Spiritually Speaking

Our connection with nature makes us better

Nature’s ability to awaken the sacred within us is not a new concept in Judaism.

Rabbi Matthew PonakJune 12, 2021

A love letter to our Indigenous and Muslim neighbours

A letter of solidarity against systemic and historic racism

Victoria Multifaith SocietyJune 10, 2021

The beauty of music lifts us up every day

Like an intertwining web, music connects us; one soul to another.

Qaeeza RamjiJune 5, 2021

Victoria International Jewish Film Festival Brings On The Laughter

The 7th annual Victoria International Jewish Film Festival will run June 6-10 and will be available via the VIJFF’s virtual cinema.

Spiritually SpeakingJune 2, 2021

Dialogue vital when searching for Mid-East peace

How can we foster peace in the Mid-East or anywhere? Each of us can be working towards dialogue and relationship building that fosters connection, understanding and ultimately Shalom.

Rabbi Harry BrechnerMay 29, 2021

The Connection Between Spiritual Principles and Financial Planning

We can teach the next generation to plan for their future and to also include spirituality in their financial plans.

Badi ShamsMay 26, 2021

Finding our breath on the Day of Pentecost

What might celebrating a time of the Spirit/breath/wind mean in a continuing pandemic in 2021?

Rev. Lyle McKenzieMay 22, 2021

Jewish Music and the Holocaust

You are invited to attend a talk on Sunday, May 30 on Jewish music and the Holocaust

Spiritually SpeakingMay 19, 2021

Ismaili CIVIC commits to community service

Since 2017, the Ismaili CIVIC volunteer activities have involved over 70 civil society partners across Canada

Karima RamjiMay 15, 2021

"Imagine" - no religion? Lennon's song inspires reflection

I’ve heard John Lennon's song “Imagine” many times, asking us to imagine no religion, no warfare, no hunger, a brotherhood of man

Sheila FloodMay 12, 2021

Pandemic underscores humanity's essential oneness

The climate crisis and the pandemic have illuminated the need for a system of global governance that can transcend conflicting national interests

Sheila FloodMay 8, 2021

A poem can shine a healing light on feelings of loss

A poem can strengthen us to find, admit to and face loss during this time of the pandemic

Rev. Shana LynngoodMay 5, 2021

What will our lives be like after the pandemic?

Rather than a 'return to normal', there is hope that life will be different and better after the pandemic.

Rev. Shana LynngoodMay 1, 2021

Ramadan – the Month of Giving

The spirit of charity, that forms the essence of Ramadan continues to shine as brightly as ever.

Maryam BakshApril 28, 2021

Lights twinkle through another pandemic Ramadan

Ramadan, the most holy month for the Muslim community is from mid-April to mid-May this year.

Maryam BakshApril 24, 2021

God’s law of Love: An Interview with Anne Melville

Anne Melville shares ideas from her upcoming webinar, "God’s law of Love" on April 25th

Matthew JacksonApril 21, 2021

God’s law of Love heals, redeems, and governs the universe

As humans, we tend to think of love as a beautiful but sometimes fleeting emotion that governs our relationships. But what do we know of the healing ability of divine Love?

Matthew JacksonApril 17, 2021

Beyond Enlightenment: The Best is Yet to Come

In his talk, "Beyond Enlightenment," Rabbi Matt Ponak will explore different forms of spiritual realization

Spiritually SpeakingApril 16, 2021

Holy Humour Sunday a reminder that laughter is a good teacher

This Sunday is celebrated in some Christian churches as “Holy Humour Sunday”, stemming from traditions in the early Greek church.

Keith SimmondsApril 10, 2021

Tending our sorrows important during our second pandemic Easter

Easter has something vital to teach us about the healing of sorrow and grief

The Reverend Canon Nancy FordApril 3, 2021

The most important principle in Buddhist practice

"The American Zen teacher Richard Baker has claimed that 'interdependence' is the most important principle in Buddhist practice.

Wayne CodlingMarch 30, 2021

Mindfulness a path to restoring, respecting

Our task is to be mindful, the starting point of which is to stop being heedless about things.

Wayne CodlingMarch 27, 2021

Victoria Jewish Culture Project is holding a Passover Meal

VJCP hopes to create an inclusive and caring community to share the history, and culture of all Jews, religious and secular.

