Exploring ~ Group Spiritual Direction
The 2020 Exploring cohort has already begun.
​We'll announce the opening of enrollment for 2021 next Spring.
We believe the growth of faith and spiritual attention will take place not only in organized religion, but also in individual relationships and building small communities of commitment and understanding. Our "Exploring" program is group spiritual discovery - a place to deepen your own spiritual beliefs and practices, and learn about the way others see their own spirituality. The time together includes morning gathering ritual (everyone gets a chance to lead), conversation around assigned reading and other learning materials (podcasts, video etc) and additional instruction and facilitation of practices during sessions.

Our mission at Zeitgeist is to lead the way with fresh curriculum and an integrated interfaith/interspiritual approach, encouraging participants to grow in faith, and their own spiritual connection.

Details...

  • All sessions will be via ZG Zoom (online meetings for our distributed community).  Coursework will be specifically tailored to the online environment, making use of engagement tools within the Zoom technology.
  • Sessions are the second Saturday of each month, from 9:00 am – noon. (Eastern Time. See specific dates below)
  • All students in “Exploring” are asked to have a relationship with their own Spiritual Director.  We can help connect you with the best directors in Atlanta, or wherever you're at.
  • Students will be part of a recurring small breakout group, no larger than 10, to facilitate trusting relationships, and time for meaningful interaction.
  • Students will be asked to read/view assigned material in between sessions.
  • Each student will complete a Spiritual Narrative project, sharing their own journey of coming to know themselves in the context of their faith construct.​
  • All "Exploring" students have Partner Membership in ZG for the year they are enrolled.
  • "Exploring" is a comfortable introduction to the direction experience, and a pre-requisite for entering the Spiritual Direction Training Program. 
  • Specific dates and topics are listed below.​
Specific information about pricing
​and policies is here.
Listen to our podcast episode interviewing Executive Director and students about their experience in Exploring.
Dates and Topics for the 2020 Cohort
and examples of suggested material​
2020 
September 12 - Beginning
  • Introduction to program & one another 
  • Review curriculum for the year, policies & policies, expectation
  • Create agreements & sacred space
  • Define individual goals & commitments
October 10 - Something Greater
  • Spiritual Direction – History, benefits, finding your own Director
  • Defining the “God” of our understanding
  • The Names of God
  • Traditional faith descriptions
  • Non-traditional descriptions
November 14 - Discernment / Dark Night
  • Ignatian discernment  & Non-traditional methods
  • Defining & Exploring the “Dark Night of the Soul”
December 12 - Praxis
Doing that becomes Being
  • Prayer (Cataphatic, Apophatic – Centering)
  • Meditation
  • Lectio / Midrash /Audio Divina
  • Body praxis (Yoga, breath work, walking meditation)
2021
January 9 - Expression
Creativity as Spirit
  • Visual art
  • Poetry
  • Music 
  • Film 
  • Making
February 13 - Value
Who does Godde say you are?​​
  • Identities in context: Women, LGBTQ, racial identity​ 
March 13- Faith in the World
How does my faith live out?
  • Social Justice / Activism / “The Other”
  • Practical values
  • Day to day life
April 10 - Wisdom

  • Who and what deepens your connection?
  • The Perennial Tradition
May 8- Closure
​​
  • Ritual and closure
  • Preparation for Spiritual Director Certification for those who choose to seek training as a Director.