Thanks for this inquiry.
When Fred’s alcoholism became advanced, and our children were also drinking and using drugs, I could no longer deny my complicity in the patterns of this family disease, I went to Al-Anon (1984). Fred’s treatment program put us into intense involvement with the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. IMHO, there is no more profound spiritual program than working the 12 Steps. David Hawkins, in Power vs Force describes it better than I can: “To more fully understand the nature of spirit in power and how it originates and operates as a social movement, … study a contemporary spiritual organization of enormous power and influence, about which everything is of public record, and one that is avowedly aligned with the spirit of man, yet flatly states that it is not religious.”
My book, Illness as Initiation, describes my journey through the finish of the D.Min. program at M. Fox’s University of Creation Spirituality. There is a copy in the archives and available on Amazon.
For almost a decade after my daughter’s death, I cared for my aged mother. After Fred died, I went with Mother to the little congregation of the Church of Christ, the “back to the Bible” movement I grew up in in Texas. After railing against its narrow doctrine and treatment of women for several decades, I came to appreciate the sweet energy of the people in the congregation. I could meditate during the sermon, enjoy the a cappella singing and drink in the field of love. The doctrine is narrow, but the love of the people is broad.
Living in a rural area, I’ve enjoyed a feast of on-line experiences in evolutionary spirituality. The Heart-Math Institute, Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow, Ken Wilbur, Andrew Cohen (his book,Evolutionary Enlightenment, enabled me to stop trying to meditate and really meditate). It’s the most important book for me since Universe Story. Craig Hamilton, IntegralEnlightenment.com, was in Cohen’s spiritual community for many years, and IMHO is the best online teacher and builder of a global virtual community.
I’ve done several courses/practices on embodying the Divine Feminine. The latest, from CSourcewisdom.com, is called Adorata, “a body of teachings and a spiritual path where the goal is an increased ability to receive, sustain and give love in all its forms.”
A small group of friends/spirit partners meets at my house each full moon, to meditate, feast and share what’s coming to light in our spiritual lives. We’ve been together for 20 years. We met around the center where Fred and I studied/practiced energy healing in the 90’s. There is a sweat lodge in my back yard, where we have ceremonies on the equinoxes and solstices.
Sorry to go more than two paragraphs. Prayers for the Spirit Life team of GARA.
In Love,
Jann McGuire