As a practising contemplative/meditator for many years and a more recent follower of Father Thomas Keating’s spiritual advice and direction, I do have one “very spiritually perplexing question” that […]
Read More… from God’s Unconditional Love and the Last Judgment
Crisis of Faith During Troubles
Q: I have been practicing CP for over two years and have noticeably experienced positive change and what I consider a deepening of faith and openness to the work of […]
When you are in pain…
Q. When you are in pain, can you still practice the Welcoming Prayer if you take pain pills and/or tranquilizers? A. Prayer is a relationship. In any intimate relationship, one […]
Centering Prayer During Times of Unrest
Q: Extreme injustices and inflicted cruelty are buried in people’s lives. When these experiences arise (often unexpectedly) as a response to the asking participation in one’s own spiritual journey, it […]
The Welcoming Prayer and “letting go of the desire for security, affection, and control.”
Q: I have a question about the Welcoming Prayer, related to “letting go of the desire for security, affection, and control.” I say the prayer often during my daily encounters […]
Posture and Breathing in Relation to Centering Prayer
Q: My impression is that some meditation practices have very specific guidance about physical technique such as posture, breathing etc. But Centering Prayer suggests fairly little except to have a […]
Read More… from Posture and Breathing in Relation to Centering Prayer
In his book, Open Mind, Open Heart, Fr. Keating says that divine union is not a free ticket to happiness in this life…Can you please explain…
Q: In his book, Open Mind, Open Heart, Fr. Keating says that divine union is not a free ticket to happiness in this life; that some people are left with […]
“We acknowledge that any good accomplished by CO is the work of the Holy Spirit”
Q: This is about the wording of the Contemplative Outreach Theological Principle 16 – “We acknowledge that any good accomplished by CO is the work of the Holy Spirit”. It […]
Read More… from “We acknowledge that any good accomplished by CO is the work of the Holy Spirit”
Q&A with Fr. Carl Arico ~ Meditation and Centering Prayer
Q: One of the new people in our Centering Prayer group asked me what the difference between meditation and Centering Prayer is. ‚Ķ [By the way,] Centering Prayer and Welcoming […]
Read More… from Q&A with Fr. Carl Arico ~ Meditation and Centering Prayer

Q&A with Fr. Carl J. Arico Archive: Related to Lectio Divina
On or related to Lectio Divina Q: I have been advised to NOT do Centering Prayer in conjunction with Lectio Divina. Individually and in a group setting I have practiced doing […]
Read More… from Q&A with Fr. Carl J. Arico Archive: Related to Lectio Divina

Q&A with Fr. Carl J. Arico Archive Related to the Spiritual Journey
On or related to the Spiritual Journey Q: I saw a notation by Fr. Keating about Heaven right here on earth. Does this take away the hope of a […]
Read More… from Q&A with Fr. Carl J. Arico Archive Related to the Spiritual Journey
Feeling Nothing
Q: After many years of Centering Prayer and feeling that I was just where I should be, things have changed for me. When I go to prayer there is nothing […]
How to Find the “Right” Spiritual Director?
Q: I am in the process of trying to find a spiritual director. I am wondering is it usually a good idea to have a director who is more […]
How to Deal with Thoughts in Daily Life
Q: “Someone who practices Centering Prayer in the morning, has to have a prayer to prevent his mind from being bombarded by thoughts during the rest of the day. […]