What is the 3-Day Orientation?

Stillpoint offers an exceptional educational experience to introduce you to the ancient art of spiritual direction: the practice of companioning others on their spiritual journey.

This program is designed as a small group, experience-based approach for you to explore your own call to become a spiritual director. Your participation will help you discover how your spiritual life can develop, how spiritual direction work can be a powerful resource for you and others, and how you can discern the next steps in your own spiritual journey.

Who should attend?

The 3-Day Orientation program is an intensive experience of the Spiritual Journey program and is designed specifically for those who already have training and practice in spiritual leadership, such as ordained clergy, chaplains, lay leaders and other soul care workers. This Introductory Orientation serves as a required prerequisite to Stillpoint's Ghost Ranch formation program in The Art of Spiritual Direction.

An interview is required as part of the application process to determine whether or not this program is appropriate for you.

This orientation is not for individuals who have completed or plan to participate in the Spiritual Journey program.

What will happen during the orientation?

We will begin in prayer and silence, and enjoy a variety of contemplative practices that illuminate our own spirituality. You will be invited through gentle exercises using prayer, self-reflection, memory, image, movement, journaling and deep listening. You will learn about the ancient ministry of spiritual direction, how directors/companions prepare for their work, and how they cultivate self care and ethical boundaries to sustain themselves. Seasoned spiritual directors from the Stillpoint faculty will facilitate your sharing and participation in small group work.

Program Faculty

 

When and where is it?

The orientation occurs Online via Zoom over the course of 3 days in September:

  • Thursday, August 8, 2024
    8:00am - 3:00pm PT

  • Friday, August 9, 2024
    8:00am - 3:00pm PT

  • Saturday, August 10, 2024
    8:00am - 11:30am PT

How much does it cost?

Total cost of the program is $375.

The registration fee includes 15 contact hours of small group instruction and a private 30-minute session with faculty.

Participants are responsible for purchasing two books.

Questions?

Contact Stillpoint’s Interim Executive Director, Christine Ng cng@stillpointca.org.

Nancy Herlin is a graduate of Stillpoint’s Spiritual Direction program with additional training in eco-spirituality and group spiritual direction. She currently sees individuals and groups outside (socially distanced) at her retreat center in southwest Austin or on Zoom. She is also a Veriditas Certified Labyrinth Facilitator and a Stephen Minister. She has led Bible study groups for over 20 years and currently leads centering prayer and enneagram groups. She is most alive providing Holy Space for others to connect with their deepest selves and to their understanding of the Divine; when spending time outside with her chickens and the natural world, and sharing time in “beginner’s mind” with her grandson.

Christine Ng is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, church pastor, chaplain, spiritual director, and a retired appellate lawyer. She currently serves as Stillpoint’s Interim Executive Director. She holds a Masters of Divinity, Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Arts degrees and did her spiritual direction training through Stillpoint. Having previously served churches in Southern Florida and Texas, Chris is currently called to pastor First United Church of Christ and Conference Center, Second Life, the only fully authorized church of a recognized Christian denomination that exists only in virtual reality. She lives in Northern New Mexico and also serves as chaplain and EMT with the Abiquiu Volunteer Fire Department.

Stacy Parks is a retired Physical Therapist, and Stillpoint trained Spiritual Companion, working in the Ghost Ranch Art of Spiritual Direction Program and leading online Spiritual Journey Classes. She lives in Albuquerque, NM. Stacy also leads retreats for women, and helps facilitate a weekly contemplative service with her worshipping community. She has advanced training leading group spiritual direction, spiritual direction supervision, and IFS as a model in spiritual direction. She is nourished by the Sandia Mountains, her vegetable garden, journaling and centering prayer. She describes her faith as a joyous journey of inclusion, mystery and wonder.  Her goal in companioning others is to help them connect with and trust the voice of the divine that lives within them.

Ravi Verma is Stillpoint's Program Director, a spiritual director and has worked professionally with churches and lay leaders for over 25 years. Ravi’s passion is to work with individuals and groups to build bridges between parts of ourselves, with others and the cosmos based on our connection to the Divine. Ravi, born in India, teaches at Stillpoint, and works with corporations, retreat centers, and non-profits on issues of spiritual formation. Ravi is a past member of the coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International, the first global learning network of spiritual directors in history.