Earth as Soul Care Matrix: The Wild Heart of Ministry
Program Dates
April 16-May 27, 2012* (6-week online class)
This online class is a part of the Soul Care Institute offerings.
Description
Apprehend God in all things,
for God is in all things.
Every single creature is full of God,
and is a book about God.
Every creature is a word of God.
If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature,
even a caterpillar, I would never have to prepare a sermon.
So full of God is every creature.
—Meister Eckhart
The ancient rhythms of the earth have insinuated themselves into the rhythms of the human heart. The earth is not outside us; it is within: the clay from where the tree of the body grows. When we emerge from our offices, rooms and houses, we enter our natural element. We are children of the earth: people to whom the outdoors is home. Nothing can separate us from the vigor and vibrancy of this inheritance. In contract to our frenetic, saturated lives, the earth offers a calming stillness. Movement and growth in nature takes its time. The patience of nature enjoys the ease of trust and hope. There is something in our clay nature that needs to continually experience this ancient, outer ease of the world. It helps us remember who we are and why we are here.
—John O’Donohue, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace
Many of us turn to time in nature as a restorative practice and time of deep soul connection to the holy presence, the sacred Source of all that exists.
The earth is the very matrix out of which our ministries of soul care arise. As John O’Donohue writes, the earth is within, it is the clay out of which the tree of our compassionate and healing presence to ourselves and others grows.
Often we are so stretched thin in our work that we forget this vital and central matrix from which we can emerge still again, focused, with an expansive heart.
Our alienation from the earth clearly unleashes devastation on Earth’s natural community and generates immense psychological and spiritual distress for humankind. When we engage in embodied-contemplative-relational practices, we can transform our habitual patterns and shift our ego-centered alienation into an eco-centered intimacy, and move into a deeper participation in “nature’s wild and holy fellowship of being.”
For this 6-week online journey we will draw upon Christian mysticism, contemplative practice, and contemporary insights from fields such as ecopsychology as our guides. Support will come from the voices of a variety of wise guides across centuries and from our own community of fellow pilgrims gathering virtually to share our own wisdom.
*Limited to 15 participants*
*This educational event provides 30 hours of continuing education that can be applied to the educational hours required by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc.
Themes Include:
Nature as Restorative Matrix for Self and Ministry
- Jung and the Anima Mundi – Soul of the World
- Earth as ancient intelligence
- The Great Chain of Being
Seasonal Rhythms & Elements
- Cycles of breath, day, week, month, season, year
- Water, wind, earth, and fire
Organic Spirituality
- Nature and discernment
- Ripening, unfolding, emerging
- Hildegard of Bingen and viriditas
Resources from Christian Contemplative & Mystical Traditions
Contemplative Ecopsychology and Contemporary Voices
Reclaiming the Wild Heart of Ministry
Program Objectives
Participants who successfully complete this course will:
- explore what it would mean for us to remember the earth as soul care matrix
- develop a set of embodied-contemplative-relational practices to cultivate this deep connection
- embrace the wild heart within each of us that fuels our love of the world and draws us into the work we do
- develop an appreciation for the profound gifts of the earth as a source of deep empowerment for ministry and life.
Your Guide for this Journey
Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE– visit the SCI Core Faculty page for more information about Christine
What is included:
- 6 weeks of three-times weekly emails which contain training materials and reflections on the topic(s) for the week and suggestions for experiential activities to deepen and enhance the Soul Care Practitioners personal practice. Activities may include, but are not limited to, creative exploration, meditation videos and guided recordings.
- Online discussion forum to receive support from the group and facilitators and share personal reflections.
- Weekly group conference calls to supplement and enhance the current theme while building support within the group. Calls are one hour in length and will be recorded for those unable to participate.
- Calls are scheduled to be held Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. PST each week of the course session (April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 2012). Please add these to your calendar when your register.
Program Requirements
- We ask that you dedicate about 5 hours per week to the class which includes active participation in the forum and weekly calls, reading the materials, and engaging in the suggested practices.
Program Fee and Registration
Any participant registering for this class must agree to the Soul Care Institute Policies.
Reduced registration fee for Soul Care Institute Certificate* students.
$350 – 
Regular registration for any soul care practitioner.
$375 –
*Please note: you must submit your Certificate application within three days of registering for the course.
You may pay by credit card using the links above or by mailing a check to Abbey of the Arts, PO Box 23160, Seattle, WA 98102 (please let us know to expect your registration)