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Soul care, spiritual direction, and trauma-informed support nurturing emotional, spiritual, and communal healing through justice, restoration, and hope. Resourcing Wellness in Community Urban Wellness Living Meet Cynthia Spiritual Director | Trauma Informed Care | Member Care Hi, I’m Cynthia. I’m a soul care advocate, trauma healing facilitator, embodied-practice educator, and a companion for those seeking spiritual and emotional wholeness. More than anything, I’m someone who believes healing grows in safe, sacred spaces… and that we flourish when we are truly seen, heard, and held with care. For over three decades, I’ve had the gift of serving in full-time urban ministry... walking alongside individuals and communities, nurturing micro-churches, tending to prayer, and offering member care. My heart has long been drawn to the places where faith, suffering, history, and hope meet, especially within the lived wisdom of Black and African American spirituality. Much of my calling centers on tending generational and historical wounds, advocating for God’s righteousness and justice, and supporting others as they journey toward freedom, dignity, and restoration. One of the deepest lessons I’ve learned is the power of the in-between space... the often-unexamined space between our instincts and our responses. In that space, I believe God meets us with clarity, courage, tenderness, and the freedom to choose love instead of fear. My work in soul care begins here: helping people notice this sacred in-between, tend it with ongoing attention and reflection, and trust that God’s Spirit is already at work… gently, faithfully, restoring what has been worn thin. From this grounded center, I imagine communities where every person is honored as a reflection of God’s compassion, justice, and faithfulness... communities that learn to respond rather than react, and that move together toward wholeness of body, soul, and spirit. My own journey has been shaped by adversity, failure, grief, and the sustaining grace of God that has held me through it all. These experiences led me to become a certified Trauma Healing Facilitator through the Trauma Healing Institute and Quest Movement, and a trained Spiritual Director through Sustainable Faith (with ongoing supervision that continues to deepen my formation). My recent work with the Cultural Somatic Institute has further illuminated how our bodies carry racialized and systemic trauma... and how God meets us there too, with patience and presence. To stay grounded, I treasure the simple joys: laughing over a good comedy, disappearing into fantasy or action-adventure films, curling up with a book in a cozy, quiet space, or escaping into the peace of theater, camping, or retreat. I am held up by beloved friendships, shared laughter, and long, honest conversations that remind me of the sacredness of walking life’s road together… “while being on this side of dirt,” as my sistah-friend Brittany says. Spiritual Direction "The moan is the birthing sound, the first movement toward a creative response to oppression, the entry into the heart of contemplation through the crucible of crisis." ~ Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable ~ Why Urban Wellness Living Why Urban Wellness Living Health Embrace healthy healing ideas, exercises, & practices to rejuvenate & strengthen the whole body. "How can I care for my whole self when I feel overwhelmed?" Community Love God & Love Others with humility, mercy, & justice, catalyzing belonging. “How do I love well when connection feels costly or hard?” Advocacy Extend support for life-giving practices of peacemaking, justice, & truth-telling. “How can I speak or act for justice when I’m still finding my own courage?” Education Cultivating knowledge, wisdom from life’s experiences, & the value of revelation. "I should know this by now... but what if knowing is still becoming?” Hope Cultivating assured expectation to embrace pathways that inspire renewed possibilities & purpose. “How do I keep believing when the way forward feels uncertain?” Restoration Encourage spiritual & emotional practices rooted in renewing rhythms of life & work. “What does renewal look like when I’m weary from holding it all together?” Why is it vital to honor the lived wisdom within Black and African American spirituality and soul care? Learn More Urban Wellness Living Resources Soul Care & Spiritual Formation View More Emotional & Mental Health View More Healthy Living View More Recommended Reads View More Righteousness & Justice View More Financial Wellness View More Wellness Resources “Listen to the long stillness: New life is stirring. New dreams are on the wing. New hopes are being readied: Humankind is fashioning a new heart. Humankind is forging a new mind. God is at work. This is the season of Promise.” ~ Howard Thurman Web Etiquette As you explore this space, you’re invited to arrive with care, for yourself and for one another. Each person comes from a different journey, carrying questions, insights, stories, and at times overwhelm or grief. All of that is welcome here. With this in mind, we aim to cultivate an environment… both online and offline… where conversations are rooted in respect, generosity, and presence. A space where listening matters, where words are offered thoughtfully, and where growth is not rushed. Thank you for the curiosity you bring, for the care you extend in how you respond, and for helping shape a space where people are free to learn, reflect, and grow at their own pace. SAY HELLO Email: urbanwellnessliving@gmail.com Say Hello Connecting with God as a Source for Life and Purpose.