Alan RutkowskiMarch 20, 2021

Learning to love God, rather than fearing Him

A lesson from a hummingbird taught me about the importance of loving God,

Badi ShamsMarch 17, 2021

Why the Lessons of COVID-19 Give Me Hope for Global Unity

The time has come to understand that humanity's oneness is not a dream or empty slogan but instead an essential element for facing our problems.

Badi ShamsMarch 13, 2021

The underrated value of kindness

Kindness can change the world, more than anger, more than violence, more than oppression, more than exclusion

The Ven. Alastair Singh-McCollumMarch 10, 2021

In wake of the pandemic, perhaps a kinder Lent

There is an alternative to giving things up that might be a healthy alternative to an austere Lent

The Ven. Alastair Singh-McCollumMarch 6, 2021

Finding the light that frees us from fear

An online talk with Christian Science speaker, Alexandre Fischer, March 13th at 11am PST

Anna Bowness-ParkMarch 3, 2021

Jewish traditions and beliefs about death and dying

Join Rabbi Harry in an exploration and survey of Jewish mystical texts and halakha (Jewish law) with the goal of gaining new insight into death and dying

Spiritually SpeakingFebruary 28, 2021

We can find the time to pray in a busy, demanding world

To pray, to hear a prayer, to be a prayer, we need to be silent. To be open. To let the holy energy of the universe speak.

Rev. Julianne KasmerFebruary 27, 2021

Ancient stories still have power to teach us today

When faced with a difficult or threatening situation, remembering ancient stories can teach us how to respond

Soshin McMurchyFebruary 24, 2021

How can we make a difference in our small corner of the world?

Zen practice encourages us to explore an alternate path

Soshin McMurchyFebruary 20, 2021

"Busy" is a four letter word

Do we ever say we’re busy and mean it in a positive way?

Drew SniderFebruary 17, 2021

Is the Christian church ready for its own “Great Reset”?

The pandemic presents Christians with an opportunity to rethink and reset their concept of church

Drew SniderFebruary 13, 2021

The Ten Commandments can bring holiness to each day

The Ten Commandments brings a reminder of the constant, holy presence of God in our lives.

Fiona PrinceFebruary 10, 2021

Practising rituals help sustain us through hard times

Rituals sustain us. You might call them habits, routines, or traditions. They are things we often do without much thought, because they are comfortable and familiar.

Fiona PrinceFebruary 6, 2021

The spiritual meaning of wealth

Gaining a more spiritual view of wealth brings a fresh dimension that enriches us and our community

Badi ShamsFebruary 3, 2021

Words of sensitivity can be like hand grenades

Words that can be heavily burdened with meaning and emotion can be tricky to use. They’re potentially explosive like hand grenades.

Patrick WolfeJanuary 30, 2021

Discovering grace and mercy in a divisive world

Some of the greatest examples of grace I’ve seen have been from those who suffer serious indignities and yet choose kindness, choose patience, choose to hope and persevere.

Aneeta SaroopJanuary 23, 2021

Our gratitude for goodness takes us forward

Be grateful for every feeling, every experience, every moment because those are the pieces of the puzzle that make up your life.

Qaeeza RamjiJanuary 16, 2021

We grow when we're uncomfortable

Overcoming challenges makes us grow and blossom in unexpected ways

Badi ShamsJanuary 13, 2021

Finding answers to the challenge of human suffering

Pandemics, and other tragedies challenge our perceptions about nature and God

Alan RutkowskiJanuary 9, 2021

Victoria Multifaith Society Chair receives Order of Canada

John Borrows, has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada, “for his scholarly work on Indigenous rights and legal traditions

Victoria Multifaith SocietyJanuary 6, 2021

Serving God through serving the community

Finding one's faith and identity strengthened through service to the community

Asiyah RobinsonJanuary 2, 2021

Bringing hope to 2021 with a video for all

Healing the Planet Video. Describing the challenges and opportunities as we approach the end of this eventful year,

Victoria Multifaith SocietyDecember 30, 2020

Missing church, but the gift of caring for neighbours is living the faith

Missig church offers an opportunity to ponder the meaning of Christmas more deeply

Keith SimmondsDecember 26, 2020

A Letter to the Young People of the World

Right now, we are growing up in a world that is constantly turning, changing and evolving

Qaeeza RamjiDecember 23, 2020

Take the opportunity to address systemic racism

What if the threat of racism spreads in ways similar to the spread of Covid-19?

