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The Way of the River

Practice

Spiritual practices are those activities that shape us over time, that alter our consciousness over time, that bring us greater authenticity, integrity, compassion, and wisdom over time. They may be familiar practices, ones we recognize from religious traditions all over the world. They may also be personalized. Activities like bicycling, dream journaling, swimming, various kinds of perceptive meditation, hiking, dishwashing…the list is endless.And practice is also how we move in the world. How we enact our discerned choices. How we live our values. And that movement, because we choose it over and over again over time, is practice.

Practice requires both gentleness and discipline. It requires the discipline to come to the altar, as it were, over and over. It requires the gentleness not to berate ourselves when we fall away. The discipline to return to the mountain. The gentleness to have compassion for ourselves when we fall down.

The point is that we make ourselves available to be changed over time. We make ourselves available to the Flow. We hope to align ourselves with the Divine.

We commune with our own Deepest, Wisest Self.

Read more…

New Class! Growing Our Souls

winter retreat

The Rev. Dr. A. Powell Davies said, “Life is just the chance to grow a soul.” Our class will consider this quotation in the context of spiritual practice. Cultivation in the garden of souls, as it were. Some practices for the sun on the plants, some for amending the soil. Some for pruning and weeding, and some for leaning back and enjoying the fruits of our labors. Read more…

Sign up here for a spiritual boost!

Discernment means to make a difficult choice. To find a path forward that was previously hidden. To reflect upon your deepest values, desires, and hopes.

Learning the art of discernment — and yes, it truly is an art! — doesn’t happen overnight.

However, once you have learned it, it will serve you for the rest of your days. Choices may well still be hard, but after acquiring the tools of discernment you will be able to rest comfortably in knowing you came to the decision that’s right for you.

One such tool is what I like to call “The Perfect Day.”

It’s a simple writing exercise to help you recognize your values, hopes, and desires, and how the decision you’re making will impact, influence, or improve them.

I’ve put together 9 writing prompts to help you reflect upon your own Perfect Day, as well as a guide on how to use the Perfect Day as a discernment tool. You can get your free copy by entering your name and email below.

You’ll also receive Reflections, my love letter written for you to deepen your relationship with the Spirit of Life and your own Wisest Self.

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I would not have made it through the gauntlet that is the MFC process without Rev. Catharine; it's as simple as that…
Rev. Megan Mathieson
...I felt accepted just as I was, while facing this sometimes anxiety-producing [MFC] evaluative process…
Rev. Karen Lee Scrivo — Bowie, MD
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Rev. Catharine's coaching was instrumental in my recent ministry search process, which got me my dream job! …
Sara Goodman - Madison, WI

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