Sacred Rhythm of Life and Work offers a soul care pathway of remembering, healing, embodied renewal, and resilience rooted in spiritual formation and justice. Sacred Rhythm of Life & Work Button Button Button Button Button 01 Remembering Remember invites us to gently journey into the landscape of our past. Our stories, our ancestral roots, and the movements of grace and struggle that shaped us. With compassion rather than judgment, we look back and listen. In this sacred remembering, we uncover a spiritual heritage that holds both pain and promise. What we remember with care can become wisdom. What we honor can begin to heal. This remembering grounds us, helping us discern what was, notice what is, and make room for what longs to be restored... within ourselves, our communities, and across generations. 02 Reclaiming One's Story Recliaming One's Story is an act of courage, dignity, and belonging. It is the decision to see our lived experiences as sacred ground... places where God has never stopped dwelling or working. As we name what has been lost, silenced, or overlooked, we reclaim what was always ours: our God-given identity, voice, and worth. This reclamation restores our capacity for trust and love, nurtures authenticity, and invites us into a deeper, more honest walk with God... where renewal is not forced, but received, and wholeness is allowed to take root. 03 Refining One's Soul Refining One's Soul is a necessary and compassionate practice for both personal and communal transformation. Our souls require ongoing tending... spaces to reflect, to notice our untethered instincts, and to hold our limitations without shame. Refinement is not punishment; it is the Spirit’s gentle tilling of the soil within us. Over time, this sacred work forms hearts that embody love in action and live with a growing awareness of our life in God. As our instincts come into harmony with God’s care, our relationships... with God, others, ourselves, and creation... begin to flourish in grace. This refining work leads us toward inner liberation, empowering us to meet life with courage and compassion, and to participate faithfully in God’s redemptive story as people shaped by hope and steadfast love. 04 Rebuilding Movement Rebuilding Movement reminds us that healing is not only spiritual, it is embodied. Through rhythms of rest, stretching, walking, and mindful presence, we return to the wisdom of our bodies and God’s design for renewal. These practices gently repair the inner pathways worn thin by stress, grief, and survival. In movement, we relearn the grace of being alive... grounded, attentive, and responsive to the Spirit’s rhythm of restoration. 05 Resilience Resilience grows over time. It is not the absence of struggle, but the strength formed by staying rooted in God’s faithfulness when life feels uncertain. Resilience steadies our hope and teaches us how to recover with integrity and compassion. As it deepens, it restores our inner freedom, awakens new possibilities, and renews our vision for living in just and loving connection... with God, with others, and with all of creation.

