Orientation
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.
Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969),
Founder of Aikido
What is Contemplative Soulwork?
Contemplative soulwork is a form of spiritual companioning, sacred dialogue, life-path exploration, and creative support shaped by the wisdom of Nature, guided by elements of Jungian psychology, and informed by insights from the rich human heritage of contemplative spirituality.
Taking its name from my first book of poetry, the School of Soft-Attention is a way of collaborative inner work. It is not a school with a physical building and it offers no degrees. It is also not psychotherapy or mental health counseling but rather a process of inquiry and spiritual exploration of one's life path and the life of the soul.
Each person is communicated with as a fellow traveler on a journey, not as a "student" or "patient." There are no doctors or gurus here. Your own soul is the path and my role is to walk with you along the way. Through this work, a learning process is activated and unfurls toward greater awareness, alignment, integration, and life congruence.
The journey flows at a natural pace, honoring the themes that arise — which may apply as much to matters of creativity, lifestyle, and present-day life choices as it does to spirituality, the impact of these times of change, or past experiences of heart-mind.
The view here is that the soul has an ancient, autonomous intelligence whose unfolding wisdom is revealed in gradual ways, but whose fullness, energy, momentum, and directives are concealed in the subterranean depths of who we are.
Accessing the wisdom of the soul requires an ongoing practice of slowing down and paying attention. I call this practice contemplative soulwork.
Individuals Who Benefit Most
From Contemplative Soulwork
People traveling through the sometimes confusing terrain of midlife (and other life transitions)
Individuals exploring themes of spiritual formation, spiritual direction, and spiritual discernment
People undergoing the challenging, sometimes destabilizing states of the creative ~ initiatory process
People seeking to develop a deeper relationship with their inner world and dreams
HSPs (highly-sensitive persons) just beginning to learn about their traits (Are you an HSP?)
Artists, writers, and poets (and would-be creatives) working through creative blocks or seeking to establish an art practice
Leaders and managers in organizations navigating inner and outer change
Those fellow travelers interested in cultivating a meditation practice and contemplative life
People who have actively chosen to follow a solitary ("hermit") path of spirituality (but who still need support on their way)
Individuals deprogramming from religious abuse, cultural/religious fundamentalism, or other forms of energetic confusion related to human dynamics
In my work with people, first and foremost, I come from an inclusive, welcoming, path-affirming, interfaith approach. My university studies in comparative religions, my own personal experiences with various spiritual paths over the years, and post-graduate studies in a year-long ACPE-approved course in Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy have tempered within me a cross-cultural sensitivity and a deep and abiding appreciation for all of the world's wisdom traditions.
Additionally, the School of Soft-Attention is a safe zone. I have worked with people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals-in-process around gender identity. Whatever your spiritual tradition, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, or gender identification, my space-holding ethic is to support you in your authentic unfoldment.
Statement of Inclusivity
What Some Fellow Travelers Have Said
