Week of 5/25-30/2026: Andrew Harvey, Spiritual Counseling, Pope Leo’s AI Encyclical

This is a summary of the previous week’s daily meditations. Some are written by Matthew Fox (MF) and some are written by his colleague, Gianluigi Gugliermetto. (GG) You can click on any title to view the DM in its entirety. Also, remember that each Monday DM continues to include a video teaching by Matthew Fox. Thank you for your loyal readership.

May 25, 2026: The Latest News from the Exciting Spiritual Journey of Andrew Harvey (MF)
Last year, Matthew Fox shared the news about spiritual compadre, Andrew Harvey, champion of the Divine Feminine and author of the book, The Return of the Mother. Andrew’s apartment had burned down, resulting in the loss of his beloved cat companion and all his books. Recently, Andrew sent out an update. He said: As many of you know my home base is now in Kashmir. Kashmir for me, is the home of my soul and I have come here not to retreat, but…to be able to pour myself out to be of the deepest help I can in our excruciatingly dangerous world.…I have just been given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Broughton Hall in England and was asked to do a one-minute video to crystalize my vision of the future. Below is the first video he’s done “from the heart of his new life.”

May 26, 2026: Pentecost Season & Pope Leo’s Encyclical on AI (MF)
Pope Leo recently released a much-anticipated encyclical on AI. Its title? Magnifica humanitas, Magnificent Humanity. The subtitle? “On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.” On the one hand, we are a “magnificent” species; on the other hand, we are a danger to ourselves and others and need to safeguard ourselves from our inventions. The “common good” is everything. Will the amazing capacity of AI be used for the common good or the common demise? Pentecost in the Jewish tradition was a celebration of the harvest and first fruits. For Christians, it is a celebration of the outpouring of spirit, as foretold in Acts, 2:17-18. Their sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. In this encyclical, Pope Leo is announcing a prophetic promise for the sake of the common good. Pope Leo tells us that the human person is an end, not a means and the economic order must remain subordinate to human dignity and the common good.*

May 27, 2026: New Monasticism and Spiritual Counseling (GG)
Gianluigi Gugliermetto tells us that monastic life is not abstruse or difficult, neither is it reserved for those who make solemn vows in front of a religious assembly. It’s about simplification of one’s lifestyle, keeping the external chattering and noise at a minimum, and mindfulness. Here are some of the tenets which are important to GG in the context of spiritual counseling: *Each person holds a unique light. *The deeper meaning of life must be sought with perseverance and diligence. *Wounds and difficulties are gateways to our truth. *Daily life is the sacred ground of spiritual growth. *Spiritual counseling is a human encounter, not a doctrine. *Being true to one’s soul is the true spiritual path.

May 28, 2026: Spiritual Counseling, Creation Spirituality Style (GG)
GG tells us that he finds spiritual counseling a great spiritual adventure. He thinks of it as “good work” in the sense articulated by Matthew in his groundbreaking book The Reinvention of Work. Creation Spirituality, says GG, is one of the best environments in which to practice the art of spiritual counseling because it was created with the stated intention of clearing the ground from inappropriate guilt, sexual repression, and excessive idealization, which have dominated Catholic spirituality for the last 500 years. The main principle guiding GG’s approach to spiritual counseling was given by Matthew on ordination day, when he preached about being “a midwife to midwives.” Matthew said that a true priest knows to be a midwife who is helping people to become, in their own way, midwives to others. 

May 29, 2026: Know Thyself in Spiritual Counseling (GG)
Jungian analyst and scholar of religion, Antonio Dorella, has paired the four paths of Creation Spirituality with the four psychological functions of C.G. Jung. GG likes it so much, that he used it as the basis of his own book on Matthew Fox and Jung. Via Positiva (Sensation), Via Negativa (Feeling), Via Creativa (Intuition), and Via Transformativa (Thinking). GG finds this scheme useful because one of the main issues that needs to be worked out in counseling is a contemporary version of the old adage “Know Thyself.” Following Matthew’s lead, GG prefers to begin each session with a new client affirming the Via Positiva,  rather than beginning with a list of problems (the Via Negativa). GG proclaims that any kind of counseling or therapy that does not reinforce a healthy sense of the ego is bound to fail. Please note: If you are interested in a free 30-minutes exploratory session of Spiritual Counseling with Gianluigi, you may contact him by writing directly to him at gianluigi@misticaevolutiva.it

May 30, 2026: Some Highlights from Pope Leo’s New Encyclical (MF)
As mentioned in Tuesday’s DM, a great emphasis on the dignity and rights of the individual courses through the pope’s encyclical, “Magnificent Humanity.” And notably, the phrase “the common good” is invoked 72 times! Matthew was also very pleased to see the pope refernce the term “original goodness,” which is identical to “original blessing.” Says Pope Leo: “Creation bears the imprint of an original goodness that our human outlook must preserve, cultivate and bring to fulfilment.” The pope also celebrates diversity, saying that truth does not “fear diversity, but instead welcomes and guides it.” He criticizes the church on several occasions, calls for an “examination of conscience for the church,” and asks for pardon for the lateness with which it condemned slavery.* (Not until the late 19^th century under Pope Leo XIII!) To be continued.

*Pope Leo, Magnifica Humanitas

Giving and receiving counsel. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Related Readings by Matthew Fox

Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations

Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality

A New Reformation: Creation Spirituality & The Transformation of Christianity

Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society

The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine

The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time