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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) Two followers of Jesus walk away from Jerusalem, shaken by the events of his crucifixion. Their hopes had been undone. 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. As they walk, Jesus draws near, though "they were kept from recognizing him." The story names this hiddenness without fully explaining it. 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. When he finally does speak, he does not shame their confusion. He walks further into the story with them, opening what had been obscured. And yet even then, they do not recognize him. Something stirs beneath the surface before understanding arrives. Later they would say, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?" What moved 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." There is something worth staying with here. The awakening did not come when they had the right answers or the clearest theology. It came when they sat down together, when bread was broken, when the ordinary became the threshold of the sacred. They had been accompanied into seeing. Listened into clarity. And what had felt like an ending began to open into something else entirely. This is the territory Spiritual Direction enters. Not to rush understanding or resolve grief before its time, but to remain present on the road. To ask what is being carried. To stay long enough for what is stirring beneath the surface to find its way into the open. Like the travelers on the road to Emmaus, those we companion may not yet recognize what is unfolding. What they can receive is presence. Honest accompaniment. A willingness to walk at their pace, to listen without rushing their hearts, and to trust that recognition comes not as something achieved, but as something received. Often in the most ordinary moments. At the table. On the road. In the breaking of bread. 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 This faith listens for the Spirit’s guidance and welcomes transformation rooted in justice, grace, compassion, faithfulness, and loyal 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 , & Hush Harbors ). Embodied Awareness Our bodies hold memory, wisdom, and traces of both pain and grace. Through attentive presence 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 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 become aware of your experiences and questions. 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, amid internal and external life 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 noticing 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, sabbath, community, service, awareness etc. 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

