The Goddess Within: Embracing the Divine Feminine in Your Astrological Chart
In-Person, $90
6-8 pm CT | Thursdays, April 25 & May 2
Your Astrology Chart is a picture of the heavens the moment you were born. In this class we will look at six important aspects of the Feminine Divine - Moon - How we Nurture Venus - How we Love Juno - How we Partner Vesta - How we Serve Pallas - How we are Feminine Warriors and Black Moon Lilith - How we are a Wild Child.
You will receive a link after registering to submit your birthdate, time, and location. Please submit this information before April 11 for review prior to class.
Each person will receive an astrology chart to keep that we will work from during both sessions. No prior knowledge of astrology is necessary. All are welcome.
Peggy Foster-Rush is an artist of the heart and a soul coach. She brings real life knowledge to her practice as a retreat facilitator, art teacher, astrologer, and soul coach.
Kimberly Laudert Artist Reception
Kimberly Laudert's artwork is currently on display in the Carondelet Center. Come and join us for a night of celebration and accolades for all her hard work!
Friday, April 26, 5-7 pm
Tending the Garden: Poetry as Seeds of Hope and Inspiration
Online | $110
6:30 pm CT | Tuesdays, April 30, May 7 & 14
Let’s use the garden as metaphor to explore cycles and seasons, including planting seeds and tending, abundance and decay, beauty and nourishment, weeds and herbal medicine, Grandmother wisdom and Mother Nature. We’ll play with the belief in a paradise and fall from it and how Mother Nature is a maternal instinct. We will discuss how to mix sensual details and metaphor in a way that feels organic and urgent. We’ll read poems by Ada Limon, Toni Morrison, Jack Gilbert, and Joy Harjo to inspire our own. We will contemplate how not all gardening attempts are successful and yet we can always try again. All levels of writers are welcome as well as all levels of gardeners! No writing or gardening experience required!
Wendy Brown-Baez has been facilitating writing workshops in community spaces for over 20 years, including libraries, schools, spiritual centers, healing centers, prisons, and arts organizations. Wendy has published prose and poetry in numerous literary magazines and anthologies, including Poets & Writer Magazine, Water~Stone Review, Tiferet, and Talking Writing. She is the author of "Heart on the Page: A Portable Writing Workshop" and co-author of "Writing to Wholeness: workshops to transform lives and communities". Wendy is the executive editor of the Saint Paul Almanac: Volume 13 and has been part of the literary community in the Twin Cities for 16 years.
Spring 6 Week Soul Painting Series: Awaken Your Creative Spirit!
In-Person, $225 | On-site at Studio Inside Out, St. Louis Park, MN
6:30-9pm CT | Wednesday, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & June 5
Like a slow, meandering spring hike, which invites us to inhabit the present moment, but with a plethora of vibrant paint at your side, Soul Painting requires us to let go of an imagined goal and discover being at home with ourselves. The transformation that occurs when we touch our creative essence is nothing short of miraculous. There’s an expansiveness in which the circumstances of our lives are held differently, and our world appears in its potential rather than its limitation.
This class will begin with light discussion, include Process Painting, and end with a writing exercise and will last approximately 2.5 hours. Join Studio Inside Out founder Liba Zweigbaum Herman in welcoming your potential and new beginnings this spring.
No previous painting experience necessary. All materials included.
Liba Zweigbaum Herman brings genuine heart, passion and individuality to her connection with people and creativity.
With a Bachelor of Science Degree from the U of MN in Experiential Education, highlighting therapeutic uses of the wilderness and an Art Education degree from St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, Liba has long been drawn to the power of creative exploration.
She is a recent participant in the Cultivating a Wise Heart: Jewish Mussar Facilitator Training and Mentorship Cohort (Mussar is a Jewish Contemplative Practice) and is an active Environmental Advocate.
Liba discovered “Soul Painting” or Process art-making almost 20 years ago while living in Oregon and was captivated by its dynamic and restorative qualities. She has facilitated Intuitive Painting and other program centered around Creative Exploration for the last 15 years.
These experiences led to her opening studio INSIDE OUT: Center for Creating & Connecting this past May on Minnetonka Boulevard in St. Louis Park. “Supporting people of ALL ages and backgrounds to reimagine their connection to creative expression is an honor”.
Liba has worked locally with Courageous HeARTS, Free Arts MN, Old Arizona Youth Programs, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts and St. Louis Park Community Education. Liba has also facilitated programs for Hineni: Adult Jewish Learning and Contemplative Practices, Beth El Synagogue, Torah Academy, Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council and the Minnesota JCC.
