SDI Encounters

EP 131: Michelle Scheidt on Sharing Spiritual Heritage

Michelle Scheidt, Senior Program Officer at the Fetzer Institute, is leading an effort focused on field building and network development among spiritual innovators. She and her advisors are asking: How will we hold onto the rich teachings of our historic faith and wisdom traditions while applying them creatively in today’s time? How will we reimagine roles and institutions as the spiritual and religious landscape dramatically shifts? 
 
Michelle will be presenting on their work at the SDI Engage 2022 Conference, and gives us a preview in this conversation with Executive Director, Reverend SeiFu Anil Singh-Molares.
 
It's not too late to sign up! Join us at the SDI Engage 2022 Conference, in-person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or virtually. May 11-15, 2022. Learn more at sdicompanions.org
 
Learn more about Fetzer's work at fetzer.org
 
Sharing Spiritual Heritage | The Fetzer Institute

EP130 - An Interview with Jennifer (Jinks) Hoffmann and Diane M. Millis - New Book from SDI Press

We are delighted to announce the latest book release from SDI Press, written by SDI Poetry Editor, former Coordinating Council member, and dear friend Jennifer (Jinks) Hoffmann. It’s called, “The Light of God’s Shadow – Musings, Stories, and Poems on Waking Up.”
Jinks is a longtime spiritual director and psychotherapist who, through her writing, encourages us to listen for the divine daily call to wholeness-in our relationships and work, our joys and dreams, our messes and triumphs, our losses and grief. She reminds us that through earthy, vulnerable, and humorous musings, stories and poetry, that waking up is a lifetime endeavor. In this book, we accompany Jinks on her journey through radiant and dark shadow, and we learn with her from the wisdom of her teachers. We grow in understanding – and in our bodies, hearts and souls – that when we welcome our vulnerability and strength, we heighten our humanity and heal our souls. By becoming kinder and more compassionate with ourselves and with one another we keep waking up and we bring healing to the world.
In this podcast episode we play an interview between Jinks and her friend and spiritual companion, Diane Millis (author of Re-Creating A Life). To learn more about Jinks' new book please visit our website, The Light of God's Shadow - Musings, Stories, and Poems on Waking Up (sdicompanions.org)
To view the video of this interview, click here: https://youtu.be/sWbZx2ZFvt8
 

EP 129 - Meet Larry J. Morris III, Spiritual Director and Production Assistant at SDI

In this week’s episode, SDI’s Creative Director Matt Whitney speaks with Larry J. Morris III, Production Assistant at SDI. Larry describes himself as “an apostle, digital marketer, scholar, and spiritual director based in Henderson, NV.” They have been helping with various creative tasks, including generating media for web and print, crafting social media, and helping administer our new Public Square online platform. Larry will co-lead a workshop on “Spiritual Companionship and Social Action” at the 2022 Engage Conference. Matt and Larry discuss ways spiritual companions can support justice and liberation. You can learn more about Larry and their work at www.larryjmorris3.com. 

EP 128 - Big News! New look for Presence Journal

The calendar has turned over to March, and this week we are rolling out our peer-reviewed flagship publication, Presence Journal. We are so excited to share this issue with you – as we get to reveal a brand new look!
Presence, which has been published by Spiritual Directors International since 1995, last received a redesign in 2003. Since I began working at SDI in 2018, we have been dreaming about giving Presence Journal a look and feel that reflects the vibrant dialog and intimate stories of spiritual direction and companionship that we bring to each issue. Over the past year, I have been working with some amazing creative people to make this a reality. In this episode, I have a conversation about this process with graphic designers Cristina Mejia and Martha María Tobón, who worked extensively under SDI’s guidance to help create the new look and feel of Presence. Cristina is the director of True Indigo, an editorial design firm with over 25 years of international experience in publishing. She is also a spiritual director and a member of SDI.
In his foreword to this first issue incorporating our redesign, SDI Executive Director Reverend SeiFu Singh-Molares writes, “One of the keys to change and transformation, particularly in a community as committed to both as SDI, is to stay true to our essence even as we continuously realign. So, we listen deeply as an act of spiritual presence, and we do so reverentially and lovingly, allowing the multitude of manifestations of the eternal to flow with us, through us and into us, from all of those that we companion, and who companion us. And by doing so, we learn to rest in the change, and to refresh even as we remain faithful to our calling and its essence.”
I also want to thank Toby Becker, who has been a longtime designer with SDI, and helped me wrangle our design templates into a working issue, and to the Creative Team at SDI – Ann Lancaster and Larry J Morris III, for producing and integrating the redesign into the web edition of Presence. And of course to our Executive Director Rev. SeiFu, for his encouragement, leadership, and stewarding of this undertaking.
Check out the new look in our current issue for March 2022, Volume 28, Issue 1.
Presence Journal is published four times a year, in print and on the web. Presence is produced and shared with SDI Members. You can learn more at sdicompanions.org/presence/
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Supported by the Fetzer Institute: helping build the spiritual foundation for a loving world. Fetzer’s Sharing Spiritual Heritage report asks How will we hold onto ancient wisdom traditions while applying them creatively in today’s time? Learn more at fetzer.org. 
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Cristina Mejia has 30+ years of experience in the graphic design industry, primarily in international editorial design for commercial organizations such as ELLE, Impremedia and General Mills, to social organizations such as the National Immigration Forum and Catholic Relief Services. Cristina is a certified Spiritual Director from the Hesychia School 2019, a member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI), and focuses on the evocative method in her practice.
 
