Whispering Souls Companioning

Interspiritual Companioning^**

Our Inn Keeper, Rev. Scott Godlew, a.k.a. Whispers-with-Forests^∬, is a compassionate, soul-centered, and eco-aware conversation partner and Interspiritual Companion^**... He is a friendly & generous person overall, but can also spend dedicated time to listen and walk with you, side-by-side, virtually (on-line) or in-person (on-site or on-location). Scott's practice style is to work as a Transpersonal Catalyst (see below) to explore matters originating from your soul and to reach clarity about matters you may want to articulate more clearly and authentically while he minimizes any interjection of his own personal philosophy. Examples of Motivations and Intentions for Companioning are listed, below, including a featured formative endeavor unique to Whispering Souls Companioning known as Soul-itude^Σ.

^**What is: Interspiritual Companioning

Here is a definition offered by Spiritual Directors International (of which Rev. Scott is a member):

In spiritual companionship, a trained or experienced companion uses deep listening [and exploratory activities] to encourage the spiritual story of the other to unfurl. Through this relationship, the person seeking companionship is empowered to explore a deeper experience of God, Allah, Tao, The Universe, [The Great Mystery, The Whole,] or however they may refer to the Ground of All Being, and, at the same time, enjoy a deeper experience of their own lives.

...and check this article for more detail.

Here is a comparison of spiritual direction and spiritual companioning and other forms of spiritual care posted by One Spirit Learning Alliance, where Rev. Scott attended seminary and is ordained:

Spiritual Direction or Spiritual Companioning, Which is Better?

Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality, offers training in Spiritual Direction that is well blended with principles of Companioning, in which Rev. Scott was once enrolled to reach greater depth of understanding and breadth of experience. While Scott withdrew due to life-factors at the time, here is their presentation of the ideals of Spiritual Direction and Companioning:

What is Spiritual Direction?

Rights of Passage, LLC, has a category of topics that pertain to spiritual companioning that Scott found informative – especially the article titled "Spiritual Care" by Rev. Kristabeth Atwood:

Topics in Spiritual Companionship

Rev. Scott's Key Ideas on Companioning

Rev. Scott offers the following attributes of Interspiritual Companioning – as a Transpersonal Catalyst (see below) – from his own experiences and learning over many decades, preceding and including his more formal companioning practice:

• The Client's true identity, sense of self, and self-agency are of foremost importance.
• The Catalyst must authentically offer respect, non-judgement, and ethical (as well as heart-felt) care for The Client.
• Companions meet on a person-to-person basis of Soulful introspection for the benefit of The Client. The Catalyst brings knowledge, skills, experience, and resources to facilitate ways of addressing the Client's needs.
• A sense of safety and Sanctuary is necessary to become open to sharing what emerges from deep within us.
• The Client must be willing to be vulnerable – willing to expose the often selfish or shameful facts of their circumstances – in a sacred/safe Sanctuary/container. The Catalyst will reciprocate when pertinent, professional, and beneficial to The Client.
• Humble awareness and active stewardship of Nature are essential for the emergence of our purpose within it.
• We must be open to Awe in even the smallest ways to be receptive to the extraordinary revelations of The Soul.
• Humility softens the ego to surrender^su to what The Soul patiently and persistently offers to ease our restlessness.
• Spiritual Action and Contemplation hold the full spectrum of joy/fun and pain/seriousness – there's no need for a stoic façade; just authentic experience and presence.
• You Are Loved... and you belong... and you matter... and Rev. Scott will amplify this over and over again – We Are Inter‑Connected ‑ Ubuntu^ui!

Rev. Scott: Transpersonal Catalyst

Scott is a Transpersonal Catalyst – No religion, spiritual tradition, nor personal philosophy is favored, proselytized, nor an obstacle in Scott's approach. No presumption of right/wrong nor better/worse nor judgement/bias of any sort is part of the companioning journey... His style is to work with you to explore matters originating from your soul and to reach clarity about matters you may want to articulate more clearly and authentically while he minimizes any interjection of his own personal philosophy. Privacy and confidentiality are essential to any dialog of this nature that migtht take place.

Rev. Scott has evolved a metaphor comprised of body, mind, spirit, and soul as the vertices of a pyramid/tetrahedron, offering a great way to visualize the dimensions of self and to tackle the tasks of wholing and souling. This can be visualized as a Pyramid of Being.

