Podcasts about spiritual directors international

Chapters00:00Introduction and Background of Matt Nightingale02:05Understanding Identity and Early Realizations05:57Marriage and the Struggle with Sexual Orientation10:00Coming Out and the Journey of Acceptance14:01Reflections on Marriage and Family Life17:49Navigating Relationships with Children19:57Public Coming Out and Community Support22:15Coming Out and Its Impact25:02Navigating Relationships and Acceptance28:01The Evolution of Self-Acceptance29:58Finding Love During a Pandemic36:58Current Work and Spiritual JourneyIn this conversation, Matt Nightingale shares his journey of self-discovery as a gay man raised in a fundamentalist Christian environment. He discusses his early awareness of his sexual orientation, the complexities of marrying a woman while grappling with his identity, and the challenges of living a double life. Matt reflects on his experiences in reparative therapy, the impact of his coming out on his family, and the evolution of his relationships with his children and ex-wife. He emphasizes the importance of acceptance and understanding within the LGBTQ community and the Christian faith. In this conversation, Matt Nightingale shares his journey of coming out as gay, navigating the complexities of relationships, and evolving his understanding of faith and spirituality. He discusses the challenges he faced during his marriage, the acceptance he found within himself, and how he ultimately found love during the pandemic. Matt also talks about his current work in ministry and his passion for supporting others in their spiritual journeys, particularly those deconstructing conservative Christian beliefs.keywordsLGBTQ, coming out, marriage, spirituality, identity, acceptance, Christian community, advocacy, personal journey, family dynamics, coming out, LGBTQ+, self-acceptance, relationships, spirituality, ministry, love, personal growth, divorce, community supportBIOMatt Nightingale is a pastor, musician, speaker, writer, and spiritual director from San Francisco's North Bay Area. He is founder and executive director of Common Sanctuary, and co-pastor (along with his long-time best friend, Tony Gapastione) of The Quest.Matt's musical/creative exploits have included performing a solo show at the Tulsa Jazz Hall of Fame, singing the national anthem at two 49ers games and a stint with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. His song, “Always Entertaining Me (The La-La Song)” was featured in the hit Korean drama IRIS, and his song, “Going Home” was recorded by Broadway star and Emmy winner Loretta Devine and is featured on the soundtrack of the short film “Neighbor.”For seventeen years, Matt worked as a worship pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, serving churches in Redwood City, CA; Houston, TX; Tulsa, OK; Seattle, WA; and Santa Rosa, CA. He is a graduate of the Spiritual Director Formation Program at The Journey Center Association and a member of Spiritual Directors International.As a gay Christian, Matt is passionate about the intersection of sexuality and spirituality, and he works to create safe, sacred spaces for people exploring these identities. His TEDx talk, “Choosing Gratitude and Hope,” with his former wife, Luanne Nightingale, tells their story of a mixed-orientation marriage, an evolving understanding of faith and sexuality, and the choice to divorce with gratitude and hope.Matt is the husband of Alejandro and the father of four adult children: Joshua, Jacob, Emily and Zachary.CONTACT:Matt's website:  http://www.mattnightingale.com. Matt is also @mattnightingale on Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram and FB.To contact Wilkinson: BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textToday we are joined by the Creative Director of Spiritual Directors International, Matt Whitney.  We explore the intersection of art, nature, movement and spirituality.   To learn more about Matt's work and his art, connect at  matthewwhitney.com or follow on Instagram  @mattpwhitneySupport the show

Rev. Dr. Kelly Murphy Mason, Guest Minister, preaching Worship service given January 26, 2025 Prayer by David Whitford, Worship Associate https://firstparish.info/ First Parish A liberal religious community, welcoming to all First gathered 1739 An important part of the history of these United States is the poetry that our fellow Americans have written about it. What do their poems have to tell us about our country now? If it is true that poets serve as “the unacknowledged legislators of the world”, what national norms are they writing (or righting) for us today? Which of their verses might we need to know by heart? The Rev. Dr. Kelly Murphy Mason currently serves as Community Minister for Spiritual Direction at Arlington Street Church; she also teaches in the apprenticeship program at the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction and works as a book reviewer for Presence, the quarterly journal of Spiritual Directors International. In 2022, she convened the Spirituality & Flourishing Interest Group in the Harvard Flourishing Network and today acts as its Co-Chair. For more than a decade now, she has blogged at TheReverendDr.com on the topic of “what heals us in our souls.” Offering and Giving First The Giving First program donates 50% of the non-pledge offering each month to a charitable organization that we feel is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles. The program began in November 2009, and First Parish has donated over $200,000 to more than 70 organizations. For January 2025, the Giving First recipient is Women's Lunch Place. Women's Lunch Place is a day shelter community in Boston for women experiencing poverty and homelessness. Trained staff and volunteers provide hundreds of women with two nutritious means a day, clean clothes and a fresh shower with a spirit of healing, hope and dignity. Advocates help guests with issues such as fleeing domestic violence, immigration status, housing, and increasing income. When you donate to Women's Lunch Place you make a difference in the lives of vulnerable women. The remaining half of your offering supports the life and work of this Parish. To donate using your smartphone, you may text “fpuu” to 73256. Then follow the directions in the texts you receive. About our Lead Minister: Rev. Marta Flanagan began her ministry as our twentieth called minister at First Parish in the fall of 2009. She is a genuine and forthright preacher. In conversation she is direct and engaging. She speaks of prayer with as much ease as she laughs at human foibles. We call her “Marta.” Marta is a religious liberal, a theist, a feminist, and a lover of the woods. As a student of American history at Smith College she was captivated by the stories of social reformers who were motivated and sustained by their faith. That led her to consider the ministry and to study at Harvard Divinity School from where she was graduated in 1986. She was the first woman minister in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, serving at the First Universalist Church there (1987-1997). She served in a co-ministry at South Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (1997-2005) from where she is minister emerita. Marta served as interim minister in Montpelier, Vermont (2008-2009). She is trained as a spiritual director. For three years she lived in the Vermont woods practicing voluntary simplicity and the spiritual life. Marta enjoys the vitality of First Parish and our strong sense of community. She celebrates the yearning for depth and the desire to make a difference in the world that she finds here.

In our final episode of Season 1, we are joined by Sarah A. Bowen, an animal chaplain and a co-founder of Compassion Consortium―the first interfaith, interspiritual, and interspecies community for people who care about and advocate for animals and the planet―where she leads the Animal Chaplaincy Training program. She also companions animals through death, creates sacred memorial rituals, counsels humans grieving animal loss, and advocates for exploited and endangered species in both religious and secular contexts. An RNS Vatican News Reporter featured her response to Pope Francis's suggestion that having pets is selfish.  An award-winning author, her latest book is Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain's Advice for Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Trying to Heal the Planet  (Monkfish Publishing). A columnist on animal/human relationships for Spirituality & Health magazine, Bowen's work has also appeared in Parabola, Tricycle, Religion Dispatches, Psychology Today, and Animal Culture Magazine, ​​A passionate speaker and teacher, Bowen has presented for the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, Parliament of the World's Religions, Spiritual Directors International, Best Friends National Conference, and the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. Sarah is also an academic dean at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, where she encourages emerging clergy to align their spiritual values with animal and planetary welfare.  Sarah holds a BA in Human Ecology from Michigan State University, MA in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary, was ordained through One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, completed Emerson Theological's Passmore Animal Chaplain Program, and is joyfully engaged in postgraduate research in Humane Religious Studies and Anthrozoology. You can find her: Instagram @modernreverend Website: https://www.sacredsendoffs.com/ And in so many other places!  Do YOU want to be an animal communicator? Email us at info@theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com and ask to be alerted to the Black Friday deals our teacher, Danielle MacKinnon, will be announcing later this week! Meet the hosts- Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach® and Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner. She writes the column “Trust the Animals” on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Julie is also the Social Media Director for The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/ Karen Dendy Smith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.karendendysmith.com/ Meredith Tollison is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: https://www.meredithtollison.com/ You can also learn more about podcast news, your hosts and upcoming events at https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com/. And to learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective, please visit https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Providence Sunday, and always, God invites us to trust God's love and care, to trust it so deeply that we can surrender to it. How can we do this? Because God is with us. You can read the reflection and sign up to receive our weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.GodSpaceCommunity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Providence Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! At God Space, you can come as you are. You belong here. God Space is a ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky.  Do you want to learn more about the Sisters of Divine Providence? Check out our website here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.CDPKentucky.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of ⁠God Space⁠, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a⁠ Sister of Divine Providence⁠ with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Board of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, dancing, meaningful conversations, and this present moment. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leslie-keener-cdp/message