My Soul Care Rhythm embodies a profound commitment to care for the soul. In this cherished rhythm, I recognize the intricate orchestra between personal well-being and the greater harmony of community. Rooted in principles of compassion, love, and justice, I believe that nurturing the soul extends beyond individual contentment; it encompasses a collective pursuit of justice and righteousness for the sake of all humanity. Share Your Favorite Finds First Name Last Name Email What's Your Favorite Find on Amazon (share link)? Send Thanks for sharing! Back To Treating Yourself

Honor Native American voices, spirituality, and legacy through curated resources, stories, and pathways toward justice, healing, and reconciliation. Honoring Indigenous & Native American Voices & Legacies As we honor Native American history and spirituality, we pause to acknowledge the sacred wisdom, resilience, and enduring contributions that have long shaped this land. Their stories are not distant echoes of the past; they live and breathe among us… testimonies of endurance, dignity, and the ongoing pursuit of justice. They ask more of us than remembrance for a single month; they call us into a lifelong posture of listening, learning, and walking with humility. We invite you to engage with these curated resources as a bridge… one that leads toward deeper understanding and embodied, meaningful action within your community. May we honor the voices of Native elders, storytellers, and wisdom keepers who continue to guide us toward a more just and compassionate way of being. Together, let us hold space for both sorrow and joy, for grief and gratitude, for remembrance and renewal, as we walk the sacred path of justice, healing, and reconciliation... the cruciform way of Christ. Native Governance Center Native Land Digital PBS | How to Honor Indigenous Peoples with Your Kids 'We the People' by Mark Charles Eloheh The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Resources for Teaching About Indigenous Peoples Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee The Red Road Resilience is My Reality as an Indigenous Woman Native American Ethnobotany Heritage & Hope | Listening to Native American Christian Voices Navajo Code Talkers of WWII | Full Movie Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America How Native American Code Talkers Pioneered a New Type of Military Intelligence | Article Native Arts and Culture Foundation Hear the Untold Story of a Canadian Code Talker from World War II | Short Film Showcase Native American Ground Work Reads | Download Groundwork Reads

Healing race based trauma through soul care, spiritual formation, and restorative resources that support personal and communal healing journeys. Healing Race-Based Trauma Where to begin! Our desire is that these resources support you in discovering meaningful elements of soul care and reparative trauma healing along your personal and communal journey. As you explore these books, I invite you to notice which one stands out to you. Trust what resonates, what awakens hope, or what brings a sense of grounding... this may be your place to begin. My Grandmother's Hands | Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies Healing Racial Trauma |The Road to Resilience The Body Keeps the Score | Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma The Black Woman's Guide to Overcoming Domestic Violence Trauma and Race | A Path to Wellbeing Open Wounds | A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma, and Redemption Suffering and the Heart of God | How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores Anatomy of the Soul Healing Leadership Trauma Understood Smiling Mind UCLA Mindful Guides Goodsky | Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Light Mindfulness Practice Videos Johns Hopkins Medicine Somatic Self Care Clay Pots Filled with Creator's Power "Our bodies are like old clay pots that have been filled with the sacred gift of his light. This shows that the great power we have does not come from us but from our Creator. Trouble surrounds us and presses in on us, but we know there is always a way out. Even when we do not know which way to go, we never lose hope or give in to fear. We are hunted down and mistreated, but the Great Spirit never abandons us. Even when beaten to the ground, we get up and keep walking. Everywhere we go death bears down on us. Our bodies are dying the kind of death Creator Sets Free died. In this way his life will also be seen in our bodies. It is because of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) that we who are alive are always facing death. It is for this reason that the life of Creator Sets Free will also be seen in our death-doomed bodies. So you can see that we struggle with death, but because of this you have the life of the world to come." (2 Cor. 7-12 FNV) Resmaa Menakem Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence. Listen Sheila Wise Rowe What Do We Do When The Pain Doesn't Stop? (Transcending Racial Trauma) Listen Unchained Documentary Healing Wounds of Generational Trauma Listen Readings on Reparative Healing View More

