The Boundless Way

27/11/2025

For many years my good friend and colleague Urs Mattmann and I have led weekend retreats looking into the wisdom and teaching of Fr Richard Rohr.
In 2026 we continue with his latest book, "The Tears of Things", at three fabulous venues, Holland House in Worcestershire, Holyrood House in Yorkshire, Othona House in Dorset. A few places are still available in each if you'd like to find out more about the Contemplative tradition within Christian faith. No need to have read the book, just bring a spirit of Compassionate open enquiry. Here are three links .. see you there!

https://hollandhouse.org/product/23rd-26th-jan-2026-the-tears-of-things-prophetic-wisdom-a-retreat-inspired-by-richard-rohr/

https://www.holyroodhouse.org.uk/Groups/426712/Events.aspx
https://www.othonawestdorset.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=2355

Spread the love     The Tears of things: Prophetic Wisdom. A retreat inspired by Richard Rohr 23rd to 26th January 2026 For over ten years Revd Ian Spencer and Urs Mattmann have offered popular retreats based on the teachings of Fr Richard Rohr OFM and the faculty of the Centre for Action and C...

24/11/2025

While meditating I noticed my shadow on the wall. I thought ... "that's me"! Then I realised immediately, "no, I'm the light out of which the shadow appears".
The shadow is still light, just a different quality. Shadows eventually fade, returning back to their home, which is light.
As it is with shadows and light, so it is with all beings and there foundation. 🙏

A practical approach to an holistic life

23/11/2025

"Faith is nothing but the opening of the supernatural sense of the soul on the supernatural being to be apprehended. It opens, in other words, the heaven of the mind; and God, and Christ, and the good supernatural society press in to fill it". Horace Bushnell (1802 - 1876)

Read that again - slowly!

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Faith (trust) "opens the heaven of the mind" - this is the stance of contemplative Christianity, a position which opens the Faithful to all of heaven (not a place, but the actual reality of the fullness of life in all its aspects, and not less than unconditional love).

With so much mind-based (mental) illness being suffered, such Faith is sorely needed. It was understood by Horace Bushnell 150 years ago, and it can be understood once again today.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/take-my-yoga/ian-john-spencer/9781917991155
Www.theboundlessway.co.uk

A practical approach to an holistic life

17/11/2025

What is needed? We are ALL needed. No single political party, religion, culture, nation or scientific discovery can alleviate the suffering of humankind. Our children, and children's children deserve better than this myopic view. The combined experience of all the ancestors needs to be honoured. Take My Yoga is a small part of the effort to do this.
Also available to pre-order at Amazon.

Buy Take My Yoga by Ian John Spencer from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

09/11/2025

With 27 million people identifying as Christian in the UK, and 3 million regularly practising yoga, it's time these ancient traditions seeking truth and love came together. "Take My Yoga" is part of that long-overdue process. Let's sit together and marvel at one another's insight. We've nothing to lose but unhappiness, suffering and fragmented lives. Take My Yoga is available to pre-order from Waterstones now, or Amazon UK. Enjoy the countdown to it arriving through your front-door, and a fresh start to life and faith!
https://www.waterstones.com/book/take-my-yoga/ian-john-spencer/9781917991155

26/10/2025

Dominican Priest Aelred Graham wrote an important book called 'The End of Religion'. That was in 1971.
Towards the end of his book he wrote "one of the aims of the present essay is to suggest that institutional Christianity, when conducting its long-overdue self-examination, should avail itself of certain insights from India".
That was 54 years ago.
Since then no such exercise has taken place, and indeed, it was not uncommon for Church Halls until recently, to discourage or ban even Yoga classes from their premises! (indeed it happened to me). What chance wisdom from India?
However, as a Christian priest and trained yoga teacher, I can say there is much wisdom to be had from the East. My new book "Take My Yoga - the wisdom of Yoga for Christians and Seekers", offers a little of such wisdom. Very few such books have been written since 1971. Available to pre-order now, or just take a look, whether you're a Christian, Yogi or Seeker.
Here's a link to check it out.... click on tbe book icon, not the blue text)
https://amzn.eu/d/8B9sO1chttps://amzn.eu/d/8B9sO1c
Santi, santi, santi - peace, peace, peace.🙏

02/10/2025

Dear friends, I'm delighted to share with you the cover-art for my book "Take My Yoga - the wisdom of yoga for Christians and seekers". A publication date will soon be set, along with a pre-order date - more details when I have them!

My new book "Take My Yoga - the wisdom of yoga for Christians and seekers" has an approved and finalised cover. I'm thrilled to say it was designed by myself and my eldest daughter, and turned in a book-cover by my excel...

07/09/2025

Love spontaneously - can we do it?

Until we love spontaneously, instantaneously, without even knowing we're loving, we have to practice.
Practice what?
God is love, therefore to love someone, or indeed any creature, is to God them.
What does that mean ?

Picture someone you already love....now God them.
Picture someone you're not so keen on, God them.
Picture something you're afraid of (say spider, snake, dark....) God them.

Now abide in that love.
Live there, persist, settle there, just as God has "Godded" you and tranquilly lives within you, always and even now.

That's the good news, both for you and for everyone, for God has Godded everyone but tragically very few know it, even Christian's. You have to experience this for yourself, deep down and infused, like yeast in bread or salt in seawater.
This only is possible through prayer.
The command is to God people, and never to do anything else, even as you are beloved, now and always.

10/08/2025

"Unless your daily life occasionally astounds you, the human spirit will smother"
Justin O'brien
'The Wellness Tree'

In other words, the 'magic is in the mundane'. Meditation practice, contemplation, cultivating awareness, yoga, enables us to see how the mundane sparkles, and be all the richer for it.

A practical approach to an holistic life

22/07/2025

How it is !

Snowflakes appear in the sky out of 'nowhere' , one cannot distinguish from which cloud or part of the endless grey sky they come.
But when conditions are just right they materialise, and fall, in wonderous community, each individual.
They remain in their falling and settling until conditions can no longer hold their materialisation. Then they dis-integrate, and return to the womb of their beginning.
As it is with snowflakes, so it is with all beings, including human beings. It's an exquisite and beautiful cycle. Some even call it "good news".