Sacred Listening Circles

Join a small group of spiritual seekers.

Receive and offer sacred presence and compassionate listening.

Deepen your capacity to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

Witness as the group of strangers transforms into a beloved community of spiritual friends, forming a sanctuary of belonging, trust and care.

  • A Sacred Listening Circle is an opportunity to meet with a small group of people and participate in the sacred flow of spacious silence, compassionate presence, deep sharing about one’s spiritual life, and prayerful listening to the Spirit. It’s a form of communal spiritual companioning that is sometimes referred to as “group spiritual direction.” (However, that name is often used to describe other forms of groups as well so it can be a bit confusing.)          

  • Usually there are 3-4 group members and the facilitator. The intimate nature of the group really helps to build a sense of trust and spiritual friendship with each other that allows people to feel comfortable sharing vulnerably and deeply about the challenges and joys of their spiritual journey.

    Sacred Listening Circles are usually 2-2.5 hours long and usually groups meet monthly or every two weeks by Zoom video call or in person. The amount of time sometimes feels like a long commitment, but most people soon find that the time goes by quite fast and is very spiritually nourishing, offering a renewed since of peace and strength.

  • A typical gathering opens with a short reading that invites the group members to move into their heart space and listen to what the Spirit might want you to pay attention to. After the opening reading there is about 10 minutes of spacious silence for personal prayer and reflection. Then one person will share from the heart what has been showing up for them in their spiritual life. The other group members sole purpose is to listen as an act of love, holding that person in sacred presence. Once the person is done, the group moves back into silence to listen to any invitations, words, images or questions the Holy Spirit might want to reveal to the person who just spoke. The group will share these with the speaker so that person might bring them to prayer at a later time. This rhythm continues until every person has a chance to share and be held in love. We close with an overall reflection of the experience, a closing reading and sacred silence.

  • Sacred Listening Circles focus on the lived experience of the group members and how God is alive and active in one’s life. While sacred scripture might be referenced on occasion, it is not the main focal point of the sharing.

    Another main difference is that there is no “cross-talk,” teaching, preaching or discussion in Sacred Listening Circles. Each person speaks from the heart without anyone interrupting or responding. Through deep listening and sacred presence, the group offers a form of loving witness and allows the person to be fully seen, heard and appreciated. It is an incredible gift to offer someone!

  • Here are a list of qualities to consider when deciding whether this type of group might be a good fit for you:

    • Desire to deepen your capacity to listen to the Holy Spirit and be a channel of loving presence

    • Appreciate contemplative spiritual practices

    • Are willing to share vulnerably about your inner life and spiritual journey

    • Crave spiritual depth and spiritual friendship with others, even if you have not met them before

    • Are open to experiencing the wisdom and gifts of an inter-denominational or inter-spiritual group – diversity of spiritual paths and lived experiences excites you!

    • Enjoy spacious silence in private and communal settings

    • Are eager to learn a “new” way of listening that does not prioritize clarifying, responding, helping, sharing your own similar experience, etc.

    • Are able to sit with someone’s challenge or pain, without jumping in to try to problem-solve, fix, help, preach, teach, etc.

    Note: If you are currently going through a period of intense upheaval in your life, you might benefit more from a one-on-one relationship, such as sessions with a spiritual companion or a therapist.

  • I enter into the flow of the Holy Spirit with you when I facilitate, gently guiding the group from one phase of the process to the next, all while being grounded in God’s unconditional love. I encourage you to read the testimonials below from individuals who have participated in my Sacred Listening Circles.

    You can also learn more about my facilitation style here.

  • This is a concern many people begin with, but I encourage you to truly trust the sacred practice. The Holy Spirit has no barriers or constraints – the sacred presence and wisdom can be felt even when a community is gathered virtually.

    It might take some time to adjust, but I find that being in Sacred Listening Circles allows for such deep connections to develop among group members and a spiritual intimacy to come alive. Multiple times group members have prefaced their sharing with: “I have never told anyone this before…”

    Creating sacred spaces for that to happen and for a true sense of belonging to develop among prior strangers is the holy work of Divine Love!

  • Individuals commit to 6 sessions with their Sacred Listening Circle and fees are based on a sliding scale. Please read more here regarding the intentionality that went into the three different fee amounts and how to select the option that best matches your circumstances. The above link also shares details regarding options for those experiencing financial hardship as well as bartering options.

  • I would be happy to discuss this with you! Please contact me with this form and share the specifics of your group (number of people, whether you know each other, etc.) and your preferred timeline for meeting.

  • Contact me by completing this email form. Feel free to ask your questions in the body of the email. I will respond by email or might encourage us to set up a brief phone call if your questions might be better answered over phone.

Sign up to receive updates about upcoming Sacred Listening Circles.

What People Are Saying

  • "I have been blessed to be part of a small group that Emily has facilitated for the past two years. She has a gift for selecting prayers, poems, songs and sacred texts that draw participants fully into a "time apart" from the busy-ness of life. Emily listens deeply... hearing not only the words spoken, but also the heart and soul beneath them. I am continually impressed by how Emily differentiates between what are her personal responses and reflection, and what is a nudge from the Spirit. The spiritual nourishment I receive from her care and direction is genuinely life-giving and I am grateful for her partnership as a spiritual sojourner."

    — Margaret G., United Methodist pastor

  • "For the last two years, I have been a part of a sacred listening circle that Emily facilitates. I sense that Emily invites Spirit to guide our speaking and listening. She never fails to bring a prayer, poem or inspiration that grounds us. Perhaps her greatest gift is creating space and lovely stretches of silence that invite us ever more deeply to listen to the still, small voice that is that of the Holy One in our midst. I leave our time together more Spirit-centered and grateful for Emily's wise companionship."

    - Carol S., community volunteer and aging advocate

  • "I participate in a monthly sacred listening circle that Emily facilitates which invites a spacious time for deep listening, divine encounter, and personal reflection. Month by month, the depth of trust and vulnerability grows as we each share facets of challenge, articulate uncertainty in transition, and compassionately hold the tension of suffering and goodness in our work and world. At the end of a session, I am often surprised to discover the overlapping themes and graces I continued to ponder and revisit between our gatherings. The monthly gathering offers a shelter of belonging I didn’t expect but certainly needed. I realize I have gained greater freedom to recognize, honor, and respond to my deep longings and desires as I seek an inner stillness to ground my faithful action in social justice concerns."

    — Lynn H., Quaker pastor, spiritual director

  • “I participate in a monthly sacred listening circle facilitated by Emily. We began after an extended larger group process which connected our group together. This small group time has been very valuable. Even with the constraints of living far apart and utilizing online sessions, we have formed a group of spiritually minded courageous and even fun loving women!! Emily leads with grace and compassion. I have particularly found value in the prayers and readings that she shares to draw us into our time together. Each reading selected seems "divinely inspired" and helps create a sacred space for reflection, pondering, hopeful sharing and even laughter.”

    — Rene' W., Presbyterian minister