Presenter
Roslyn G Weiner
PhD, STM
Times
October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 20, December 4, 11, 18. 2024.
Sesssions are Wednesdays, 10am-11:30am Pacific.
To find your local time zone, click here.
Duration
12 hours (total)
Course will be recorded. However in-person attendance is highly encouraged.
“No matter how many times I start a new group, I am always a little nervous. Will people who usually don’t know each other connect with me and with the other members of the group? Will I be able to successfully orient them to the process and structure of our meeting? Will they find spiritual meaning in our encounter? Will they want to come again? At the same time, I am joyful—another opportunity to share this wonderful and enlightening process with other seekers; and I am grateful for the support and encouragement not only from my peer spiritual director community but also from the Divine Source (one of my names for God).”
–Roslyn G. Weiner, from Connections, 32.1, February 2023.
Are you passionate about deepening your spiritual journey and helping others do the same? Join us for the new and updated, “Seeking in the Company of Others: The Wisdom of Group Spiritual Direction,” an enriching eight-session course from SDI Author Roslyn G. Weiner, designed to guide you in creating and facilitating spiritual direction groups. Roz brings a warm, creative, and practical approach to her facilitating and to this key aspect of our contemplative calling.
Over three months, engage in eight dynamic meetings, each lasting an hour and a half, conveniently held on Zoom. You’ll explore a mix of presentations, hands-on experiences, and practical opportunities to lead small groups using break-out rooms. Upon completion, you’ll also have the option to join a supervisory group for ongoing support.
Key Concepts and Topics
- Understand the essence and benefits of group spiritual direction (GSD)
- Differentiate GSD from individual spiritual work and appreciate both
- Explore the universal application of GSD across different religious affiliations
- The rationale for the proposed meeting structure
- Techniques for “deep listening” on behalf of another
- Crafting meaningful questions and using “God” as a placeholder
- The value of silence in group settings
- Selection and management of participants
- Guiding initial meetings and recognizing when to end a group
- Selecting quotes, poetry (lectio), and liturgy
- Formulating “deepening” questions
- Understanding group dynamics and fostering interreligious dialogue
In-Class Experiences:
- Define your own learning goals
- Create a confidentiality commitment within the group
- Participate in an actual group setting
- Use break-out rooms for hands-on leading experiences and “real-play” scenarios
- Present examples of effective “prompts” and “deepening” questions
- Engage in presentations by the facilitator
- Benefit from multiple opportunities for Q&A
Participants will be expected to attend all sessions, adhere to a strict confidentiality agreement, and immerse themselves in the experiential learning process. Between meetings, assignments will include crafting questions and identifying prompts to aid in leading your own spiritual direction groups.
Don’t miss this chance to deepen your facilitation skills and enrich your spiritual journey—register today!
- 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.
- Please note: Live attendance for this series is strongly encouraged. Though recordings of the facilitator's instruction will be made available, much of the sessions will not be recorded due to the intimacy of what's being shared in group spiritual direction.
Roslyn’s book, Seeking in the Company of Others: The Wisdom of Group Spiritual Direction, by SDI Press, can serve as an essential resource for this course.
Acquiring and referencing the book is highly encouraged for this course.
This series is an invitation to:
- Cultivate your spiritual leadership skills
- Delve into an approach to group spiritual direction appropriate for seekers within any religious tradition
- Engage with Roslyn Weiner, who has practiced and refined this approach to Group Spiritual Direction for over 20 years
- Witness an enactment of the model and briefly experience it yourself
- Be inspired, satisfy your curiosity, and ask your questions related to Group Spiritual Direction, and Roslyn's book.
Presenter
Roslyn G. Weiner, PhD, STM, a seasoned spiritual director and psychologist, conveys passion for the practice of spiritual direction through writing and teaching, rooted in listening for the sacred whispering within her soul and the souls of those who invite her to witness their seeking. She earned a PhD in psychology from Yale University and an STM degree from the School of Theology, Boston University.
Additional Information
- Everyone is invited to participate in SDI Courses.
- Each session will run 90 minutes.
- CEU credits are available for all those who participate. More information can be found here: continuing education units (CEUs).
- Cost: $299 for Student and Basic Tier SDI Members, with increased discounts for Enhanced and Premium Tiers.
- Scholarships are available for those facing financial hardship. Please apply here.
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