My spirituality
… evolves as I grow. I practice staying present in the moment and find that life is better when I do.
I believe the Divine Mystery defies description, yet all who earnestly seek will begin to know it.
Spiritual journey is like …
opening a door you never knew was there and discovering treasure…..being adrift at sea on a lifeboat with a group of strangers, and learning to befriend each of them…. going into a cave and finding you can see in the dark….visiting a foreign country and letting a tour guide show you the way….becoming unfettered and finding you have hidden talents….intuitively knowing how to handle situations that used to baffle you.
What is a spiritual companion?
A spiritual companion is someone who gets on the boat with you, or in the cave, or to the country … Someone with evolving edges and intuition, who has been on a similar journey as a traveller and as a guide.
What can you expect from a spiritual companion? When you are together, a companion joins you in the presence of Mystery*. Together, you create a sacred space where you can explore the forces within you and around you. Your companion looks and listens for what might be emerging in you. Nonjudgmental reflections help you recognize this for yourself.
A companion may also suggest ways to put you more in touch with the Divine in the interim between meetings. As time goes on, you can expect to evolve personally and spiritually. You become more fully yourself and more fully aware of your ‘place in the Universe’. You take your role in the unfolding of creation.
*Divine Mystery is a phrase which attempts to capture what cannot be put into words. I say this instead of “God”. It is, ‘the ultimate reality, the divine mystery, the immanent presence, the belover, the source of all goodness, the spirit of the universe that underlies the totality of things’.
What I mean by ‘spiritual not religious’
As a young adult, I did not worry about spiritual or religious matters. While I achieved a small measure of success in life, something was always missing. When my took a dive, I took spirituality more seriously. I began a practice of meditation and prayer. I learned to develop a connection within myself, and to surrender into the Divine Mystery*. Later, a conversion experience showed me that love, forgiveness and relationship with God were expressed in the incarnation of Jesus. This spoke directly to my heart and I became a Christian (much to my surprise).
The way this happened convinces me that spiritual growth and awakenings are not necessarily connected with a specific religious faith. As Wayne Teasdale wrote in The Mystic Heart, “Being religious connotes belonging to, and practising a religious tradition. Being spiritual suggests a personal commitment to the process of inner development that engages us in our totality.” .
Not psychotherapy
Spiritual companionship is also called ‘therapy of the soul’. To paraphrase Thomas Moore, Therapy of the soul takes seriously the notion that the soul is what makes us human. We do not dismiss human problems and foibles as diseases to be cured. They are necessary, if painful, ingredients in a fully human life. This is what makes it different from psychotherapy.
As a companion, I hope to help you awaken to new possibilities, connections, and deeper meanings. I don’t presume that you ‘should’ change the path that you are on.
Another difference is that psychotherapy deals specifically with mental health. It is measurably helpful to people struggling with depression, anxiety, psychosis, etc.. Spiritual work is often slower and less easily measured.
Who seeks Spiritual Companionship?
Spiritual companionship can be part of a life-long process of growing along spiritual lines through prayer and contemplation. Seekers often enter when they ….. have outgrown psychotherapy, but value deep exploration ….. have spiritual yearnings but no religious community ….. have religious affiliations, but need a private place evolve their understanding of the Divine Mystery ….. have had a spiritual experience …. have a difficult life choice to make … need a touchstone to keep them on their chosen path ….. need an accountability partner to help them keep their commitment to a regular spiritual practice.
How does one begin?
When you send a request, I will email you a zoom invitation for an individual meeting. Then we meet and chat to see where you are in your search right now, and whether what I offer might suit you. If we both want to continue, we would typically meet monthly for 6 to 12 months, then re-evaluate to see if we should continue.
Note: For people near London, Ontario, I would be delighted to meet you in person if you prefer.
What does it cost?
There is no charge for the introductory meeting. If you find our meeting helpful, and wish to continue, you would pay on a sliding scale. At the low end, If you are still striving to have your basic needs met, you might make a service offering in your own community. If you are someone who has your basic needs met and more, you would donate an amount that represents a serious commitment but not an undue burden to you.
Are our conversations private?
I hold what we say in confidence. There is no legal protection for the privacy of our conversations as I am not a lawyer or a registered health care professional.
As a matter of course, I do not acknowledge who is consulting me or who has consulted me without permission from them. I do not discuss the content of our conversations with anyone else unless I believe you or someone else is in immediate physical danger.
How often do we meet?
Arrangements vary, but most people come monthly.
Do you do 5th steps with people?
Yes. If that is what you are looking for, please let me know in your e-mail. There is no charge for a 5th step.
Send me a question
and I will reply
Harken 