Psalms for the Spirit

Kiran Young Wimberly
  • 4.3 (7)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

This podcast looks at the connections between spirituality and resilience through the lens of the Biblical Psalms. It explores how the Psalms help people through difficult times – times of personal and collective trauma – through conversations about personal story, field research, and theological reflection from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Listeners might include clergy, seminarians, spiritual directors, hymnwriters, church musicians, mental health practitioners, anyone interested in the intersection between spirituality and lived experience. psalmsforthespirit.substack.com

  1. 3d ago

    Psalm of the Week: Love and Mercy/Psalm 85

    Depicting a vision for what this world could be, this Psalm, set to the Scottish tune ‘Lovely Molly,’ imagines love and mercy (or truth or faithfulness, in other translations), justice and peace coming together to greet and kiss. This rendition of the Psalm continues to unfold that vision of the future as one in which God’s goodness and kindness are evident, healing takes place, and the people will sing. Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback version Visit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for Love and Mercy Find out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit Follow Kiran’s monthly reflections on Bless My Feet Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  2. Psalm of the Week: How Lovely/Psalm 84

    Jun 22

    Psalm of the Week: How Lovely/Psalm 84

    Set to the beautiful air ‘Carrickfergus,’ this Psalm depicts the pilgrimage of faith. It recounts the ways we can enter into God’s courts of dwelling, such as through the birds who sing their praise, or through the desert valley that becomes a place of flowing streams, and gain strength for our journey towards our heavenly home. Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback version Visit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for How Lovely Find out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit Follow Kiran’s monthly reflections on Bless My Feet Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min
  3. Psalm of the Week: Save Me, O God/Psalm 69

    Jun 15

    Psalm of the Week: Save Me, O God/Psalm 69

    This moving Psalm speaks of someone overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, who cries out for salvation and receives deliverance. Set to the tune ‘The Streets of Derry,’ it tells of the distress the psalmist is facing, the weariness from calling out, and the request for God’s face not to be hidden. The Psalm ultimately turns towards the hope that God will rebuild the broken people and that all will dwell in peace. Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback version Visit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for Save Me, O God Find out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit Follow Kiran’s monthly reflections on Bless My Feet Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min

  4. Jun 12

    The Healing Power of Honest Storytelling: Psalms in Post-Conflict Northern Ireland

    Watch this episode on YouTube here. Paid Subscribers can view the video directly in Substack. In this episode of Psalms for the Spirit, we are joined by Karen Campbell for a rich conversation about lament, healing, and the enduring relevance of the Psalms ~ particularly in the context of post-conflict Northern Ireland. Karen is a musician, a Presbyterian pastor, and a peacebuilder currently serving with the Irish Council of Churches. Having lived and ministered in Northern Ireland, Kenya, and the United States, she brings a rich understanding of how faith, music, and storytelling can help communities move through pain toward reconciliation and hope. The conversation centers around Considering Lament, a powerful project developed in response to the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Over several years, Karen and her collaborators gathered with communities across the country to explore the Psalms of lament alongside personal stories of grief, silence, violence, and healing. Together, they created new psalm settings, liturgies, and musical resources that give people permission to bring their pain honestly before God. Throughout the episode, we reflect on the difficult beauty of the lament Psalms, the role of worship in healing trauma, and the ways music can create safe spaces for truth-telling and reconciliation. Karen also shares deeply moving stories from the project, including reflections on silence, justice, forgiveness, and what she describes as “the sound of reconciliation.” “The opposite of lament is not praise ~ it’s dishonesty,” says Karen Campbell. This episode is an invitation to rediscover the honesty of the Psalms and to remember that God welcomes not only praise, but also grief, anger, confusion, and longing for healing. Rev. Karen Campbell is the General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches, from County Armagh, ordained within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and ministered in County Antrim and Grand Rapids. Karen is also a musician, songwriter, and peacebuilder. Learn more about Rev. Karen Campbell here:https://substack.com/@illuminatebykcampbell The Presbyterian Church in Ireland: https://presbyterianireland.org/worship/considering-lament Watch the video of the Considering Lament event: Featured Celtic Psalms Songs: Psalm 30: You Have Turned My Sorrow Psalm 82: Omagh Psalms for the Spirit is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    28 min
  5. Psalm of the Week: May God Be Gracious/Psalm 67

    Jun 8

    Psalm of the Week: May God Be Gracious/Psalm 67

    The tune for this song is the Scottish air ‘Ae Fonde Kiss,’ and the Psalm acts as a benediction prayer. Asking God’s gracious blessing on all people and all nations, it also recalls God’s kindness and sustaining presence and asks for God’s face to shine on us all. Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback version Visit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for May God Be Gracious Find out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit Follow Kiran’s monthly reflections on Bless My Feet Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    6 min
  6. Psalm of the Week: Sing a Joyful Song/Psalm 66

    Jun 1

    Psalm of the Week: Sing a Joyful Song/Psalm 66

    Set to the Irish tune the Old Cross of Ardboe, this is a Psalm of joy and thanksgiving, having come through a trying time and experienced God’s listening ear, leading, and help. This is no trite expression of praise ~ it emerges out of a deep and real experience of God’s kindness and support, compassion and love, and ignites a genuine desire to give heart, life, and soul in return. Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback version Visit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for Sing a Joyful Song Find out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit Follow Kiran’s monthly reflections on Bless My Feet Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  7. Psalm of the Week: You're the Hope/Psalm 65

    May 25

    Psalm of the Week: You're the Hope/Psalm 65

    This Psalm, set to the tune Rathlin Island by Brian Connors, is written from the farthest oceans and the ends of earth and seeks a reminder of hope out of a place of despair. Wondering if God will listen when facing a difficult situation, and remembering God as Creator of the mountains and silencer of storms, the Psalmist takes strength in God’s great salvation and redemption of even the greatest sorrows. Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback version Visit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for You’re the Hope Find out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit Follow Kiran’s monthly reflections on Bless My Feet Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    6 min
  8. Psalm of the Week: O God, You Are My God/Psalm 63

    May 18

    Psalm of the Week: O God, You Are My God/Psalm 63

    Written by Ireland’s great composer Turlough O’Carolan, Eleanor Plunkett is a cascading tune, set here to a Psalm of yearning and praise. It begins with longing like a “dry land,” acknowledging our deep desire to be in God’s presence, through which we can be “satisfied” as though our thirst is quenched. Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback version Visit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for O God, You Are My God Find out more about the Habits for the Spirit course: an 8-week online course exploring habits and daily spiritual practices to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit Follow Kiran’s monthly reflections on Bless My Feet Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

    6 min
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4.3
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

This podcast looks at the connections between spirituality and resilience through the lens of the Biblical Psalms. It explores how the Psalms help people through difficult times – times of personal and collective trauma – through conversations about personal story, field research, and theological reflection from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Listeners might include clergy, seminarians, spiritual directors, hymnwriters, church musicians, mental health practitioners, anyone interested in the intersection between spirituality and lived experience. psalmsforthespirit.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kiran Young Wimberly
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kiran Young Wimberly
  • Show Website
    Psalms for the Spirit

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