DESERT Spirituality
Companioning Those on the Desert Journey
Presenters
Tessa Bielecki
David Denny
Dates
November 1, 8, 15, 22 10AM – 11:30AM PST
1PM – 2:30PM EST
Duration
6 hours (total)
Webinar will be recorded.
Attracted by beauty and responding to sorrow, Tessa Bielecki and David Denny offer insights about inner work and earth care, peacemaking and social justice, living and dying, and share the nourishing wisdom that blooms in the desert today.
We extend a heartfelt invitation to all spiritual directors, companions, and wayfarers to join us in exploring the rich and profound tradition of desert spirituality and the wisdom of the Desert Mothers and Fathers. In this enlightening learning opportunity, we will delve into the depths of this ancient path, discovering invaluable insights and practices that can deeply enhance our spiritual guidance practices.
The desert tradition offers a unique perspective on the spiritual journey, characterized by solitude, silence, and a radical commitment to the transformative power of the Divine. By studying the lives and teachings of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross, we gain access to a wellspring of wisdom and guidance that transcends time and speaks directly to the challenges and aspirations of contemporary seekers.
Throughout the journey of these four sessions, we will immerse ourselves in the stories, teachings, and practices of these revered spiritual pioneers. We will explore the profound lessons they imparted on prayer, contemplation, discernment, simplicity, and the cultivation of inner stillness. Their insights into the human condition, the challenges of the ego, and the nature of Divine union continue to hold relevance and offer profound guidance in our own spiritual lives and in guiding others.
"Silence is God's first language."
St. John of the Cross
Curious? Check out our free 13 minute video Preview:
Sessions
Session I: The Desert
- What is the "desert"?
- How does desert spirituality enrich our lives as spiritual companions?
Session II: The Desert Tradition
- Who are the Desert Mothers and Fathers?
- What do they have to say to us today?
- Why is the counter-cultural witness of the desert so crucial for us as spiritual companions?
Session III: The Desert Journey
- What does our journey through the desert look like?
- What do we learn about it from St. Teresa of Avila?
Session IV: The Desert, Poetry, and the Dark Night
- Why is poetry important for us and those we companion?
- What does the poetry of St. John of the Cross teach us about the desert and the Dark Night?
Στέφανός ἐστι μοναχοῦ ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη.
(The crown of the monk is humility.)
Abba Or, Saying 9, Page 247
- Participants from all spiritual traditions and orientations are welcome in this webinar series as are those with all levels of spiritual experience.
- Each session runs 90 minutes.
- All sessions will be recorded and be viewable for at least 12 months after the last session goes live.
When
The webinar series will run 4 consecutive Wednesdays: November 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2023 – 10 AM Seattle/Los Angeles, 12 PM Chicago, 1 PM New York, 6 PM London; Thursdays: November 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2023: 1 AM Hong Kong, 3 AM Sydney, Australia.
Find your own local time here.
But if that timing doesn’t work, you can enjoy the webinar any time you like.
Each session is recorded so you can watch at your convenience.
Presenters
Tessa Bielecki
Tessa Bielecki represents three rich streams in the Christian contemplative tradition: Carmelite, Celtic, and the spirituality of the Desert Mothers and Fathers. For over fifty years she lived in solitary wilderness hermitages in the U.S., Canada, and Ireland, in deserts, mountains and woods.
She was the Mother Abbess of the Spiritual Life Institute, a monastic community of both men and women for almost forty years, left in 2005 and co-created the Desert Foundation. Tessa is a seasoned retreat facilitator, a forty-year veteran of inter-religious dialogue, and the author of several major works on St. Teresa of Avila, desert spirituality, prayer, contemplative life, and Christmas.
Now living as an “urban hermit” in Tucson, Arizona, Tessa is both poetic and practical, known for an earthy mysticism grounded in the ordinary. She is currently writing a memoir and creating a podcast with David Denny called Fire and Light.
Visit tessabielecki.com and sandandsky.org to learn more.
David M. Denny
David M. Denny describes himself as “poet, priest, and desert rat.” After graduating from the University of Arizona, intending to become a journalist or scholar of interreligious studies, he made a retreat at the Spiritual Life Institute in Sedona, Arizona. His original plan for graduate studies was interrupted by becoming a contemplative Carmelite monk for thirty years.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1980 and fulfilled his journalism dream by editing the community’s Desert Call quarterly magazine. He continues to serve as a priest through Cross Catholic Outreach, a ministry providing material and spiritual support to the poorest of the poor in over thirty countries.
Since co-founding the Desert Foundation with Tessa Bielecki in 2005, he fulfills his call to interspiritual dialogue through his writings. When not at his computer, you will find him biking along the Santa Cruz River, ambling among the Saguaros, or shooting hoops in the early hours across the street from his “urban hermit” apartment.
Additional Information
- Participants from all spiritual traditions and orientations are welcome in this webinar series as are those with all levels of spiritual experience.
- Each session will run 90 minutes. We understand that the timing of the seminar will not be convenient in every time zone on the planet. For those who have trouble making this time, a recorded copy of each session will be made available to all those who sign up.
- CEU credits are available for all those who participate. SDI will provide a certificate of completion for self-reporting to agencies. More information can be found here: continuing education units (CEUs).
- Cost: $119 for non-members, with significant discounts for SDI members
- Scholarships are available for those facing financial hardship. Please apply here.
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