The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins

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Life has a way of sweeping us up in its busyness. There are dishes that need cleaning, meetings to attend, taxes to do. But sometimes…we stop and look up at the infinite night sky and for a moment we remember that there is more going on here. Much more. A few years ago, something began to open for me. A sense of connection and trust that allowed me to live more surrendered. Surrendered to what? Well, we could call it Spirit, God, Love, but of course whatever it is, it’s a Mystery beyond labels. But it’s also right here, all the time, hidden in plain view. These days I help people live more attuned to, and more trusting of, that Mystery. I’m still learning myself, of course. And for most of us, I think it’s a process of letting go of control and fear and learning how to be more present. I call it soul work and I write about it here on Substack. I also do one-on-one Soul Work Coaching, and I lead retreats, both in-person and on-line. You can learn more at www.iancummins.org. Or you can message me directly for more information here: Source

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By Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
Hi Everyone, My summer of hitting the pause button (explained HERE if you missed it) is going deliciously (going camping in Taos next week with my son!) So, no new writing from me, but I wanted to pass on recommendations for three other Substackers in three of my favorite subjects: psychology, poetry, and spirituality. In the category of psychology, I think some of you might really enjoy the writing of Richard Bourne, writing HERE at 365 Days of Becoming.
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I've Hit the Pause Button

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By Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
(The view from our little teardrop camper at Ghost Ranch, NM a few years ago.) Hi All, I hope your summer is off to a good start! So far, I’ve done a little camping near Buena Vista, CO and, a few weeks ago, I took a trip to San Francisco (rode in my first Waymo!). I have some other trips planned and a few other projects I want to focus on, so I’ve decided to put Substack subscriptions on ‘pause’ for the summer.
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Join Us for Some Sacred Time Away

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By Ian Cummins, Elizabeth Jameson
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
- Meister Eckhart Mystics like Meister Eckhart invite us to find within ourselves a place of safety and trust that lies beyond the ups and downs of daily life. What often prevents us from touching this place are the stories we tell ourselves that keep us too small. Looking with compassion at these stories of past events and larger cultural messages can open us to a life of more freedom, peace and joy.
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A Benediction for the Dying

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By Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
Note: When I wrote A Benediction for Mothers a few weeks ago, I mentioned I’ve been experimenting lately with what is a new kind of writing for me. Part poetry, part blessing, part theological reflection, these benedictions have been an enjoyable creative outlet and I would welcome any feedback you have (either in the comments or by messaging me directly).
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By Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
Is it time to step back and reconnect with yourself, nature, and what matters most? Join us this summer in the beautiful Colorado mountains outside of Nederland for a very special three days of: “Reimagining Our Stories: Discovering Our Hidden Wholeness” The stories we tell ourselves and the stories we inherit have tremendous power to shape us. And while we can’t change what has happened to us, we can change how we interpret those stories, by looking at what happened with love and compassion.
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Announcing Our In-Person Retreat!

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By Ian Cummins, Elizabeth Jameson
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
Is it time to step back and reconnect with yourself, nature, and what matters most? Join us this summer in the beautiful Colorado mountains outside of Nederland for a very special three days of: “Reimagining Our Stories: Discovering Our Hidden Wholeness” The stories we tell ourselves and the stories we inherit have tremendous power to shape us. And while we can’t change what has happened to us, we can change how we interpret those stories, by looking at what happened with love and compassion.
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A Benediction for Mothers

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By Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
Note: A benediction is “a good word” often given at the conclusion of a religious service as a kind of blessing. When I was a pastor, I loved that moment when the atmosphere changed and the Mystery felt almost tangible. Lately, I have been playing around with writing benedictions on various subjects, and what follows is part of that experiment. I know we all have very different experiences of motherhood and those experiences are often difficult, complex, and painful.
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"Opening the Aperture" Video for May

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By Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
Hello Everyone, Below you’ll find the eighth, and final, video in our “Opening the Aperture” teaching series. It has been such a privilege (and seriously fun) to put this series together and we hope it has been a blessing in your own journey.
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Chewing Bones

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By Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
This morning I feel within myself. Sufficient. Contained. At peace (well, at least relatively so). How to stay? How to resist the trails that lead me away from myself? The events of the world beckon. My insecurities beckon. My phone beckons. I could spend hours in their gravitational fields. Days. My life. They are my favorite bones to chew.
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My next online class: "Living Presence" starts in a week!

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By Elizabeth Jameson, Ian Cummins
| The Open Gate by Ian Gregory Cummins
Hi Everyone! I know many of us are wondering how we can stay more grounded and peaceful in these turbulent days and I want to invite you to something I believe can be of great help. My colleague, Elizabeth Jameson, and I are leading an online class starting next Wednesday, April 23, that will explore the wisdom of a beautiful book called, Living Presence, by modern-day Sufi master, Kabir Helminski.
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