Lyndon SayersDecember 19, 2020

A Talk: The Golem Dances the Tango

Professor Dan Russek will present a brief overview of Jewish life in Mexico and Argentina

Spiritually SpeakingDecember 16, 2020

Spiritual message of light has become more powerful

One of the names for the Jewish festival of Chanukah is Chag Urim, the Festival of Light.

Rabbi Harry BrechnerDecember 12, 2020

A church as a definition of inclusive

When the idea is not to look at where you’ve been, but where you’re going, “inclusive” is what it’s all about.

Drew SniderDecember 8, 2020

The difficulties of 2020 have put spirituality into focus

A spiritual perspective of life can help us to see through the clouds of fear and anxiety that swirl around us

Matthew JacksonDecember 4, 2020

A talk: Ancient Jewish Astrology: Fatalist or Optimist?

Does Judaism teach that our lives are determined by the stars? Did it ever?

Spiritually SpeakingDecember 2, 2020

Try guiding your life with spiritual Justice

A sacred and spiritual notion of Justice relies heavily on empathy.

Emily MahbobiNovember 28, 2020

Blessed are we who are muddling through

There is power in muddling through difficult times together, realizing that we are not alone, and taking care of each other during this pandemic

Kevin AschenbrennerNovember 25, 2020

Falling leaves offer us a lesson in letting go

A walk in a park can remind us that letting go is a necessary and continual process in our lives

Kevin AschenbrennerNovember 21, 2020

Seek justice and love in changing times

The Presidential election in the USA sends a message of hope for justice and love

Rev. Lyle McKenzieNovember 14, 2020

Kafka, Nachman, Kabbalah and Neuroses

Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue, Victoria, is holding its first one-on-one session Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 7 pm

Spiritually SpeakingNovember 12, 2020

Can prayer can inspire, and bring us hope?

Prayer that inspires, fills us with hope, and gives us courage to face tragedy, can lead us to seek solutions

Alan RutkowskiNovember 6, 2020

Building unity in a fractured world

Unity requires us to value patience, kindness and caring for ourselves and others

Sheila FloodNovember 4, 2020

Finding beauty in the isolation of COVID

The life of Beethoven can offer us insights into living in isolation as he composed beautiful symphonies when deaf

Drew SniderOctober 31, 2020

Kristallnacht : Creativity Emerging from the Shards of Tragedy

The Victoria Shoah Project invites the public to the annual commemoration of Kristallnacht  (Night of Broken Glass).

Spiritually SpeakingOctober 28, 2020

The challenge of finding a new way forward in the pandemic

May we, together, find a way forward that honours our interdependence, leading toward a more sustainable and just future.

Shana LynngoodOctober 24, 2020

Feeling the power of blessing in moments

A prayer on the power of blessing

Carol HoedemanOctober 21, 2020

The need for mercy in the world

Take a moment to imagine a world where mercy was the overarching theme

Maryam BakshOctober 15, 2020

Love for one another is not always easy, but it is essential

To learn to love is to do loving things, even things which take us out of our comfort zone.

The Ven. Alastair Singh-McCollumOctober 14, 2020

The spiritual practice of seeing through the lens of love

What does it mean to be loving when we hold a different viewpoint to another?

Alastair Singh-McCollumOctober 10, 2020

Ditching the "Survival of the Fittest" Mentality

Although collaboration is getting more recognition these days, it still has been entirely ignored in the economic field.

Badi ShamsOctober 7, 2020

The World Needs Meaningful Conversations

We can relearn the art of meaningful conversation, which is being gradually forgotten

Badi ShamsOctober 3, 2020

The symbolism of dreams can serve to strengthen and encourage

Throughout history dreams and visions have played an important role in shaping beliefs and actions and can teach us much

Reverend Canon Nancy FordSeptember 26, 2020

Finding the Right Home for the Seniors in Our Lives

We need to rethink our view of, and care for seniors in a way that is more inclusive

Badi ShamsSeptember 23, 2020

Unity is what can put us on the path to recovery

The preventative medicine we can be for one another may not cure a pandemic, but it can surely put us on the road to recovery.

Rev. Julianne KasmerSeptember 18, 2020

Meditation and the Awareness of Suffering

Zen meditation is especially well suited for ordinary people who are keenly aware of suffering and keenly intent on alleviation.

