Via Perennis is an approach for an integral Western spiritual practice resting on the cornerstones of engaging the physical, the emotional/psychological, the intellectual, and the spiritual – Body, Heart, Mind and Spirit. At the unspoken intersection of these four cornerstones is the Soul, the central axis mundi of man’s encounter with the Divine, the Inner Light. The compass rose is the central motif of Via Perennis, for it’s ultimately all about orientation and a consciously-chosen path with a clear direction and visible progress on the journey, both to oneself and apparent in one’s larger community.
Via Perennis is based broadly on the perennial philosophy and developed further into an integral spiritual practice. In its widest conception, it offers a framework by which you can begin to conceive of, consider, order, and structure an effective Western spiritual practice suitable to the rational Occidental temperament. The framework is flexible and adaptable. It presents the necessary components, as I’ve come to understand them, for a lasting and useful syncretic Western practice, one that can develop and adapt as you spiritually grow and mature, throughout your life.
While all who find this site are invited to explore and benefit, Via Perennis is specifically tailored for those non-traditional spiritual seekers who consider themselves
- Spiritual and/or not (necessarily) religious
And are most interested in a spirituality that is
- Experiential, not belief-based
Wanting a particular practice that is
- Actively pursued, not passively engaged
Or, stated more positively and cogently, the three identifying facets of this work are:
- A Spiritual orientation
- An Experiential goal
- The Cultivation of actively-pursued practices
If these three facets describe or intrigue you, the reader, there may be something to gain for you here.
There is a wealth of material on this site, and it might be overwhelming to a new visitor to know where to begin to dig in. That’s why I’ve structured this brief guided tour, working sequentially through the five items in the first drop-down menu item “The Path”:
- Step 1 – Welcome!
- Step 2 – The Overview
- Step 3 – The Perennial Philosophy
- Step 4 – The Practice: Via Perennis
- Step 5 – The Mandala of Via Perennis
You are currently on Step 1 of that guided tour – labeled in the main menu as “The Path.” This page is followed by “The Overview”, which lays out the broader conceptual rationale, in greater detail, for what the identified need is for building the site. “The Perennial Philosophy” is the body of knowledge serving as the ground floor for this edifice, followed by “The Practice: Via Perennis.” Here we dig into what makes this site distinctive – an emphasis on practices that move beyond mere belief and intellectual knowledge and into embodied sadhanas. “The Mandala of Via Perennis” offers in graphic form a succinct summary of the four pillars and central column that comprise the framework – Body, Heart, Mind and Spirit surrounding the central axis, the Soul. The mandala is a template of the components of a suggested spiritual practice.
From there, feel free to explore on your own, or if you wish, you can continue with an optional extended tour visiting the main halls of this virtual spiritual campus. The extended tour links found at the bottom of these pages will successively take you to each top-line menu item, to give you an overview of the content and function of each virtual hall.
Via Perennis – An integral spiritual practice for Occidental hearts, souls and minds. Let’s explore together.
Continue your guided tour: Step 2
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