In this piece, members of Process & Coffee, the Cobb Institute’s longest-running learning circle, delve into the nature of joy—how it slips from our grasp, only to return in subtle, unexpected ways. The group explores the complexity of joy as something dynamic, shifting with the tides of life, particularly in trying times. Through their contemplations, they discuss how joy is not a constant state, but a relational force found in the smallest moments—through connection, shared experiences, and the simple beauty of existence. The conversation weaves together ideas on how joy continues to thread through our lives, waiting patiently to be noticed, even amidst chaos and hardship.

Dive into the heart of the human psyche with this provocative reflection as it unravels the enigmatic layers of fear that drive our destructive behaviors. Here Kat Reeves explores how our evolutionary need for social connection transforms into a monstrous force, exacerbated by modern social dynamics and political polarization. Discover the shadowy depths of collective fear, its impact on our society and hopes to build an ecological civilization.

According to Kat, as we battle this unseen monster within, we must recognize the influence of the collective unconscious and the archetypal potentials that fuel our fears. From the divisive power of social media to the survival instincts of hoarding and mistrust, this essay delves into the psychological roots of our most pressing societal issues.

Are you ready to face the monster?

This post explores the profound notion that life’s seemingly random events are infused with deeper meaning and divine purpose. Drawing from biblical stories, the insights of Carl Jung, and the wisdom of spiritual traditions, this reflective piece suggests that moments of synchronicity—those unexpected, meaningful coincidences—can guide our paths and reveal God’s presence in everyday life. By being open to these moments through prayer, meditation, and attentiveness, Bruce Epperly proposes that we can find guidance, purpose, and connection in a world that is inherently interwoven with divine intent. Cultivating this awareness not only enriches our personal journey but also contributes to the collective betterment of the universe.

At the Cobb Institute Andre van Zijl is somebody. He is our Visual Arts Laureate and a regular attendee at many of the gatherings. But what Andre desires most of all is to be “nobody.” Inspired by the teachings of Ramakrishna, the 19th-century mystic and spiritual teacher, Andre has strived for ego transcendence and spiritual humility. By recognizing the transient nature of the self and surrendering personal desires and attachments, one can attain a state of egolessness where the boundaries between oneself and the universe blur, leading to a profound sense of oneness with all existence. This is not attained without struggle and suffering. Here Andre shares his story of his journey through the dark night of the soul and the lessons learned from the other side of ego.

Like many troubadours and jesters through the years, Thomas Atwood is a singer. In Whiteheadian terms, every musical experience he had was a prehension of healing, and Thomas needed a ton of lessons about healing. Spiritual teachers have said that if you learn enough about any field of knowledge with sufficient complexity, sublime mystical experiences can be invited to enter the soul. For those with a gift for receptiveness, the invitation is more easily accepted. Abilities, life experiences, and the worldviews they construct will expand or contract the possibilities. We invite you to enjoy this story about healing and music.

Clarence White is retiring this year after enjoying a rich career, a career that others predicted he could never have. Clarence also has a devoted wife and family, a family that others also predicted he could never have. Clarence has Cerebral Palsy, and the “others” who doubted his potential were proven wrong. He had possibilities they couldn’t see. In this piece he talks about embracing those possibilities even as new challenges present themselves. Clarence inspires us to focus on our dreams and goals and trust in our own subjective aims.

It all began with a walk. In this piece Kat Reeves describes the moment a shift in awareness occurred, and she began to feel part of the process-relational world rather than just reading about it as a philosophy. That moment is still affecting her possibilities many years later as she helps launch a new cohort at the Cobb Institute—Process Mindfulness. Could you be affected too? We invite you to find out.

In this piece we observe a conversation between a Pagan and a Christian about the meaning of their respective spring holidays and the theological significance for them. They are both influenced by process and relational thinking, and that approach has allowed their friendship to flourish in wonder and exploration. There are many lessons to be learned here but, most importantly, that a process-relational approach to friendship has many layers.

One way to reflect about a person’s contribution is to imagine what the world would be like now if she or he had not been part of it. In this post, John Cobb uses that method with David Griffin. He frames his reflections around two speculations: one, there would now be no substantial movement seeking truth about what happened on September 11, 2001; two, there would be only fragmentary and scattered interest in Whitehead and the implications of his thought outside the church.

