Showing posts with label ritual. Show all posts

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Spiritual Tending for Mortals: Attending to Death, Dying, and Loss

Attending to Death, Dying, and Loss

How we meet death shapes how we live. Death is a certainty of human life, yet many cultures treat it as unspeakable. Those facing their mortality often find themselves isolated, and those grieving may be pressured to move on too quickly. As spiritual companions, we are called to hold space for the realities of death, dying, and loss and support seekers in finding meaning within their spiritual traditions.

This post offers a practical framework for accompanying people through three key experiences: grappling with mortality, preparing for death, and navigating bereavement. Ritual, tradition, and compassionate presence can help people move through these profound transitions.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons, Photo User HORIZON

Grappling with Mortality

Some seekers arrive in spiritual companionship when they begin to face their mortality—through aging, illness, or an awareness of life’s fragility. These conversations can bring deep existential questions:

What is my life’s meaning? What happens after I die? How do I prepare?

Try These Ways to Support Seekers

Inviting open, spiritually grounded conversation: Many have never spoken openly about death. Acknowledging fears, hopes, and uncertainties can be profoundly freeing. Whether they frame mortality through reincarnation, heaven, ancestral connection, or mystery, companions can help seekers explore their beliefs with depth and clarity.
Encouraging life review: Reflecting on one’s journey, values, and relationships can bring peace. Practices like storytelling, letter-writing, or compiling a spiritual autobiography can be meaningful. This can lead to the question posed by the poet Mary Oliver: “What do you wish to do with your one precious life?”

Many seekers will also ask, “Where is the Divine in this?” ...especially as they encounter suffering, fear, or grief. This is a question to hold with great care. A companion does not need to provide an answer but can gently explore this longing, inviting the seeker’s own wisdom and experience to emerge.

Preparing for Death: Accompanying Those Nearing the End

Spiritual companionship brings sacred presence. The focus shifts from seeking answers to finding comfort, closure, and connection. Often, the companion’s role also extends to those close to the dying person—offering guidance and support to loved ones.

Ways to Accompany Someone Nearing Death

Attuning to their needs: Some may wish to reflect on their lives; others may simply want quiet companionship. Compassionate presence is key.
Engaging in ritual: Ritual can provide grounding and peace. This may include reciting prayers, offering blessings, or drawing from the seeker’s tradition—such as a Wiccan passing ritual, Christian last rites, or Tibetan Buddhist death meditations.
Supporting goodbyes: Helping a person express final words to loved ones or engage in symbolic acts (like passing on meaningful objects) can bring resolution.

Ring Theory by Susan Silk, Illustration by Wes Bausmith/LA Times

Bereavement: Anticipatory Loss and Coping with Grief

Grief often begins before a loved one has died, and it does not follow a predictable course. Companions can support people from anticipatory grief through the long journey of loss.

Key Ways to Accompany the Bereaved:

Breaking the taboo of grief: Many feel pressure to “move on” or grieve a certain way. Companions affirm that grief is not a problem to be solved but a process to be honored. Consider attending a Death Café or facilitating similar discussions in your community.
Holding space for mourning rituals: Sitting Shiva, ancestor altars, lighting candles, and writing letters to the deceased are just a few ways different traditions support the grieving. Exploring or creating personalized rituals can help seekers find solace.
Encouraging self-compassion: Grief is unpredictable; waves of sorrow, moments of peace, and unexpected emotions are all natural. Companions can affirm that whatever arises is part of the process.

Complicated Grief: Sudden Death, Child Loss, and Other Deep Wounds

Some losses carry a unique weight: losing a child, experiencing a sudden or violent death, or enduring a miscarriage or stillbirth. These kinds of grief can be especially complex, bringing profound sorrow, anger, guilt, or shock.

In Rochester, NY, nurses created a gentle ritual for families grieving infant loss, offering time, touch, and keepsakes to honor the child’s life.

When offering such rituals, consent is essential. Not every grieving person will want to engage in these practices, and no one should be pressured. The role of a spiritual companion is to offer, not impose—to listen deeply and respond with care to the needs of the seeker.

Additionally, some seekers may come to you because they themselves are struggling with wanting to die, or because they love someone who is suicidal or who has chosen to die. These are tender and difficult realities that require deep presence and often professional collaboration. I address them more fully in another post [https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/05/traveling-with-despair-consent.html].