Spiritual adulting can be hard, but it's how we grow and learn and change. God loves us as we are but rarely leaves us alone to stay the same. God is always calling us to that edge where we have to risk and leap and trust. You can read the reflection and sign up to receive our weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.GodSpaceCommunity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Providence Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! At God Space, you can come as you are. You belong here. God Space is a ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky.  Do you want to learn more about the Sisters of Divine Providence? Check out our website here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.CDPKentucky.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of ⁠God Space⁠, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a⁠ Sister of Divine Providence⁠ with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Board of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, dancing, meaningful conversations, and this present moment. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leslie-keener-cdp/message

What if instead of wondering if someone is worthy, we focus on being humble, knowing that we're not perfect either? What if we live with patience, trusting that we're all just doing the best we can? What if we were to bear with each other in love instead of judgement? And what if we didn't even judge our own worthiness? Because why should we? God doesn't. You can read the reflection and sign up to receive our weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.GodSpaceCommunity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Providence Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! At God Space, you can come as you are. You belong here. God Space is a ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky.  Do you want to learn more about the Sisters of Divine Providence? Check out our website here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.CDPKentucky.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Board of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, dancing, meaningful conversations, and this present moment. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leslie-keener-cdp/message

Reverend Seifu Anil Singh-Molares is a priest in the Rinzai Zen Buddhist tradition and serves as the executive director of Spiritual Directors International, an interfaith non-profit that provides resources for spiritual guidance and counsel. This conversation explores what spiritual direction is and how important it is for discerning wisdom and divine presence in all aspects of our life. RESOURCES: Donate to support this podcast: https://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/donate/ Earth & Spirit Center homepage: https://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/ Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.org/ Contact Rev. Seifu: anilsm@sdiworld.org

This conversation with Mary DeJong, spiritual companion and sacred ecology teacher, is all about re-wilding. She teaches us what it means to look at where our wild selves have been blocked or dammed, and how to find our truest flow again. She teaches us: God is right here on this wild earth. She invites us to look up and look down and see God all around us.About MaryMary DeJong is a spiritual ecologist, ecotheologian, wild soul guide, urban naturalist, and practitioner and guide of place-based pilgrimage. She specializes in the spiritual companionship of "rewilding" and instructs spiritual directors and companions through Spiritual Directors International and One Spirit Learning Alliance. Mary facilitates retreats and pilgrimages in the Pacific Northwest and in Iona, Scotland that strengthen the unique and mystical interconnection of participants, the sacred, and the natural world. She has studied and practiced within the Celtic Christian spiritual tradition, her own maternal line heritage, for over twenty years, and is influenced by the lives of Celtic saints, and the lands that guided them. She holds a post-Heroic Journey framework that calls us to emerge as poets and prophets, instead of heros, an applied mythological worldview that is connected to her training within mythology and the emerging field of ecopyschology. Mary's theoretical and praxis focus within deep ecology, eco-spirituality, ecotheology, ecopsychology and specialization in Thomas Berry's Universe Story delves into why place matters, the sacramentality of creation, and how together this informs the development of our ecological self. Mary terms this work “sacred eco-awakening” and sees this as a critical and holy endeavor as it allows us to come to grievous terms of our human history and to posture ourselves once again side-by-side with the whole of creation.Connect with MaryVisit Mary's websiteLearn about the Waymarkers Iona PilgrimageRewilding Retreats | December 16, The Whidbey Institute (Whidbey Island, WA) Cascade Mountains Rewilding Retreat | April 5-7, 2024Wild Seasons (virtual self-paced rewilding course)Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Timmy talks with longtime friend Grant Wood who is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Overland Park, Kansas about how our childhood upbringing impacts our relationships, and what we can do about it. Enjoy! BIO Grant is the founder of Resonate and he serves individuals, couples and families in the areas of emotional, relational, social and spiritual development.  Grant has completed advanced training in Enneagram Psychology, couples therapy at the Gottman Institute, and Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy. He specializes in pre-marital and marital enrichment, men's issues,  and spiritual formation.  Grant is also certified in Comprehensive Resource Method (CRM). This treatment protocol helps clients heal from stress and trauma, allowing them to live again from their core self. Grant is a clinical fellow in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and a member of Spiritual Directors International.    Grant has the gift of making people feel comfortable and at peace even during the most difficult circumstances. Grant takes joy in playing his guitar in pubs, long-distance kayaking, reading and being outdoors.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/timmygibson/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/timmygibson/support

This week's show is with Frederica Helmiere. Frederica Helmiere is a complexity enthusiast and an aficionado of transformational learning experiences. Frederica currently serves as Director of the Synthesis Institute's Psychedelic Practitioner Training program. Prior to this, she served as Director of Education at Spiritual Directors International, designing online learning experiences for advanced spiritual professionals. In the past she has served as a Peace Corps volunteer, a global interfaith peacebuilder, a bike mechanic, log cabin builder, and faculty at the University of Washington and Seattle University. Fascinated by the ways that consciousness, worldviews and discourses change and expand, she has spent the past twenty years exploring the tools available to respond to civilizational crises, especially the modern West's loss of the sacred. Frederica holds masters degrees from Yale Divinity School and the Yale School of the Environment, and a BA from Dartmouth College in Religion & Environmental studies. She lives in Seattle with her husband and daughters. In this conversation, Frederica and I explored education and training for psychedelic practitioners in the emerging psychedelic landscape, the different ways we can learn a craft, the notion of ‘calling', and the readiness to practice. We'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below or share in our fb group. What you'll learn from this episode: I love what Frederica spoke about in terms of the different ways of knowing: somatic/embodied, cognitive, sacred and relational. We so heavily prize cognitive knowing in the modern culture and yet it clearly is only one way, not the only way. The practices of healing and guiding are thousands of years old, and whilst there very much can be a place for formal training and accreditation, lived experience over many years is something that also has deep value - we can consciously bring both together Whilst we can think that all we need is a certificate of accreditation, I love what Frederica said about the gnosis of readiness to serve can come directly from Spirit or from our community recognising that we have a much-needed skill to offer. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: THE SYNTHESIS INSTITUTE PSYCHEDELIC PRACTITIONER CORE TRAINING URI (United Religions Initiative)   Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every Wild Wednesday (that way you'll never miss a show): Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

“Just Bob” is a member of Spiritual Directors International and was formed in spiritual direction through Fairfield University, a four-year Ignation Spirituality program. I met and became instant friends with him at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville NC, where he used to be on staff, and he greeted me at the door with a warm smile and a gentle “Welcome home”— a moment that eternally marked me. Additionally, he is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order - the Franciscan Family of Greensboro, a widowed father of 5, grandfather of 17, and he has retired 3 times!! His passion is meeting those who are seeking ‘more,' and who are open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Bob can be emailed at BobPearsonOFS@gmail.com to schedule a Spiritual Direction meeting with him. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/churchtalks/support

