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In this conversation, Christine Sine interviews Danae Ashley whose book 'My Sap is Rising: A Pilgrimage of Holistic Mental Health Healing with Hildegard of Bingen and Alfred Adler' aims to bridge the teachings of Hildegard and Adler in the context of health. They also discuss the concept of being a liturgical rebel. Danae shares her experiences with mysticism, the importance of personal rituals, and her passion for storytelling. The discussion also delves into the life of Hildegard von Bingen, exploring her contributions as a mystic, healer, and visionary, and how her legacy continues to inspire today. Christine and Danae discuss how chronic illness may be connected to deeper spiritual insights and the importance of understanding mental health holistically. The conversation emphasizes the value of community in mental health and the potential of spiritual experiences. They discuss the influence of Adlerian psychology and the significance of spiritual foundations in the healing process.

Takeaways

• Liturgical rebels seek connection to God outside of church.
• A mystical experience is any intense experience of connection to God.
• Hildegard von Bingen's work bridges spirituality and mental health.
• Holistic healing rests on spiritual foundations.
• Both Hildegard's healing and Adler's psychology treat and focus on the individual as an indivisible whole.
• Spiritual practices can include creative approaches to faith.
• Exploring nature spirituality is essential for holistic healing.
• Community engagement is vital in spiritual practices.

The Rev. Danae Ashley is an Episcopal priest, Adlerian psychotherapist, international speaker, and voiceover actress in the Pacific Northwest. Danae uses art, music, drama, poetry, and movement in counseling, spiritual direction, and creation of ritual. She has written for various online publications, as well as being a contributor to podcasts, books, and producing a play about fertility struggle. Danae's book, My Sap is Rising: A Pilgrimage of Holistic Mental Health Healing with Hildegard of Bingen and Alfred Adler debuted in March 2026. When not reading, writing, or speaking about Hildegard, you may find her traveling with her husband, making sure their rescue dog is living his best life, dancing with wild abandon to Celtic music, and serious karaoke. Learn more about her work at www.danaeashley.com.

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In this episode, Tim Soerens and Christine Sine discuss the reimagining of church and neighborhood renewal, emphasizing the importance of community stories and needs. They explore innovative models like the Parish Collective and impact investing aimed at fostering local flourishing and spiritual renewal. Tim emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and support for marginalized groups, aiming to create multicultural communities where everyone can thrive. Christine also shares her background and recent works focused on creative spiritual practices and Celtic Christianity.

• Tim Sorens advocates for a radical rethinking of church roles where the church is fundamentally about transforming lives and neighborhoods.
• The Parish Collective grew from grassroots conversations.
• The concept of parish emphasizes community and shared life.
• Creative solutions are emerging to repair local economies.
• Attention to grassroots stories is crucial for community development.Access to capital is vital for community growth.
• Multicultural communities are essential for acceptance and flourishing.
• The Parish Collective focuses on neighborhood flourishing.
• Tim's book 'Everywhere You Look' explores church presence in daily life.
• Community transformation requires active engagement with the marginalized.
• Sharing stories strengthens community bonds.

Tim Soerens is the Co-Founding executive director of the Parish Collective, a network of churches around the United States focused on neighborhood flourishing. He recently wrote, “Everywhere You Look: Discovering the Church, Right Where You Are.” His co-authored first book “The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches Transform Mission, Discipleship, and Community" (Intervarsity Press, 2014) won multiple awards, including Christianity Today’s award of merit. He lives in Chicago with his family.

He can be reached through the Parish Collective or Tim Soerens websites.

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In this conversation, Christine Sine and Ragan discuss the profound impact of birding on personal growth, spirituality, and ecological awareness. Ragan shares his journey into birding, the tools available for bird identification, and the lessons learned from observing birds in their natural habitats. The discussion touches on the importance of understanding migration patterns and the conservation challenges birds face in urban environments. Ragan and Christine explore the profound connections between birding, spirituality, grief, and ecological awareness. They discuss how birding can enhance our listening skills, the importance of grieving what we love, and the need for participation in beauty rather than possession. Ragan discusses the possibility of finding life where many birds do and where Jesus called us, in marginalized spaces.