Addressing Misunderstandings

There’s no “right” way to grieve. People often feel pressured to grieve quickly or loudly or in a particular way. Companions affirm that every grief journey is unique, and there is no timeline for healing.

“The Stages of Grief are not Stages”, art by Beth Erlander

Self-Care for Spiritual Companions

Companioning others through death and grief is sacred work, but it can also be emotionally taxing. To sustain this work, have your own companion, seek supervision, honor your limits. Consent works both ways. If a conversation is too emotionally heavy, it’s okay to pause or refer the seeker to additional support.

Final Thoughts

Spiritual companions play a vital role in making space for death, dying, and grief by breaking silence, offering ritual, attending to the presence of the sacred, and honoring each person’s unique journey. By showing up with care and presence, we help seekers navigate one of life’s greatest transitions with dignity and meaning. Attending to death is an act of deep love for life itself.

You are whole, holy, and worthy.

Rev. Amy

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Tuesday, July 22, 2025

When the Path Diverges: Endings in Spiritual Direction

When the Path Diverges: Endings in Spiritual Tending

Endings are a natural part of all relationships, including spiritual direction work. Still, they can be emotionally and spiritually tender—especially when they happen suddenly or without acknowledgment. Whether a spiritual tendinf relationship spans three sessions or three years, how we conclude the journey matters.

Why Endings Matter

Spiritual care isn’t a haircut or a massage. While it might be fine to silently stop scheduling hair appointments, this "fade-away" approach is not ideal for deep, sacred relationships. (Perhaps we could have a conversation about disappearing on hairdressers as well?) A spiritual care relationship touches on a person’s heart, growth, and sacred story. It deserves a thoughtful farewell.

And yet, unexplained disappearances happen, even in spiritual tending.

People stop replying. They don’t schedule again. They disappear, perhaps without even meaning to. Life gets busy. Emotional discomfort arises. Some feel awkward naming a need to pause or move on. If this has happened to you as a companion, you're not alone. If you’ve no-showed/no-called a spiritual companion yourself, know that many of us have at some point, and it’s never too late to reach out with a thank-you or a simple goodbye.

The truth is, endings are often vulnerable. They ask us to acknowledge change. They require us to let go. But when handled with care, they can be as meaningful as any other part of the journey.

Setting Expectations Early

One of the best ways to support good endings is to talk about them at the beginning. I often let seekers know:

You are free to end at any time. This is your journey, and I honor your discernment.
When possible, let’s name an ending together. Even a brief email or single final session helps bring a sense of completeness.
I will not take your need to stop personally. Seasons change. Life shifts. People grow and need different support. That’s normal.

You might also name your own rhythm of checking in: “If I haven’t heard from you in three months, I’ll send a gentle note to see where things stand. No pressure—just presence.”

Different Ways to End

Not every ending looks the same. Here are a few possibilities:

A closing session. Sometimes a seeker knows it’s time to pause or move on and names this during a regular session. Together, you might spend that time harvesting the fruits of the journey.
An email or message. If a final session isn’t possible, a note of thanks and farewell can still offer closure.
A ritualized goodbye. Whether short or elaborate, ritual can honor the sacredness of the relationship and bless what’s next.
Time-limited agreements. Some spiritual care relationships are set up for a season—a 6-month program, a year-long container, or a sabbatical accompaniment. When that’s the case, you can build reflection and closure into the final session from the start.

None of these are required, but each offers an opportunity for mutual blessing.

An Intentional Ritual to Close the Circle

When seekers are open to it, I offer the following “Ritual of Looking Back, Looking Forward.” It’s designed for two people to do together via teleconference and helps mark the end of our time with meaning and grace.

Ritual of Looking Back, Looking Forward (for Two, via teleconference or in person)

To conclude a spiritual tending relationship.
Materials: One central candle, one candle for each person (companion and seeker), matches or lighter, and a fire-safe surface.

Before the appointment: Each person sets up their candle and fire-safe surface. Lights are dimmed to create a contemplative space.
Opening words:
Companion says:
“Welcome, [Seeker’s Name]. As our time together comes to a close, we gather virtually to acknowledge the journey we’ve shared and to bless the paths that lie ahead. This central candle, which I will light now, represents the time we’ve spent together…”
Lighting the central candle: The companion lights it and invites silent reflection:
“What moments stand out for you, [Seeker’s Name]? What have you learned? What gifts have you received from this connection?”
Lighting individual candles: Each person lights their own candle, sharing a word or phrase about what they carry forward.
“May our individual paths be illuminated with the wisdom and strength we have gained.”
Extinguishing the central candle: The companion gently puts it out, saying:
“This does not mean the light we shared is gone, but rather that it has been dispersed, carried within each of us…”
Closing blessing and silence.

