Spiritual Direction in Daily Life
“One wild line out of a private heart saves the whole book.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Recommendations
So many good people are offering truly helpful guidance and insight. This page could have hundreds of links. They would join the ones you already use and recommend.
This will be a “short list,” curated for times of busyness and overwhelm and our current challenges… and focusing on ways to navigate change in all its guises.
As new sites and podcasts come up, I will add them to this section. May you find something here, some “wild line” from these private and generous hearts that helps, shows a way, surprises, or otherwise “saves” the whole book that is your life, and is still being written.
On Being with Krista Tippett
A treasure of a site, with deep and wide-ranging interviews and resources. Her interviews with various people on her podcast are evergreens, no matter when they were initially broadcast.
Sounds True
Tami Simon’s creation… a remarkable place to find some of the best authors and speakers in the fields of psychology, spirituality and so much more. Her podcast, “Insights at the Edge,” is particularly recommended.
Friends of Silence
An inimitable gift of a site devoted to contemplation, language, and inner quiet. Home to a beautiful monthly newsletter on timeless themes, with accompanying quotes for the journey. Past issues posted. You can sign up to get a quote sent each day. Or use the search engine to dive more deeply into various themes. A labor of love worth support.
Spirituality and Practice
Remarkable site for classes, books, films, quotes and so much more on many topics, many faith traditions. Classes are archived and can be taken any time. Being on the mailing list alerts you to upcoming ones. No other site like this in the field of spirituality.
The Growing Edge
A beautiful collaboration between Quaker writer and activist Parker Palmer and musician Carrie Newcomer. Their interviews with people at the heart of the world’s concerns today resonate with depth and gentle inspiration. Updated monthly via their podcast. They each also have a timely Substack.
Francis Weller
Author of the classic book, “The Wild Edge of Sorrow,” Weller’s work on grief and deep change is more essential every day. Explore his website for some profound and engaging and soulful interviews. He is a kind, wise, eloquent truth-teller steeped in navigating uncertainty.
James Hollis
The author of so many books that have meant so much to me and to the clients I have shared them with. A Jungian analyst who illumines life’s calls to us with uncommon grace, clarity and vividness. Also recommended for any interview or class he gives.
Kate Bowler
Remarkable author, professor of theology at Duke and host of the podcast “Everything Happens,” where she interviews a range of people who can speak personally to navigating life’s biggest curve balls.
David Whyte
The well-known poet, author and speaker who weaves magic with words… his own, and the poetry of others. Fall into his website, and his books, including the classic “The Heart Aroused.” Listen to any and all of his recordings, talks and presentations; they are sublime and galvanizing.
The Marginalian
A beautiful, richly layered site and labor of love by Maria Popova. Each post takes profound looks at themes from literature and poetry that explore the puzzle and beauty of being human. Her links to past newsletters are treasures of language and discovery.
Cameron Trimble
Rev. Cameron Trimble is a writer of uncommon grace and insight. Her writing is at the intersection of theology, current events and our spiritual challenges. Her Substack "Piloting Faith" has a knack for grounding its readers in short essays that are honest, bracing, encouraging and nourishing.
Suleika Jaouad
Author of the book, "The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life," which is a treasure trove of
journaling prompts and thoughtful essays. Her Substack, "The Isolation Journals" is a beautiful, timely and timeless look at creativity, community, and the importance of listening through writing. She is also just a lovely writer to read.
Intensive Journal Program for Self Development
Ira Progoff's book "At a Journal Workshop" (and the workshop itself, still offered various ways) is in a class by itself as a tool for insight and self-discovery. It uses writing as a way to listen to aspects of your life in thought-provoking categories, like spiritual steppingstones. Taken together, a map emerges in surprising ways.
Living Life Fully
When I was a career counselor, the book "Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life" by Gregg Levoy was one I recommended over and over. A classic that covers so much, with such heart and wisdom. I recently found him again, through an essay called "The Art of Being Lost," published in 2021 in Psychology Today. Another perennial, and worth finding. His site is a treasure trove of quotes on a wide range of the topics that make up life. Had to share it.