iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

I just said to my baby "You think you're brushing your hair with a hammer, but it's actually a wrench"

Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

The holiest prayers are uttered in the shadows of obscurity, whispered for only the wind to hear. Jesus teaches us to fast discreetly, cultivating a loving desire for the unknown God in the hidden recesses of our bodies and souls. #Contemplation #Solitude #Silence #Fasting #Lent

newedenministry.com

Fasting in Obscurity

Lent is a season of renunciation, when we embody Jesus’ fast in the wilderness, preparing ourselves for Easter. Though Jesus never commands us to fast, he does give us teachings about how to …

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Every time I see this make the rounds, I think to myself that there's an obvious best choice here and it's definitely Susan. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

So how do I use Bluesky? What sorts of posts should I make? Anybody here I know from Facebook??

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

The recent sermon delivered by Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde at the US presidential inauguration has created quite a stir. In this essay, I draw insight from another courageous sermon delivered by one of the church’s most beloved bishops, Basil the Great. #SocialJustice #EarlyChurch #Budde

newedenministry.com

Bishops Budde and Basil Speaking Truth to Power

The recent sermon delivered by Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde at the US presidential inauguration has created quite a stir. With repose and precision, she preached the good news of justice fo…

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

The harmony of nature is an ancient dance to the song of creation, sung by the choirs of angels. The angels are musical by nature, orchestrating the movement of the spheres with the beauty of their love. Colmcille (St Columba) wrote a hymn in which he explains the nature of this sacred melody.

newedenministry.com

The Song of Creation

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Every year, on New Year’s Eve, people all around the world sing a few lines in Scots: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought tae mind. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and the days of auld lang syne.” I bet you always wondered what that even means. Well, I’m about you.

newedenministry.com

New Year’s Eve: What does Auld Lang Syne Actually Mean?

Every year, on New Year’s Eve, people all around the world sing a few lines in Scots which most people don’t understand. Those lines are: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and …

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

We should not expect ourselves to make drastic and sudden changes in our well established habits. Small incremental steps are always better than grandiose plans. It is not a simple matter of mustering up the resolve, squinting our eyes, and gritting our teeth.

newedenministry.com

New Year’s Resolutions: Some Advice From Celtic Monks

Have you recently made some New Year’s resolutions? Are you hoping that this year they will be easier to follow than in previous years? In this article I explore some wisdom from the Celtic traditi…

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

We often make reference to the fruitless debates about the nature of angels in the middle ages. We hear something like, “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” and we scoff at it. However, the ancient understanding of angelic life is neither silly superstition nor an exercise in pedantry.

newedenministry.com

The Angels Within: Consciousness, Fractals, and Spirals

Advent and Christmas are imbued with the presence of angels. The angel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary and her beautiful response speak to us through the ages, teaching the inner prayer of Adv…

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Mary Magdalene is there with Jesus at the crucifixion and she is the first to see him after the resurrection. So then, why is so little said about her in the bible and why is even that usually omitted from lessons on the life and teachings of Jesus?

newedenministry.com

What Do We Know About Mary Magdalene?

Mary Magdalene is one of the most mysterious figures in the bible. In the canonical gospel stories she is clearly presented as being close to Jesus. She is there with him at the crucifixion and she…

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Are you looking for something to stir up conversation during Thanksgiving dinner this year? Your conservative relatives are sure to enjoy this essay about God's pronouns, readily accepting a new religious paradigm, convinced by its scriptural references and sound theological reasoning.

newedenministry.com

What Are God’s Pronouns?

Yesterday I put out an article about the Holy Trinity which caused a little bit of a stir. You can read it HERE. The reason it upset some people was not actually the theology I was putting forward …

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Can anyone recommend some good lists of people to follow? Topics like: 1. Contemplation 2. Celtic everything 3. Patristic theology 4. Cognitive science 5. Meaning making 6. Neoplatonism 7. Spiritual poetry 8. Biblical studies 9. Monasticism

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Feel grateful when you see an elderly person’s wrinkly face. Feel grateful when the wind blows through your hair. Feel grateful every time you have food to eat and water to drink. Happy American Thanksgiving! newedenministry.com/2022/02/27/t...

newedenministry.com

The Art of Gratitude

I genuinely believe that one of our planet’s most urgent needs is for us to learn the art of gratitude. Gratitude is a state of mind which encourages cooperation. It is a way of being which b…

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I go into my secret room Draw inwardly and centre No need to search for empty words In stillness I remember

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Following on from the essay I shared yesterday about Aelred’s threefold love, I look at each one in more detail. In the first love the soul is recollected within itself, in the second love it is extended outside itself, in the third love it is lifted up beyond itself. #Aelred #Love #Contemplation

newedenministry.com

Three Kinds of Love

This article is a continuation of one I wrote a couple years ago based on the teachings of Aelred of Rievaulx. Aelred was a Cistercian monk and theologian who lived on both sides of the Scottish/En…

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Reposted by Justin Coutts

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

These male & female memento mori figurines were used for spiritual contemplation in the 19th century. They reminded the owner of the transience of life and material luxury. They are now part of the Wellcome Collection in London. Personally, I think they'd make great wedding cake toppers!

Two figurines: one male, one female. The male one wears a top hat and waist coat. Half of him is clothed, the other half exposes his skeleton and decomposing flesh. The female figurine is in a period dress from the 19th century with a red shawl. Half of her body also shows her skeleton and decomposing body underneath.

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

To love ourselves is to love our neighbor, to love our neighbor is to love God, and to love God is to love ourselves. Though these three loves are distinct, a marvelous bond exists between them...Click the thumbnail to read more... #Aelred #Love #Contemplation

newedenministry.com

To Love Yourself is the Beginning of Wisdom

Aelred of Rievaulx, in his book The Mirror of Charity, talks about a threefold understanding of love within the soul. He takes this from that famous line of Jesus: “‘Love the Lord your God with all…

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

God is doing a new thing. The valleys are lifted up and the mountains are made low. The landscape itself begins to shift and all the creatures who call the desert home adapt in response. The voice of the One is calling out from the wilderness, beckoning people to prepare a way for the Lord.

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Reposted by Justin Coutts

Toto Tay @tototay.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

“Challenging long-held beliefs” is scary work, especially when so many of us are both hardwired for fear and boosted by an addiction to it through media outlets. It’s not easy work, and it comes at a cost of our own vulnerability. It seems too pricey because we don’t see its rarity and high value.

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

I still love this conversation with Carmen Acevedo Butcher @cab-phd.bsky.social. She always has something wise to say and the Cloud is one of my favourite books. Click the thumbnail below to watch our chat on YouTube!

youtu.be

The Cloud of Unknowing with Carmen Acevedo Butcher

YouTube video by In Search of a New Eden

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Justin Coutts @new-eden.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Humility is like a delicate flower shining with vibrant colour in the sunlight. It is the most precious jewel in the crown of the Prince of Peace. It is the fulfilment of all human striving. To be humble is to be rooted and grounded in love.

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