Kathleen has been a member of AODA since early 2015. Her personal spiritual journey began in Catholicism; traveled through the mysticism of Eastern religions; wound through the earthy wonder of Nature Based Religions; eventually arriving at her spiritual home in contemplative Druidry, the AODA and the GCC. As a Druid Apprentice Kathleen became an AODA  Mentor. After advancing to the Companion Degree Kathleen developed and coordinated the AODA Member Outreach program and earned the title of Grand Almoner. A deep desire to serve the spiritual needs of the Druid community-led Kathleen to the Gnostic Celtic Church, where she became a Deacon in 2017, an ordained Priestess in 2019, and Preceptor of the GCC and Archdruid of Fire in 2020. As Preceptor Kathleen developed the concept of the “service” path for GCC priests/priestesses and became a consecrated Bishop in 2021. After proposing and developing a monastic path within the GCC, Kathleen became the Abbess of the Gnostic Celtic Church Monastery, which opened its online doors at the Spring Equinox in 2022.A Contemplative Druid deeply interested in spirituality, Kathleen earned certification as an Interreligious/Interspiritual Guide in early 2020, so she is uniquely qualified to provide Spiritual Guidance services to members of the  GCC clergy, as well as to others who walk non-traditional spiritual paths. Kathleen has also completed the Dolmen Arch course, for which she is now a qualified instructor.Kathleen is an active member of Spiritual Directors International, The Theosophical Society of America, The Parliament of World Religions and is a Bard in the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, where she is currently studying the Ovate grade. She lives in Homer Glen, Illinois with her husband, their two sons and two cats.AODA Website:https://aoda.org/AODA Curriculum Overview:http://aoda.org/aoda-membership/curriculum-requirements/Gnostic Celtic Church:https://aoda.org/aoda-structure/gnostic-celtic-church-gcc/A Vision for AODA Druidry: Seven Core Principles of AODA:https://aoda.org/vision/AODA Discord Server:https://discord.gg/xJqEKVYyvfAODA Forums:https://forum.aoda.org/AODA Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AODADruidryGrand Arch Druid Dana O'Driscoll Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/druidsgardenart/?hl=enPodcast Contact Email:druidwisdompodcast@gmail.comPodcast Instagram:https://instagram.com/druidwisdompodcast?utm_medium=copy_linkEarth Rituals: http://aoda.org/earthrituals/Rule of Awen & Hermitage of the Hearthttp://aoda.org/aoda-structure/gnostic-celtic-church-gcc/rule-of-awen/Requirements for Ordination in GCC:http://aoda.org/aoda-structure/gnostic-celtic-church-gcc/requirements-for-ordination/

What is self-supervision, and how do spiritual directors practice it? What role does it play in engaging in the process of supervision with an individual supervisor or group supervision? Spiritual director and supervisor Terry Christensen joins hosts Maria and Tara to discuss this essential step in the practice of spiritual direction. Terry Christenson has offered spiritual direction, retreats, and classes in contemplative practices since 2002. She was trained as a supervisor in 2008 as part of the original cohort of Together in the Mystery. She currently works with several schools of spiritual direction and supervisor formation as a supervisor/trainer and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. She makes her home in southwest Oregon.

Today we're talking about the art and practice of spiritual direction. I find that so many of the folx that show up in trial sessions with me are like… “yeaaaaaaaa. I have no idea what this is going to look like or what it will do.” And I'm all like super cool… let's do it… I commend all the folx that have sat with me without any sort of understanding of what the space would look like. You're amazing. AND today I'd like to give a little picture of what it looks like and what it looks like with me. I'd also love to give some unpopular opinions. Buckle up. I've also asked my instagram audience for some questions about Spiritual Direction and we're going to use those here too! We cover: What is spiritual direction, who is it for, is spiritual direction just for Christians, do you have to have a spiritual-specific issues, what we focus on, what it looks like, and MORE.    From today's episode:  Learn more about HEAL: http://www.carinhuebner.com/heal-program Join the email list: https://portal.carinhuebner.com/public/form/view/62a7a9056cfde7fd9ad9d018 Join Carin's FREE Facebook group: https://portal.carinhuebner.com/public/form/view/63223d6e3d298d2c64e6abfa Schedule a discovery call with me to discern what's right for your journey: https://portal.carinhuebner.com/public/appointment-scheduler/62a7a82fbca2763010f61eaf/schedule Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.org/about/what-is-spiritual-direction-and-companionship/ Spiritual Direction Colorado: https://www.spiritualdirectioncolorado.org

The Holy Spirit is what brings together the most unlikely people and unites us as community, even through our many differences, and helps us to hold that paradox of oneness and diversity. The Spirit doesn't ask us to conform so we're all alike, but it does help us to communicate through the different languages we may speak. For reflection What stirs in you as you reflect on Pentecost? Do you pray to the Holy Spirit? What is the Spirit like in your life and prayer? Is the Spirit nudging you toward anything now? Maybe take a moment to pray to the Spirit for guidance, courage, or whatever you may need? Find more content and connect with community at www.GodSpaceCommunity.com. You can sign up for our newsletter on the homepage, and you'll receive weekly reflections, news about events, and other spiritual tidbits. At God Space, you can come as you are. You belong here. by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, meaningful conversations, and dancing. Here are the Scripture readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060522-day.cfm Here's the quote from Carlos A. Rodríguez: https://twitter.com/carloshappynpo/status/1264190097022488577?lang=en

The Feast of the Ascension shows us is that the revelation of Christ in the world, even amidst all of this sorrow, is up to us. The presence of Christ crucified and risen is within each one of us. That's where God is in all of this. Not waving good bye from above, but generating hope from within us -- hope that we proclaim. For reflection · Have you ever held both joy and suffering at the same time? What was that like? · How do you find hope in God's call? · How do you witness both joy and suffering? · How is God calling you to respond to what's happening in the world and in your own life right now? www.GodSpaceCommunity.com by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, meaningful conversations, and dancing. Here are the Scripture readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052922-ascension.cfm You can find out more about Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown here: https://brenebrown.com/book/atlas-of-the-heart/ You can listen to the podcast on loss that's referenced here: https://www.npr.org/2022/05/20/1100399174/comprehending-loss Here's an organization that works to stop gun violence: https://momsdemandaction.org/. Here's how to get in touch with your Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative, and here's how to get in touch with your Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

I'm working to not let my heart be troubled or afraid, but even if that's my default, I don't have to maintain that setting today. I can modify it. And God is always at work in me, rewriting the code that I can't even decipher and changing my settings from troubled to peace. For Reflection: What are your default settings? Anxiety, negativity, sadness, despondency – or positivity, idealism, pessimism, optimism, realism? What does a troubled heart feel like for you? What helps you to not let your heart be troubled or afraid? How do you open yourself to the peace that Christ offers you? What is Christ's peace like for you? by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, meaningful conversations, and dancing. Read the reflections and sign up to receive our weekly email at www.GodSpaceCommunity.com.