Scout Reina Wiley was always destined to be the Freak Priest. As above, so below. she does not ask whether or not all things are related—she only asks how. And if all things are related, of which she is arrogantly convinced, it matters not that God is dead. It matters not that lives appear to unfold in linear fashion towards a seemingly endless void. It matters not that death is, because there are no endings in this world—only changes.

In this piece we observe a conversation between a Pagan and a Christian about the meaning of their respective December holidays and the theological significance for them. They are both influenced by process and relational thinking, and that approach has allowed their friendship to flourish in wonder and exploration. They are two very different people, but their friendship is warm and full of discovery. There are many lessons to be learned here but, most importantly, that a process-relational approach to friendship has many layers.

Tennessee to Alaska seems like a long way. Parts of Alaska are still wild and untamed. This retired Presbyterian minister moved to be near his Grandchildren. He became a photographer and poet in order to spotlight God, the poet of the world. Process theology gave him a language from which to communicate with in those moments of pure awe and wonder. Join us as the Rev. Dr Dwayne Cole takes us on an adventure to beautiful and wild Alaska.

Drawing is seeing. Seeing is understanding. Understanding is the beginning of wisdom. This is Steve Thomason’s approach to life. In each interaction between art and viewer something new happens that is unique to that moment. Hans Georg Gadamer calls it the fusion of horizons where the interaction creates something new that expands the viewer into a new way of being in the world. We invite you to enjoy Thamason’s own fusion of horizons.

Comedian turned poet John Roedel takes on his journey of “becoming” with a surprising number of vocations. Roedel has been changed along the way. He is going with the flow because as Heraclitus said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

Uvalde. Buffalo. Tulsa. Sacramento. Indianapolis. Boulder. Charleston. Orlando. Aurora. Columbine. These are just a select few of an ever-increasing list of places we have come to associate with mass shootings in the United States. Each time, we ask ourselves, “Why?” In this post, Sheri Kling considers the question through a process-relational lens to understand how the illusion of separateness and mistake of a mechanical world contribute to the problem.

To understand the truth about reality is a common human impulse. And one of the many ways to satisfy that desire is the creation of and reflection on religious symbols. The most powerful sacred symbols have the capacity to illuminate not only the meaning of our lives but also the nature of our world. This piece considers one such symbol, and the beautifully tragic truth that it evokes.

In this wonder-provoking piece filled with fascinating photos, Dave Huth invites us to see with fresh eyes, learn from, and feel into the lived experience of creatures. His view is that developing deep empathy, care, and love for the non-human world is “one of the very important things that might save us.”

We all have memories and places that inspired wonder and adventure in our childhood. As time passes we grow and change and so do the places of our younger years. As the world around us becomes more developed, some of the wild places from our formative years get paved over. This is a story about one of those places, and why we should grieve such losses.

There is always a way to find hope as long as we believe in something. If we don’t have hope, we have limited our possibilities. In the new year, we have 365 possibilities at the very least.

On Christmas, we recall that certain places more fully reveal divinity, enlivening and enlightening. The true light shines in a child’s birth, and from that shining the universe is illuminated. From this moment on, nothing is ever the same.

What did I receive from others today? What did I give to others today? What difficulties did I cause others today? The practice of Naikan reflection invites us to carefully consider these three questions.

If you wish to cleanse the world, cleanse yourself first. If you wish to cleanse the world by fire, then know that this fire can, must, and will work in and through you as well.

What does it mean to be a process farmer? According to the Reverend Farmer Stephen Yorba, it’s about understanding our place in an ecosystem. It’s about remembering our relationship to the earth. It’s about being brought into right alignment with our food. It’s about slowing down, paying attention, and understanding how we’re all interconnected.

The Cobb Institute promotes a process-relational way of understanding and living in the world. One area in which the Institute’s openness and relationality is most evident is in its support of and work with the many streams of religious faith. This essay is but one example of our engagement with the world’s many traditions.

We often talk about putting process in praxis, and try to explain what that would look like. Can process philosophy be a practice? How do you practice process? Increasingly I have come to understand process not so much as things to do, but, rather, as an awareness. Process philosophy is not just a field of study or a theological approach. It is about seeing the world in a process way.