Soul Circles: Group Spiritual Direction
Are you looking for a unique way to deepen your connection to your soul, tune into Spirit, ground in God, develop discernment, and discover new ways to pray?
Whether you have been a person of faith for a long time, are in a season of doubt and disorientation, or coming into a brand new awareness of the Divine in your life, regardless of tradition or creed, spiritual direction can be valuable support on a person’s spiritual path.
A Soul Circle is a safe space for you to explore new ways of connecting with your soul through guided experiences while being a witness to others who are doing the same.
“This has been such an integral part of the last year for me and really helped me process some of the things I was going through this year...I learned a lot about myself and also learned that you can still feel very connected to people in a beautiful way even when you are in a very structured environment.”
“Being in a Soul Circle has been such a gift. Christa created a safe space to slow down, connect with God and learn new things about myself and what my soul was telling me. Christa has an amazing gift for making you feel accepted and encouraged and she set that tone each time we met. Her sessions were beautifully put together, full of art, poetry, music, and different spiritual practices, all in a positive and welcoming environment. ”
“I think one of the most valuable lessons for me is just that when I put in the time, it is always well worth it - usually beyond my expectations. The soul circle was a wonderful time to slow down and reconnect with a deeper part of myself and others that I haven’t gotten to do a lot of in the last year. ”
“I enjoyed the experience of arriving without having had to prepare anything and being led through a variety of practices, some of which were completely new to me. I appreciated the environment of trust and respect that allowed us to share and be heard.”
Note: THE FALL 2023 Circle IS NOW FULL.
Dates: Five Consecutive Wednesdays - November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm EST
DETAILS:
Each session will begin with a 25-minute contemplative prayer practice facilitated by Christa. The remainder of the session will consist of sharing your experience (as you want to), deep listening to one another, supporting one another with open questions and inquiry, and noticing together the movement of Spirit.
The time together is very intentional- full of silence, reflection, deep listening, and reflecting back to one another when appropriate. There is never pressure to share, but it does "ask" something of you - to come each week and be present.
Group size is 6-8 people. The first evening will include reviewing a "group agreement” together.
You will need to be able to commit to a minimum of 4 of the 5 sessions, but full attendance is preferred.
We will use secure Zoom Meeting Room technology. Meetings will NOT be recorded.
Investment: $110.00 + HST (Canadian dollars)
FIVE SESSIONS - FIVE THEMES
Week One- We start with our Breath
Focus: Present to and participate with Presence.
Week Two- The Journey of Life
Focus: What do we need as we walk the path of our lives?
Week Three - Invitation to Something New
Focus: Tuning into invitations and threshold spaces of life
Week Four - We Are Made to Grow
Focus: Transformation is what we are made for.
Week Five- Ebb and Flow
Focus: The work and play of life is moving with the natural rhythms and seasons that come our way
This circle doesn’t work with your schedule? Want to be notified of future Circle dates?
ABOUT SPIRITUAL DIRECTION - CONNECTION AGREEMENT
This opportunity is open for people who are new to spiritual direction, or who are personally familiar with spiritual direction and may also be currently meeting with a director.
People often seek out a spiritual director when they are wanting to deepen their relationship with God, want to discern God’s presence and action in their life, or when God seems confusing, distant, or absent.
Spiritual Direction is for people who are basically well adjusted, emotionally healthy, functioning effectively, and wanting to pay attention to their spiritual life and connection with the Divine.
Whether personal or group sessions, the director doesn’t really direct you, as much as support helping you direct your attention to the inner landscape of your life, helping you listen deeply to your own soul and the voice of the God.
Spiritual direction is not therapy, counseling, mental health care, or treatment for substance abuse. The director is not functioning as a licensed mental health professional and spiritual direction is not intended as a replacement for counseling, psychiatric interventions, treatment for mental illness, recovery from past abuse, professional medical advice, financial assistance, legal counsel, or other professional services.
“Parker Palmer wrote that the soul is like a wild animal....and if we wait patiently, it may emerge. Soul Circles have felt like a space where you are waiting for the wild animal with trusted pilgrims. Others may see something you are missing from your own binocular lenses and can point out invitations you cannot see or hear. Soul circles have felt like sacred spaces that aren’t just a thing you sign up for, but rather a liminal space a sojourner enters courageously. ”
Christa Hesselink has been guiding individuals and groups as they dig deeper into their spiritual life for her entire twenty-year career working in church ministry, education, and not-for-profit settings.
Christa is a certified spiritual director with the Haden Institute which is rooted in the contemplative Christian tradition. She is also a certified coach, certified yoga instructor, and has completed the intensive coaching certification program with the Narrative Enneagram.
In pastoral ministry for over ten years, she holds a Master’s of Leadership and a Master’s of Theology degree and is a well-respected speaker, workshop facilitator, and retreat leader.
Christa is a member of Spiritual Director’s International