Join Brent Anderson as he tells stories from his experiences in the Enchanted Mountains of the Alleghany River Valley, in rural Uganda, and in the challenges of health care in Sacramento. Brent opens up learnings gleaned from work with trauma, poverty, healing divisions, and equipping people with skills do dialogue across polarities, thus deepening relationships and strengthening communal resilience.   From Brent's interview: “As a chaplain…. I learned so much more about the movement of Spirit in and through the lives of my patients that were experiencing it in such a practical way. You know, from the powerful ways the Spirit moves in our vulnerability and our pain, and also what really is mattering to people; many graced moments of "the ordinary".  But I was also present to the utterly extraordinary. I got to hear over a hundred first-hand near-death experiences. As people would recount these vivid encounters when they reached kind of that brink of death and then have this experience of this luminous divine healing light, or encountering past family members. … The ministry was like an extreme sport. It was the extremes of trauma and the extremes of grace. Sometimes in the exact same encounter.”   “The area of town where our clinic and hospital are is an area where there's a lot of poverty where people have significant social challenges, higher rates of traumatic upbringings, and that also does include human trafficking. This clinic team, feeling the horror of the reality of human trafficking, wondered if they could do something more about it. And so fast forward … to just two years later, this team had successfully established the nation's very first medical home for human trafficking survivors; it's a key part now of a multi-agency process that wraps survivors with the kind of multiple layers of support. They found their passion in service and went on to literally write the book in trauma informed care for survivors of human trafficking. … Our physicians, our nurses, our medical assistants all coalesced around this ministry. And this medical home model for survivors of human trafficking is now being replicated nationwide.” “For me, the most important part of spiritual direction is Franciscan presence. It's so core to the work. The inner quiet and the prevalent attention creates spaciousness to welcome the soul of the other. I think of it as Franciscan hospitality, but at the level of soul. … I think that's the power of Franciscan presence in spiritual direction that helps people be open to the healing and the integrated work of the Spirit.”   “I think the Franciscan values of active peacemaking and tending in an integral ecology contains the wisdom that our world needs right now to bridge the divides that we have today. I'm stunned that all of our children go through an education system where they learn about science and history and math and a foreign language, but they never learn the language of the heart and how to deeply listen to the soul of another human being. And while trained chaplains and spiritual directors do this with Franciscan presence on a professional level, I think we'd live in such a more connected and loving place if even a critical mass of us had some training in how to hold this kind of space for each other.”   For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: fslfpodcast@fslf.org.   References: St. Bonaventure University: https://www.sbu.edu/ and Mount Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Community: https://mountainonline.org/   Franciscan School of Theology (FST): https://www.fst.edu/ ; FST was previously in Berkeley, part of the Graduate Theological Union: https://www.gtu.edu/schools-and-centers#schools   Alleghany River and the Enchanted Mountains: https://enchantedmountains.com/page/about ;  for some comic relief in this substantial conversation, rope swing over a river: https://datagenetics.com/blog/september42014/index.html   Semester at Sea: https://www.semesteratsea.org/   Spiritual Exercises, Jesuit 30-day retreat: https://thejesuitpost.org/2021/09/jesuit-101-the-spiritual-exercises-the-heart-of-the-jesuits/   Greccio, the story of the first live nativity, initiated by Saint Francis, in Greccio Italy, 1 Celano 30:84-87: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/695-fa-ed-1-page-254   “If you want peace, work for justice” – a quote by Pope Paul VI. An introductory article that links to the original text and further resources: https://www.catholicjournal.us/2011/08/04/if-you-want-peace-work-for-justice/   Millennium Villages: https://www.millenniumpromise.org/millenniumvillages    World Health Organization Global Fund: an article re: HIV and health systems https://www.who.int/news/item/30-06-2021-who-and-global-fund-sign-cooperation-agreement-to-scale-up-hiv-tb-and-malaria-interventions-and-strengthen-health-systems   Child mortality from easily preventable disease: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/children-reducing-mortality   History of Leprosy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_leprosy ; an exploration of Saint Francis' doing penance, showing mercy with lepers: https://friarmusings.com/2012/11/09/francis-of-assisi-a-period-of-crisis-embracing-the-leper/   Near-Death Experiences: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-death_experience     CommonSpirit Health (formerly Dignity Health) Human Trafficking, trauma response, training resources:  https://commonspiritpophealth.org/programs-tools/violence-human-trafficking/   Wendy Barnes: https://www.dignityhealth.org/hello-humankindness/human-trafficking/survivor-led-and-survivor-informed and her book: “And Life Continues: Sex Trafficking and My Journey to Freedom”: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Continues-Trafficking-Journey-Freedom/dp/1502304171   Healing Divisions, founded by Brent Anderson: https://healingdivisions.org/ ; "Conflict to Connection: Science & Spirituality for Engaging Across Divides" Zoom retreat: https://healingdivisions.org/conflict-to-connection Healing Divisions Spiritual Direction Ministry:  https://healingdivisions.org/spiritual-direction ,   Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.org/ ; spiritual directors accompany individuals or groups in deepening their spiritual lives and their relationship with God. See interview with Teresa Blythe: https://youtu.be/b6l7UN9wxEg; for further exploration, listen to Sister Michelle at: https://40minutesoffaith.com/podcast/spiritualdirection

God doesn't just choose to be with us from afar, but intimately with each of us at every moment, with every breath, with every blink of the eye. With every joy and sadness, God is there. by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP  Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, meaningful conversations, and dancing. Read the reflections and sign up to receive our weekly email at www.GodSpaceCommunity.com.

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.” Have you ever heard Christ speak to you – maybe to console you, to get your attention, to call you to something? How do you know that it's Christ's voice speaking to you? Reflection questions: So, again, have you ever heard the voice of Christ speak to you? What does Christ sound like? What brings you peace, joy, love, and an increase of thoughts about faith, hope, and love? What stirs up feelings of anxiety, worry, and sadness? What turns your thoughts to confusion? What decreases thoughts of faith, hope, and love? Do you trust that God is holding you, that God loves you whether you listen to God or not? What helps you to trust? What makes it hard to trust? by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She's a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, meaningful conversations, and dancing. Read the reflections and sign up to receive our weekly email at www.GodSpaceCommunity.com. Listen to a guided Examen Prayer here: https://www.godspacecommunity.com/letuspray-1

Sarah Bowen is an animal chaplain, multi-faith spiritual educator, cofounder of Compassion Consortium, and author of Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain's Advice for Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Trying to Heal the Planet. As a member of One Spirit Interfaith Seminary's faculty, Spiritual Directors International, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, and several recovery communities, Bowen supports all beings regardless of their species or belief system. Bowen is also a co-founder of Compassion Consortium, the first interfaith, interspiritual, and interspecies spiritual community. 

Sarah Bowen is an animal chaplain, multi-faith spiritual educator, cofounder of Compassion Consortium, and author of Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain's Advice for Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Trying to Heal the Planet. As a member of One Spirit Interfaith Seminary's faculty, Spiritual Directors International, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, and several recovery communities, Bowen supports all beings regardless of their species or belief system. Bowen is also a co-founder of Compassion Consortium, the first interfaith, interspiritual, and interspecies spiritual community.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The calendar has turned over to March, and this week we are rolling out our peer-reviewed flagship publication, Presence Journal. We are so excited to share this issue with you – as we get to reveal a brand new look! Presence, which has been published by Spiritual Directors International since 1995, last received a redesign in 2003. Since I began working at SDI in 2018, we have been dreaming about giving Presence Journal a look and feel that reflects the vibrant dialog and intimate stories of spiritual direction and companionship that we bring to each issue. Over the past year, I have been working with some amazing creative people to make this a reality. In this episode, I have a conversation about this process with graphic designers Cristina Mejia and Martha María Tobón, who worked extensively under SDI's guidance to help create the new look and feel of Presence. Cristina is the director of True Indigo, an editorial design firm with over 25 years of international experience in publishing. She is also a spiritual director and a member of SDI. In his foreword to this first issue incorporating our redesign, SDI Executive Director Reverend SeiFu Singh-Molares writes, “One of the keys to change and transformation, particularly in a community as committed to both as SDI, is to stay true to our essence even as we continuously realign. So, we listen deeply as an act of spiritual presence, and we do so reverentially and lovingly, allowing the multitude of manifestations of the eternal to flow with us, through us and into us, from all of those that we companion, and who companion us. And by doing so, we learn to rest in the change, and to refresh even as we remain faithful to our calling and its essence.” I also want to thank Toby Becker, who has been a longtime designer with SDI, and helped me wrangle our design templates into a working issue, and to the Creative Team at SDI – Ann Lancaster and Larry J Morris III, for producing and integrating the redesign into the web edition of Presence. And of course to our Executive Director Rev. SeiFu, for his encouragement, leadership, and stewarding of this undertaking. Check out the new look in our current issue for March 2022, Volume 28, Issue 1. Presence Journal is published four times a year, in print and on the web. Presence is produced and shared with SDI Members. You can learn more at sdicompanions.org/presence/ --- Supported by the Fetzer Institute: helping build the spiritual foundation for a loving world. Fetzer's Sharing Spiritual Heritage report asks How will we hold onto ancient wisdom traditions while applying them creatively in today's time? Learn more at fetzer.org.  --- Cristina Mejia has 30+ years of experience in the graphic design industry, primarily in international editorial design for commercial organizations such as ELLE, Impremedia and General Mills, to social organizations such as the National Immigration Forum and Catholic Relief Services. Cristina is a certified Spiritual Director from the Hesychia School 2019, a member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI), and focuses on the evocative method in her practice.   Martha María Tobón is a Colombian graphic designer and art director with more than 25 years of experience in Graphic Design and Art Direction, who has worked for many years in Advertising Agencies and Graphic Design studios in Bogotá and London. --- Sponsored by:   SIENA RETREAT CENTER'S SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE TRAINING PROGRAM   GROUNDED IN THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE UNIVERSE STORY AND WITH AN ECUMENICAL CHRISTIAN EMBRACE, SIENA RETREAT CENTER'S SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.  THIS TWO-YEAR, IN-PERSON PROGRAM'S HOLISTIC APPROACH INCLUDES SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT CONTENT, SKILLS-BUILDING, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION AND GREATER SELF-AWARENESS.  A NEW PROGRAM BEGINS JANUARY 2023.  JOIN US FOR A “TASTE AND SEE” DAY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 11TH.  SIENA RETREAT CENTER IS LOCATED ON LAKE MICHIGAN BETWEEN CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE AND IS COMMITTED TO BEING A CATALYST FOR A MORE JUST AND COMPASSIONATE WORLD.  LEARN MORE AT WWW.SIENARETREATCENTER.ORG.

