Words From Silence: A Contemplative Podcast

Episode 18: Embodied Wisdom & the Somatic Enneagram

Today’s episode features my good friend Aaron Manes, who is a spiritual director and Enneagram practitioner in the Dallas area. I’m excited to share this conversation about the somatic Enneagram: what it is, how it leads to a more embodied experience of the Enneagram, and a little about the different energies of the head, heart, and gut centers of intelligence. This is packed full of good information on a really helpful new modality. More about Aaron… Aaron Manes [https://aaronmanes.com] (he/him) is a trained spiritual director [https://aaronmanes.com/what-is-a-spiritual-director-trained-in], a certified Somatic Enneagram [https://aaronmanes.com/exploring-the-somatic-enneagram-for-spiritual-transformation] faculty member with Marion Gilbert and an inner work healing practitioner. He is the co-host of The Somatic Enneagram Podcast. He creates and holds space as a companion, guide and facilitator for people willing to do the hard and brave work of finding their selves in the world. Aaron’s current projects also include bringing to life “Creativa” which is community-making expression for public spiritual work. Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 17: The Magic of Knowing What You Want

I’m delighted to share this interview with certified leadership coach, consultant, and author Tracey Gee! You’ll want to hear this insightful conversation about her book, The Magic of Knowing What You Want: A Practical Guide to Unearthing the Wisdom of Your Desires. One of the questions I ask people in spiritual direction that often seems to catch them off guard is, “What do you want?” Depending on our social location and culture, many of us have been taught that our desires are irrelevant, untrustworthy, selfish, wrong, or even evil. However, to be human is to have desires, and often surface-level desires point to deeper needs that are valid and important. Getting in touch with our desires allows us room to access and name our needs, which then gives us more agency in determining how we want those needs to be met in ways that align with our values and lived reality instead of letting them subconsciously run the show. Naming our desires can be difficult when we have been socialized not to prioritize knowing and naming what we want. Tracey Gee’s book, The Magic of Knowing What You Want, provides a practical guide for how to begin. More about Tracey… Tracey Gee is a certified leadership coach and consultant dedicated to guiding individuals toward transformative self-awareness and meaningful personal and professional growth. As an author, Tracey draws insight from her extensive experience across workshops, speaking engagements, and personalized coaching sessions. She is also a certified facilitator in four frameworks—Gallup CliftonStrengths, Working Genius, Enneagram, and Cultural Intelligence. Her diverse clientele includes UC Berkeley, Firm Foundation, AltaMed, Nomi Network, and the Miami Heat. Tracey is originally from the Bay Area of California and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, children, and dog, Kona. She loves coffee shops and every dog she's ever met. You can find her online at: https://traceygee.me [https://traceygee.me] Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 16: Sacred Stories: Depression, Tending Mental Health, & Transformation

I’m grateful for this opportunity to share with you the sacred story of my dear friend, spiritual director Marian Schulze! Marian and I graduated together from the same spiritual direction program and became fast friends about three years ago, when the program began. We are both Enneagram 6s, and I loved talking with Marian about the interaction of our Enneagram number with our spiritual growth. In today’s conversation, Marian shares about her journey of healing from depression that had led to a mental health crisis. We discuss tending mental health and what is meant by ongoing transformation. This is a tender, difficult but hopeful and needed conversation. As a content warning, we will be discussion depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, so please take care of yourself however you need. More about Marian: Marian is a trained Spiritual Director in the Dallas area. She received her Certificate of Spiritual Direction from Perkins School of Theology. All of life is a conversation with the Divine, and she is passionate about helping others listen and discern the spiritual wisdom in everyday moments. She is also trained in the Internal Family Systems model. IFS is a transformative tool that conceives of every human being as a system of inner parts led by a core Self. The Self represents the true essence in each of us that is calm, compassionate, confident, and capable of understanding and healing the different parts of our personality.  Marian is the founder of Frisco Fastpacs, a non-profit that provides weekend meals to 1,000 children in her local community who are at risk of going hungry when school is not in session.  Marian and her husband, Brad, have 4 adult children and enjoy spending as much time with them as they will allow. In her free time, you’re likely to find her on a walking trail, with her nose in a book, or trying a new recipe she found on Pinterest. To learn more about Marian or inquire about spiritual direction, connect with her at marianschulze.com [https://marianschulze.com]. Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 15: Poetry & Contemplative Activism

For this episode, I had the privilege of talking with poet, speaker, and public theologian Drew Jackson about poetry, spiritual practices, and contemplative activism. If you’ve followed my Instagram profile [https://www.instagram.com/lindsayloconnor/] any length of time or have met with me in spiritual direction, you have probably heard me reference Drew as my favorite poet. Stick around to the end of the episode, and you’ll get to hear him read one of my favorite poems that I love to read as a blessing in spiritual direction. Drew Jackson is the author of God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God’s Unexpected Coming [https://www.ivpress.com/god-speaks-through-wombs], which was a finalist for the Christian Book Award, and Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way [https://www.ivpress.com/touch-the-earth]. His work has appeared in Oneing from the Center for Action and Contemplation, The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad, Christianity Today, Made for Pax, The Journal from the Centre for Public Christianity, Fathom Magazine, and other publications. Drew was a contributing artist on Jon Batiste’s Grammy-nominated album World Music Radio, and also appeared in the award-winning documentary American Symphony on Netflix. Drew is also a co-host of the Everything Belongs [https://cac.org/podcast/everything-belongs-podcast/]podcast from the Center for Action and Contemplation [https://cac.org]. Drew received his B.A. in Political Science from the Univ. of Chicago and his M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He currently works as the Managing Director of Mission Integration for the Center for Action and Contemplation, and lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and daughters. I would love to hear from you! What resonated with you from this conversation? Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 14: Theologizin' Bigger

I’m excited to share this rich conversation I was honored to have with Pastor Trey Ferguson, who has been one of my favorite social media follows for a few years now. Pastor Trey has a great depth of wisdom, insight, humor, and inspiration to share with us as we explore faith, doubt, and wholeness. In this episode, he will explain what he means by the term, “Theologizin’ Bigger,” which is the title of his amazing book. We’ll be talking about what it means to have an embodied and incarnational theology, the importance of considering power dynamics as we interpret scripture, and how whiteness impacts deconstruction spaces. We will also discuss shame and how and when it can actually be a part of a healthy community. Trey Ferguson is a minister, writer, and speaker, with an MDiv from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He is the author of Theologizin' Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly. His thoughts on faith in an evolving world can be found on the Three Black Men: Theology, Culture, and the World around Us and New Living Treyslation podcasts, in The Son Do Move [https://pastortrey05.substack.com/] newsletter, and @pastortrey05 on social media. He lives in South Florida with his wife and three children. Learn more at pastortrey05.com [https://pastortrey05.com/]. Take a listen and let us know what resonated! Get full access to Words From Silence at lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://lindsayloconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]