Spring Renewal creating with the Herd
In-Person, $150
9am-3pm CT | Saturday, May 18
During this day long retreat, participants will explore paint with fabric and materials from nature as we create a group pathway way to lead ourselves and our horses through with hopes of spring. Activities will include themes of renewal, healing, grounding and rejuvenation after the long winter with therapists and horsewomen Sarah Kiani and Molly DePrekel.
Some activities will include: Connection with nature, self, growth and spring
Creative materials and pathway creation
Maypole decoration and dance
Celtic right of spring Ostara with a fire
Mindful interactions with horses including
Exploring personal connection with horses though sound, creative movement and meditation
Welcoming spring with Yoga sun salutation poses and much more, please join us!
Sarah Kiani is a performer, writer and therapist. She is founder and director of Hope Tree Counseling Services and Innisfree Farm. Sarah is a licensed counselor and is certified in Equine Assisted Mental Health. She specializes in working with nature, horses and humans to promote growth and healing. More info can be found at hopetreecounselingseevices.com and on Instagram at innisfreefarmmn
Molly DePrekel, MA, LP is a psychologist in private practice at the Cairns Psychological Services, Amidst the Trees (Amidstthetrees.com) and Hold Your Horses. contact molly@cairnshealing.com Molly received her MA in counseling and psychological services from St. Mary’s University. She holds a certificate in EMDR, Yoga Calm, Yoga, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and has utilized the unique relationship people have with animals and nature to assist her in therapy for over thirty years. Molly has facilitated workshops, taught internationally, and volunteered with numerous organizations in the field of nature-based healing. And animal therapy. She has authored manuals on 5 book chapters on the topic of Animal Assisted Interventions and Equine therapy.
Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God
In-Person, $20
1-3 pm CT | Thursday, June 13
We usually pray with words and song. Sometimes we pray by walking or other movement. Seldom do we use doodling in color as a way to draw closer to God. Praying in Color can change the way you pray and how you experience God, by using the right side of your brain. This is not about coming up with a finished product, or being an artist. If you are looking for a new way to communicate with God, Praying in Color could be right for you.
This program will begin with an introduction to the process, with most of our time spent using colored pencils or crayons to create shapes, lines, and doodles in response to our prayer. Participants are invited to share anything about the process or their pages. We will pray for others, the world, and ourselves in 20-30 minute sessions.
After Kathy earned her master’s in Theology and graduate certificate in Spiritual Direction from St. Catherine University, St. Paul, she was a resource assistant at Wisdom Ways. Before her arrival in Minnesota, Kathy had a variety of ministries. She was a house coordinator for the L’Arche community in Clinton, Iowa, where she lived and worked with adults with cognitive disabilities; the staff reporter and marketing manager for The Compass, the newspaper of the Green Bay diocese; and a high school and college math teacher. Kathy is a Wisconsin native with two children and four grandchildren. A two-time breast cancer survivor, she loves to learn anything about most everything, ride her bike in the woods, and spend time with family. She is also the author of Walking on a Rolling Deck: Life on the Ark, a memoir of her ten years with L’Arche.
3rd Annual Summer Solstice Celebration
Join us for Wisdom Ways’ 3rd Annual Summer Solstice Celebration! We’ll be celebrating with food, community, music, and fun activities! It’ll be held outside at the Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 on Friday, June 21 from 4-8pm.
This event is FREE, and you are invited to come and go throughout the event.
Enjoy:
Music, art display, demonstrations, Community and Organizations Resource Fair just to name a few things happening at this exciting event.
Food Trucks:
• Sambusa Express
• Potter’s Pasties
• Sweet Früchi’s
We can’t wait to see you there!
Wisdom Ways Logo Soup Bowl
Custom made soup bowls made by local business, Grey Fox Pottery. Enjoy your warm drink or food in one of these lovely bowls! If you are unable to pick up, please select an option with shipping when you purchase.
Elemental Spirituality: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Beyond
Online, $80
6-8 pm CT | Tuesdays, April 16 & 23
Across millennia and continents, these Five Elements have shaped humanity’s understanding of the spiritual and natural world. By learning to work intentionally with these raw materials of life, we can each discover the deeper truth of who we are, and where we fit in the grand tapestry of creation.
In this class, we’ll take a fascinating tour through these elements on the Periodic Table of Spirituality. We’ll practice using them more fluently in our own lives. And we’ll find new, exciting ways to observe Earth Day, and Nature in general, this year and for years to come.
In Session 1 we’ll focus on Fire and Water. In Session 2 we’ll focus on Earth and Air. And we’ll weave in the Beyond throughout. We’ll delve into such questions as:
• What roles do these elements play in your life? We’ll look at both the obvious and subtle!
