spiritual companionship
Spiritual companionship is the ancient practice of someone intentionally coming alongside another to help them pay attention to their longings as they are in relationship with the world and the Divine. While I truly believe spiritual companionship is for everyone, as a guide I am deeply aware of what a valuable gift companionship has been for me and other guides to help us continue to live into our own stories. In my life now, I sense a call to be a companion to those who are Guides, space holders, spiritual directors, and leaders.
Pádraig Ó Tuama reminds us,
“The only place to begin is where I am, and whether by desire or disaster, I am here. My being here is not dependent on my recognition of the fact. I am here anyway. But it might help if I could learn to look around.”
What would it be like to stop and look around? To see where we are on our journey and what might be next? To pause long enough to hear our own voice within? Sometimes we need encouragement to go on an expedition into the next unknown spiral to find more of ourselves and our belonging to Earth. We re-wild our souls and our imaginations as we find permission to be authentic. Instead of thinking about the Divine, we want to experience Her.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED REMINDING you are sacred for who you are not because of what you do.
Guiding others can be a lonely space that has lots of demands and questions and not much room for your own Soul to explore its story. Yet, you are still on your own journey, and you need the freedom to pay attention and attune to your Self. While the work you do is deeply intwined with your own story, they are still distinct. There are places for you to be inspired and hone your craft, BUT I want to offer you a different opportunity.
WHY SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP MATTERS
Sacred space
Space to notice where you are and how deeply connected you are to yourself and the Earth. Remembering you are sacred and belong to a sacred web of unity.
KIND SUPPORT
A companion who reminds you to be excessively gentle as you explore your own edges. Someone who walks with you in joy and sorrow and everything between.
time
Moments to be deeply held where you are not being asked to be responsible for anyone but yourself.
DISCOVERY
Reclamation of agency and awareness. Opportunity for experimentation and play. Finding what makes your soul sing.
curiosity
Seeing questions as friends rather than something that always needs an answers. Looking to see what the next layer might offer you.
c0-CREATION
Permission to re-wild your soul and find practices and rituals that help you belong at the table of co-creation.
"Elizabeth’s unique - and extraordinary - gift is that she is grounded in the wisdom she teaches. An hour spent working with her feels less like work and more like deep connection and replenishment. She masterfully tailors questions and practices to craft a beautifully customized session for each person and the season they're in. "
-Sara, Spiritual Companionship Client
WHAT OUR TIME TOGETHER LOOKS LIKE
getting started
If you are interested in spiritual companionship, please fill out my contact form. I will reach out to set up a time for a free initial conversation.
Our first conversation is to learn about each other. There will be time for you to share some of your story and to hear more of mine. And of course, lots of space for questions about the process. After that first session, we can decide if working together would be a good fit.
what’s next
We generally meet once a month for hour long sessions. During our time together we have the opportunity to explore your relationship with the Divine, how you are connecting to Earth, practices you might want to try, or any other ideas you have.
Flow of our sessions
I generally open with silence and a breath practice to help settle us into the space. From there we begin a conversation. My posture is one of invitation and asking questions. You bring what is stirring in you.
We always start from where you are. Think about it like locating yourself on a map, then being willing to look around and see what is happening and what you need next.
We will close with silence followed by a poem or reading.
Elizabeth
I am a trained Spiritual Companion and Eco-Spirituality practitioner. I desire to connect with those who are in relationship with the Divine, who are allies of Earth and who want to investigate, be embodied, practice, and experiment. I am drawn to those who are blazing new trails, creating new ways of seeing and returning to ancient roots all the while inviting others to join them on this path.
I have been companioned by many people along my journey and I am excited to offer this beautiful gift to others.
The Details
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You can reach out to me through my contact form. We will set up an initial meeting. This will be a conversation to learn about each other and to ask whatever questions you might have. After that first session we can decide if working together would be a good fit.
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I know what it is like to feel unseen and to feel seen and what a gift the latter is. For those who are creating space for others feeling unseen is common, and I want to change that narrative. My hope in working with me is that you find deep value in your own unfolding story and what a treasure it is to be fully alive in your own life.
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Spiritual direction is the most current phrasing for those who are trained to accompany people. I personally don’t love the term as it can suggest that I am in charge of leading someone. My perspective is that I am alongside of you as you are navigating your journey. This is a partnership between you, me, the Earth and the Divine to see what shows up. My favorite label is from the ancient Celtic tradition. They refer to it as “Anam Cara” which means Soul Friend.
