Exploring ~ Group Spiritual Direction
 Enrollment is now closed for the 2022 Cohort.
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 gathering ritual (everyone gets a chance to lead), sharing our own personal spiritual narratives, 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 their own worldviews, and their own spiritual connection.

Details...

  • All sessions will be in person at the ZG office in Atlanta, GA. 
  • Sessions are the third Saturday of each month, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.
  • 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.
  • Students will be part of a recurring small 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.​
  • Pricing and policies are here.
  • Prospective students are asked to have an informational conversation with ZG's Executive Director, Debonee Morgan. This makes sure we're a great fit and that your questions get answered so you feel ready. Click the link below to make sure we'll be meeting your expectations, and request an interview.
Specific information about pricing
​and policies is here.

Your 2022/23 Teacher - Carl McColman

Carl McColman is an award-winning author, blogger, podcaster, spiritual director, retreat leader, and contemplative speaker/teacher based in Clarkston, GA. His books cover a wide terrain, from Christian mysticism to Celtic wisdom to Pagan & Goddess spirituality. Although rooted in the Christian tradition, Carl has a long-standing commitment to interspirituality and interfaith exploration. His own spiritual journey began with an extraordinary awakening experience when he was 16, followed by training and formation in the practice of Centering Prayer and Christian meditation through organizations like the Shalem Institute, Contemplative Outreach, and the Institute for Pastoral Studies. In 2012 Carl made life-promises as a Lay Cistercian (a layperson under the spiritual guidance of Trappist monks). Zeitgeist is proud to have Carl as our Contemplative-in-Residence.
Prospective students are asked to have a brief conversation with ZG's Executive Director, Debonee Morgan before enrollment. This ensures a good fit, and creates opportunity to answer any questions about the Exploring program.

Click the button below to request some time to talk about 2023.

Exec Director Debonee and Carl talk
about the cohort for Sept 22.
Our podcast episode (Summer 2020) interviewing Debonee and students about their experience in Exploring.
Dates and Topics for the 2022 Cohort
and examples of study material​
2022
September 17 - Beginning
  • Introduction to program & one another 
  • Review curriculum for the year, policies & policies, expectation
  • Create agreements & sacred space
  • Define individual goals & commitments
October 15 - 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 19 - Dark Night of the Soul
  • Defining & understanding the “Dark Night of the Soul”
  • The importance of not-knowing
  • What are our own stories of spiritual emptiness or distance?
  • What does recovery and deepening look like?
December 17 - Praxis
Doing that becomes Being
  • Prayer (Cataphatic, Apophatic – Centering)
  • Meditation
  • Lectio / Midrash /Audio Divina
  • Body praxis (Yoga, breath work, walking meditation)
2023
January 21 - Expression
Creativity as Spirit
  • Visual art
  • Poetry
  • Music 
  • Film 
  • Making
February 18 - Identity & Value
Who does Godde say you are?​​ Do cultural constructs agree?
  • Identities in context:
  • Racial  & ethnic / White Body Supremacy
  • LGBTQ+
  • Women
  • Socio-economic status
  • Intersectionality
March 18 - Faith in the World
How does my faith show up in the world?
  • Social Justice & Activism
  • The myth of  “Other”
  • Practical values
  • Day to day life
April 15 - Wisdom

  • Who and what deepens your connection?
  • The Perennial Tradition
May 20 - Closure
​​
  • Ritual and closure
  • Preparation for Spiritual Director Certification for those who choose to seek training as a Director.
Prospective students are asked to have a brief conversation with ZG's Executive Director, Debonee Morgan before enrollment. This ensures a good fit, and creates opportunity to answer any questions about the Exploring program.

Click the button below to request some time to talk and get registered.