|
Listening to Soul |
|
I have been a spiritual director and mentor since 1999 and am available in Portland and Vancouver. My graduate work at Antioch University—Seattle focused on working within systems for transformation. My graduate project, “Community as Spiritual Practice,” a training for lay ministry, led me to my passion: Being present to those who seek self transformation through the deep listening of spiritual direction I received my Certificate in the Art of Spiritual Direction from the two year Listening With The Spirit formation at the Priory Spirituality Center in Lacey, WA. I also completed a third year of formation in group spiritual direction.
|
|
~~ My spiritual journey ~~
I was born into a family torn by religious tension between paternal Catholicism and maternal Protestantism. When that marriage ended, my mother married an atheist, and my spiritual longings were then nurtured by my grandmother. My Catholic friends assured me I might find a place in Purgatory, but deep within I knew that God loved me equally. As a young teen, I chose the Methodist church and became active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Sunday evening meetings and summer camp on Lake Tahoe gave me a grounding in Christian values and story.
As a young adult, living and traveling abroad as well as throughout the US and Canada added new ideas to my expanding consciousness. Over the next several years I focused my energy on family life and being the best mom I knew how to be. We spent as much time as we could connecting to the natural world, hiking, camping, and even returning to the land on a small farm. However, the still small voice within kept inviting me toward a connection to something more, to God.
My husband would have none of it and when my marriage ended, I realized I was free to listen to that small voice. I soon found solace and community among Unitarian Universalists as well as encouragement to continue my exploration of the teachings of all world religions.
You can read one of the many ways I think about God below:
|
|
Listen |
|
Testimonial: Gretchen has been my spiritual director for six years, and I highly value the work we have done together. She has accompanied me as a spiritual companion through several challenging life transitions. Throughout this journey, she has been compassionate and affirming. I recommend Gretchen for her ability to listen deeply, to be present, and to offer thoughtful reflection and awareness of your life's patterns. I am grateful for her continued presence and guidance on my path. ~ DDC |
|
God is a Fat, Black Cat
Living in a rural area as I do, I have several pets: two dogs and three cats. Pets in the country are not present just because they’re cute and cuddly. They each have a job. My large dogs are there to keep strangers and the deer at bay; the cats for rodent control.
In addition to their jobs and their companionship, I have discovered they are present for another reason. Jake, my huge shepherd, and Kazi, the fat black cat, are always present with me in unconditional love. Jake often nudges my hand to say “Here I am. Pay attention to me.” I push him aside or pat him patronizingly. He doesn’t give up easily. I feed him, let him out, and occasionally in the morning, I take him and his sister, Hilary, for a long walk. Rarely do I focus on him. But he is always instantly ready to love me and be with me.
Kazi is insistent to be with me. He follows me around, meowing for me to sit so he can jump into my lap. There he kneads his prickly paws in my belly. Then he settles in to rest contentedly.
When I pay them full attention, inevitably I get dirty. Playing with them is messy. In them there is a life, a presence, a soul, which I am present to. We communicate mostly in images. We are connected. They live as close to “in the moment” as is possible. Their moments are zen moments—fully immersed. And their presence consoles me.
They are with me in the same ways that God is with me. Always with me in unconditional love, if I care to notice. Nudging me. Occasionally prickling me. Communicating through images and metaphors. Paying attention to God is often messy. But I am consoled in God’s presence.
For some, interacting with the Holy Scripture is necessary to know the authority of God’s work. For me, God is present every day whenever I care to notice. God whispers through the cedar boughs. God nudges me through Kazi’s paws and Jakes cold, wet nose. And God is also present in the inspired writings and music and art made by men and women who listen.”
Where is God for you? ~~ Gretchen Meyer c1999 ~~
Kazi lived to 19 years and recently passed into the beyond. His sprightly spirit lives on in my heart. |
|
Dreams as a Window to the Soul |