Soul Care Spiritual Formation guides you into a meaningful journey with God that nurtures your whole self in times of struggle and growth. It invites deeper connection, healing, and wisdom as you learn to live with love, purpose, compassion, and trust in God’s presence and transforming work in everyday life. Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Resourcing Wellness in Community Soul Care is the sacred and ongoing journey of nurturing the whole being in the presence of Creator God. It draws us beyond the surface of daily life into deeper connection, where we are genuinely met, seen, and loved, not for what we do, but for who we are. Here, God's nearness is not something to earn or perform for, but something we are graciously invited to receive. As we become aware of Divine presence, especially in suffering, adversity, and struggle, we are invited to respond not through striving, but through active listening and opening ourselves to a transformation that restores, liberates, and returns us to our truest humanity in God. Soul Care creates space for both God's voice and our own to be heard, forming sacred ground where truth, healing, and belonging can take root at a pace that honors our full humanity. Spiritual Formation is the lifelong shaping of our inner life and shared life through the transforming presence of God's Spirit. It flows naturally from this sacred journey, gradually shaping how we move through the world in alignment with God's character of justice, faithfulness, love, grace, and compassion. It welcomes both individuals and communities into life-giving rhythms that reflect Divine purpose and embodied presence. This formation is not a destination to arrive at, but a responsive path we walk together, an unfolding expression of hope and trust in God's movement already at work beneath the surface of everyday life. As we attend to this holy undercurrent of the soul, our motives, desires, and longings, we grow in awareness of how God's love is being formed within us and quietly, steadily shared through us. Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Centers The Center for Formation Justice & Peace Black Lives & Contemplation Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation Awakening | Heal Renew Inspire Center for Action & Contemplation Mosaic Formation Fuller Center for Spiritual Formation Emmaus Formation Centre Peacock Soul Care Transforming Center The Journey to Your True Self | Calhoun Renovare Spiritual Directors Spiritual Director of Color Network Abide with Vanessa Sadler Spiritual Direction with Cynthia Peters Soul Reparations Spiritual Direction with Daniele Evans Emmaus Formation Centre Soul Care with Erica Mosaic Formation Hush Arbor with Michael Peacock Soul Care Spiritual Directors Sustainable Faith Chaplains Spiritual Directors & Leaders Spiritual Direction International Selecting the appropriate Spiritual Director 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. Spiritual Directors Spiritual Practice Guides Prayer of Examen Centering Prayer Lectio Divina Fixed Hour of Prayer Gratitude Rooted in Resilience Prayer of Intention Loaves and Fishes I Need You Sacred Pause Lament as Sacred Formation Welcome Practice Forgiveness Retreat Light Spiritual Practice Guides Spiritual Practices Pete Scazzero 8 Practices of Emotionally Healthy Preaching & Teaching. Listen Embodied Soul Care Groundwork Videos & Reads. View More Text & Context Readings on Soul Care & Spiritual Formation. View More A Sanctified Art In our work, remembering is a spiritual practice. We remember that God created all creation with a goodness refrain. We remember that the poetry of love proclaims that darkness is sacred and black is beautiful (Song of Songs 1:5-6). We remember that Jesus was not white. However, we remember that the white Church has perpetuated violence and oppression against black, brown, and indigenous peoples. We remember that the white Church has profited from slavery. We remember that in the 1820s, white American churches mass-produced and mass-marketed images of white Jesus in order to form a unified national identity of white superiority.* We remember that racism is still alive in our faith communities. As we remember all of these things, we commit to the ongoing work of disrupting racism wherever it persists—trusting that through this journey, God re-members us and makes us whole (*Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. (New York, NY: Nations Books, 2016). 153). View More Kelly Latimore Icons Kelly began painting icons in 2010 while a member of the Common Friars, a community focused on connection with others, the land, and God through service, meals, and farming at “The Good Earth Farm.” Inspired by traditional iconography and encouraged by a priest friend, Kelly developed a unique approach, blending inherited practices with reflections on community life and mission. His first original icon, Christ: Consider the Lilies, was shaped by the question of how to live in right relationship with creation, embodying art as a communal and contemplative expression. For Kelly, iconography is a spiritual practice, a meditation on color, light, and meaning, that seeks to cultivate dialogue, challenge biases, and reveal Christ’s presence in daily life. His work invites viewers to pause, ponder, and grow in connection with God, neighbor, and creation. View More Bette Lynn Dickinson Bette Lynn Dickinson is a prophetic artist, author, and speaker dedicated to creating sacred spaces where individuals can encounter the transformative love of Jesus. Through her evocative paintings and