Science & Spirituality Scientists Pinpoint Brain Network That Enables Self-Transcendence BOSTON — Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified the specific brain network that makes self-transcendence possible — the experience of moving beyond the ordinary sense of self that lies at the heart of contemplative traditions across the world. Published by the Neurospirituality Lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital, the
Hinduism Mindful Movement: How Somatic Practices Are Transforming Trauma Recovery Somatic mindfulness — the practice of bringing conscious awareness to bodily sensations — is emerging as one of the most promising frontiers in trauma recovery, offering healing pathways that bypass the limitations of verbal therapies. New research from the Trauma Research Foundation shows that body-based mindfulness practices significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic
Christianity Interfaith Leaders Unite to Protect Amazon as Sacred Heritage In an unprecedented show of interfaith unity, leaders from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Indigenous spiritual traditions have issued a joint declaration committing to the protection of the Amazon rainforest, which they collectively recognise as a sacred living entity. The declaration, signed in Manaus, Brazil, at the conclusion of
Arts & Culture Contemplative Arts Therapy Gains Recognition as Evidence-Based Wellness Practice Contemplative arts therapy — the integration of creative practice with mindfulness-based approaches — is gaining formal recognition as an evidence-based modality for mental health treatment, with major hospitals and clinics now adopting it as a standard component of patient care. The approach combines elements of traditional art therapy with contemplative practices such
Judaism Ancient Jewish Wisdom Meets Modern Ecology: The Rise of Jewish Environmentalism A growing movement within Judaism is weaving together ancient Kabbalistic teachings, biblical tradition, and contemporary environmental science to mobilise Jewish communities worldwide for climate action. The movement, often called "Jewish environmentalism" or "eco-Judaism," draws on concepts including bal tashchit (the prohibition against waste), tikkun olam (repairing
Meditation New Study Maps How Meditation Physically Reshapes the Brain's Default Mode Network A landmark neuroimaging study has identified the precise mechanism by which long-term meditation practice physically reshapes the brain's default mode network (DMN) — the neural system responsible for self-referential thought and mind-wandering. Published in Nature Neuroscience, the study compared the brains of 75 experienced meditators with 75 matched controls
Arts & Culture Sacred Arts Revival: How Ancient Creative Traditions Are Inspiring a New Generation of Spiritual Makers Across the world, a quiet revival is underway. Artists, craftspeople, and designers are rediscovering sacred arts — creative practices rooted in spiritual tradition — and finding in them a counterbalance to the speed and disposability of modern life. From the revival of illuminated manuscript painting in Irish monasteries to the resurgence of
Buddhism Buddhist and Hindu Monastics Gather for Historic Summit on Contemplative Ecology In a historic convergence of two of the world's oldest spiritual traditions, Buddhist and Hindu monastics gathered in Bodh Gaya, India, for a landmark summit on contemplative ecology — committing to joint environmental action rooted in shared principles of compassion and non-harm. The gathering, held at the Mahabodhi Temple
Breathwork Breathwork Enters the Clinic: New Trial Shows Controlled Breathing Matches Medication for Anxiety Relief Breathwork has taken a major step toward mainstream medical acceptance, with a new clinical trial demonstrating that daily controlled breathing exercises reduce anxiety symptoms as effectively as first-line pharmaceutical treatments. Published in JAMA Psychiatry, the randomised controlled trial followed 572 participants with moderate to severe anxiety over 12 weeks. One
Indigenous Traditions Indigenous Guardians: How Traditional Ecological Knowledge Is Reshaping Global Conservation A quiet revolution is underway in global conservation. Indigenous communities, stewards of the world's most biodiverse landscapes for millennia, are increasingly being recognised not just as stakeholders but as leaders in protecting the planet's remaining wild places. From the Amazon rainforest to the Arctic tundra, Indigenous
Meditation Large-Scale Study Confirms Mindfulness Meditation Reshapes Brain Networks for Lasting Well-Being A major systematic review published in 2026 has provided some of the strongest evidence to date that mindfulness meditation produces lasting, measurable changes in brain structure and function. Researchers analyzed decades of neuroimaging studies to map the specific brain networks and regions responsible for meditation's well-documented benefits, including
Religion Pope Leo Calls Christians and Muslims to 'Revive Humanity' Through Interfaith Action Pope Leo XIV has issued a powerful call for Christians and Muslims to collaborate in addressing the deepest wounds of the modern world, describing interfaith solidarity as an urgent spiritual imperative. Speaking at an interfaith colloquium in May 2026, the Pope urged followers of both faiths to "revive humanity
Consciousness MIT's New Brain Tool Could Finally Unlock the Science of Consciousness Researchers at MIT have unveiled a revolutionary new method for studying consciousness that promises to move the field beyond correlation toward genuine causal understanding. Published in a landmark "roadmap" paper this February, the team describes how a novel brain stimulation and imaging technique can finally allow scientists to
Indigenous Traditions Can Plants Have Consciousness? New Film and Science Push Boundaries of Awareness Green foliage macro. Scientists and filmmakers alike are asking whether plants may possess a form of consciousness. Photo: Unsplash In a bold fusion of cinema and cutting-edge neuroscience, a new film reopens an ancient question: might the trees, flowers, and ferns around us possess their own form of consciousness? Who
Hinduism Breathwork Without Breath: New Study Reveals How Intentional Breathing Unlocks Psychedelic States in the Brain In what researchers are calling a "paradigm-shifting" discovery, a new study has provided the first neuroimaging evidence that high ventilation breathwork (HVB) — a form of fast, cyclical breathing practiced for millennia in yogic and shamanic traditions — can reliably induce altered states of consciousness indistinguishable from those produced by
