THE PROCESS OF
CONTEMPLATIVE
INNERWORK
The heart of a human being
is no different than the
soul of heaven and earth.
Your heart is full of fertile seeds
waiting to sprout.
O Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969),
Founder of Aikido
The clarity, creativity, insight, and healing power of the Deep Self is often concealed beneath what we might call the accumulated "dust" of the frenzied, world-influenced, conditioned self. Through this work, this "dust" is gradually swept away allowing for aspects to emerge and be revealed. This principle of muddled-concealment / gradual-revealment underlies the human journey, consciousness, and is also mirrored in the Way of Nature and the seasons. Coming into greater conscious congruence with the hidden gifts of the Deep Self is what this work is about.
Because each person is unique, there is no cookie-cutter template for what emerges in one-on-one sessions. Each process is different for each individual and tailored to the specific goals and themes that are stirring at any given time. While no two sessions are identical, there is a general flow, pattern, or framework within which this exploration occurs.
VIDEO CALL
We connect via Zoom or Signal (for mobile or desktop).
THE JOURNEY REPORT
(A "Field Report" of Themes)
Within a day or two of our session, you will receive what I call a "journey report" — a snapshot of themes that arose during our dialogue and innerwork, along with a dispatch containing a variety of other potential facets for you to consider and work with in between our meetings and path-crossings.
Often at the beginning of our work together, "journey reports" will be longer (more extensive) as we map out the themes. As we proceed with the work, these dispatches become streamlined one-pagers with a blend of commentary, questions, and resources.
Journey Reports may include:
+ Questions of sacred inquiry
+ journal writing exercises
+ suggested practices, visualizations
+ articles or suggested books
+ videos relevant to themes
+ other resources to explore
Any resource, experiment, practice, journal writing exercise, or other suggestions is intended to augment the emerging themes from the session and is offered with the intention of deepening your connection to your own path.
These offerings, combined with your own disciplined attention to journaling and contemplating themes between sessions, become a "map." Looking back, it will become obvious that the journey through the various themes will have been akin to traveling through a terrain of gateways, openings, and discoveries. "Journey Reports" enable you to go back and revisit these gates and themes. At various junctures, you will also be encouraged to review and 'tune back in' with earlier journey reports.
JOURNEY REPORT (continued)
FREQUENCY
(How Often We Meet)
The themes and energies of this work are akin to a flowing river. Naturally, the more we work with this "heart-mind-river," the more we stay connected to the deeper process unfolding. If too much time elapses between sessions, it can sometimes feel like losing momentum, or even starting over. That said, I encourage everyone to schedule sessions at a pace that works with the rhythm of their life but that will also ensure -- for them -- that they maintain a link to the thread of the work. In light of that, some Fellow Travelers want to connect once a week, some twice a month, some once a month, and some once per season.
Some people prefer to contract with me for one video session per month, with brief written correspondences between sessions. These brief "check-ins" or "tune-ins" enable greater clarification and deepening of insight around the unfolding process and emerging themes.
Some Fellow Travelers, such as actors, artists, writers, and graduate students occasionally need longer phases of solitary time in between "path-crossings" so they may finish high-priority tasks and projects before proceeding. Others simply want more time to go even deeper with the themes, exercises, questions, and resources that arose in the work.
In some instances, it becomes clear that a person needs to pursue a therapeutic relationship with someone else (psychotherapy, healing, or recovery work) before proceeding with the explorations of this work. In other instances, some individuals choose to pursue work with me in tandem with an additional, outside therapeutic modality.
The nature of the journey together -- whatever the configuration -- is shaped by a person's own schedule, goals, and the themes that arise.
If the format of this work sounds like it would be of support to you and your path, send me a note and we can find a time that fits within the flow of our schedules.
SACRED RECIPROCITY
(payment for services and time; please read carefully)
Everything in the Cosmos operates in terms of energy. My focus, presence, attention, co-walking, consulting, and the time I put into a Journey Report requires energy. It is energy gladly given in service and in support of your path of unfoldment.
As a matter of reciprocity, in exchange for the time, energy, and focus specifically for the session time, my rate is $115 (U.S. Dollars) per session.
I do not accept insurance.
Though it is sometimes time-consuming, there is no charge for the Journey Report. The Journey Report (and any subsequent one-sheeters of resources for you to explore as our work continues) is an offering made in support of your path.
UPDATED POLICY:
Payment for sessions is due upon completion of the session. Journey Reports are sent within two days after payment is received. My preferred payment systems are through CashApp or PayPal. If you do not have either of these, we can discuss other options such as Venmo or Zelle. I do not accept checks.
Note to International Clients: If you hail from a country other than the U.S. e.g. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, UK, please be aware that there are currency differences and you will need to do the conversion in your own currency to $115 (U.S.).