This simple setting of intentions and naming of consent allows the sacred relationship to be honored—without clinging, and without minimizing its depth.

If You’ve Been "Ghosted"…

It’s okay to feel sadness or confusion. Try not to assume ill intent. You might send a brief note like:

“Dear [Name],
I’ve noticed we haven’t connected in a while. If this marks the end of our companioning relationship, I want to say thank you for the time we shared. If you'd like to meet for a brief closing session, I’d be honored. In any case, may your path continue to be rich and spirit-filled.”

Even without a reply, you’ve modeled spaciousness, kindness, and healthy boundaries.

If You Need to End as the Companion

Sometimes you may feel a need to conclude the relationship—due to scope of practice, time constraints, personal limits, or misalignment. These conversations can be awkward but are often received with gratitude when offered gently and clearly. You might say:

“I want to honor the journey we've shared. I'm noticing that what you're seeking may be better supported by someone with a different focus. I'd be glad to help you find the right next companion, if you wish.”

Ending with care is part of ethical spiritual companionship. We can model what it looks like to say goodbye with respect and presence.

Try It

If you're a seeker, consider how you want to bring closure when you sense a companioning relationship is complete. What would help you mark the transition?
If you're a companion, create a few templates or rituals you can offer. Include a note about endings in your welcome packet.
Reflect on past goodbyes in your own life. What made them feel meaningful—or not?

Every path has its thresholds. Every threshold offers a choice: to move back, or to move through with awareness.

Beloved, you are whole, holy, and worthy. May your endings be as sacred as your beginnings.

With warmth,
Amy

For Further Exploration

• Finley, James. The Healing Path – Offers profound reflections on spiritual journeying, including what it means to release and let go.
https://jamesfinley.org/the-healing-path

• Spiritual Directors International – Offers guidelines and reflections on ethical companionship, including the importance of mutuality and closure.
https://www.sdicompanions.org

• Piver, Susan. The Four Noble Truths of Love – Though about relationships, this book offers tools for navigating the discomfort of endings with honesty and heart.
https://susanpiver.com/books

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Earth Day – The Rainbow is a Promise

Earth Day 2025

It’s been a wet, and weirdly cold winter where I live in southern Portugal. I’m delighted the reservoirs are filling back up—there were a few scary years where we’ve been carefully conserving water—but the unrelenting dreariness outside has matched the depressing news from the United States, the UK, and Italy.

Early this month, though, I was heading to the grocery store when the sun broke through. The clouds hadn’t even cleared yet, but right there—arching across the valley—was a full double rainbow, one end seeming to bend all the way down to the road I was on.

Glorious.

I pulled over and just basked, joy warming my heart.

Double Rainbow over Field and Forest CC0

I’ve been thinking about rainbows

They show up in so many stories—myth and memory alike—as signs of hope. Promises. Not the kind of promise that insists everything will be okay—but something deeper, something that breathes into the ache of the world and says: you’re not alone in this.

In the Hebrew story, the rainbow is a sign from the Divine—a bow hung up in the sky as the rains stopped, no longer aimed at Earth. A ceasefire. A sacred pause. A promise that devastation won’t have the final word.

In Norse tradition, Bifröst is the rainbow bridge between Midgard and the realm of spirit—a connection between the everyday and the sacred, the mortal and the divine. It reminds us that we're never truly cut off from the unseen, the holy.

In other Pagan traditions, rainbows mark transformation—moments of change, of beauty, of magic breaking through when it’s least expected.

No Rainbow without a Storm

But here’s the thing: rainbows only appear after the storm.

They don’t come before. They’re not a preventative. They don’t erase what just happened.

They arrive because the light and the water meet—and in that sacred meeting, something breathtaking is born.

That rainbow I saw wasn’t pretending the storms didn’t come. It didn’t tidy up the wreckage. It simply was—a luminous arc, holding both light and water, saying: even now, there is beauty.