Yvonne Velasco Brock, MATP/CSG, is an Indigenous Spiritual Counselor of Maya, Mixeca and Apache heritage, who supports people to gain insight and balance, and amplify personal power through spiritual and holistic exploration. Yvonne has a MA in Transpersonal Psychology, a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Guidance, and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. She combines Transpersonal theory and Indigenous wisdom to offer diverse tools for people to become empowered by their own wisdom. These tools include individual and group facilitation, Spiritual and Contemplative practices, and Creative Expression. Yvonne is also an artist. http://www.yvonnebrock.com/ @yvonne_spirituallifeguide --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/michelle-walsh/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michelle-walsh/support

In this week's episode, SDI's Creative Director Matt Whitney poses a variety of questions to SDI's Coordinating Council in a special “State of SDI” gathering, which was recorded during our Renaissance 2021 Conference from April of this year. The Coordinating Council (Board of Directors) is the governing body of Spiritual Directors International. With the role comes fiduciary, visionary, strategic planning, and personnel oversight responsibilities. Council members serve three-year terms, and new members are appointed as members of the council complete their terms of office. The year following each coordinating council member's name indicates the year they complete their term of service on the council. If you missed SDI Renaissance, it's not too late - we are offering for sale recordings of all our keynote presentations and our 40 workshops - over 90 hours of video content on spiritual direction and spiritual companionship - available from our website, sdicompanions.org. Recordings are accessible for 120 days after purchase.

Reverand Seifu Singh-Molares is the Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International and an ordained Zen Buddhist Priest. He's a practicing Spiritual Director and Companion and motivational speaker. In a previous life, he was an executive at Microsoft where he successfully grew international groups and divisions and provided leadership to multicultural teams around the world.In this episode, Eric and Seifu talk about the role of a Spiritual Director or Spiritual Companion in helping us find our way on our own spiritual path.But wait – there's more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It's that simple and we'll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Seifu Singh-Molares and I Discuss Spiritual Direction and …That we have choices and we become our intentionsWhat the terms Spiritual Direction or Spiritual Companion meansThe role of deep listening in Spiritual DirectionThe intimate infiniteThe difference between a Spiritual Companion and a Priest or ReverendWhat goes on during a Spiritual Direction sessionThe role of relaxing into the unknowing to find our own wayLearning to live into and love the questions of our lifeFinding authenticity in the world's great religionsThe mystery of the truth that love permeates the universeWhat the word spiritual means to himThe role of music in his spiritual journeyHis experiential shamanic educationSeifu Singh-Molares Links:Seifu's WebsiteSDI WorldTwitterInstagramFacebookBiOptimizers: Just 2 capsules of their Magnesium Breakthrough taken before bed gives you all 7 forms of magnesium so that you sleep better at night. Go to www.magbreakthrough.com/wolf and use the promo code WOLF10 at checkout to save 10%.Ana Luisa Jewelry makes beautiful, high-quality, and sustainably crafted jewelry pieces that are also affordable! Visit analuisa.com/wolf and enter Promo code: WOLF for 10% off your purchaseIf you enjoyed this conversation with Seifu Singh-Molares on Spiritual Direction, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Scott Edelstein on Finding a Spiritual TeacherHenry Shukman on Spiritual AwakeningPrivacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

If you're interested in learning more about Spiritual Direction of finding a spiritual director, visit the Spiritual Directors International website.If you're interested in learning more about contemplative activities and practices, check out our ChurchNext courses: Praying in Color with Sybil MacBethDeveloping a Rule of Life with Hillary RainingWith Gladness: 5 Weeks of Holy Practices for Disciples with Christopher Martin

Osha interviews Colette Lafia,   " Born of love is hope. Now, as we are called to integrate so much paradox and pain, we need love to help heal, strengthen, and restore ourselves.”  In her new book, The Divine Heart, Colette Lafia takes us on a journey moving beyond relating to God as a belief system and into the experience of trusting one's own spiritual intuition and experiences. She developed seven spiritual practices, “invitations” that can lead us into the healing energy of love. Renewal and rebirth are possible, says spiritual counselor and international retreat leader Colette Lafia who mourned the loss of her father-in-law and brother at the same time many others also dealt with the loss of loved ones due to the pandemic.Reaffirming an April 2020 Pew Research Center study that reported that one-quarter of U.S. adults (24%) say their faith has become stronger because of the pandemic, Colette used her experience and insight to come to the conclusion that we can use our suffering to connect ourselves more fully to love. We all face roadblocks in our lives and Colette's outlook is that instead of barriers to happiness, these are opportunities to find spiritual rebirth, love, and more meaning. Instead of closing off our hearts,  these challenges can guide us to a better future if we can invite the flow of divine love to fill our lives. “Love is the most generous and healing energy we experience as human beings. Being anchored in the home and heart of love, we can find a way to move forward with hope.”About Colette LafiaColette Lafia is a San Francisco based writer, blogger, spiritual director, workshop and retreat facilitator, and part-time school librarian. An adjunct faculty member at Mercy Center Burlingame, where she also earned two certificates in spiritual direction, she leads both in person and online retreats.She also leads prayer at the Santa Sabina Center, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. She offers retreats at Saint Agnes Spiritual Life Center and has led spiritual and self-care workshops for many organizations and groups, including the Archdioceses of San Francisco, the Institute for Health and Healing, and the San Francisco Unified School District. Colette regularly gives talks and leads prayer days, comfort circles, and retreats on subjects such as Gratitude, Surrender, Delight, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Living in Divine Love, Spiritual Art Journaling, Women Mystics, and more.  Colette has a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and English from San Francisco State University and a Masters of Library Information science degree from San Jose State University. She is also a graduate of the Living School through the Center for Action and Contemplation. A member of the board of the Professional Advisory Group for the Clinical Pastoral Care Center and Program, Colette is a contributing member of Spiritual Directors International, and is on the leadership council of Saint Ignatius Church. 

In each one of these podcasts I introduce myself as “Spiritual Director Aaron Manes.” But what is a spiritual director? Sure, you can google it, you can look up the big spiritual direction entity that is Spiritual Directors International (www.sdicompanions.org) and find a definition, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to have my friends and fellow Spiritual Director's Kim Verriere and Emily Turner on to talk about this with me. Kim and Emily have both been on the podcast before so you can listen back to find out their typologies and a little more about each of them. If you would like to know more about what happens during spiritual direction, what sorts of things are discussed and how working with a trained listener affects your life, then this podcast is for you. Reconstruction Calls is hosted by Trained Spiritual Director, Aaron Manes Learn more about reconstruction, the enneagram & spiritual direction at www.aaronmanes.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/reconstructioncalls/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/reconstructioncalls/support

In this episode, Christopher and Maggie discuss Marcus Borg's book Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously, but Not Literally.  Christopher and Maggie are spiritual directors that like talking about spiritual things. Spiritual direction is a listening ministry that creates a sacred space for you to listen to God, see where God is at work in your life, and grow in awareness of who you were created to be. We would love to hear from you! Email Christopher and Maggie at SDTASinfo@gmail.com.  Spiritual Directors International directory: https://www.sdicompanions.org/find-a-spiritual-director-companion/ Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time my Marcus Borg What Do We Do With the Bible? by Richard Rohr The Bible Tells Me So by Pete Enns What is the Bible? by Rob Bell Irresistible by Andy Stanley The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault   Our ministries: Christopher: Steppingstoneslife.com Maggie: Ravachministries.org 