Martha María Tobón is a Colombian graphic designer and art director with more than 25 years of experience in Graphic Design and Art Direction, who has worked for many years in Advertising Agencies and Graphic Design studios in Bogotá and London.
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Sponsored by:
 
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EP127 - Simon de Voil - A Conversation on Iona, Music, and Spiritual Companionship

In this week's episode, SDI's Creative Services Coordinator Ann Lancaster speaks with Reverend Simon de Voil, who will be leading SDI's journey to Iona, Scotland in March 2022. Simon is a singer-songwriter and interspiritual minister, born and raised in Scotland but now living in rural Vermont. Simon has gained a reputation as a talented musical performer and storyteller. He pairs thoughtful and inspiring lyrics with cracking good tunes, and is known for his rich, tender vocal style. His music explores themes of the inner landscape of the soul, the enchantment of the natural world, and a personal journey to follow an unexpected calling. You can find out more about Simon and hear his music at www.simondevoil.com
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Join us for a 8-night / 9-day transformational journey, March 18-26, 2022, deepening our connection to the sacred through our relationship with the natural world and through mindful spiritual practices. Ritual, community worship, poetry, body prayer, meditation, journaling, music and movement will be our tools to deeply listen to the voice of The Great Mystery. We will walk the landscape of Iona together as pilgrims, wandering to special places on the island to embrace the wilderness and to pray with nature. You will be in excellent hands on this journey. Retreat leader Rev. Simon Ruth de Voil was born and raised in Scotland and knows the island well. He first came to Iona as a baby in his mother’s womb, and he spent much of his childhood roaming her rocky hills and beaches. Simon returned to live and work at the Abbey at Iona from 2006 to 2008. Simon says of Iona, “She is ‘my island’ because in some inexplicable way I belong to her, and I am in her service.” Ann Lancaster will be journeying alongside Simon as SDI’s representative. She delights in international travel and music and spending time in nature enjoying the mysteries of life amongst fellow seekers. On her last journey to Scotland, she insisted on visiting Loch Ness on her way to Skye “just to see for herself.”
To register and learn more, visit: https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/journey-to-iona-2022/
 

Ep 126 - Christine Vogel - Grief and the Gift of Spiritual Direction

 
In this episode, Christine Vogel discusses her recent article for Presence Journal. Presence is the flagship publication of SDI, which comes out four times a year, and is an international journal on spiritual direction and companionship. Presence Journal is available in print and on the web to SDI Members. 
Read the current issue on the web, with exclusive video interviews, here: Presence - 27.4 - December 2021 - SDI Companions
Become a Member of SDI by clicking here: SDI Membership - Join the Community of Spiritual Companions (sdicompanions.org)
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Rev. Dr. Christine B. Vogel is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA); she earned her M.Div. at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and her D.Min. at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, USA. She has served churches in the Chicago area, Alma, Michigan, USA; and Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Contact her at cvogel.vogel@gmail.com.

Ep 125 - Sierra Neiman Westbrook - Story of My Names

 
In this episode, Sierra Neiman Westbrook discusses her recent article for Presence Journal. Presence is the flagship publication of SDI, which comes out four times a year, and is an international journal on spiritual direction and companionship. Presence Journal is available in print and on the web to SDI Members. 
Read the current issue on the web, with exclusive video interviews, here: Presence - 27.4 - December 2021 - SDI Companions
Become a Member of SDI by clicking here: SDI Membership - Join the Community of Spiritual Companions (sdicompanions.org)
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Sierra Neiman Westbrook, MDiv,  is director of Eden Spiritual Care (www.edenspiritualcare.org), a nonprofit organization that seeks to make Christ-centered spiritual growth opportunities widely accessible. Sierra is also an adjunct professor of spiritual formation at George Fox University’s Portland Seminary in Oregon, USA. E-mail her at sierra@edenspiritualcare.org.