Takeaways
Birding can be a meaningful spiritual practice.
Faith and nature are intertwined.
Birding encourages attention, mindfulness and presence.
Birding offers a pathway to understanding our place in God's world.
Connecting with nature can lead to deep spiritual insights.
Modern technology, like birding apps, enhances the birdwatching experience.
Birds serve as a gateway to understanding larger ecological systems.
The seasonal patterns of birds help us connect with the rhythms of nature.
Beauty is best appreciated through participation, not possession.
Birds can teach us about life in marginal spaces.
Active listening can deepen our spiritual practices.

Ragan Sutterfield is a priest in the Episcopal Church and serves a parish in his native Arkansas. He is author of the book is "Watch and Wonder: Birding as a Spiritual Practice". His writing has appeared in a variety of places including The Christian Century, Sojourners, The Oxford American, Plough, and The Englewood Review of Books. Ragan's writing and interests are focused at the intersection of faith and ecology where he brings his background in birding, permaculture, and soil ecology into conversation with philosophy, theology, and the Christian spiritual tradition. He writes regularly about these topics at "The Way We Practice" on Substack. Ragan seeks to live the good life with his wife Emily and daughters Lillian and Lucia.

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In this conversation, Weldon Nisly shares his extensive journey in ministry and peacemaking, highlighting the importance of liturgy in shaping community identity. He discusses his recent experiences in Iraq and Kurdistan with Community Peacemaker Teams, emphasizing the need for non-violence training and the significance of personal connections in peacemaking efforts. In this conversation, Weldon Nisly shares his experiences and insights from working in conflict zones, particularly in Kurdish regions and Palestine. He discusses the ongoing quest for peace, the importance of community engagement, and the challenges faced by those living under oppression. The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of witnessing violence and the need for spiritual resilience. Additionally, the discussion highlights the complexities of immigration and the impact of war on displaced populations.

Takeaways

• Faith plays a crucial role in peacemaking.
• Community support is essential for nonviolent action.
• Spiritual practices sustain peace efforts.
• Community Peacemaker Teams provide the material governments rely on to understand their own countries.
• Nonviolent action can be effective in global conflict zones.
• Advocating for peace in violent regions is critical.
• Contemplative practices are essential in peace-building.

You can learn more about Weldon and the work of Community Peacemaker Teams at:

• Community Peacemaker Teams -- https://cpt.org
• Subscribe to CPT newsletter and Friday Bulletin -- https://cpt.org/subscribe
• Join a CPT delegation to any of the CPT teams -- https://cpt.org/delegations
• Weldon writes an occasional newsletter called Voices & Visions for Just Peace with CPT updates and other peacebuilding news and analyses. If you would like to be added to this mailing, please send an email request to nislyweldon@gmail.com.

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In this conversation Christine speaks to Emmy and Frederico Borman about their work in the Ecuadorian rainforest. They help run the Cofan Survival Fund which is dedicated to the survival of the Cofán indigenous culture and its Amazonian rain forest environment. They discuss comparative spirituality, indigenous values, and the vital necessity for all of us that the Amazonian rainforest survive and thrive. Their work gives hope in an often overwhelming world.

Key Points

• Rainforest preservation is not just for helping locals, but, is necessary for all of us
• The Cofan people have cultural and spiritual perspectives that are in harmony with Christianity
• There are external threats like illegal mining and deforestation
• In the face of overwhelming work, find the one thing you can do, and do it
• There is a pristine rainforest in Ecuador and you can visit

Casete puyi'coo (greetings everyone) Federico and Emmy Borman have been married for 12 years and live in Ecuador. Ecuador is Federico's home country. He is a member of the Cofan Nation, one of the oldest surviving indigenous cultures in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Cofan still maintain their language, cultural identity, traditional way of life and a value system linked in communal life in the rainforest. Emmy is originally from Kansas, USA through her relationship with Federico she has learned about the Cofan way of life, and it has reshaped her understanding about faith, creation, home and community.

