The Inward Sea
by Vel Roman Stillpoint Faculty: The Art of Spiritual Direction - Year 1
THE INWARD SEA
There is in every person an inward sea
And in that sea, there is an island
And on that island is an altar
And standing guard before that altar
is the angel with the flaming sword.
Nothing can get by that angel to be placed upon that altar
unless it has the mark of your inner authority.
Nothing passes the angel with the flaming sword
to be placed upon your altar
unless it be a part of the fluid area of your consent.
This is your crucial link with THE ETERNAL.
-Dr. Howard Thurman
Whenever I read this poem by Dr. Thurman (emphasis mine), I feel validated. I reflect that when I come home to myself, to my soul, to my inner spiritual life, to my true nature (as God created me), I connect with the Great Eternal.
As an American woman of Mexican/Mestiza descent (Indigenous with Spanish or other European bloodline), I connect deeply with my indigenous roots that my spirituality is an inner knowing, not an intellectual one. Like many people of color, our cultures are embodied in spirituality. Our bodies are trusted for inner wisdom and truth and connection to the Other, to Mother Earth and to the Cosmos. During colonization by European and religious powers, the body was seen for its impure desires and the cause of sin. The body was seen with suspicion and treated as something to be subjugated and dominated. The body was kept at a distance. There was also rigid colonization of gender and sexuality. I know this was the message I received from my Catholic tradition as a child. It has been a life-long struggle to embrace my body as a friend and as a source of holiness.
Embodied Spirituality is a lived experience of spirituality grounded in the body. For myself, these involve daily practices of gentle Hatha Yoga, breathwork, meditative body movements, time walking in nature and in cooking. During these times, I am fully present, in an intentional, but nonjudgmental state and feeling moments of integration with body, heart, spirit. I feel grounded and my sensory nervous system is calmed and regulated. (This is important during these especially troubling times.) What are some ways you embody your spirituality? By dancing, by singing, by gardening? By throwing a pot or meditative photography? What ways do you create, use your heart, imagination and your body? The ways are many, as the body desires expression in union with Spirit.
This year, I have been given the opportunity with my partner, Rick Sforza, to co-coordinate Year 1, The Art of Spiritual Direction for formation of Spiritual Directors. The primary focus of the first year in this formation program are two-fold. One, contemplative listening to the directee, Spirit and oneself. Two, embracing experiences of God and how to linger on those experiences. This is true for both the Spiritual Director and the Directee. These experiences lead to connection and relationship with Spirit. These are experiences to be explored, savored and cherished. These are experiences to be embraced in the Holy One of all genders and sexuality, diverse cultures, ethnicities and races.
I am pleased to say that this focus also continues Stillpoint's ongoing commitment to decenter Western/White/Colonization culture in its program curriculum and in its invitation to contemplative living. Stillpoint is adding its voice to reconciliation and healing, hoping to reflect ALL of our sacredness and to provide a space for ALL to belong.
Vel Roman worked in Social Services for 43 years before retiring last year. Vel is a graduate of Stillpoint Spiritual Direction and Stillpoint Group Spiritual Direction Programs. Vel is a graduate of Compassion Based Soul Care: Internal Family Systems as a Model for Spiritual Companions. She is a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator and a Certified Trainer in Capacitar practices of Healing and Trauma Recovery, including collective and intergenerational trauma. Vel is a Spiritual Director at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Palos Verdes. Vel enjoys yoga, body prayer, poetry and travel. Vel is active in anti-racism work, particularly within spiritual/religious circles.
Stillpoint has been forming spiritual directors for nearly 40 years
Are you a Holy Listener?
If being a spiritual companion for others sounds like something you might be called to do, and/or something you already do in one form or another, we offer a two-year formation program in The Art of Spiritual Direction to help you discern your calling and hone your gifts in holy listening.