The Transpersonal Axis, in this way of seeing things, includes the spectrum running through the Spirit and Soul vertices of the pyramid. Spirit is a more interconnecting/transcendant force, while Soul is a more personal/inscendant realm of the self. Think of the Spirit as the top vertex, the Soul as the bottom-right vertex, Mind as the bottom-left vertex, and Body as the bottom-rear vertex in this image.

A Transpersonal Catalyst engages in companioning to bring out the authentic facets of wholeness, spiritual connection, and soulful uniqueness of clients without imposing those of The Catalyst — building from a foundation of sanctuary of your own determination.

Scott's sanctuary is The Forest...

Scott's primary mytho-poetic metaphor – his identity as revealed to him by his Soul – is Whispers-with-Forests. It reveals a sense of purpose for him that translates into clarity about his place in The Whole. See what he has written about his psycho-spiritual journey for more details.

Why and How Would Anyone Seek Companioning?

Some motivations or intentions for seeking Inter-Spiritual Companioning are listed below. The time-frame for Companioning could be for 1 or a few meetings, or could last until some objective(s) is/are achieved, or continue indefinitely as might be authentically enriching for The Client. It is always the objective of The Catalyst to enable a sense of self and self-agency of The Client – NOT dependency. Meetings might take place at regular intervals or on an as-needed basis – no more so than desired by The Client or supportable by The Catalyst. Use the inquiry template as a way to provide useful intake information to engage with Whispering Souls Companioning

Motivations or Intentions for Companioning:

• Independent Pastoral Care...
  • intentionally non-religious
  • meeting you in your spiritual space or curiosity or need
  • religious matters addressed as you may choose
• Reaching a sense of safety and a state of calm
• Needing to talk about Spirituality and Life
• Needing a trustworthy confidante to hear unique circumstances
• Sorting out challenges of a spiritual nature
• Holding space for emotional turbulence with presence, empathy, and acceptance – witnessing and compassion
• Just exploring any ordinary or extraordinary matters that you might care to express to an invested witness
• Becoming comfortable with accomplishments and success
• Building a personal practice of spiritual wellness
• Soul-itude^Σ – a formative endeavor of great psycho- /socio- spiritual value for self-"real"-ization into community and Earth stewardship  _→
• How to keep hope and survive rapidly evolving political changes
• When I die, will I go to heaven?
• Being at peace with Surrender^su and Sacrifice^sc
• Discernment regarding Fate and Destiny^dy
• How to integrate Mysticism^:: into life in an age of Rationalism
• Knowing how you identify The Whole / God / Ground-of-All-Being^Θ, and how to be in communion with that Divine^Δ presence – where is it located?
• Transcendence^ts, Inscendence^is, and other Transpersonal^tp modes of broadening awareness
• Faith^F, Fear^fr, Vulnerability, and Authenticity^A
• Justice^Ĵ: Affirmational, Economic, Environmental, Legal, Sanctuary...
• Religious or Spiritual abuse, trauma, toxicity, gaslighting, or manipulation
• Reconciling your Behavioral choices and your Relationship commitments
• Finding resources and a pathway through Addiction: drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other excesses or counterproductive dependencies or habits
• Encouragement & Referral for psychotherapy
• Group Work
• Other matters of spiritual concern, grace, perspective, or practice

Modes of Companioning

On-Site

As part of your visit to RRCR, Scott's guidance about encountering Nature and engaging it to soothe and nurture your soul can be invaluable. There are unique places on the property and across the region that might be ideal for your encounter, and his understanding of facets of wholeness for your spiritual enrichment will bring true value to your visit, whether it be through casual conversation or an appointment for intentional Companioning.

On-Line

Alternatively, and perhaps more often, meeting on-line is both convenient and effective. A Zoom^® session in a private setting has its own way of offering deep connection, and techniques have evolved over the recent pandemic years to reach inner states of sanctuary and nurturing to support soulful experiences and exploration.

On-Location

Additionally, we could choose a location of mutual safety, privacy, convenience, and inspiration to meet for our Companioning session(s). This could be in combination with the other modes or a part of our intentional exploration of nature and the world we inhabit. There is energy of all sorts that can be incorporated into our adventure through these places.

Welcome

Please, receive Scott's Welcome and Loving Kindness in offering true, Client-centered, Soul-centered, Professional Companionship to you. Spend some time getting to know Rev. Scott, and you'll be glad you did. His past and present spiritual companions have found his manner gentle & enriching.