writings, she crafts visual parables that invite reflection on the spiritual journey. As the founder of Awakening the Soul, a nonprofit ministry, Bette offers resources and experiences designed to nourish the souls of ministry leaders and seekers alike. With a B.A. in Art from Western Michigan University and a Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, she seamlessly blends theological depth with artistic expression. Her debut book, Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder, showcases her unique integration of art and spirituality. View More An Artist's Note The featured artwork on this page is created by or in collaboration with artists who are deeply committed to honoring the history, heritage, and lived realities of Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples. Through proceeds and partnerships, their work supports ministries and communities in ways that embody soul care, spiritual formation, justice, and a shared commitment to solidarity, healing, and advocacy. May this work stir us toward the vital practice of soul care and justice, not only as personal reflection but as part of our shared spiritual formation within God. You may already have artwork or know artists whose creativity invites this movement. Engage with them as fellow companions on this liberating path. Learn More Sanctuaries of Renewal Sanctuaries of Renewal Retreat Spaces for Rest and Reflection Tahquitz Pines Retreat View More Oak Glenn Christian Conference Center View More The Oak Center View More Monastery Retreat Centers View More Forest Home Retreat Centers View More Retreathood View More Exploring Inexpensive Housing and Pet-Sitting Platforms for Retreats As you consider creating sacred spaces for retreat...whether for solitude, soul care, or communal renewal...there may be unconventional yet accessible ways to make it possible. Platforms like GlampingHub , VRBO , or even 'pet-sitting exchanges' such as Rover or TrustedHousesitters could provide creative, budget-friendly options. These resources might open doors to peaceful stays in nature, quiet urban sanctuaries, or unexpected places of rest. But what if retreat isn’t found in a dedicated space at all? What if quiet must be carved out in the middle of noise, in a one-room home filled with children, in a war-torn city, or in the relentless rhythm of daily survival? Sacred space, then, becomes not just about location, but about intention...finding stillness in the small pauses, claiming a moment of breath between demands, or turning an ordinary corner into a refuge of prayer. Even a walk through a nearby park or path...beneath open skies, alongside trees, desert plains, rubble-strewn roads, or winding alleys...can become a sacred pilgrimage. These everyday places, whether peaceful or marked by struggle, might not be far from home, yet they can hold room for holy encounters, deep breaths, and unspoken prayers. May you be led to places that offer not just shelter, but deep renewal. And when the world around you is anything but quiet, may rest find you in the cracks and corners of your days...in a lingering sunrise, a whispered prayer, the steady rhythm of your breath. May provision meet you where you are, and may peace unfold in ways you never expected. MY CONTEMPLATION. . . by Barbara Holmes, Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village "My contemplative practices include writing, music and dancing, prayer, stillness, social justice activism, and teaching. These practices are the choices of one individual. What happens when the practices are communal and practiced together? What happens when contemplation is not a personal practice, but a collective, biogenetic, and spiritual response to crisis? Contemplation is the highest expression of [human] intellectual and spiritual life. . . It is a spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. . . It is a vivid realization of the fact that life and being in us proceed from an invisible, transcendent and infinitely abundant source. Contemplation is, above all, awareness of the reality of that Source [God]. Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) reassured us that when we reach the limits of our knowledge categories and intuitions, there is a wellspring, deep and inexhaustible. In the darkness, we can gather in Spirit and be filled by this Source [God]. Contemplation is not just an effective response to crisis. It can also arise during the most intense aspects of the event. When bodies are being tortured, when minds are pushed to the breaking point, the human spirit falls through the cracks of the crisis into the center of contemplation. Howard Thurman (1899 - 1981) referred to this inner space as an island, a place that cannot be breached without personal consent: "When all hope for release in the world seems unrealistic and groundless, the heart turns to a way of escape beyond the present order." "Contemplation is not a privilege of the few but a vital necessity for our interconnected lives. We are called to stillness, to pause, and to listen deeply." Scriptural Anchors: Romans 12:1-2 | Psalm 46:10 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 | Isaiah 40:31 | Matthew 18:20 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 become aware of your experiences and questions. 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, amid internal and external life 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 noticing 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, sabbath, community, service, awareness etc. 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