And friends, in a time like this—when oceans are rising, forests are burning, species are vanishing—I’m not interested in cheap hope. You won’t hear me say “everything’s fine.” Because it’s not. And I won’t say “all shall be well” for everyone. Because it won’t be.

We know that.

We feel it in our bones.

Friendship, Help, Hands (Pixabay)

An Invitation

I keep thinking of stories of people who showed up in the past. I love the story about A.J. Muste, a pacifist and activist who protested the Vietnam War by standing outside the White House, night after night, holding a candle. One night, a reporter asked him why he continued to hold vigil when it seemed so clear he was not changing the world. His answer was this:

"I don't do this to change the world. I do this so the world doesn't change me."

That’s the kind of invitation I want to offer today. Not Pollyanna optimism. Not numbing. Not pretending.

But fierce, grounded, love-rooted commitment—the kind that holds grief in one hand and possibility in the other.

The kind that doesn’t ask, “Will we survive?” but instead asks, “How will we live—while we’re still here?”

I’m here to tell you this: the rainbow is still true.

Not in a sentimental way. Not as a promise that no one will suffer. Many are already suffering. But as an invitation. A whisper from the more-than-human world that says:

- Even now, you are part of the living web.

- Even now, your grief matters.

- Even now, your love and your actions ripple outward.

Ripples of Color by Scott Cresswell CC2.0

The Rainbow Speaks

When we see a rainbow, we are reminded that we belong. We are reminded that beauty is not gone from this world. And we are reminded that we have choices to make—every day, in every storm.

We can choose to despair—and sometimes we need to feel despair. We can choose to numb out—and gods know that’s tempting some days. (I walk by the TV and clap my hands over my ears “la la la la, I can’t hear you!”)

But we can also choose—when we’re ready—to keep showing up. To tend what’s wounded. To build bridges. To speak truth. To sing beauty back into the world.

The rainbow doesn’t ask us to pretend the storm didn’t happen. It asks us to keep going anyway.

It says: This world is not finished. You are not finished.

It says: Choose love. Choose beauty. Choose Earth.

And that’s the invitation of Earth Day, isn’t it?

Earth Day isn’t about celebrating a perfect planet. It’s about remembering our bond with a wounded one.

It’s about reclaiming our place as part of the Earth, not separate from it—not above, not outside.

It’s about touching soil with our bare hands. About making compost from what’s dying. About planting seeds anyway.

It’s about bearing witness. About grief that is holy. About love that insists on rising, even in the rubble. Even here.

It’s about rooting ourselves in the ancient knowing that the sacred is not gone. Even now.

It’s right here—in the rain and the rainbow. In the soil and the seed. In our imperfect, yearning hearts.

Earth Day Poster by Clon

The rainbow, for me, is a vow.

It says:

I will not give up on the Earth.
I will not give up on love.
I will not give up on my beloveds.

And I invite you to join me in that vow—not because it’s easy. But because it’s worthy.

Because storms will come. But after the storm, comes the light.

And sometimes, that light meets water—and becomes a promise.

A promise that beauty still matters.

That connection still matters. That we’re still here.

So light your candle.Touch the ground. Speak a vow aloud or in silence:

Let the rainbow be my vow.
Let my life be a bridge between the storm and the healing.
Let my heart be a shelter for the sacred.
Let my hands and voice be ready to plant, to tend, to build, to bless.

We need each other. And we need reminders. We need rainbow bridges, and we need protest candles. We need compost and community and courage.

I will not give up on the Earth.
I will not give up on love.
I will not give up on my beloveds.

Let’s be that for one another.

by Clon

Try this

Gather with friends or acquaintances and reflect together on the following questions:

Reflect on times when you’ve experienced personal "storms" — how did you find or create moments of hope or healing after those challenges? How does the rainbow’s promise resonate in those moments?
How do our choices, individually or collectively, contribute to the health of the world? What are ways we can personally shift into our power to make a difference so that we, and all beings, survive?
What are some practices or rituals that help you stay connected to commitment, joy, and love even when the world feels overwhelming?

Let’s be the ones who say: even now, I choose to love this world.

Let’s be the ones who remember that we are made of Earth and rain and starlight—and that we are not separate from the future we long for.

The rainbow may be ephemeral. But its promise endures. Blessed Earth Day.

Blessed be.