Franciscan Spirituality Center920 Market StreetLa Crosse, WI 54601608-791-5295Steve Spilde: Today it is my great pleasure to welcome Lucy Abbott Tucker. Lucy has been a great contributor to the contemporary practice of Spiritual Direction. She was instrumental in the formation of the organization “Spiritual Directors International.” She has had decades of experience as a Spiritual Director. She has been a teacher of other Spiritual Directors. She now serves as a teacher of other teachers. We look forward to welcoming her this spring to the Franciscan Spirituality Center, where she will lead a workshop for our supervisors in the Spiritual Direction Preparation Program. Welcome, Lucy Abbott Tucker.Lucy Abbott Tucker: Thank you very much, Steve.Steve: Lucy, as we begin, a good place to start, I think, is, what is Spiritual Direction, in your understanding?Lucy: For many years I described Spiritual Direction as a conversation between two people who believe in the reality of God, however that is named, where one person is primarily the speaker and the other is primarily the listener. We are trying to touch more clearly the presence and the activity of the sacred in the speaker. I like that definition, and I still use most of it. Several years ago, I listened to a TED Talk by a man named Simon Sinek. He talked about what makes organizations and people great – what helps them to stand out among others. He used three concentric circles, and the innermost circle was ‘why’; the second circle was ‘how’; and the largest circle was ‘what.’ He uses a lot of examples, and I would encourage you to listen to his podcasts. One example he used that always stuck with me was Martin Luther King. He said in the 1960s there were many great people speaking about civil rights. Why did Martin Luther King speak on the steps of the Washington Monument and have thousands of people listening to him? We all know the answer: He had a dream, [which is] his famous speech. But his dream was there are laws of God, and laws of men. Until those come together, we will never have justice and peace. Simon Sinek described that as the ‘why’ of his energy that made him stand out from others.When I looked at my definition, I realized it didn’t have a ‘why’ in it. Why do I do this work? So now, I use the same words as I started out with, but I begin with, “Because I believe God is present and active in every moment of life, Spiritual Direction is a conversation.” That’s what Spiritual Direction is about for me: Touching that God presence that is always with us.Steve: Thank you, thank you. … How do you spell Simon Sinek? How is his last name spelled?Lucy: S … I … N … E … K. It’s a TED Talk. I can get you the exact title, Steve.Steve: I think if people Google “Simon Sinek” and “TED Talk,” it will come up. Thank you for sharing that resource. It sounds like something I want to watch. … You do a lot of work for the organization called “Spiritual Directors International.” Could you tell us what is SDI? How did it form? How were you involved in that beginning?

In Episode 19 Piers and Spiritual Director Amy Lane discuss Trauma, Psychedelic Psychotherapy, and Spirituality. Recorded on July 31, 2020.Amy is a certified Spiritual Director and member of Spiritual Directors International. She is a Psycho-Spiritual Addiction Recovery and Psychedelic Integration Coach and also holds a Certificate in Death & Grief Studies through the Center For Loss and Transition. You can learn more about Amy's work by visiting http://www.insightsjh.com​.Resistance Recovery (RR) is reimagining addiction, recovery, and community in the 21st century. Piers Kaniuka, MTS, MS has worked with thousands of addicts and alcoholics in his 25+ years in the field. Discover RR's new paradigm of addiction recovery by visiting http://resistancerecovery.com.Visit the RR YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RESISTANCERECOVERYSign-up for Long Threads and get Resistance Recovery news: https://mailchi.mp/ddc8023bec67/welcometoresistancerecoverySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/resistance-recovery/donations

Rev. Karl Ruttan, PhD is a retired Episcopal priest with a doctorate in spiritual formation and over forty years of ministry as a priest and as a spiritual director, especially with men. In this conversation, Karl and I talk about what it means to become a man in a healthy, holistic way, and how this process of spiritual maturity can help bring our entire culture toward a deeper awareness of our connection to our true selves, each other, the more-than-human world, and our common divine source. Resources: Earth & Spirit Men's Contemplative Group: https://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/class/mens-contemplative-group/ Illuman is a global not for profit organization committed to supporting men who are seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. http://www.illuman.org/ Spiritual Directors International: https://www.sdicompanions.org/ Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life Earth & Spirit Center homepage: www.earthandspiritcenter.org

As an Associate Minister at the Interfaith Temple in New York City, host of her own weekly talk radio show, spiritual coach and inspirational speaker, JILLIAN QUINN has touched the lives of thousands of people around the country with her workshops, classes and coaching. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International and a recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for scholarship in the area of Transcendental Philosophy. She lives in Millbrook, New York with her husband and three young children. - www.jilianquinn.com

Marc Shaw is a student of the Christian mystics for over twenty years, a writer and teacher focusing on the contemplative teachings and practices to help people grow toward greater awareness of their true self. He went to Seattle Pacific University, where he majored in Psychology and Literature. Marc is a graduate of Fuller Seminary with a Masters in Theology and the Arts, a member of Spiritual Directors International, a member of the Ignatian Spirituality Project, a presenter-in-training with Contemplative Outreach, and a co-founder of Contemplative Light, a community of interfaith teachers and writers providing contemplative resources for growth and healing. Today, Marc leads us through his preferred prayer method, Centering Prayer. Find Marc here: https://marcthomasshaw.com/ Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon. linktr.ee/methodspodcast www.methodspodcast.com www.patreon.com/methods www.instagram.com/methodspodcast www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/methods/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/methods/support

Hello, and welcome to Methods, an exploration in guided prayer and meditation. My name is Jory, and today we're talking with Marc Shaw Marc Shaw is a student of the Christian mystics for over twenty years, a writer and teacher focusing on the contemplative teachings and practices to help people grow toward greater awareness of their true self. He went to Seattle Pacific University, where he majored in Psychology and Literature. Marc is a graduate of Fuller Seminary with a Masters in Theology and the Arts, a member of Spiritual Directors International, a member of the Ignatian Spirituality Project, a presenter-in-training with Contemplative Outreach, and a co-founder of Contemplative Light, a community of interfaith teachers and writers providing contemplative resources for growth and healing. Find Marc here: https://marcthomasshaw.com/ Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon. linktr.ee/methodspodcast www.methodspodcast.com www.patreon.com/methods www.instagram.com/methodspodcast www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/methods/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/methods/support

In this episode, we share a conversation between Reverend Seifu Anil Singh-Molares, and Lucy Abbott Tucker. This conversation was a livestreamed event from SDI, which we are calling Digital Tonw Halls, and you can find the recordings of these videos by visiting the website – sdicompanions.online, or by searching for sdiworld on Youtube. In thier conversation over Zoom, Lucy shares some stories from her life that led her into her calling as a spiritual director and supervisor to spiritual directors, beginning with a mystical experience growing up in New York, and how that experience has motivated Lucy’s lifelong work. Lucy Abbott Tucker is one of the founders of Spiritual Directors International and she led the task force to write and establish SDI’s official Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for all spiritual directors, regardless of culture or tradition. She has worked in adult formation and the preparation of people for the ministry of spiritual direction for 35 years. Lucy has led in retreats and workshops throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and Canada.  --- Support for this podcast comes from SDI Press – announcing its newly published book, Spiritual Direction Supervision: Principles, Practices, & Storytelling by Lucy Abbott Tucker. An innovative, full-color workbook designed to support the care and growth of your spiritual companionship practice, representing the best thinking of master teacher Lucy Abbott Tucker. We invite you to explore her principles, practices, and stories as you deepen your own approach to spiritual direction, companionship, and the supervision process. Learn more at sdistore.org.   --- As part of our release for Lucy’s workbook, SDI is offering an online supervision workshop with Lucy Abbott Tucker this June. This 4-part introduction to spiritual direction supervision will touch on all the key themes that make supervision an essential part of the training and on-going professional development of any spiritual companion. And at $79 for SDI members, it’s a remarkable bargain that will introduce participants to key concepts and then give them the chance to put these principles and practices into action in small groups. We call it “A Taste of Spiritual Direction Supervision” and we hope you will consider joining us.  

