What is it that gives us meaning, purpose, value in our living? How do we use our energy as we go about our life. One time, in the lovely story of Jesus, someone challenged him about where he was and what he was doing, maybe implying he was not where he was supposed to be and he was wasting his time. Jesus, in a healthy huff, said, “Why are you looking for me? Don’t you know, I must be about my father’s business?” Jesus, like you and me, must be about our business of living, that which gives us meaning, gives wholeness, beauty and healing to ourselves and others? Sometimes, over the years, as I have been asked to lead some form of “spiritual counseling groups,” we would have honest souls who would say, “I am not religious.” Or some would say, “I am atheist, or agnostic or Buddhist or Pagan, or Wiccan, or liberal Christian or fundamentalist, or conservative Christian,” or something… Always I would say, “Welcome! We are here to explore that which gives us value, meaning, purpose and beauty in our lives, and we are here to explore that which we create to give value, meaning, purpose and beauty for others, and in the life of the world.” To me, spirituality is always about values, meanings, purposes, beauty. It is how we use our energy for living, and for dying. Spirituality is what gives us energy to live, and how we create energy to live – fully, richly, compassionately, authentically, and with integrity. It is here where we may choose healthy self-sacrifice, seek wholeness and healing for ourselves, and others.

Sometimes words are my passion and my problem. The beauty, expansiveness, and the limitations of human sounds and languages is always a challenge. We know of “the war of words” flung too easily about. We know of the loving cooing sounds from a caring person for a little baby. And yet, wars begin with words. Sometimes mistranslations result in tragedy and death. So, I struggle with the meanings of words, their definitions. The term spiritual director is a good term. I have served as “spiritual director” for a number of clients over the years, clients who needed to have the use of that term for their continuing professional and personal growth and advancement. I like the term, sort of. I would again serve as someone’s “spiritual director” if they needed me to do so. Yet, for me, the term is too “director-ish.” It, for me, implies a kind of knowing what the other needs, to “direct” the other in a certain direction. I cannot do that, truly. Instead, I can walk with you. Spiritual Counselor is my next best choice of words to say what I do, and how I am being with another who is asking to be a client. And, you know, of course, it is imperfect, too. I like how the term “spiritual counselor” invites a kind of consultative dialogue of souls to take place.

As you’ll see on my About page, I am cautious about using “god terms.” I have been wounded by conservative and fundamentalist definitions of God/dess, especially within my versions and experiences of Christianity. I have been wounded by various ideologies of spirituality and religion. I have seen how that old saying “everything happens for a reason,” whether using a Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, New Agey, or some other belief system, is often simplistic, guilt-inducing, shallow, and does not, really answer the questions of life, the pain of life. Does everything have some kind of divine reason? God, I hope not. Read more about my understanding of god and the concept of Process Theology/Philosophy on my page about Spiritual Counseling. What if you have beliefs that are different than what I am explaining? I have, in my over three decades of practice, worked with scores of persons who have very different beliefs, or none at all. Please know this, I have room to be with you, fully. I do not need to impose my belief system upon you. I would never, ever do that. I know that life is painful, awful sometimes, and full of mystery and beauty and love. Together will work toward deep healing.

I love this comment and question because this is such a common concern! Join humanity on this one! We all have times we do not recall our dreams. Some people say they never do! I know that, due to strains of life, medical issues, and other factors, many report dream recall is limited or nonexistent. Read this article for some tips to remember your dreams. Plus, “old” dreams from a long time ago are fine to explore and, because we still remember them, means that they are still speaking to us. In Dream Work groups and retreats, we can “borrow” the dream from the original dreamer, make it our own, and, because of our natural instinct of projection, we DO experience these dreams as ours. Please read more of my Dream Work articles here. I have had countless people tell me that once we start to explore dreams, more dreams come! Honoring the part of us that dreams unlocks more and more dreams to remember. Try it!

First, WOW! I needed those questions! Thank you for asking. These questions are super important! First, I value almost all forms of dream work. Many top-notch trained psychotherapists analyze and/or interpret nighttime dreams. Many are in the Jungian, Freudian or Gestalt tradition, plus other traditions and belief systems. Some religious and spiritual beliefs are explored to understand dreams, too. And, many lovely, intuitive, self-taught persons study and interpret dreams. Even more dream understandings simply come out of a person’s family and life experiences, deep ethnic culture and heritage. Libraries, bookstores, online searches reveal many, many dream interpretation techniques and, of course, dream dictionaries abound everywhere. Scientists, using the studies of biology and evolution of our species, weigh-in on what dreams mean, as well. My own theological and psychological studies and training are a great resource for me, too. My private studies, my life experiences, are also a big part of my understandings of dreams. Who’s right? Who’s most accurate? Well, in a sense, everyone is “right”.