THE JOURNEY
Every day is a journey
and the journey itself is home.
Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694)
The Japanese language has a beautiful word: tama (魂, tah'mah), which translates as: soul. In the Old Way of Seeing, humans have tama, Nature has tama. If tama is communed with, cultivated, nourished, and nurtured, tama can root and grow. This leads to a spiritual concept that encapsulates my view of this work: Sakutama (blooming soul).
Soul yearns to align with its essential expression -- whether this be a mountain, a forest, a cherry blossom, or a person. Tending and exploring the soul is a mysterious journey. In a sense, our soul is a "mystery school" unto itself. Aspects of the Deep Self are concealed from us beneath what we might call the "dust" of the frenzied, world-influenced conditioned self. Through a process of ongoing tracking and conscious attending (what I call "soft-attention") aspects of the Deep Self are revealed over time. This principle of concealment-revealment by the psyche (soul) underlies the human journey and is also reflected in Nature and the seasons. Our journey is inseparable from Nature and our soul has its own seasons and cycles. This has implications for our life path, our artistry and creativity, and our deeper callings. Coming into greater conscious congruence with the deeper prompts of the soul is what this work is about.
Because each person is unique, there is no cookie-cutter template for what emerges in our dialogue. Each process is different for each individual and - through active inquiry - tailored to the specific goals and themes that are stirring at any given time. While no two sessions are identical, there is a general flow, pattern, or framework within which this exploration occurs.
VIDEO CALL
We connect via your preferred video call platform.
I recommend Signal (for mobile or desktop) because of its advanced security features but I can also accommodate others (e.g. Zoom).
THE JOURNEY REPORT
(A "Field Report" of Themes)
Within a day or two of our session, you will receive what I now call a "journey report" — a snapshot of themes that arose during our dialogue and inner work, along with a dispatch containing a variety of other potential facets for you to consider and work with in between our meetings and path-crossings.
Often at the beginning of our work together, "journey reports" will be longer (more extensive) as we map out the themes. As we proceed with the work, these dispatches become streamlined one-pagers with a blend of commentary, questions, and resources.
Journey Reports may include:
+ Questions of sacred inquiry
+ journal writing exercises
+ suggested practices, visualizations
+ articles or suggested books
+ videos relevant to themes
+ other resources to explore
Any resource, experiment, practice, journal writing exercise, or other suggestions is intended to augment the emerging themes from the session and is offered with the intention of deepening your connection to your own path.
These offerings, combined with your own disciplined attention to journaling and contemplating themes between sessions become a "map." Looking back, it will become obvious that the journey through the various themes will have been akin to traveling through a terrain of gateways, openings, and discoveries. "Journey Reports" enable you to go back and revisit these gates and themes. At various junctures, you will also be encouraged to review and 'tune back in' with earlier journey reports.
FREQUENCY
(How Often We Meet)
Some Fellow Travelers want to connect once a week, some twice a month, some once a month, and some once per season. Some people prefer to contract with me for one video session per month, with brief written correspondences between sessions. These brief "check-ins" or "tune-ins" enable greater clarification and deepening of insight.
Some Fellow Travelers prefer to have longer phases of solitary time in between "path-crossings" so they may go even deeper with the themes, exercises, questions, and resources that arise in the work.
In some instances, it becomes clear that a person needs to pursue a therapeutic relationship (psychotherapy, healing, or recovery work) before proceeding with the explorations of contemplative soulwork. In other instances, some individuals choose to pursue contemplative soulwork in tandem with an additional, outside therapeutic modality.
The nature of the journey together - whatever the configuration - is shaped by a person's own schedule, goals, and the themes that arise.
If the format of this work sounds like it would be of support to you and your path, send me a note and we can find a time that fits within the flow of our schedules.
SACRED RECIPROCITY
(payment for services and time; please read carefully)
Everything in the Cosmos operates in terms of energy. My focus, presence, attention, co-walking, consulting, and the time I put into a Journey Report requires energy. It is energy gladly given in service and in support of your path of unfoldment.
As a matter of reciprocity, in exchange for the time, energy, and focus specifically for the session time, my rate for contemplative soulwork is $115 (U.S. Dollars) per session.
I do not accept insurance.
Though it is sometimes time-consuming, there is no charge for the Journey Report. The Journey Report (and any subsequent one-sheeters of resources for you to explore as our work continues) is an offering made in support of your path.
UPDATED POLICY:
Payment for sessions is due upon completion of the session. Journey Reports are sent within two days after payment is received. My preferred payment systems are through CashApp or PayPal. If you do not have either of these, we can discuss other options such as Venmo or Zelle. I do not accept checks.
Note to International Clients: If you hail from a country other than the U.S. e.g. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, UK, please be aware that there are currency differences and you will need to do the conversion in your own currency to $115 (U.S.).