Beloved, you are whole, holy, and worthy,

Rev. Amy

Journaling as a Sacred Practice in Spiritual Tending

Journaling as a Sacred Practice in Spiritual Direction

Journaling is one of the simplest and most powerful tools we have for spiritual reflection and discernment. There’s something about putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) that slows us down, opens up space for wonder, and invites a deeper conversation—whether with ourselves, with a Divine, or with the great mystery of life.

For those of us engaged in exploring our spiritual direction as seekers, or accompanying a the exploration as companions—journaling can be a lantern along the path, helping us listen more deeply, notice where Spirit is moving, and sit with the questions that matter most.

This isn’t about keeping a perfect, leather-bound diary (unless that’s your thing). It’s about playing with words, thoughts, and images to discover what wants to emerge. I saw the most beautiful hand-made leather-bound journals at a recent medieval faire here in Portugal. It feels good to choose and use something soft to the hand and tied to rhe past. But most of my own journaling is on scratch paper pulled from my printer.

Hand-made leather-bound journal CC0

Let’s explore a few ways to bring journaling into your spiritual life.

1. What Kind of Journaling Are We Talking About?

Not all journaling serves the same purpose. If you’ve ever tried to start a journaling habit and abandoned it, it might not be that journaling “isn’t for you” but rather that the format wasn’t a fit. Here’s a quick way to think about it:

• Journals for Recording Life – These are classic diaries—places to capture daily events, emotions, or milestones.

• Journals for Organizing Life – Bullet journals, planners, and goal-setting notebooks help bring order and structure.

• Journals for Spiritual Reflection – This is where we linger today—writing not just to remember or organize, but to attend, discover, and grow.

For spiritual direction work, we focus on journaling as a practice of reflection, discernment, and inner exploration—a way to notice where Spirit is moving and where we are being called.

2. Journaling as a Spiritual Practice

Journaling can be a form of prayer, a way of sitting in sacred presence with ourselves and with the Divine. It doesn’t have to be formal. It doesn’t even have to make sense. It just has to invite us deeper.

Some ways to make journaling a spiritual practice:

• Write as a conversation with the Sacred – Imagine you’re speaking with the Divine, your deepest wisdom, or a compassionate guide. What would you say? What might they say back? (Explore nurturing relationship with your divine(s) in this blog post.)

• Engage with sacred texts or poetry – Read a verse, a quote, or a song lyric that stirs something in you. Sit with it. Then write whatever comes. (Read more about Lectio Divina in spiritual direction work in this blog post.)

• Use colors, symbols, or drawings – Not all journaling has to be words. Sometimes our hearts speak best through image, shape, or color. (Explore more about symbols and doodles in spiritual direction work in this blog post.)

• Create a ritual around your writing – Light a candle, take a deep breath, or find a spot that feels peaceful. Let your journaling be a time of sacred pause. (Learn more about ritual-making as spiritual direction work in this blog post.)

Journal Page in Progress by artjunkgirl CC2.0

3. Playing with Prompts & Freewriting

If you’re someone who stares at a blank page and panics, prompts and freewriting exercises can help.

• Freewriting – Set a timer for five or ten minutes, start writing, and don’t stop. Even if all you write is “I don’t know what to write,” keep going. It’s about bypassing the inner critic and letting deeper wisdom rise.

• Guided prompts – Sometimes, a question or phrase can open a doorway. Here are a few to try:

• Where do I sense the Sacred moving in my life today?

• What am I longing for right now?

• What wisdom does my body hold in this moment?

• If I could ask my future self one thing, what would it be?

There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Write what feels true. Notice what surprises you.

Cup, Computer, and Snacks CC0

4. Deep-Dive Journaling for Spiritual Growth

Some seekers long for a more immersive approach to journaling, one that unfolds over time. If that’s you (or someone you companion), you might explore structured journaling methods that guide seekers through life patterns, inner dialogues, dreams, and spiritual autobiography.

One approach, Ira Progoff’s Intensive Journal Method, offers a deep and non-directive way of working with journaling for personal and spiritual growth. He proposes taking a full two days writing on each of four explorations:

• Life History – Exploring personal history through life mapping, key events, and patterns. (Explore mapping, or life review, in spiritual direction work in these blog posts.)

• Dialogue Dimension – Writing conversations with different parts of ourselves (our inner wisdom, our doubts, even past versions of us), significant people, the Divine, or symbolic figures.(Explore how to dialog with parts of self in spiritual direction work in this blog post.)