• What resources can help you connect more deeply with the elements? We’ll look at supportive spiritual practices and texts that have stood the test of time, as well as ones that are more outside-the-box!
• How can these help not just in your individual life, but in the larger picture of environmentalism?
• Why do people from various religious and spiritual backgrounds so readily resonate with these elements? How does modern science enrich our ancient understanding of them?
• What exactly is this “Beyond”?
Nature lights us up, brings us into flow, grounds us, puts wind in our sails. And it calls us toward something greater than we can even imagine. This class will too – we hope to see you there!
Brian Bard lives out his own calling as a spiritual guide trained in the Anam Cara tradition through the Celtic Center of Seattle. He’s facilitated workshops, ceremonies, and retreats in many different settings: churches/ spiritual communities, community organizing/activism, funerals/grief support groups, theatre, and universities. He loves writing, basking in Nature, working for Scott and Melanie McRae at Sojourner’s Institute, volunteering with the compassionate men of Illuman, and being a husband to his wonderful wife, Devin.
Men's Centering Prayer (1st Wednesday of the Month)
Men’s Centering Prayer will be held ONLINE only
1st Wednesdays of the month, 7:30 a.m. Central Time Zone
Wisdom Ways Men’s Centering Prayer circles have been creating a hope-filled space for those who identify as male. During these times it’s more important than ever for us to continue supporting our practice, even in an online format. We all need specific times for silence and quiet to support rich inner lives. Centering Prayer is the “prayer beyond words,” a practice of self-surrender that supports extending interior silence into daily life. Please join us as we gather to experience Centering Prayer, have a short sharing and offer support among men from a variety of experience levels.
FACILITATOR: Terry Shaughnessy is a longtime spiritual director trained in Ignatian Spirituality through the Master’s in Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton University. He conducts retreats and workshops and teaches Centering Prayer for Contemplative Outreach of Colorado and other venues. His primary passion is offering spiritual direction, “the ministry of compassionate presence,” and supporting many men from a variety of backgrounds in their inner lives.
Seokmun-Hoheup: A Breathing Technique Series
$15 per session
This class is in person only. Wednesday, May 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. CT
Read a guest blog post from Paul, here!
Healthy breathing is essential for our overall well-being; however, improving our ingrained breathing habits can be challenging, as they reflect our current state of Body, Mind, and Spirit. This program specializes in teaching you how to naturally transition to lower belly diaphragmatic breathing. Seokmun is an acupuncture point in your lower belly that serves as our body's center. You'll learn to identify this point and breathe from it.
The five-month program incorporates gentle exercises to relax your muscles and strengthen your core. Eventually, we'll delve into how Energy plays a role in breathing. Instead of short-term conscious breathing techniques, we teach you to naturally change your breathing style, which can be reflected in your everyday life. Our enjoyable and accessible program aims to help you maintain healthy breathing and incorporate positive habits into your daily routine.
For optimal results, we recommend participating in the full five-month program. However, we also welcome those who can only attend on a month-by-month basis or want to explore just a few classes.
By learning and experiencing the wondrous principles of Breathing, find the meaning of life and have True Happiness.
We can recognize our Origin of Existence and Value of Existence through Seokmun-Hoheup. HANJO.
True Happiness is a state of mind; One’s existence as it is, is Valuable, Fulfilled, Harmonious, and Beautiful. HANJO.
Dr. Paul Min, a distinguished neuroscientist at Mayo Clinic, devotes his research to dementia and explores how breathing impacts brain health, focusing on oxygen delivery and waste removal. Combining science with his personal journey of self-discovery, including Christian faith, Buddhist teachings, and 20 years of Seokmun-Hoheup breathing practice, he leverages these diverse insights to inspire others to become brighter, clearer, and more brilliant.
Men's Centering Prayer (3rd Wednesday of the Month)
Men’s Centering Prayer will be held IN-PERSON only
3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4:30 p.m. Central Time Zone
Wisdom Ways Men’s Centering Prayer circles have been creating a hope-filled space for those who identify as male. During these times it’s more important than ever for us to continue supporting our practice, even in an online format. We all need specific times for silence and quiet to support rich inner lives. Centering Prayer is the “prayer beyond words,” a practice of self-surrender that supports extending interior silence into daily life. Please join us as we gather to experience Centering Prayer, have a short sharing and offer support among men from a variety of experience levels.