Explore the history of racial compromise through faith, history, and spiritual formation. Discover resources that invite truth telling, justice, and reconciliation. History of Racial Compromise As we honor Black and African American history, we recognize a lineage of faith, courage, and creativity that has shaped our communities, our culture, and our shared spiritual landscape. These stories testify to the power of endurance and the transformative strength of hope… born through artistry, resistance, and collective memory in the face of oppression. They are living legacies, not relics of the past, calling us to witness honestly, learn deeply, and move forward with both humility and determination. We invite you to approach these curated resources as a doorway into the wisdom, insight, and spiritual depth of Black and African American elders, leaders, artists, and storytellers. May their voices guide us toward a fuller understanding of justice, liberation, and the sacred work of community care. Together, let us honor the intersections of sorrow and joy, struggle and triumph, remembrance and renewal, as we walk the cruciform path of Christ… one that honors healing, liberation, redemption, and love. Black History In 2 Minutes Listen ASALH Read More Equal Justice Initiative Read More Black Past Read More How America Invented Race Listen Sojourner Truth African Heritage Read More Fortune Listen The 1619 Listen The Stony Road Listen African American Intellectual Read More Slave Narratives Washington 1941 Read More Color of Compromise Listen History Channel Black History Read More

Guidance for emotional and mental health that nurtures resilience awareness and deeper spiritual and personal growth. Resourcing Wellness in Community Emotional & Mental Health "Emotional and Mental Health are not separate from spiritual maturity... they are woven together. We cannot grow spiritually while abandoning our emotional life. When we ignore our emotions, we turn away from what is real. But when we listen, when we allow ourselves to feel, we return to reality. And it is there, in the honest and tender places, that we meet God. Emotions are the language of the soul, the sacred signal that gives our hearts permission to speak (adopted from Peter Scazzero). Counseling & Therapy Black & African American Therapists Psychology Today for Communities of Color Oaks & Stones (Therapy for Asian Americans) Fuller Psychological & Family Services Black Men Heal Faithful Central Champion Counseling Center Emerge Counseling Ministries Emmada Pscychology La Vie Counseling Center WellNest | Emotional Health & Wellness Black Christian Therapy Grow Therapy Inclusive Therapists Hope Trauma Therapy Herhealing Community Your Healthcare Provider | Please check with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) and healthcare provider for therapist and counselor options. They may not only provide the services you're looking for but also offer benefits that could help reduce cost. Selecting the appropriate Counselor or Therapist is a deeply personal process, requiring careful consideration of various factors. Please discern diligently to identify the qualities and expertise that align with your specific needs and preferences. Counseling Therapy Trauma Informed Care Centers Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services National Institute for the Clinical Application The National Child Traumatic Stress Network National Alliance on Mental Illness Psychology Tools Quest Movement Healing Center National Institute of Mental Health Goodsky | Adverse Childhood Experiences ACE Aware | Screen Treat Heal Trauma Healing Institute TraumaWise | Family & Communities Restored Gobi | Middle & H.S. Drug & Alcohol Prevention The Kids Mental Health Foundation American Academy of Child & Adolescents Mindful & Somatic Practices Resmaa Menakem | Somatic Abolitionism UCLA Mindful Guides Smiling Mind Johns Hopkins Medicine Somatic Self Care Rev. Lisha Epperson | Your Sacred Yes Understood NCHPAD Dr. Tina Armstrong Living Connected Dr. Erin Baute | Behavorial Psychology Light Mindfulness Practice Videos & Guides Mindful Practices Videos & Guides View More Healing Racial Trauma Groundwork Videos & Reads. View More Text & Context Readings on Reparative Healing. View More HEALING begins with noticing what interrupts our sense of connection: to our own lives, to community, to purpose, to possibility, and to God. It is a radical, courageous act to choose ourselves enough to listen. To advocate for our becoming. To receive God’s guidance of repairing truth, identity, belonging, justice, and worth within our bodies, souls, and spirits. Healing, in and of itself, is not the end goal if the messaging suggests that if we can just heal and get over it. That all will be well and good. It is instead a constant reminder and invitation that we need God’s unfailing love to help nurture ourselves just like we do everyone else. At its core, healing asks us to pause for a moment. To listen more deeply, to ourselves and one another, staying on the road to internal and external freedom, not by force, but by faithful presence within the One who created us with love in the first place. SOUL CARE ADVISING is the practice of creating a safe spacious ground where our spiritual and emotional roots can be tended with compassion. It invites us to pause and pay attention, cultivating a deeper awareness of one's self, God, others, and creation. This journey honors the tensions we carry... love and fear, shame and grace, justice and adversity... not as contradictions to be solved or as problems to eliminate, but as sacred companions along the way. Through the rhythms of Soul Care, we begin to notice that healing does not arrive once struggle ends, but unfolds right in the midst of it. Over time, rather than pushing toward resilience alone, Soul Care nurtures a sustaining sense of truth, identity, and transformation... drawing us toward liberation and deeper authentic belonging with God and community.

Practical and nourishing spiritual practice guides to support daily attentiveness prayer meditation gratitude centering prayer breath prayer and lament prayer for deeper connection and embodied soul care rooted in justice insight and presence. Light Spiritual Practice Guides Daily Examen Guide Daily Examen Video Lectio Divina ... Gratitude ... Fast & Pray ... Centering Prayer ... Breath Prayer ... Fixed Hour of Prayer ... Body Scan ... Lament Prayer ...

