Resources for Grieving
Each person's grief is as unique as their fingerprint. But what everyone has in common is that no matter how they grieve, they share a need for their grief to be witnessed. —David Kessler
Death, loss, and grief are profound, inevitable experiences that will affect every one of us. They also hold the potential for deep spiritual awakening and learning. To honor the profound loss of life due to the pandemic we offer these resources on grieving from A Network for Grateful Living, Spirituality & Practice, On Being, and more.
Guide to Exploring Spirituality and Civic Life
The Guide to Exploring Spirituality and Civic Life is based on findings from the Institute’s “What Does Spirituality Mean to Us? A Study of Spirituality in the United States,” released in fall 2020. It includes key findings, related activities, questions, actions, and other resources to help you explore your own spirituality and how it relates to your civic life.
Conversation Circles for Chaplains of Color
Just shy of a month ago, the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab (CIL) launched the first in a series of Conversation Circles for Chaplains of Color as part of our work with the Fetzer Institute to support and build networks for spiritual care providers.
February Practice: Moral Questions and Democracy
This month we turn to the wisdom of Oren Lyons, Indigenous rights advocate, for inspiration. Lyons' quote is featured in our Conversation Cards on Democracy, Freedom, Equality, and Common Good.
Resources for Tumultuous Times
As we grapple with the deep divisions in our country, and what it will take to uphold our fragile democracy, we share some of our partners’ resources to help us replenish our spirits and fortify ourselves for the work ahead. We offer these resources knowing that not everyone has the luxury of time and space to do any more than this moment is currently requiring physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Sacrality Practice: Stillness, Silence, and the Divine
Stillness is the altar of Spirit. Where motion ceases, Spirit begins to manifest. —Paramahansa Yogananda
Whether you're transitioning from a tumultuous year or simply navigating a regular day, carving out moments of silence can be a powerful exercise for your soul. It's a way to escape the noise that surrounds us and look inward toward something more profound, even divine. As we embark on 2021, it’s crucial to remember the significance and potency of stepping away from our screens, our never-ending to-do lists, the constant news updates, and other distractions.
Advent Spirituality: The Season of Living Underwater
Lit up by the moon, it looked celestial; seemed some plumed and glittering god uprising from the sea.
The 51st chapter of Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick is called “Spirit Spout.”
“Spirit Spout,” the chapter, describes a series of dark nights at sea where several members of the crew of a whaling ship see a burst birthed from the still waters, which they believe to be the spout of the whale they are pursuing:
What Does Spirituality Mean to Us? A Study of Spirituality in the United States
This study sought to better understand spirituality in the United States today by asking people about how they understand and experience spirituality for themselves, and how their spirituality relates to the way they engage with others and their community. This effort included people inside and outside religious institutions, those who consider themselves spiritual, and those who do not. The study comprises interviews, focus group conversations, and a statistically relevant national survey.
Spiritual Practices to Support Democratic Values and Virtues
This chart is designed to show how spiritual practices uphold democratic values and cultivate democratic virtues. We invite you to use it—and add to it—as you go about practicing democracy at home, at work, online, and in other settings.
Sacred Love Can Transform Our Society and the Political Landscape
Going into this election, we have a politics of fear and division. We have politics that encourage an “us vs. them” attitude that fosters the dehumanization of those who believe differently than we do. What is the solution to these feelings of division, to the anger and fear so many are feeling?
Embracing Sacred Love: A Path Toward Unity