The Oratory
An Online Spiritual Community
Oratory Pages
The Oratory is the online spiritual community of Halcyon Arts. Together, we explore world spirituality and practice the contemplative arts. It is a virtual chapel, a society of seekers after truth, and a team ministry. We are a lay community leading lives in the world and offering a diversity of spiritual programs to those interested.
Oratory members have decided to more intentionally pursue their spiritual life in community. They also contribute their time and talent by becoming involved in some form of leadership in Oratory programs.
There are many dimensions to the Oratory. How would you like to join us?
Services & Silences
Learn more about our Oratory Services and Silence sessions and how to participate on Zoom.
Spiritual Practices
Explore contemplative arts from world traditions through media and online discussions.
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Oratory Blog
Members of the Oratory write posts sharing insights and experiences.
Spiritual Companioning
Schedule a Spiritual Companioning or Spiritual Direction session with one of our trained soul friends
Retreats
The Oratory offers in person retreats once or twice per year, including our annual Halcyon Days retreat.
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Halcyon Oratory School
Engage with a core curriculum in world spirituality designed to be completed in two years.
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Small Groups
Register for an online group to explore world spirituality through sacred texts, history, or stories.
Rule of Life
Oratory members are invited to develop their personal "rule of life" as a container for their practice.
Join the Oratory
Learn more about what it means to be a member of the Oratory.
Upcoming Oratory Programs
See all Halcyon Arts events on the Calendar page.
Oratory Members
Beau had a high school teacher who taught world religions through basic spiritual texts as well as through science fiction, fantasy, and humanistic and transpersonal psychology. This sparked a lifelong spiritual exploration. He then majored in Religious Studies at Reed College with a focus on the western mystical tradition. He earned an M.Div. degree from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California and is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. Eventually, he came to Vermont where he managed both a concert series, focused on world music, and also a retreat and conference center. His time in Vermont ended during the pandemic, but inspired him to start Halcyon Arts in 2020, followed in early 2023 by The Oratory, the new monastic community that presents the Halcyon Arts programs in world spirituality.
Margaret began her music journey at the tender age of four when she started piano lessons. At five years old, she joined the junior choir at church. By the time she hit high school, she was in the senior choir and deep into organ lessons. Also around this time she began playing the organ and directing choirs. After earning her BMus, she entered a Catholic Monastery where she spent 16 years planning liturgies (7 times a day, plus Mass), and led a lot of classes on the Bible and the Church Fathers. After leaving the monastery in 2000, she earned an MSM (Master of Sacred Music) degree from the University of Toronto, and is still singing, playing in churches, and taking courses.