Welcome back to Nomad Podcast.

My name is Anna Robinson,

and each month I write and record a contemplation for Nomad supporters.

We've decided to put this one on the main feed as a little taster,

as it follows on nicely from the Matthew Fox episode.

If you'd like more contemplations like this one,

then you can sign up at the Nomad website. The The Welcome to Nomad's contemplations.

This time of reflection and meditation is drawing from Julianne of Norwich, the 14th century mystic.

After listening to the Nomad interview with Matthew Fox,

who recently wrote a book called Julianne of Norwich, Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic and Beyond,

I was inspired to start rereading some of Julianne's writing, and I was reminded of how life-giving I found it.

I will give a short introduction to this remarkable woman, and then invite you into stillness

using the breath. I will then lead a lecto-divina on some of Julian's words by reading them out

slowly three times for us to contemplate,

followed by a short examine or reflection on this time,

and end with a closing prayer and a blessing.

So who was Julianne of Norwich,

and why is she relevant nearly 700 years later?

Julianne is what is known as a mystic, which could be described as a person who deeply desires

to be closely connected to and in union with God.

Richard Raw defines a mystic,

as simply one who has moved from mere belief and belonging systems

...