They both volunteer with the Cofan Survival Fund, a non-profit founded by Federico's father and mother. The Cofan Survival Fund is dedicated to the survival of the Cofan indigenous culture and its Amazonian rainforest environment through conservation and social programs. The Cofan commitment to conservation in the midst of oil contamination, mining and deforestation threats, is a true testament of their dedication to serve our planet, and all of us, as vital stewards of the last pristine forests of Amazonia.

More about the Cofan and the Bormans' work can be found at:

• www.cofan.org
• Instagram: @cofansurvivalfund

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In this conversation, Christine Sine explores the concept of being a liturgical rebel, emphasizing the importance of spiritual seeking, the need for diverse spiritual practices, and the role of doubt in faith. She discusses how liturgical rebels challenge traditional church norms and seek to create beauty and wholeness in the world through various forms of art and community engagement. Christine encourages listeners to embrace their unique spiritual journeys and to find practices that resonate with their experiences.

Takeaways

• A liturgical rebel is someone who seeks spiritual growth outside traditional church settings.
• Being a Liturgical Rebel is about walking together in faith, not leading or following.
• There is no clear roadmap for being a follower of Jesus.
• Engaging in diverse spiritual practices can help stretch our understanding of faith.
• Doubt is a natural part of faith and can lead to deeper understanding.
• Spiritual practices can include everyday activities that draw us closer to God.
• Art and creativity are powerful tools for spiritual expression.
• Community engagement is essential for Liturgical Rebels to thrive.

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In this conversation with Christine, Kate Caroe shares her innovative approach to storytelling, education, and community building through her project Out of the Box. Discover how her methods foster wonder, wisdom, and wellbeing across diverse settings, from schools to care homes, and learn practical ways to incorporate storytelling and reflective practices into your own work.

Takeaways

• Storytelling is a tool for learning and community building
• Emotional connection in stories is key to learning
• Building atmosphere and trust provides space for deep reflection
• Spiritual and community engagement require innovative approaches

Kate Caroe is co-Founder of OutoftheBox Training & Consultancy. She has home educated her six children following the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. She is also Chair of Trustees of Steel City Choristers, a grassroots cathedral-style choir which aims to make choral music more relevant and accessible. In the past she worked in international media planning and was a Trustee of Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey. Her degree was in Japanese at Clare College Cambridge.

Kate Caroe can be reached at outofthebox.org and Steel City Choristers can be found here.

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Music by Maksym Malko from Pixabay

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Christine's interview with Ray Minniecon explores Indigenous heritage, environmental stewardship, and advocacy for Indigenous rights globally. It highlights the importance of land, culture, and spiritual perspectives in addressing climate change and social justice.

Key topics

• Indigenous heritage and advocacy
• Environmental stewardship and land rights
• The impact of colonization and policies like the Stolen Generations
• The need for the UN to exist as a resource for indigenous peoples
• The roles and responsibilities, past and future, of the Church

Ray Minniecon is an Aboriginal pastor with roots in the Kabikabi and Gurang-Gurang tribes of Queensland. He lives in Sydney and has dedicated his life to supporting members of the Stolen Generations of Aboriginals. The term “Stolen Generations” refers to the tens of thousands of Aboriginal children who, from the late 1800s until the 1970s, were forcibly removed from their families by government agencies and church missions in an attempt to assimilate them into the culture of white Australia. Ray is a Board member with several Indigenous Ministries and organizations. He is Founder of the Coloured Digger Project and Consultant to both the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation and the Children of the Bomaderry Aboriginal Children's Home where many Aboriginal children were taken and placed under the Native Welfare Act of NSW.

Ray Minniecon can be found at the Forgiveness Project and on facebook https://www.facebook.com/raymond.minniecon/

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Music by Maksym Malko from Pixabay