Watch meaningful videos and films that explore race, justice, faith, and restoration as well as resources designed to nurture awareness, reflection, and communal healing. Videos & Movies to Watch The Knowledge of Race All Categories Play Video Play Video America’s Unholy Ghosts | The Joel Goza Interview Play Video Play Video Kristin Du Mez Nov 2023 Play Video Play Video Race - the Power of an Illusion Play Video Play Video Isabel Wilkerson - Classifying People By Caste | The Daily Social Distancing Show Play Video Play Video The Origin of Race in the USA Play Video Play Video A Gardener's Tale | A story about systemic racism Play Video Play Video Robert P. Jones — The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy - with Wajahat Ali Play Video Play Video How to Talk to Kids About Race Justice & Reconciliation All Categories Play Video Play Video Reclaiming Faith: A Journey to Restoration Play Video Play Video Racial Reconciliation - Latasha Morrison Play Video Play Video Resisting Racism | The New Family of Jesus | Pastor Rich Villodas Play Video Play Video Choosing Love in the time of Racism | Idelette Mcvicker Play Video Play Video September 27, 1966: MLK—A riot is the language of the unheard Play Video Play Video 'We the People' - the three most misunderstood words in US history | Mark Charles | TEDxTysons Play Video Play Video This Justice Is Not Revenge Play Video Play Video EJI: The Legacy of Racial Injustice Children's Books All Categories Play Video Play Video CML Presents: We March by Shane W. Evans Play Video Play Video I Am Martin Luther King Jr by Brad Meltzer| Books Read Aloud| StoryTimeWithMsMelange Play Video Play Video 'As Fast As Words Could Fly' read by Dulé Hill Play Video Play Video 'Trombone Shorty' read by Angela Bassett Play Video Play Video Children’s Read Aloud 🖍️ | Broken Crayons Still Color by Toni Collier Play Video Play Video Art Book Read Aloud: Gordon Parks Play Video Play Video My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown read-aloud Play Video Play Video Something Happened In Our Town (Read Along Book) Movies to Watch All Categories Play Video Play Video Betty & Coretta: An Extended Preview | Lifetime Play Video Play Video JUST MERCY Official Trailer Play Video Play Video ORIGIN - Official Trailer - In Theaters January 19 Play Video Play Video Official Trailer | Black + Evangelical Play Video Play Video HARRIET | Official Trailer | Now Playing Play Video Play Video God & Country Play Video Play Video Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom | A Documentary from @ourdailybread Voices Collection Play Video Play Video Mapping the Green Book | National Geographic Learn More

Explore Black and African American religious studies through theology, history, and soul care resources that nurture healing, justice, and spiritual formation. Black & African American Religious Studies Where to begin! My exploration into this collection of books was sparked by a quote from Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited: “What does the religion of Jesus offer to those with their backs against the wall?” For Thurman, this question begins with context... Jesus as a first-century Palestinian Jew living under Roman occupation, an outsider in his own land, part of a marginalized and oppressed people without civil protections. As you move through these books, I invite you to listen inwardly and notice which one, gently or boldly, calls your attention. Trust that what resonates, unsettles, or opens something within you is not accidental. It may be an invitation. A doorway. A next place for your own healing, unlearning, and exploration to continue. A Black Theology of Liberation Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God Just a Sister Away: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between Women of Today & Women in the Bible Black Church Studies: An Introduction Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance The Cross of the Lynching Tree How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity Jesus and the Disinherited Gospel Haymanot: A Constructive Theology and Critical Reflection on African and Diasporic Christianity African American Religious History Black Theology and Black Power Liberating Black Theology: The Bible and the Black Experience in America Esau McCaulley Reading while Black; The Whole Counsel of God. Listen Jude 3 Project Is Christianity Good For Black Women? by Jude 3 Project. Listen Hush Harbors Black Church History: Hush Harbors Secret Worship. Listen Sermons & Teachings Faith & Works Initiative ( Guidelines for a Constructive Church by Martin Luther King Jr.) View More EARLY AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY BIBLIOGRAPHY Video & Primary Texts by Jude3 Project View More THE BIBLE PROJECT Videos Podcast & Guides View More

