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Spiritual
Direction at Sanctuary...
Spiritual direction
and companionship sessions are available by appointment to help individuals
develop or deepen their spiritual life. The sessions can draw upon various
religious traditions and spiritual practices. Guided individual retreats
can be scheduled for the day or with overnight accommodations.
Spiritual direction offers an opportunity to explore our understandings
and our yearnings for an awareness and relationship with the Source
of Being and mystery of creation. In individual or group meetings, spiritual
directors help direct us into a deeper connection with ourselves, with
others and with creation. Through discussion, meditations, prayer, text
study and right actions spiritual directors help us discover those paths
that work best for the cultivation of our inner lives. Often spiritual
companions will help us sort our concepts of God that are troubling
and have been obstacles to spiritual growth.
The ministry of spiritual direction or companionship has a long history
in various religious traditions. The stories in Genesis and the Wisdom
literature of the Bible are examples of texts used for spiritual guidance.
In ancient time times, the priests, the prophets, the judges, and the
shamans served as guides.
In the early Celtic tradition, a person who acted as a teacher, companion
or spiritual guide was called anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic
word for soul and cara is the word for friend. Thus a "soul
friend" is someone with whom you can share your soul's gentle stirrings
and deepest longings. In the Hassidic tradition, such a person was known
as a "rebbe." A spiritual companion can also be your
dear friend or even your grandmother or your "bubbe."
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Jewish
Spiritual Direction
with
Rabbi David Shneyer
Reb David, founder and director of Am Kolel, studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and in Israel, earning degrees in Judaic studies from Rutgers Unversity and Baltimore Hebrew College. Reb David received his “semicha” ordination from the Aleph Seminary founded by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shlomi. The past president of Ohalah, the Rabbinic Association of Jewish Renewal Rabbis, Reb David is also accomplished musician and composer of new liturgical music. He is a founder of Jews United for Justice, active in the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Rabbis for Human Rights. Reb David he is also the spiritual leader of Kehila Chadasha a havurah-fellowship community based in Bethesda, Maryland. |
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Rabbi David Shneyer |
Suzie Kline Massey
skmassey@verizon.net
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Spiritual
Companionship
with
Suzie Kline Massey
Suzie provides the time and space for others to explore their joys and challenges on the spiritual journey. In addition to her work as a spiritual director, she is an artist and writer. She may offer expressive arts opportunities for you, as you desire.
Suzie is Jewish and a Unitarian Universalist. Her diverse background offers a unique perspective to those wishing to deepen their experience of the Holy. For over 20 years, she has actively explored a diverse life of the Spirit, while continuing to explore her religious roots. She typically brings practices learned through her ecclectic studies to her clients. She received her certificate in spiritual direction from Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, MD. Suzie has written numerous articles for publication, and was recently published in An Artist’s Rule, a book about nurturing the creative soul with monastic wisdom. |
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"Melavah Ruchanit" ~
Spiritual Companionship
with Janeane Marks
 Janeane Marks RN BSN MA is a nurse healer and experienced group leader. She has practiced nursing for 35 years in a variety of settings which include university and community hospitals, ambulatory care centers, and community health. She has worked as a staff nurse, nurse educator, and nurse practitioner. She currently works for Montgomery County Health and Human Services as a school community health nurse in Montgomery County high schools and elementary schools. She has practiced school nursing for the last 15 years. Janeane received a bachelor's degree in Nursing from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo, in 1977 and a master's degree in health promotion counseling in 1994 from Trinity College, Washington DC.
In 2006 Janeane was ordained as an interfaith minister by Rabbi Joseph Gelberman of All Faith's Seminary International, New York City, New York. Early In 2007 she was given the title "Melavah Ruchanit" or "spiritual companion" by Rabbi David Shneyer.
During the past 15 years Janeane has led many teen parent support groups for pregnant and parenting teens and drug and alcohol support groups for adolescents in recovery. She has led a Healing Circle for Am Kolel since 2005 and a Kabbalah-based dream circle in her home since 2002.
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Spiritual Companioning
with Anne Schwartz Delibert
 Anne Schwartz Delibert, LPC & Spiritual Director brings three decades of experience as a holistic, body-oriented counselor to enhance her work as a spiritual companion or mashpia. She offers spiritual companioning to people wanting to deepen their relationship with the divine through exploring their life experiences and deepening their spiritual practices. Sessions can include emotional and creative expression, as well as embodied and contemplative practices. Anne provides a safe environment for deep listening within oneself and compassionate connections with others.
Anne received a certificate in Jewish Spiritual Direction from Lev Shomea (which means “listening heart”) in 2010. As a student of spirituality, psychology, bereavement, and meditation, Anne’s background and training has deepened her sensitivity to issues of spiritual longing, Jewish identity, grief and surviving loss of a loved one to suicide. She is sensitive to universal truths and mystical experiences that transcend faith traditions.
Anne also trained with the Washington Institute for Body Psychotherapy, the Organismic Psychotherapy Training Institute, Family Constellations Training group and a Core Energetics Training program. |
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