What Does Your Spirituality Mean To You? A Magdalene Path Perspective
Introduction by Cole Goodwin
Welcome to the Spiritual Roundtable, an interfaith roundtable featuring a diverse range of spiritual belief systems in the Gorge Community.
Each week, spiritual leaders and learners will share their take on some of humanity's biggest questions, starting with: What does your spirituality mean to you? And ramping up into discussions about the nature of existence, the soul, the divine, and of course…a question as old as time itself: why are we here?
Roundtable writings will be published each Saturday and Sunday of the month. So look forward to new installments every Saturday and Sunday morning!
Take a deep breath… Meditate for a moment…And when you’re ready…keep reading to explore the diverse faiths, belief systems, and philosophies that exist in our communities.
This Month's Question: What does your spirituality mean to you?
Why this question was chosen: This question asks us to examine what purpose and function our (faith, practice, belief system, philosophy) can serve in our lives. As well as how spirituality can guide our actions and way of walking in the world.
About Claire Sierra: Claire Sierra, MA, LFT, author/founder of The Magdalene Path, is an Expressive Arts Therapist, Soul Alchemist, Spa Priestess, and Reiki Master on the path of awakening Feminine Soul since 1989. She shares intuitive, creative, spiritual practices through the lost wisdom of Mary Magdalene. Claire sees clients on-line and at Spa Sanctuary at the Balch Hotel, an elegant, award-winning inn in Dufur, Oregon, where she lives with her hotelier husband.
Learn more and access free resources for Feminine Soul at MagdalenePath.com. She can be reached at Claire@MagdalenePath.com
A Magdalene Path Perspective
by Claire Sierra
Connection to, and with Divine is everything.
While I can and do focus on the day-to-day activities of daily life--running a business, having a healing practice, being a wife, friend and community leader--my spirituality is the essence of who I am and therefore guides my life.
It’s so intrinsic to who I am, it’s hard to separate into words. My perception that we are all linked through Spirit, is what guides and navigates my life. It also is crucial in weathering the storms of daily reality.
This has been true for many decades, as I embarked on a spiritual path in my 20s. But in the last 2 years, I find it even more crucial as we navigate a global pandemic with social/political upsets and breakdowns. The sense of being connected to a larger whole, of being guided and loved by a force greater than myself, is what I turn to daily at times—to keep aligned in a time of intense challenges. It’s why I think of myself as an “everyday priestess.”
As a priestess (a term that’s perhaps unfamiliar to you, as it’s totally missing in our current culture) I seek every day to be in tune with the larger forces of nature and energy around me (people, places, situations, etc.) to be a conduit for healing and wholeness as I walk through the world. This can look as simple as a kind word, smile, or healing gesture when out in public, or engaging in spiritual practices to seed peace, joy and light in the world. I use my art, training, and skill in wellness settings: for many years as a counselor or art therapist, more recently as a soul coach, Reiki Master, Esthetician and wellness priestess at Spa Sanctuary in Dufur at the Balch Hotel (a boutique, historic destination inn, which I co-own with my hotelier husband.)
In seeking to restore balance and harmony in myself, others, and the larger world around me, I’ve been called to the awakening of the Divine Feminine—the absence of which has created many of the ills of the world. My soul path has led me to a strong spiritual connection to Mary Magdalene and Mother Mary that’s quite different from the Catholic perspective I was raised in. I’ve found a new Rosary practice that has afforded profound depth and connection, a sense of sacred stillness that is beyond words.
We’re in a difficult moment these days. I find the times we are in to require us to deepen into our own self-care—it’s no longer frou-frou, it’s soul care survival right now. Soul care practices are priority #1 right now for personal alignment and balance. It’s crucial to find ways to connect with God/Goddess. I spend my mornings sipping tea, meditating, praying, and connecting to Spirit. To do this, I use a meditative journaling practice I call Listening To Spirit, a way to receive Divine guidance through writing. The practice settles my heart and mind when I’m weary and troubled, finding answers and hope that’s often unexpected and always helpful. I honestly don’t know how others cope without this connection—it’s that essential for me. And while it may sound quite esoteric, it’s quite easily learned.
In our fast-paced, device driven world it’s important to be in our bodies, as they’re the vessel of our spirit. Daily walks are key. It doesn’t require a huge getaway or loads of time--even 20 minutes in nature can nourish at a deep level that resets one’s perspective. Allowing myself to wonder and wander in the fields or woods near our rural village home allows a great reset that is balm to my world-weary spirit.
It’s these moments when Spirit is very tangible and present, that I remember the Truth of who I am and why I’m here—aside from all the dithering, toil, angst, and strife. Regardless of our faith path, religious ideology, or spiritual perspective, at the root is the desire for connection with a guiding loving force larger than ourselves. Feel the unnamable essence of Spirit and peace that passes all understanding. You might access that in ways that are totally foreign to me, and I you. That’s the beauty of it: many paths, and practices that support us. Whether you stick with what you’ve been taught or explore outside your heritage until something in your soul feels home, it’s all good. It’s all God.
Want to contribute to the Spiritual Roundtable? Read this first.
The Roundtable Mission and Vision
The goal of these roundtable writings is to:
Bring the spiritual community together.
Share ideas that elevate the human spirit.
Elevate the conversation around the spirit.
Embrace what is universal to all, while honoring what is special about each spirituality.
Center inclusivity and equity.
Promote our collective enlightenment.
Nurture civility and friendship between those with diverse belief systems in the Gorge.
Engage readers and spiritual seekers.
The Spiritual Roundtable IS NOT…
This is not a place for arguing about dogma.
This is not a place for ‘hating on’ or putting other belief systems down.
This is not a place for excluding, discriminating, or promoting fear or violence towards other people based on their race, color, ethnicity, beliefs, faith, gender, sexuality, ability.
This is not a place for hatred.
This is not a place for fear.
The Spiritual Roundtable IS..
This IS a place for hope.
This IS a place for joy.
This IS a place for comfort.
This IS a place for big questions.
This IS a place for learning.
This IS a place for sharing.
This IS a place for caring.
This IS a place for sharing what is special about your beliefs.
CCC News reserves the right to not publish any content that breaks with our mission, vision and values.
If you are interested in being included in the roundtable please email cole@columbiacommunityconnection.com