Explore why lived wisdom in Black and African American spirituality deepens soul care, healing, justice, and embodied faith rooted in history and hope. Why is it vital to honor the lived wisdom within Black and African American spirituality and soul care? To honor the lived wisdom of Black and African American spirituality is not to narrow our vision; it is to deepen it. When we listen to this history, especially in conversations about caring for one's soul and neighbor, caste systems, and racism, we are not turning away from others. We are learning to see more clearly the wounds shaped by structural inequity as well as the resilience and communal faith-fullness that have met those wounds across generations. This is the gift at the heart of this work. Soul care, shaped by this living tradition, becomes more than personal healing. It becomes a shared practice of renewal and embodied faith that draws us together toward justice, loyal love, grace, compassion, faithfulness, and shared flourishing. This is why this emphasis matters: Historical Significance (Remembering as Sacred Retrieval): Black and African American spirituality carries sacred memory that calls us to Sankofa… to go back and retrieve what has been forgotten or taken. Like the Exodus story, it reveals God’s movement in the midst of oppression, guiding communities from bondage toward redemption. Honoring this history is not merely remembrance; it is an act of retrieval and repair. Through soul care, history becomes a living space where we hear echoes of resilience, lament, and Divine presence whispering across generations. As we engage these memories, we learn how the Spirit sustains people and leads them toward wholeness. Soul care then becomes an ongoing Exodus... an embodied journey of remembering, healing, and collective liberation. Intersectionality (Love as Collective Awareness): Intersectionality grows from the command to love God and neighbor. It reminds us that our lives are bound together… across culture, gender, class, ability, and faith… and that harm to one body is harm through the whole body. This love calls for a relational awareness that begins within and expands outward. Here, compassion becomes a shared ethic. Intersectionality becomes soul work. It teaches us to notice where power, pain, and privilege intersect, within us and around us. Through this awareness, we learn to listen across our different narratives, to soften our defenses, and to build bridges of active-empathy. Liberation, in this way, is not solitary… it is shared, restoring all of creation toward right relationship with God and one another. Education & Awareness (Practices of Noticing): Education and awareness helps us notice what is forming within us. Viktor Frankl reminds us, “Between stimulus and response there is a space.” In that sacred in-between, we discover choice, agency, and grace. The capacity to choose healing, truth, and growth. Soul care tends this space, teaching us to pause, breathe, and listen, especially to our bodies, before we respond. Here, the guiding question shifts. Rather than asking, “What’s wrong with you?” , a question shaped by fear, power, and dominance or “What’s wrong with me?” , shaped by shame and self-blame... we are invited into deeper inquiry: "What am I carrying? What patterns are forming within me? What harm, hierarchy, or control have I internalized? What is my body asking me to notice before I speak or act?" This awareness does not excuse injustice or collapse accountability; it clarifies it. By tending first to the log in our own eye, we learn to respond with humility, confronting harm without reproducing it and creating space for the Spirit’s life-giving work to restore our identity, renew our dignity, and deepen our belonging. Awareness then moves outward, revealing how internalized wounds and dehumanizing formations are woven into our collective life and structures. Policy & Reform (Systems that Mirror Justice): Caring for the soul does not end in personal reflection; it moves outward into the work of public transformation. Instead of asking, “Who failed?” we ask, “What systems create harm or support healing?” This practice embodies justice as love in action. Black and African American communities have long carried the burdens of inequitable systems in housing, education, healthcare, professional opportunities, and criminal justice. Naming these realities is both prophetic and pastoral. Caring for our souls sustains those engaged in advocacy, tending to the emotional fatigue that comes with pursuing justice and reminding us that every just structure begins with a heart reordered by the Spirit. As we are transformed, our engagement shapes the structures around us, turning reflection into courageous, compassionate action in the world. Christ Formation & Theological Anthropology (Love that Takes Flesh): Christ's formation unfolds within human history, not apart from it. In the lived experiences of Black and African Americans, we encounter a faith that wrestles honestly with imperial, colonial, and authoritarian powers, including the reach of domination that does not stay outside us. It takes up residence within. And yet, it is here that God draws near, and our knowing of God takes on flesh, breathing through lament, communal faithfulness, and enduring hope. Christ's life reveals that transformation happens in relationship, where love refuses the pull of counterfeit power and the logic of scarcity. From what was silenced, liberation rises. This formation is not abstract or ideal; it is daily practice, choosing love over control, courage over avoidance, and mercy over judgment. Caring for one's soul mirrors Christ's work by restoring dignity, reconciling what is broken, and revealing the Divine image in every life. Inspiration & Solidarity (Shared Breath, Shared Becoming): The stories of Black and African American communal faithfulness remind us that healing is never solitary; it is shared. Their witness draws us into a wider belonging, rooted in the truth that our well-being is bound together. Solidarity grows when we breathe together, listen without rushing, and allow another’s story to expand our own. Caring for one's soul cultivates this shared becoming, forming empathy and mutual strength. Inspiration is not escape but courage awakened through connection. Standing with one another, we carry hope into wounded structures and embody the Spirit’s promise of liberation and renewed creation. Focusing on soul care through Black and African American spiritual wisdom invites us into God’s ongoing work of healing and justice. By remembering history and attending to its present echoes, we join the faithful witness of those, like the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, who endured suffering yet remained rooted in the love of Christ. This sacred journey reveals how our stories of struggle and renewal are bound together, and how God’s love continues to weave wholeness where the world has been, and still is, torn apart. It calls us toward a world where liberation and dignity are not privileges but Divine birthrights rooted in God’s grace. Within this work, we turn away from patterns shaped by fear, envy, and shame, and learn to reflect God’s heart, a heart that forms courage in adversity, restores belonging where division once ruled, and gathers every person into the shared story of redemption and living Hope. Scriptural Anchors: The Book of Genesis & Exodus | Deut 6:4-12 | 2 Samuel 21:1-14 | Amos 5:24 | Micah 6:8 | Lk 4:17-19 | Lk 10:25-37 | Rom 12:1-2 | 2 Cor 3:17-18 | 2 Cor 5:18-19 | Is 61:1-3 | Ps 139 | Matt 5-7 | Rev 2:8–11 | Rev 3:7–13 Justice & Righteousness Listen In a world where faith has become entangled with empire, division, and brokenness, Reclaiming Faith offers an invitation to rediscover the liberating essence of the Gospel. Through four thoughtful sessions led by José Humphreys, this series guides viewers on a journey of decolonization, healing, and spiritual renewal. Each film explores how we can reclaim a faith that truly liberates, restores, and creates authentic belonging... moving beyond inherited systems of power and control to encounter the transformative heart of Christ's message. Whether you're wrestling with disillusionment, seeking deeper understanding, or longing for a more compassionate expression of Christianity, this series provides space for honest discernment and hopeful reimagination. Listen America’s Unholy Ghosts is a thoughtful short film series from The Work of the People inspired by Joel Edward Goza’s book of the same name. The series invites viewers into deep, honest conversation about how racialized ways of thinking and cultural assumptions have shaped American faith and politics... and how those “unholy ghosts” can haunt Christian life and public life today. It includes eight films framed around five sessions that explore topics like how systems of white supremacy are sustained, how scarcity and racialized images of God are constructed, how cultural narratives can be rewritten, and what faithful responses rooted in dignity and justice might look like. Each segment is paired with practices for discernment and conversation. SANKOFA is a word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. It means San (to return), Ko (to go), and Fa (to fetch, seek, and take). The well-known image of the bird... its body facing forward while its head reaches back to lift an egg from its back... captures the heart of Sankofa. It reminds us that returning to what has been carried, forgotten, or left unexamined is not regression, but wisdom. Oftentimes, healing and faithfulness require us to look back with honesty so we can move forward with clarity, courage, and repair. The Sankofa experience follows this way of learning. It guides us through historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement, inviting a living connection between the freedom struggle of the past and the realities we carry today. Sankofa names the truth that understanding race and caste systems is not an optional add-on to faith, but a vital part of our Christian discipleship… especially for those seeking a love that is rooted, embodied, and just. This journey is interactive and deeply formational. It invites participants to notice how Jesus’ righteousness, generosity, and justice take shape in real places, real stories, and real people… inside and outside the church. As we trace the history of caste systems and witness their ongoing impact, Sankofa creates space for awareness, repentance, and repair. It equips believers to join Christ’s work of reconciliation and conciliation, integrating faith and action so that our spiritual formation is not only personal, but also communal… woven into the healing, restoration, and hope God calls all of us to live into together.