• Depth Dimension – Paying attention to the symbols, stories, and spiritual invitations in our dreams and intuition. (Explore DreamWork in spiritual direction work in this blog post.)

• Meaning Dimension – Looking back to see how our relationship with the Sacred has evolved. Reflecting on purpose, spiritual direction, and the unfolding of one’s life path. (Take a deeper dive into spiritual autobiography in this blog post.)

Life Map by Simon Brown CC0

These aren’t assignments—they’re invitations. If a method speaks to you, follow it. If it doesn’t, let it go.

5. Using Daybooks and Prompts for Reflection and Healing

Journals, daybooks, and guided prompts provide structured ways for seekers to externalize thoughts and emotions. These tools can be combined with embodied practices—writing while tapping, responding to a question through doodles, or engaging in a short Zentangle exercise before journaling.

Companions might suggest a seeker use a daily creative practice to process emotions between sessions, offering prompts like:

What patterns emerge when I let my pen move freely? or How does my body feel as I tap through a stressful thought?

Bringing Journaling into Spiritual Direction

If you are a seeker, consider how journaling might support your journey. It doesn’t have to be daily. It doesn’t even have to be structured. But having a place to explore, question, and listen can open new doors.

If you are a spiritual companion, you don’t have to prescribe journaling to everyone. But you might offer it as a tool—especially to those who process through writing or who struggle to put their experiences into words in the moment. A simple “Have you ever tried writing about this?” can be a gentle invitation.

Journaling isn’t about creating something polished or profound. It’s about showing up on the page with an open heart and seeing what emerges. Sometimes, that alone is enough.

What about you? Have you ever used journaling as a spiritual practice? What has it opened for you?

You are whole, holy, and worthy.

Rev Amy

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A Simple Journaling Practice to Try

If you’re curious about journaling as a spiritual practice but don’t know where to start, here’s a simple process to experiment with. Set aside 15–20 minutes, find a quiet space, and try this gentle rhythm:

1. Set an Intention – Before you begin writing, take a moment to pause. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and invite yourself into a space of curiosity. You might whisper a simple prayer, set an intention (“I am here to listen”), or light a candle to mark this time as sacred.

2. Start with a Prompt – Choose one that resonates, or use this:

What is stirring in me today? Where do I feel longing, resistance, or gratitude?
If you prefer something visual, choose an image, a piece of art, or a symbol and let it spark your reflections.

3. Write Freely – Let your pen (or keyboard) move without overthinking. If you feel stuck, write whatever comes: “I don’t know what to say, but I am here.” The goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence.

4. Pause & Notice – After writing, sit with what emerged. Does anything surprise you? Do any words or phrases stand out? Rather than rushing to interpret, simply notice what is asking for your attention.

5. Close with Gratitude – End with a small gesture of gratitude. Maybe that’s a deep breath, a hand over your heart, or a few words of thanks: “Thank you for this time. Thank you for what was revealed—and for what is still unfolding.”

6. Reflect Later – Return to what you wrote in a day or two. Sometimes wisdom surfaces not in the moment, but as we revisit our words with fresh eyes.

Try this once and see how it feels. If it nourishes you, keep going. If not, adjust—this practice is meant to serve you, not the other way around.

Would love to hear—if you try this, what arises for you?

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Ready to explore more? Here are some references that align with the different journaling approaches mentioned above:

• Letter to the Divine – Writing to God: 40 Days of Praying with My Pen by Rachel G. Hackenberg offers a beautiful framework for using written prayers as a spiritual practice.

• Free Writing – The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a classic resource on creative free writing and the power of “morning pages” for self-discovery and spiritual connection.

• Writing with Ritual – A Sacred Voice Is Calling: Personal Vocation and Social Conscience by John Neafsey explores how ritual and reflection can help us discern our calling. Also, Writing Down Your Soul by Janet Conner provides practices for turning journaling into a deep, intuitive ritual.

• Writing with Art – Visual Journaling: Going Deeper than Words by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox introduces techniques for combining art and writing as a path to insight and healing.

• Writing in Response to Sacred Texts/Poetry – Writing to Wake the Soul: Opening the Sacred Conversation Within by Karen Hering is an excellent guide to journaling with sacred texts, poetry, and meaningful quotes as prompts.