Tonight we begin with our first session and we begin with ourselves. I suggested in the resources the power of creating a spiritual timeline. So here is my suggestion coming from the Unitarian Universalist program Owning Your Spiritual Past from the Haunting House Curriculum. Take a big piece of paper, maybe 11X17, maybe just tear a big piece off a roll easel paper. Place it horizontally and then draw a long timeline beginning with your birth to the present day. On the timeline mark moments in your spiritual journey. Was there are a religious ceremony marking your birth such as baptism, brit milah/brit bat, welcome and dedication, etc.? What are important moments you remember such as if you decided to leave the religion or faith community of your childhood. Maybe you had an experience that for you was spiritually transformative. Do not limit your timeline events to formal religious events, include moments of insight or seeking.
Get creative with this process. Use colors. Get out the markers. Let those creative juices flow. You are not limited to words.
When you are finished as you can be for now, look over it and review your life in terms of your spiritual journey. If you could only use one to two words to describe it, what would they be. What surprises you? What feelings does this exercise bring up for you? In looking over your journey how does it inform your parenting? What would you want to share and pass on and what do you hope to avoid?
Don't neglect the current moment. How would you describe the current moment of your spiritual life? Do you have a current spiritual practice? What is it?
The more we understand ourselves and where we are, the better we can intentionally pass on spiritual values and practices to our children.
Feel free post questions or reflections in the comments.
See you tonight!
Get creative with this process. Use colors. Get out the markers. Let those creative juices flow. You are not limited to words.
When you are finished as you can be for now, look over it and review your life in terms of your spiritual journey. If you could only use one to two words to describe it, what would they be. What surprises you? What feelings does this exercise bring up for you? In looking over your journey how does it inform your parenting? What would you want to share and pass on and what do you hope to avoid?
Don't neglect the current moment. How would you describe the current moment of your spiritual life? Do you have a current spiritual practice? What is it?
The more we understand ourselves and where we are, the better we can intentionally pass on spiritual values and practices to our children.
Feel free post questions or reflections in the comments.
See you tonight!