Explore biblical justice and righteousness through soul care, racial healing, lament, and spiritual formation resources that restore relationships and cultivate faithful action. Justice & Righteousness Resourcing Wellness in Community "Biblically, justice is a Divine act of reparation where breached relationships are renewed and victims, offenders, and communities are restored. Justice, therefore, is about relationships and our conduct within them. Justice asks, "How is righteousness embodied and exuded in how I live in relationship with God, neighbor, and creation?" Biblical justice is established and worked out within the confines of a relationship. The relational working out of justice is righteousness. This is why we are called to pursue right(eous) relationship with God. And through our realigned relationship with God, in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we "become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21) ." ~ Dominque Dubois Gillard Build a World of Justice & Righteousness Links & Books View More A History of Racial Compromise Links & Books View More Embodied Soul Care Links & Books View More Sacred Rhythm Defined View More Lament Links & Books View More Healing Race-Based Trauma Links & Books View More Black & African American Religious History Links & Books View More Civic Engagment Links & Books View More "The world is the cloister of the contemplative. Always the quest for justice draws one deeply into the heart of God. In this sacred interiorty, contemplation becomes the language of prayer and the impetus for prophetic action." ~ Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable Must See Videos & Movies View More Race & Reconciliation curated by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Decatur, GA Download Anti-Racism Resources curated by United Methodist Church of Garner, NC View More Righteousness & Justice Resources curated by Rock Community of Los Angeles, CA Download Racial Justice Resources curated by First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, CA Download SANKOFA is a word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. It means San (to return), Ko (to go), and Fa (to fetch, seek, and take). The well-known image of the bird... its body facing forward while its head reaches back to lift an egg from its back... captures the heart of Sankofa. It reminds us that returning to what has been carried, forgotten, or left unexamined is not regression, but wisdom. Oftentimes, healing and faithfulness require us to look back with honesty so we can move forward with clarity, courage, and repair. The Sankofa experience follows this way of learning. It guides us through historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement, inviting a living connection between the freedom struggle of the past and the realities we carry today. Sankofa names the truth that understanding race and caste systems is not an optional add-on to faith, but a vital part of our Christian discipleship… especially for those seeking a love that is rooted, embodied, and just. This journey is interactive and deeply formational. It invites participants to notice how Jesus’ righteousness, generosity, and justice take shape in real places, real stories, and real people… inside and outside the church. As we trace the history of caste systems and witness their ongoing impact, Sankofa creates space for awareness, repentance, and repair. It equips believers to join Christ’s work of reconciliation and conciliation, integrating faith and action so that our spiritual formation is not only personal, but also communal… woven into the healing, restoration, and hope God calls all of us to live into together.