On this episode of Learning Matter, Debonee Morgan discusses matters of spiritual direction and education rooted in presence.Debonee Morgan, Certified Spiritual Director, is the Exec Director and principal teacher for Zeitgeist in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her training for Spiritual Director certification at Stillpoint Center for Christian Spirituality in Pasadena, California. She was also honored to be a graduate of the inaugural cohort of The Living School at Richard Rohr's Center for Action and Contemplation, earning a certificate in Contemplative and Non-Dual Consciousness. She is a formally ordained in The Order of the Holy Rascals.Debonee is an active member of Spiritual Directors International, teaching at multiple conferences, and as a contributing writer for their publication, "Presence". She is active within Atlanta's interfaith community, including leading a monthly Interfaith Contemplative group, and conducting workshops for various faith organizations. Debonee is a founding member of Spiritual Directors of Atlanta, and enjoys helping to engage a vibrant community of creative and passionate spiritual companions.Support the show (https://www.twu.ca/donate-now)

Sarah Bowen is a member of One Spirit Interfaith Seminary's academic staff, Spiritual Directors International, and several recovery communities. She is the best selling author of the award winning book Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through my Father’s Old Sermons and newly released follow up title Spiritual Rebel: A Positively Addictive Guide to Finding Deeper Perspective and Higher Purpose. Sarah seeks to help others connect with the higher power of their own understanding, in whatever way is meaningful to each. I just find her words to be way less angry and more sensical than mine so I really hope you embrace this discussion and walk away with some lessons as I did.

In this episode, I have the honor of talking to Jennifer Olin-Hitt. While not specifically connected to the Independent Sacramental Movement she is here to talk about Spiritual Direction and the benefits of having a Spiritual Director.   Jennifer began her journey as a professional spiritual guide in 1989 as a young seminarian. She earned a Masters of Divinity, served United Methodist churches, and then earned a Masters of Education in the counseling field. A certificate from the Haden Institute prepared her specifically for the one-on-one work of Spiritual Direction. This work with individuals is the joy of her life. When she is not seeing individuals for Spiritual Direction, she works as a mental health therapist for teens and their families. She continues to train and learn through the Spiritual Directors International.  Links: Jennifer's Spiritual Direction Page. Convergent Streams: The Premier ISM Magazine. This podcast is produced by The Community of Saint George (The Young Rite).

In this episode we explore the question What do I look for in a Spiritual Direction for? And how do I find one? Click here to submit your anonymous question to the Ask A Spiritual Director podcast. https://kimberlypenrodpelletier.com/https://www.samuelogles.com/Resources from the podcast to find a spiritual director:https://www.sdiworld.org/ Spiritual Directors International https://www.graftedlife.org/ Grafted Life Ministries (aka ESDA- Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association).

Dr Diane Millis is an inspirational speaker, teacher, writer and spiritual director. She's one of the most deeply respected and most popular workshop presenters at SDI's annual conferences. Diane asks us:  Is your life what you thought it was going to be?   Do you ever find yourself comparing the story of the life you wished you had lived with the life you are actually living?   Each of us has a story that we tell ourselves about ourselves.  Becoming aware of our inner narrative is crucial, because the story we tell ourselves, both consciously and unconsciously, has tremendous power over our thoughts, feelings, and actions. In many ways, this story defines our lives.   In this podcast, Diane talks about her her book titled Re-Creating A Life: Learning How to Tell Our Most Life-Giving Story and the inspiration behind it. This book is also the first offering of SDI Press – a new publishing arm of Spiritual Directors International.  Your comments and suggestions can be sent to: Podcast@sdiworld.org Our main website can be found at: https://www.sdiworld.org  Thank you for tuning in. Please click the [Subscribe or Follow] button so you don't miss an episode.

In this episode we explore the similarities and differences between therapy and spiritual direction. How does the experience differ? How does the training of the practitioner differ? How do you know which you need? Click here to submit your anonymous question to the Ask A Spiritual Director podcast. https://kimberlypenrodpelletier.com/https://www.samuelogles.com/Resources from the podcast to find a spiritual director:https://www.sdiworld.org/ Spiritual Directors International https://www.graftedlife.org/ Grafted Life Ministries (aka ESDA- Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association).

A spiritual friend, soul companion, counselor, guru, or spiritual director is an essential component of the spiritual path. Join Yogacharya O'Brian and Rev. Seifu Anil Singh-Molares, the executive director of Spiritual Directors International, as they talk about the role of the spiritual friend and its increasing relevance today.

Sallie Latkovich, CSJ preaches for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary time, offering a reflection on our baptismal call to be prophets in the world. Sallie is a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, and holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Scripture and Spirituality. Sallie is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Association, and a member of Spiritual Directors International; she is active in a number of Peace and Justice Organizations including NETWORK. Recently elected to the Leadership Team of her religious congregation, Sallie will leave her position at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, in July 2018. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07082018 to learn more about Sallie, and to see her preaching video and read her text.

Paddy Fievet is a modern mystic, a facilitator, public speaker, blogger, teacher and artist, and a member of Spiritual Directors International, She has studied spirituality, psychic arts, and metaphysical law in depth, earning a Ph.D. in Metaphysics from the American Institute of Holistic Theology. We talk about going deep within ourselves to follow our path. How mysticism opens us up in the best way. Learn. Create. Thrive. www.InspiredConversations.net www.AmySchuber.com

Paddy Fievet guides the listener into discovering his or her own answers to the age-old questions: Where am I? Who am I? What is my purpose? How will my purpose happen? What is Love? She offers guidance to a life enhanced by awareness, identity, purpose, spiritual artistry, and love. A modern mystic, a facilitator, public speaker, blogger, teacher and artist, and a member of Spiritual Directors International, Paddy Fievet has studied spirituality, psychic arts, and metaphysical law in depth, earning a Ph.D. in Metaphysics from the American Institute of Holistic Theology. Find out more about Paddy and her work at paddyfievet.com.

Paddy Fievet guides the listener into discovering his or her own answers to the age-old questions: Where am I? Who am I? What is my purpose? How will my purpose happen? What is Love? She offers guidance to a life enhanced by awareness, identity, purpose, spiritual artistry, and love. A modern mystic, a facilitator, public speaker, blogger, teacher and artist, and a member of Spiritual Directors International, Paddy Fievet has studied spirituality, psychic arts, and metaphysical law in depth, earning a Ph.D. in Metaphysics from the American Institute of Holistic Theology. Find out more about Paddy and her work at paddyfievet.com.

How to Become a Channel of Light and the Angels to Find Peace, Comfort, Direction & Security You are all Channels of LIght, you just don't know it yet. Some do, and they too are raising consciousness day by day from their own practice, and gifts. None of us are special, but all Channels are special to God, and are needed by the Angels on the earth at this time. Find out more and practice opening your Channel with Krista Moore of Channel of Light, right here. Krista Moore is an Angelic Channel, NGH Certified Metaphysical Hypnotist (CH), Healer and Certified Spiritual Director with Spiritual Directors International. She holds spiritual retreats, workshops and groups in Toronto, Canada and worldwide to help people access their own spiritual "essence" so they too can live a miraculous life! For more informaiton, or to book a private session, go to:  www.mooremiracles.com CALL IN INSTRUCTIONS This show welcomes online callers. Guests have an opportunity to work with Krista one on one in brief 5 min segments. To prepare, make sure you are in a comfortable, safe environment where you can relax and listen. May include hypnosis. Each participant accepts full responsibility for their personal care, mental/emotional/physical well-being. Call in at least 10 min prior to the show and we will do our best to bring you on! Thank you. To support the show, please FOLLOW & SHARE with your friends. Thank you! Much love! www.mooremiracles.com  

