How To Hope

: A slow, imaginative, thoughtful journey toward a kind future.

Unfortunately, this course will need to be postponed for a later date.

If you’re like me and my friends, you might be noticing the dystopian reality unfolding around us and you’re wondering:

What can I do?

How can I possibly make a difference in the world?

What is mine to do?

Together, let’s imagine a hopeful future.

Inspired and encouraged by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, we are going toimmerse ourselves in STORIES and notice how they move us. When Ignatius was recovering from a war injury in the 16th century, he read stories of the Saints. As he imagined himself in these stories, he noticed a stirring in his heart. When he thought about his current life with its vain ambitions, he felt an emptiness. By paying attention to how he was moved by these stories, he was able to discern God’s will (or his purpose) for his life and that his purpose was in alignment with his deepest desires!

I have noticed over the years, that I feel so much encouragement and inspiration from Science Fiction stories. For one, I love that they stretch my imagination to consider other ways that things can be. My sense of Wonder and awe, the way I play with metaphors to describe the Mystery of God - it all comes from my meditations and contemplations of sci-fi stories.

I also love science fiction stories because so often, there is a message of HOPE. Even in the apocolyptic/post-apocolyptic sub genre of sci-fi, with humanity hanging on by a thread, there is still HOPE. Here’s what I notice:

  • Courage! I think that the purest form of courage actually comes from deep HOPE. The characters in the story believe that things can be better.

  • Creativity! The heroes of our stories identify and “work the problem” with curiosity and ingenuity - one problem at a time.

  • Collaboration! Rarely does the hero of the story solve the problem on their own. It usually requires teamwork. Each person working together, using the tools available to them to manage their part of the solution.

Join me for a unique intersection of science fiction, imagination, contemplation, and social justice!

In this 90 day journey with a small cohort of Kindred Spirits, you will enjoy:

  • 4 60-minute gatherings on Zoom (and access to recordings)

  • Weekly emails with inspiration, beautiful printables, playlists and more.

  • A private community on Substack.

  • 3 monthly topics with fun homework and journal prompts where we will:

    • craft a vision of the “Future of our Wildest Imaginations” to fuel our COURAGE.

    • identify the specific problem being presented to each of us, individually, then brainstorm CREATIVE solutions and small steps to take.

    • COLLABORATE with each other and with local resources to bring about the change necessary for that hopeful vision of the future.

Details:

Dates and times for the monthly 1 hour gatherings on Zoom will be:

  • March 14, April 11, May 9, and June 13.

  • 10 - 11 am Eastern Time.

  • (a recording will be available, but your attendance makes a difference for all of us!)

Between gathering times, you will have reading and/or watching assignments. It will be creative, playful, and hopeful!

Everything will be delivered to you via email and archived in our own private Substack community.

Other materials needed:

  • Your Journal and favorite supplies.

  • Old magazines (or other image sources) for collaging.

  • A printer for printing ephemera. (nice to have, but not necessary)

  • access to a library or bookshop.

  • Access to Zoom.

  • Your imagination!

  • 10-20 minutes a day to journal + time to read or watch a story per month.

Join me for 3 months of immersion into fantastical stories, guided journaling, and creative exercises to kindle a HOPE that fuels Courage, Creativity, and Collaboration to build a better world.

4 hours of guided journaling workshop gatherings, weekly emails with beautiful printables, playlists, inspiration and more, and a private substack community will all be available to you for a one-time cost of $150.

Unfortunately, this course will need to be postponed for a later date.

If we haven’t met yet,

Hi there!

I’m Melissa. I am a certified Spiritual Director, with nearly a decade of experience accompanying kindred spirits along their journey with God.

My spirituality can be summed up as a cozy combination of Wonder and Tradition. Lately, God feels to me like a Mother with a warm lap and strong arms full of infinite love. What metaphor for God is resonating with your heart lately?

Learn more about me and my work as a spiritual director here.