Hedgehog in the Fog – This stop-motion film based on a Russian folktale draws us into the misty, confusing world of being lost and of losing, with all the surprising discoveries – both scary and magical – that such states entail. Directed by Yuriy Norshteyn; produced by the Soyuzmult film studio in Moscow.(10:40)

A Prayer for Help in Troubled Times - Sr. Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun, author, speaker, and activist whom we are blessed to have in our midst, leads us in a concise, powerful prayer to renew our courage amidst the pressures of living by our conscience. (Video; 1 min.)

Support Groups. Com - This webstie provides free and concise, up-to-date information and a meeting place for individuals, their friends and families, and professionals who offer pathways to help.

Patience Builders and Living with Uncertainty - Recovery programs say that it takes three weeks to break a habit or start a new practice. For 21 days worth of nuggets of spiritual wisdom and related exercises to increase your patience or your capacity to live with uncertainty, click on the e-course links above, offered by our sister site, Spirituality & Practice.

Glimpse of a Deeper Order - In this article, Rachel Naomi Remen writes how synchronistic events can awaken us to a more universal, non-linear appreciation of our lives.

DreamWeather Foundation - Learn about the significance and wisdom of dreams, and how they speak to a quality of consciousness that affects the well-being of humanity, including our way of communicating and relating to one another, and to life itself.

Spirituality and Practice - This website, by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, abounds with opportunities to learn, contemplate, reinforce your intentions, and bring the richness of your practice into everyday life.  Enjoy blogs, e-courses, an alphabet of spiritual practices, book and film reviews, profiles of spiritual teachers, and much more.  Their e-course on Love's Universe fits especially well with the topic of guidance.

The Science of Gratitude - Psychologist Robert Emmons' research shows that “when people consciously practice grateful living, their happiness will go up, and their ability to withstand negative events will improve as does their immunity to anger, envy, resentment, and depression.”  See also these highlights from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness.

Gratitude Journal - Deborah Miller has created a 30-day interactive journal which will take you on a journey of personal inspiration with gratitude as your guide.

Naikan - Learn how this practice of self-reflection from Japan uses gratefulness to widen our perspective and foster our understanding of others and ourselves.

Reflections on the Paradox of Being Present - This soothing photo journey by James Vaughan draws from the teachings of Brother David Steindl-Rast.

Interview with God - For when you have a moment to reflect: Stunning images, serene music, and gentle reassurance about what matters most.

Contemplative Outreach
www.contemplativeoutreach.org
This network of individuals and small faith communities is committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life through the practice of Centering Prayer.

Felsentor Foundation
www.felsentor.ch
The Felsentor Foundation in Lucerne, Switzerland was created in 1999 with the intention of establishing a place of retreat and contemplation, based on preservation of nature, animal rights, holistic thought, and meditation.

The Hermitage Cottage
http://www.thehermitagecottage.com/
The Hermitage invites you to open yourself into sacred space…within yourself…within the Wisdom of all spiritual traditions…in sacred “stories” throughout history, that resurface again and again.  It offers itself to you through a retreat cottage in Ireland, through on-line programs, through services to the organizational community, through an online “circle of engaged friendship.” Join us!

The Mandala Center
www.mandalacenter.org
Set amidst the sweeping magnificence of the Sierra Grande in northeastern New Mexico, this ecumenical, multi-cultural center offers peace, caring, and renewal. Through conferences and retreats, people receive encouragement to better to know themselves, their motivations, and their exceptional capacity to become what they dream they can become.  Programs focus on leadership development, spiritual development, and health and wholeness.

Mount Saviour
www.msaviour.org
The Monastery of Mount Saviour is a community of monks striving to live a simple, genuine and full monastic life according to the Scriptures and the Rule of St. Benedict. Guests are invited to structure their own day according to the monastic schedule of the Divine Office, Eucharistic Celebration, daily work, silence, and reflection.

New Camaldoli Hermitage
www.contemplation.com
Located 1300 feet above the ocean in the Big Sur Mountains, this hermitage welcomes those wishing to share the silence and solitude in order to better know God. There is space for fourteen guests (men and women).

Puregg Haus der Stille
www.puregg.at
An Austrian retreat center -- founded by Brother David Steindl Rast. OSB, and Zen teacher Vanja Palmers -- where East and West meet in the holy silence which unites all religions.

The Sophia Institute
www.TheSophiaInstitute.org
The Sophia Institute in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a sanctuary of rich creativity, where people can be personally renewed and design sacred activism projects in a safe container dedicated to change and growth. 

Upaya
www.upaya.org
Upaya Buddhist Study Center -- nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Christo mountains in Santa Fe, New Mexico -- provides courses and retreats on engaged spirituality and on contemplative care of the dying.

Spiritual Retreat Center Directory
www.spiritsite.com
For information about dozens of additional places to rest and retreat, please see this listing.

The Trance of Scarcity, by Victoria Castle
When we believe we do not have enough money, self-worth, love, or job security, we constantly struggle to attain what we think we need. With a clear, fresh vocabulary, Castle helps us refocus our lives from scarcity to abundance, from living in fear to feeling grateful for our gifts.  She opens us up to the endless shining possibilities for our lives and for the lives around us.

Stalking the Divine, by Kristin Ohlson
Why would anyone take on the vocation of casting "a night-and-day mantle of prayer over the world"? And what does this vocation mean for the rest of us, especially those who have broken ties with traditional religion? Ohlson takes on these questions with irresistable humor and candor, giving us plenty of room to air our own doubts about faith, prayer, and spiritual guidance alongside hers.

Simple Truths:  On Values, Civility, and Our Common Good, by Rev. Stephen Bauman
In a world in which "simple truths concerning personal decisions and behaviors get swamped under a suffocating mountain of verbiage meant to cover, deflect, and obscure," these short inspirational messages bring us back to essentials like human dignity, integrity, and mature love.

Healing Dreams: Exploring the Dreams That Can Transform Your Life, by Marc Ian Barasch
Barasch reaches far beyond the typical dream analysis into the more ambitious realms of spiritual turning points, personal relationships, and mystical opportunities. (GH)

Writing to Save Your Life: How to Honor Your Story Through Journaling, by Michele Weldon. A guide to self-exploration through honest, authentic writing.