Centering Prayer and The Enneagram: Finding a New Way Home

Centering Prayer and The Enneagram:
Finding A New Way Home
A Silent Centering Prayer Retreat

Many of us have grown up in faith groups that have spiritually wounded us with a transactional theology that has made us feel more distant from God and unworthy of receiving God’s love. As we step onto a new path, even as we intellectually embrace a new understanding of God, we still carry the spiritual scars and they can become impediments to our spiritual growth. Learning how to unwind the old story and reweave a new one requires more than adopting a new theology. The old theology remains part of our psychological and spiritual make up and it takes patience, practice, and loving compassion to begin to see through it to our original wholeness, lovingly planted deep within our being.  

One of the most common impediments to living in God’s love is our concept of sin. The word “sin’ has often been used in a way that has been shaming and belittling. In this retreat, we will visit the works of an early desert father, Evagrius of Ponticus, who can help us deconstruct the word “sin” and come to understand it as a passion that ensnares the heart. Once identified, it can become a roadmap for leading us home. One way to portray this roadmap is a nine-pointed symbol called the enneagram. (In the retreat we will not do enneagram typing but only refer to the symbol itself). Our aim is to come to see ourselves more clearly so that we can begin to let go of the religious and other baggage we carry and allow grace to manifest more fully in our lives. This helps deepen our consent to God’s loving presence and action in our Centering Prayer, and in our lives. 

Join us for this healing retreat. Grounded in periods of Centering Prayer, silence, teachings, time in the natural beauty of the Mercy grounds, liturgy, and optional gentle yoga, this retreat will make room for God’s transforming Spirit to reveal the love and mercy that are our true heritage.

PRESENTERS
Rev. Amber Sturgess is an Episcopal Priest, spiritual director, and a seeker on the contemplative path. She enjoys teaching contemplative practices that deepen our spiritual awareness. Amber currently serves as Rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Carmel.

Catherine Regan, Ph.D. is a spiritual director, retired psychologist, and adjunct staff member at Mercy Center, primarily serving on the Centering Prayer team. She has a special interest in participating in the reclamation of the Christian Wisdom tradition and fostering the contemplative practices so urgently needed at this time in our world.

Joy Andrews Hayter, Ph.D. is a spiritual director. Joy is dedicated to fostering contemplative practices such as Centering Prayer and others within the Christian Wisdom tradition that help us become aware of God’s ever-present love. As a scientist she sees in the physical world an expression of that love.

CONTACT
For further assistance, contact us at (650) 340-7474 or mc@sistersofmercy.org
For more information visit: www.mercy-center.org

These are unprecedented times. If finances are an issue, please fill out a learning grant form here for a grant. We want to make sure our offerings are available to everyone.

CANCELLATIONS / REFUNDS
The cancellation policy for Mercy Center Burlingame depends upon several factors including the type of program and duration of stay. Generally, the cancellation policy is a 50% forfeiture of payment if cancelled within 1 week or less of the program start date. Cancellation fees set forth in any specific program description supersedes any terms set forth in this general cancellation policy description.