Spiritual Direction sessions provide a safe, sacred space for reflection, discernment, and spiritual growth through deep listening, meaningful questions, and guided spiritual companionship. Spiritual Direction Schedule a Session Spiritiual Direction as Sacred Listening (Emmaus’ Encounter with Awakening) The story of the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 unfolds as a journey carried by overwhelming grief, honest confusion, and unexpected awakening. Two followers of Jesus, shaken by the events of his crucifixion, walk together trying to make sense of what has happened. Their hopes had been undone, and their bodies were carrying what their words could not yet explain. What they thought they understood about the Messiah no longer aligned with their lived experience. So they walk... talking, processing, wondering. It is the kind of conversation that rises out of deep loss and the search for meaning. As they walk, Jesus draws near, though “they were kept from recognizing him.” This part of the story names this hiddenness without fully explaining it. It invites us to reflect: Was God holding recognition until the right moment? Or was this tenderness, allowing them to walk before they were ready to see? Was Jesus choosing to remain unnoticed so their understanding could be reshaped? Or did their grief make it difficult to see clearly? The story leaves space for mystery, reminding us that recognition is often something revealed rather than achieved... an unveiling opened by God. Jesus begins by listening. “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stop, faces downcast. Cleopas responds with surprise and sorrow: “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened?” His words carry the weight of someone trying to hold together a collapsing world. Jesus does not correct them, soothe them, or reveal who he is. Instead, he asks, “What things?”... an invitation for them to speak their truth in their own way... without editing, without spiritual polish, without needing to be right. So they tell the whole story. Their confusion. Their disappointment. Their fading hope. They speak of Jesus in the past tense, as grief often teaches us to do. Loss can reshape the way we speak, the way we remember, turning what was once alive into memory. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed”... as though everything they trusted about God had slipped away. And still, he remains with them. He listens without rushing their hearts. This encounter shows us that God often meets us in our questions before offering clarity. On the road to Emmaus, sacred listening begins with presence rather than explanation. Jesus walks with them long before he interprets anything. And when he finally does speak, he reframes their understanding not to shame their slowness, but to open their eyes to a deeper truth already at work. Even then, they do not recognize him, yet something shifts inside. Later they would say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road…?” What stirred them was not information alone, but the experience of being accompanied... walking together, breaking bread, sharing real conversation. Recognition comes not through argument or instruction, but through relationship and hospitality: “He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” In this way, Emmaus becomes a meaningful illustration of spiritual direction... a space where God draws near in the midst of our unrecognizable moments, listens us into greater clarity, and helps uncover truth through shared presence and genuine connection. It reminds us that awakening often comes as we walk, reflect, question, and are faithfully accompanied along the way. Cain’s Encounter with Mercy Hagar's Encounter with Seeing Nebuchadnezzar’s Encounter with Sovereignty Samaritan Woman Encounter with Truth Nicodemus' Encounter with Mystery Mary Magdalene’s Encounter with Recognition Schedule a Session My Guiding Framework Rooted Lineage This path begins with remembering where we come from, the lived stories of ancestors who carried Christ’s light through injustice, exile, and the wilderness of life. Their endurance reminds us that liberation is not only possible but inherited: a sacred strength flowing through generations, calling us to live with courage, dignity, and hope (Lisa Sharon Harper ). Spiritual Formation as Liberating Faith We follow the God who leads us from bondage into freedom... freedom in our hearts, our relationships, and our communities. This faith listens for the Spirit’s guidance and welcomes transformation rooted in justice, wisdom, and love. Here, formation is not striving but growing into God’s healing story… restoring what is broken, renewing belonging, and shaping us into people who reflect Divine freedom (Harriett Tubman , Barbara Holmes , Lerita Coleman Brown , The Desert Fathers & Mothers of African/early Middle Eastern traditions , St. Ignatian (Jesuits) & Hush Harbors ). Embodied Awareness Our bodies hold memory, wisdom, and traces of both pain and grace. Through gentle attention and spiritual practice, we