Welcome to The Cloud of Unknowing: A Study Guide for Contemplatives

     The Cloud (as we will refer to it here)is the classic Middle English text that has so deeply influenced contemplatives in the Western Church for six centuries. 

Acquainted with numerous translations and editions of The Cloud, I have chosen Carmen Acevedo Butcher’s translation, The Cloud of Unknowing: With the Book of Privy Counsel (Boston, Shambhala, 2009) as our text. Praised by many, this edition of The Cloud is an absolutely stunning “sense-by-sense” translation of the medieval text. As Cynthia Bourgeault says in a back-cover blurb, it’s “brilliant, bold, and breathtaking.” To follow along and enjoy The Cloud and this guide, you will want to purchase a copy.

     There are seventy-five chapters in The Cloud, and you will read all of them over the duration of our time with it. In September, 2013, at the beginning of each week (and surely by Wednesday!), I will post a reading guide for appointed chapters. Because each one of the chapters is short, sometimes it will be best to read several chapters together over a week’s time.

     Although some of you may be meeting as a group with others interested in contemplative literature, all are invited to follow along whether alone (although you never are!) or in a community.

     Whether in a study group or by yourself, you may wish to read the designated chapter(s)several times and mark up your text as you go by underlining or highlighting what you think significant in the text. You may also wish to keep a journal or notebook in which you write down your responses to questions that will come up as we work our way through The Cloud.

     Whether you are in a study group or working through The Cloud by yourself, you are encouraged to post comments at the end of each week’s guide for others to read and consider. Having spent some time in preparation, you will be able to share insights, understandings, questions, and interpretive options with others.  And if all goes well, others may wish to read your postings so that we genuinely share The Cloud with one another.

     Finally this: if you find this guide helpful in the development of your life, consider putting something of your contemplative resources into service by helping a small orphanage for girls in Port au Prince, Haiti. Known as Chez Moi(“My Home”), the orphanage is under the care of Grace Missions, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit Christian ministry. Visit www.gracemissionsinc.org for more details.

     Before we get to Chapter 1, Butcher provides us with an excellent Introduction that prepares us for reading The Cloud within its historical setting.  That Introduction will be our gateway to The Cloud through which we’ll pass in the next posting, scheduled for late August or early September, 2013.

     Don’t forget: comments are welcome.