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

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.

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 You're No Indian 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

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

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 ...

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 (Jesus) died. In this way his life will also be seen in our bodies. It is because of Creator Sets Free 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

Connect with Urban Wellness Living by sending your message, questions, or thoughts through our contact form and let us know how we can support your soul care and spiritual journey. Say Hello First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thank you so much for your note!

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 The Kids Mental Health Foundation 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 has disrupted our sense of connection, to ourselves, to community, to purpose, to possibility, and to God. It takes real courage to pause long enough to listen, to advocate for our own becoming, and to receive what God's love offers: the slow, steady repair of truth, identity, belonging, and worth within our bodies, souls, and spirits. Healing is not a finish line. It is not the message that says simply get over it and all will be well. It is something far more honest and more generous than that. It is a continuing invitation to receive the same nurturing care for ourselves that we so naturally extend to others, held and companioned by a love that does not tire or turn away. At its core, healing asks us to slow down. To listen more attentively, to ourselves and to one another. To remain on the road toward internal and external freedom, not by force or willpower, but by trusting our presence to the One who created us with love and has never stopped tending to us since. SOUL CARE ADVISING is the practice of creating spacious, compassionate ground where our spiritual and emotional roots can be genuinely tended. It invites us to pause and pay attention, cultivating a deeper awareness of ourselves, God, others, and the world we inhabit together. This journey honors the tensions we carry, love and fear, shame and grace, justice and adversity, not as contradictions to be solved or burdens to be eliminated, but as part of the honest, sacred terrain of being human. Through the rhythms of Soul Care, we begin to notice that healing does not wait for struggle to end. It unfolds right in the middle of it, in the pausing, the noticing, and the being accompanied. Over time, rather than striving toward resilience alone, Soul Care Advising nurtures a sustaining sense of truth, identity, and wholeness, drawing us toward liberation and a deeper, more authentic belonging with God and with one another.