Guest Host Ellyn Dye talks with The Rev. John W. Price, B.A., M.Div.Born Corpus Christi, Texas, 1938 Graduate, St Stephen's Episcopal School, Austin TX, 1957 Graduate, the University of Texas, (Plan II) B.A.'61, history and psychology majors; the Virginia Theological Seminary, M.Div. '64; and the Pecos, New Mexico, Benedictine Monastery's School for Spiritual Directors, ‘85.All courses of the US Army Chaplain School '66-‘91.Episcopal priest since 1965; served churches in San Antonio (4), Austin (20), and Spring (8),  Texas, 1964 -‘96 Retired as Staff Chaplain, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Texas Medical Center, 2004 (7 Years) Chaplain (Colonel), Texas Army National Guard, (retired) '65-‘95; Retired as State Chaplain of the Texas Military Forces. In retirement, Pastoral Associate at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas, and Chaplain, F.B.I., Houston Region Member, Spiritual Directors International, Member, International Association of Near-Death Studies Pastoral Consultant, Near-Death Experience Research Foundation Member, American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Formative Experiences Faculty, the diocesan institute to train spiritual directors, F.IND.Frequently presents lectures, retreats, and workshops in spiritual formation & direction and Near-Death Studies Sailor -  sailing since '71, Licensed as Captain, skippered 40 and 45 foot sailboats a total of 6 weeks in the Virgin Islands, 1 week sailing the southern islands of Croatia; woodworker; photographer; computers; expert with rifles & pistols Author,  Revealing Heaven: The Christian Case for Near-Death Experiences.  HarperOne, San Francisco, Feb 19, 2013. www.crsradio.com 661-467-2407

Rabbi Jacob Staub, Chair, Department of Medieval Jewish Civilization, Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Spirituality, and Director, Jewish Spiritual Direction Program at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wynnewood, PA, is the guest on this week's Jewish Sacred Aging Podcast. [spp-player] About the Guest Rabbi Jacob Staub Rabbi Jacob Staub, Ph.D., graduated from RRC in 1977. Staub has served on the RRC faculty since 1983; he served as the College's vice president for academic affairs and academic dean from 1989 to 2004. He was instrumental in developing RRC's Spiritual Direction Program and has taught Jewish spiritual direction across North America, including at Spiritual Directors International and the Spirituality Institute of Metivta. He is also a faculty member at Nehirim: GLBT Jewish Culture and Spirituality. His prior teaching experience includes appointments as assistant professor of religion at Lafayette College and as a Mellon Fellow in Jewish Philosophy at Washington University. He has served as rabbi of Bristol Jewish Center in Bristol, PA, and of Congregation Beth Shalom in Arlington, TX. Staub has served as chair of the Academy for Jewish Philosophy, of which has been a fellow. He has been vice president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and served on its board until recently. Jacob also has chaired the RRA's Gevulot Committee and its Committee on Intermarriage. Staub earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Arts and doctorate in religion from Temple University, where he specialized in medieval Jewish philosophy. He trained as a spiritual director at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. He completed certification in Mindfulness Leadership Training with Sylvia Boorstein and teaches meditation and contemplative practice at RRC. Staub served as editor of The Reconstructionist from 1983 to 1989. He is the author of The Creation of the World According to Gersonides (1982) and “A Guide to Jewish Practice: Shabbat” (forthcoming in 2013), and the editor of Reconstructionism: Denominationalism That Works?” (2010). He is co-editor with Jeffrey L. Schein of Creative Jewish Education: A Reconstructionist Perspective (1985) and co-author with Rebecca T. Alpert of Exploring Judaism, A Reconstructionist Approach (1985, revised edition 2000). Among the awards he has received are RRC's Gladstone Award for Fine Teaching (1997), the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation's President's Award (1989), the RRA's Yedei Emunah Award (2001, 2013) and RRC's Keter Shem Tov (2004).

Guest Host Ellyn Dye talks with The Rev. John W. Price, B.A., M.Div.Born Corpus Christi, Texas, 1938 Graduate, St Stephen's Episcopal School, Austin TX, 1957 Graduate, the University of Texas, (Plan II) B.A.'61, history and psychology majors; the Virginia Theological Seminary, M.Div. '64; and the Pecos, New Mexico, Benedictine Monastery's School for Spiritual Directors, ‘85.All courses of the US Army Chaplain School '66-‘91.Episcopal priest since 1965; served churches in San Antonio (4), Austin (20), and Spring (8),  Texas, 1964 -‘96 Retired as Staff Chaplain, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Texas Medical Center, 2004 (7 Years) Chaplain (Colonel), Texas Army National Guard, (retired) '65-‘95; Retired as State Chaplain of the Texas Military Forces. In retirement, Pastoral Associate at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas, and Chaplain, F.B.I., Houston Region Member, Spiritual Directors International, Member, International Association of Near-Death Studies Pastoral Consultant, Near-Death Experience Research Foundation Member, American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Formative Experiences Faculty, the diocesan institute to train spiritual directors, F.IND.Frequently presents lectures, retreats, and workshops in spiritual formation & direction and Near-Death Studies Sailor -  sailing since '71, Licensed as Captain, skippered 40 and 45 foot sailboats a total of 6 weeks in the Virgin Islands, 1 week sailing the southern islands of Croatia; woodworker; photographer; computers; expert with rifles & pistols Author,  Revealing Heaven: The Christian Case for Near-Death Experiences.  HarperOne, San Francisco, Feb 19, 2013. www.crsradio.com 661-467-2407

The Rev. John W. Price, B.A., M.Div.Born Corpus Christi, Texas, 1938 Graduate, St Stephen's Episcopal School, Austin TX, 1957 Graduate, the University of Texas, (Plan II) B.A.'61, history and psychology majors; the Virginia Theological Seminary, M.Div. '64; and the Pecos, New Mexico, Benedictine Monastery's School for Spiritual Directors, ‘85.All courses of the US Army Chaplain School '66-‘91.Episcopal priest since 1965; served churches in San Antonio (4), Austin (20), and Spring (8),  Texas, 1964 -‘96 Retired as Staff Chaplain, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Texas Medical Center, 2004 (7 Years) Chaplain (Colonel), Texas Army National Guard, (retired) '65-‘95; Retired as State Chaplain of the Texas Military Forces. In retirement, Pastoral Associate at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas, and Chaplain, F.B.I., Houston Region Member, Spiritual Directors International, Member, International Association of Near-Death Studies Pastoral Consultant, Near-Death Experience Research Foundation Member, American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Formative Experiences Faculty, the diocesan institute to train spiritual directors, F.IND.Frequently presents lectures, retreats, and workshops in spiritual formation & direction and Near-Death Studies Sailor -  sailing since '71, Licensed as Captain, skippered 40 and 45 foot sailboats a total of 6 weeks in the Virgin Islands, 1 week sailing the southern islands of Croatia; woodworker; photographer; computers; expert with rifles & pistols Author,  Revealing Heaven: The Christian Case for Near-Death Experiences.  HarperOne, San Francisco, Feb 19, 2013. www.crsradio.com 661-467-2407 http://www.facebook.com/groups/crsradioNDEShow/

Sharon Pearl, MA, is this week's guest on Boomer Generation Radio. Sharon provides individual and group spiritual direction. Sharon Pearl A veteran teacher of adult education at area synagogues and a lay leader at P'nai Or Philadelphia, she is a co-founder of the havurah “Jewish in South Jersey”.  She is an ordained Mashpiah Ruchanit (Spiritual Director), having studied in a three year mentorship with Sandra B. Cohen, DSW. Sharon is a member of Spiritual Directors International.  Sharon's spirituality informs her other important role as a Speech Language Pathologist in private practice for over 30 years. Listen to the podcast in the player below or download it for offline listening.   Boomer Generation Radio airs on WWDB-AM 860 every Tuesday at 10 a.m., and features news and conversation aimed at Baby Boomers and the issues facing them as members of what Rabbi Address calls “the club sandwich generation.” You can hear the show live on AM 860, or streamed live from the WWDB website. Subscribe to the RSS feed for all Jewish Sacred Aging podcasts. Subscribe to these podcasts in the Apple iTunes Music Store.