Wayne CodlingSeptember 16, 2020

Meditation can be an antidote for fear

Kindness can be an antidote to indifference, ignorance etc., but to alleviate fear one should meditate.

Wayne CodlingSeptember 12, 2020

Finding an antidote for "stir-crazy"

With the possibility we could see renewed restrictions on our physical freedom, here are three Bible examples we can follow to keep from going stir-crazy.

Drew SniderSeptember 10, 2020

The effects of gratitude can surprise you

We often spend so much time looking at what we lack, we forget to be grateful for what we have.

Drew SniderSeptember 5, 2020

Ismaili Centre a place for contemplation, connection

Last weekend, on August 23, 2020, the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver, celebrated its 35th anniversary.

Karima RamjiAugust 29, 2020

Eliminating fear can begin with building community

We can eliminate and transform fear into knowledge of, and respect for, one another.

Qaeeza RamjiAugust 22, 2020

Finding a path to unity through a simple yet profound phrase

The small phrase “all my relations” at the end of a talk many years ago contains an invaluable key to understanding that unity isn’t merely an ideal or aspiration, but something more.

Sheila FloodAugust 19, 2020

Building back better after a pandemic

The pandemic presents us with an opportunity to build a better, more united society

Sheila FloodAugust 15, 2020

Challenges of Covid-19 force us to look deeper

Covid 19. Here we are, experiencing an incredible challenge of readjustment. The whole world is involved and grappling with it is a new deal for most of us.

Erin ChardAugust 8, 2020

Healing the Planet, Part 2 – What you can do:

Some ideas and resources on how each one of us can make a different in our world

The Victoria Multifaith SocietyAugust 5, 2020

Healing the planet through global collaboration

This year may be remembered as the moment when humanity drew together in crises.

The Victoria Multifaith SocietyAugust 1, 2020

Bells for Peace

A special event commemorating the 75th anniversaries of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Victoria Multifaith SocietyJuly 28, 2020

Black Lives Matter in Victoria

Together we can think boldly about making community spaces, including churches, more hospitable for Black lives.

Lyndon SayersJuly 25, 2020

Two simple activities towards a kinder world

These two simple actions we can do now, to help protect the people we see every day.

Fiona PrinceJuly 22, 2020

Pandemic paves way to protect others from harm

The pandemic could be our defining moment in how we protect each other

Fiona PrinceJuly 18, 2020

Challenging times make us grow

Going through challenges and overcoming them gives us self-esteem and confidence, which is essential for us to grow

Badi ShamsJuly 15, 2020

Times of crisis can lead to goodwill and healing

The heart flag is ubiquitous throughout the city and it has brought us together

Patrick WolfeJuly 11, 2020

Religions follow different paths to view from the top

Finding one's spiritual path in life is not always easy, but brings grace

Aneeta SaroopJuly 4, 2020

Protests signal reinterpretation of our attitudes

Could it be that, with these protests occurring around the world, the circle of our moral concern is expanding?

Alan RutkowskiJune 27, 2020

“I can’t breathe”: Humanity’s need for a spiritual renaissance

“I can’t breathe” has become the rallying cry against racial injustice. But its relevance is wider and deeper than that.

Patrick WolfeJune 24, 2020

Equality a daunting struggle that must be won

One day the world will be a better place and it will be because we never gave up fighting for equality for all

Qaeeza RamjiJune 20, 2020

Gratitude to the Ministry of Checking In

In praise of those wonderful friends, family and neighbours who are regularly checking in on us.

Kevin AschenbrennerJune 17, 2020

Let's make Ordinary Times better times for all

A yearning for ordinary times leads to an appreciation for them

Kevin AschenbrennerJune 13, 2020

Leaning in and finding the courage to be kind, calm and vocal

Leaning in to hear the quiet voice of wisdom can help us to have the courage to be kind

Soshin McMurchyJune 10, 2020

Solidarity, not just charity for street community

In these times of grave injustice we must support: but from solidarity not charity.

Joshua GoldbergJune 6, 2020

The saving grace in trying times

Our collective strength is shown in our unity as we face challenges together

Suresh BasrurJune 3, 2020

Compassion in the face of Covid-19 pandemic

For many of us, the pandemic has made us reflect deeply on our purpose in, and meaning of Life.

Suresh BasrurMay 30, 2020

Navigating change in a challenging time

Late last year,, I embarked upon a journey calculated to change life - mine and others

Keith SimmondsMay 23, 2020

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