notice what our bodies are telling us and invite God’s love to bring understanding, integration, and freedom. In this space, we learn to inhabit a sense of belonging... with God, with creation, and with one another (Sheila Wise Rowe , Chichi Agoran , Chanequa Walker-Barnes & Resmaa Menekem ). Communal Contemplation as Sacred Belonging Healing deepens in community. In shared moments... silence, song, movement, lament, or rest... we step into rhythms that open us to God and to each other. These practices nurture shalom: a sacred harmony that renews our humanity, strengthens resilience, and assures us that we never journey alone (Barbara Holmes & Howard Thurman ). Spiritual Direction Session 1 A Moment to Pause Give yourself a moment to pause, breathe, and fully arrive where you are. 2 Your Journey, Your Voice This is your space to share what’s on your heart. When it feels helpful, I may offer meaningful questions to invite deeper reflection and awareness. 3 Moving with Intention We take time to notice what nourishes and encourages... whether that’s reclaiming pieces of your story or recognizing small movements of growth. This is an unhurried space to be seen, heard, and supported. 4 Reflect We pause to reflect on what emerged and how it might guide your next steps. We close in the way that feels most comfortable for you, giving room for what unfolded to guide you. 5 After the Session If something stays with you or sparks curiosity, I can offer a few resources. They’re shared lightly and meant only for what feels helpful to you. 6 Session Support Healing and growth are for everyone. Each 55-minute session is offered on a sliding scale of $35–$50. Scheduling is easy through my Calendly link, and I’m happy to answer any questions and here to support you along the way. Pacing Your Journey I invite you to discover a rhythm for your sessions that works well for your life. Some meet once a month, others twice, depending on the season you’re in. If you’re new to spiritual direction, even a few sessions can help you notice what truly resonates. I’m here to walk alongside you and adjust as we go. A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR IS SOMEONE WHO... Is guided by the Holy Spirit , in the same spirit as those who, from the earliest gatherings, sought to listen together for God’s direction (Acts 13:2–3) . The director helps you attend to how the Spirit is moving and speaking in your life. Is a Trained Listener , offering a compassionate presence as you reflect on your experiences, questions, and joys. Together, you discern what is unfolding in your daily life and how you are invited to respond (Jn 14:26; 1 Kings 19:11–13) . Does Not Seek to Fix or Diagnose , but creates space for God’s healing and direction to emerge, even amid life’s struggles. Spiritual direction does not separate us from our challenges; it helps us notice God’s presence and invitation within them. Asks Meaningful, Compassionate Questions , opening pathways of reflection and discernment that mirror the invitational questions of Jesus: “What are you looking for?” (Jn 1:38) or Where do you want to be made well? (Jn 5:6) . Embodies Hospitality and Confidentiality , offering a sacred and trustworthy space for you to bring your whole self, your hopes, doubts, and desires, before God (Rom 12:9–13; Heb 13:2) . Guides You in Spiritual Practices , such as prayer, silence, meditation, and reflection that nurture your relationship with God and strengthen your attentiveness to the Spirit’s work. Invites You into Deeper Union with God , helping you attune your heart to God’s presence in both stillness and activity, and to participate in the Spirit’s work of transformation within you and through you (2 Cor 3:17–18) . Encourages Spiritual Growth Rooted in Love , helping you live with greater alignment to the teaching that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21) . As Howard Thurman wrote, “A person becomes who they are by the way they order their life around their ultimate concern.” Celebrates the Transforming Work of Grace , walking with you as you notice how God’s love restores and renews your life, just as the early Church rejoiced together in the ongoing movement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:42–47) . Continues a Long Lineage of Spiritual Companionship (trained and continues to be practiced in the art of Spiritual Direction), following the pattern of faithful guides throughout history who have helped others discern God’s guidance and live into their purpose (Prov 11:14; Is 30:21) . “A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR is one who helps another recognize and follow the inspirations of grace in their life, in order to arrive at the end to which God is leading them.” ~Thomas Merton Scriptural Anchors: Psalm 139 | Jn 10:27 | Jn 14:26 | Jn 15:26 | Acts 1:8 | Rom 8:26 | Rom 12 | 1 Thess 5:11 | 2 Timothy 2:2

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