Please note spiritual direction is not therapy. I am not a trained counselor, but if we ever feel like that would be helpful, I would be glad to help you find someone.
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I have my own spiritual practices that ground me and connect me with Earth. I am dedicated to being in a relationship with my own spiritual director. I am also a part of a Peer Group that helps me on my inner journey as I accompany others.
While I was a student at The Haden Institute, we followed their Ethical Covenant. I will continue to follow it now that I am certified and practicing. You can read it here.
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Your first initial session is free. Once we decide to work together, my rate per session is $65. Payment arrangements can be made at the time of your session. Sliding scale is available.
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My companionship incorporates the wild Earth as a way to find grounding and to allow her to hold questions and offer insight as we are journeying together. She is always available to you.
For that reason I try to do most of my sessions outside if possible. I want us to be immersed in nature when we are together. I also incorporate acknowledging the season and elements in our sessions.
I have several places locally to meet with people. I am also available by phone or Zoom and we can work to incorporate being attune to Earth even while we use technology.
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I recommend having a session at least once a month. More frequent is available as needed.
Each session lasts a full hour.
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There is no long term commitment. We work together as long as you need and we both feel like it is a helpful for your journey. You might choose spiritual direction for a season or a long term practice.
If you ever would like to explore other options, I am open to assisting you to find a new companion. I deeply believe in the practice of spiritual companionship and want you to have someone that fits you.
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If you have any other questions please reach out and I am happy to answer them or schedule an initial session for further conversation.
MY EXPERIENCE
I was raised in the Christ tradition-a very conservative evangelical branch. In the last ten years, I found the formulaic ways of connecting to God I was given as a child stopped working. If I am honest I tried to make them work for much longer than I should. Even as the cracks in my faith system got bigger, I kept covering them up and ignoring them. When I found myself deeply hurt by a church I thought I belonged to, I had to find another way.
Through a series of synchronicities, I discovered a group who was exploring church as practice and participation. While the church was not near me, their podcasts opened me to a whole new world of ancient contemplative practices. These practices gave my heart life again. One of those was spiritual direction. I found my first spiritual director and deeply cherished our times together each month as safe space for me to explore my faith as it was greatly shifting.
After meeting with my spiritual director for several years, she invited me into a group of women who were gathering to form a Quaker Circle of Trust based on Parker Palmer’s work. The seven of us, affectionately known as “Circle Group” met for four years.
I can say for sure these women shifted the course of my life. Through their wisdom and beauty, I found I could trust my own inner teacher and my deep wise instincts. We held space around poetry, art and the elements of Nature as we allowed the Divine to show up for each of us in the exact way we needed it. This group gave me not only the blueprint but the experience of what it is like to be companioned.
Through our time together in Circle I rediscovered my childhood connection to the Earth and her wisdom. This led me to a yearlong program called Seminary of the Wild. I once again found a group of women to journey with as we each found our way to connect to the Divine through the Earth. It was a true Rewilding of my spirituality.
What each of these women-my spiritual director, Circle Group, Seminary of the Wild, and the Earth herself- had in common was a generous willingness to give me space to show up as my authentic self. My questions and uncertainty were held with grace. My intuition was celebrated and my moments of insight offered tenderness to flourish.
I deeply longed for others to be able to experience what I had been given- companionship and trust along the journey. This longing lead me to train as a spiritual director at the Haden Institute. My Seeker Bee cohort traveled together as we learned to offer this rich way of being with others.
Throughout my own journey I have had lots of roles and responsibilities… mother, church leader, yoga teacher, spiritual guide and companion. Through the ebb and flow of my story unfolding, I have found myself in lonely places where I felt like I wasn’t seen or valued for my person but only what I could bring to the table. I wasn’t sure my own journey was worth pursuing, maybe I was always to be in service to other stories. And this narrative seemed to be the only one available to me for a long time.
Yet as I have traveled deeper and through the help of some amazing kin-human, animals, plants, rocks, poetry and more- I discovered how important it was for me to find wholeness, belonging and my own place at the table of co-creation. My story matters. While I am grateful my work does allow me to continue to be in service to others, I make time for my life to continue to unfold. I am grateful for those that hold space for me as that happens.