Ep124 - Lacy Finn Borgo - The Undeniable Presence of Power in Spiritual Direction

In this episode, Lacy Finn Borgo discusses her recent article for Presence Journal. Presence is the flagship publication of SDI, which comes out four times a year, and is an international journal on spiritual direction and companionship. Presence Journal is available in print and on the web to SDI Members. 
Read the current issue on the web, with exclusive video interviews, here: Presence - 27.4 - December 2021 - SDI Companions
Become a Member of SDI by clicking here: SDI Membership - Join the Community of Spiritual Companions (sdicompanions.org)
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Lacy Finn Borgo teaches and provides spiritual direction at the Renovaré Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation in Denver, at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, and at the Companioning Center. Her most recent book is Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together.

EP123 - The Public Square - A New Online Platform for the SDI Community

For years now, SDI members have longed for an easy way to connect.Now, with our SDI Public Square, this longing has become a reality. We've been working for months to create an online platform on our website exclusively for SDI Members. Matt Whitney, Ann Lancaster, and Larry J Morris III have a quick chat to share about the process of building the platform, and what we're most excited about as we invite all of you to come join the community.
 
Here are just some of features of our new online community:
Free to our members and easy to use - Your SDI account profile is your ticket to explore and engage with our community. Members from all spiritual traditions and orientations are welcome to be part of the community as they are - with the clear expectation that everyone must respect the right of others to show up with their spirituality intact and that we must do no harm to each other. Read our community guidelines here.
Join discussion groups you like - We have pre-set an array of groups to get things started. But if you have an idea for a new discussion group, you can suggest one here.
Connect with old friends and meet new friends - You can connect and message with anyone who is on our Public Square. Of course, all conversations and connections must be mutually welcomed.
Choose how you want to use it - Explore what's on offer and see what resonates. There is no commitment, just opportunity. If nothing calls to you, you are free to use the website as you normally would.
All interactions in our online community happen in the secure area of our website - And we will have administrators available to offer help and to moderate discussions.
Members are co-creators of this experience - Our community is designed to grow with the imagination, intention and curiosity of our members.
Community not commerce - Our Find a Spiritual Director/Companion Guide is already a great place for members to offer their services, so we have decided to make our online community free from solicitations. May our "Public Square" encourage everyone present to listen deeply and always respond with respect.
The Public Square Online Platform is live and waiting for you to join the conversation!
This is a new benefit for SDI Members. Become an SDI Member today, and join in the conversation, along with several other great SDI benefits, as well as supporting our work of advocacy, education, and cultivation of deep listening and spiritual practices across all faith traditions and spiritual orientations.

EP122 - Lucy Abbott Tucker - New Perspectives on Supervision

Since writing  Spiritual Direction Supervision:  Principles, Practices, & Storytelling over 18 months ago, Lucy in her subsequent teachings has gained new insights and wisdom in the practice of Supervision, which include self-care, hints to giving and receiving feedback, secondary trauma and a new model of supervision.
Lucy Abbott Tucker, SDI co-founder and worldwide expert on spiritual direction supervision, has agreed to offer a 12-week online course on supervision.
For the first time ever, experience and receive Lucy’s Supervision Training in an online setting.
SDI Creative Director Matt Whitney spoke to Lucy recently about the course, and what participants can expect. Lucy offers a broad invitation for us, and an expanding understanding of the supervision process and its necessity for spiritual directors and companions.
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What to Expect in the SDI Online Supervision Course:
An Online Training for Spiritual Directors who wish to become Supervisors, or for those seeking to improve and build on their Supervision skills.
12 Weekly Zoom sessions with Lucy Abbott Tucker - Master Supervision Instructor and Mentor
Access to our Online Learning Platform, with videos, print resources, and other content
New tools to cultivate online community with your peers
Participate Live or at your own pace - all sessions recorded
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Lucy Abbott Tucker has been a member of SDI since its inception. She began her ministry of spiritual direction at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership, Chicago. She worked there preparing women and men for the ministry for 32 years. Since 2015 she has been doing freelance work in spiritual direction and supervision. She believes spiritual direction has the power to help heal our world and values the opportunity to support spiritual directors in this work.