FACILITATOR: Terry Shaughnessy is a longtime spiritual director trained in Ignatian Spirituality through the Master’s in Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton University. He conducts retreats and workshops and teaches Centering Prayer for Contemplative Outreach of Colorado and other venues. His primary passion is offering spiritual direction, “the ministry of compassionate presence,” and supporting many men from a variety of backgrounds in their inner lives.
Christian Meditation: A Way of Contemplative Prayer
Christian Meditation: A Way of Contemplative Prayer
Tuesday Evening Meditation
Free 7-7:40pm CST Tuesdays, January 2 – May 28, 2024. This will be held IN-PERSON at Carondelet Center and ONLINE (registration for online attendees only). Please note that the sessions will begin promptly at 7 pm.
Meditation is a form of contemplative prayer in which we move beyond words, thoughts, and images. We open ourselves to God’s mysterious and silent presence within us which becomes more and more the reality of our lives. From this place of prayer, we engage in our work in the world. During these times of prayer, we will sit in silent meditation with others. Meditating together is a way of deepening and supporting our personal practice. The weekly sessions include a short reading and one 25-minute meditation.
Deborah Chernick completed the Essential Teaching Workshop from the World Community for Christian Meditation and serves on the board of the Trust for the Meditation Process.
Susan Oeffling, CSJ, completed the Essential Teaching Workshop from the World Community for Christian Meditation, has master’s degrees in theology and counseling, and spiritual direction training from the Center for Spiritual Guidance.
Hedgerow Institute: (Re)Discovering Beatrice Bruteau: Spiritual Revolutionary
In-Person & Online | $25 single session, $225 full series
Mondays from 6:00-7:30 pm from Feb 19-April 29 (No class March 25)
Theologian Beatrice Bruteau was a brilliant scholar in mathematics and philosophy, a dedicated contemplative thinker, and a student of evolution. She was a friend to many of the most influential theological thinkers of the 20th and 21st centuries and an influence on even more. However, as her friend Cynthia Bourgeault writes, “I am still regularly surprised to discover, when I mention the name Beatrice Bruteau to Christian contemplative audiences, that the majority of those present have never heard of her.” Bruteau’s writings are the required reading that too many of us have missed—until now!
In this two-module series, we will explore Beatrice Bruteau’s amazing life, scholarship, and writings. In module one, we will explore Bruteau’s book God’s Ecstacy: The Creation of a Self-Creating World, with special additional readings from her book The Holy Thursday Revolution, as we move through the Lenten season.
In module two, we will learn more about her life from those she inspired by diving into a series of essays edited by her friend Ilia Delio, Personal Transformation and a New Creation: The Spiritual Revolution of Beatrice Bruteau. We will welcome special guest speakers along the way to help illustrate the science, mathematics, Vedanta philosophy, and other influences that shaped her life and her work. Join us!
Joan Mitchell, CSJ has dedicated her life to the study and teaching of scripture. She has published religious education materials for more than 40 years with the majority of her work being lectionary-based with the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, Spirit for teens, and Sunday by Sunday for Adults.
Andrea Pearson Tande, MA, is Hedgerow Coordinator and Co-Director of Consociate Services with the Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet, St Paul Province. She has a MA in Theology and the Arts from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and is currently pursuing a DMin from Fordham University.
Seokmun-Hoheup: Weekly Drop In Series
$15 per month, $50 for series
Monday meetings from 5-6PM each week
Opt in for those who have already taken or are taking Seokmun Hoheup in person meetings with Dr. Paul Min.
Start date 01-22 end date 05-20
The online Seokmun-Hoheup drop-in session offers a group session to do warmup exercises and Hang-Gong practice together. Everyone has their own unique journey and rhythm in life, making it challenging to change established habits and momentum. Engaging in Hang-Gong as a group offers an opportunity to forge a new direction and rhythm in one's life. By joining these sessions and consistently practicing Hang-Gong with us, you will receive the support and energy needed to foster positive habits in your life. Join us and discover your true potential. A short Q&A chat session is available at the end of each meeting. Note: This session is intended for individuals who have previously attended a Seokmun-Hoheup introduction program and know how to do Hang-Gong. If you are new to Hang-Gong please ask for Seokmun-Hoheup introduction program at Wisdom Ways.
Dr. Paul Min is an associate professor in radiology and a neuroscientist at Mayo Clinic who specializes in dementia. He started his journey trying to understand and find his purpose in life. When young, he was heavily devoted to Christianity through the Bible. He further studied Buddhism and learned how to look carefully into himself. At age 25, he met Seokmun Breathing practice while looking for practical methods to develop and train himself to bring out his true potential. After 20 years of practice, he is going through the instructor program of Seokmun Breathing to share the studies he learned about changing and becoming brighter.
