An Introduction to Spiritual Companionship (Online Course and Retreat)

Are you seeking a deeper connection with the Divine and your fellow human beings? 

Have you ever wondered if there might be a way to become a companion or guide for those who are seeking the Sacred?

Are you longing for a space of reflection and renewal in this season of your life?

If so, this course may be for you!  Join us on a six-week course, including a weekend retreat at the Forest, as the first step in the emergence of our new Academy of Spiritual Companions.

This course, taught by David MacDonald, draws on several resources from a variety of spiritual traditions.

Over six weeks, we’ll explore what it means to be a companion to another person’s inner life—steady, present, and grounded in compassion. Each session builds gently on the last, creating a slow-growing trust among participants, and furthering trust in our ability to be able to be spiritual companions. 

Week 1 — A Quiet Beginning
We open by noticing how we show up with one another. What helps you feel safe enough to speak from the heart? What allows you to listen without rushing? We’ll explore how simple presence can become a doorway to connection.

Week 2 — Listening Beneath the Surface
This week we practice hearing more than words—tone, pauses, gestures, the unspoken stuff humming under the conversation. We’ll explore how to hold another person’s story without fixing or steering it.

Week 3 — Honoring the Mystery in Each Person
Every inner life is a landscape. This session focuses on reverence—how to stay curious, gentle, and non-intrusive as someone shares what is most tender to them. We’ll explore boundaries, respect, and the art of creating spaciousness.

Week 4 — Celebrating Growth and Joy
Companionship isn’t only for difficult times. We’ll look at how to notice and affirm beauty, resilience, and the small sparks of joy that emerge in another’s life. We practice reflecting those sparks back in a way that strengthens and encourages.

Week 5 — The Courage to Accompany Pain
To walk with someone through sorrow or struggle is a sacred trust. This week we explore how to stay grounded when another person is hurting, how to hold space without absorbing it, and how to offer compassion without overreaching.

Week 6 — Companionship in Community
  Spiritual companionship isn’t a solo event. It takes a loving, caring, community to provide the support that we each need in order to be most present to ourselves and others. We’ll talk about what makes for a healthy and strong community, and identify the pockets of community within our lives. 

Retreat– March 13-15

Our time together culminates in a weekend retreat at the Osage Forest of Peace. This gathering includes small-group reflection on the themes we’ve explored, new teaching from various wisdom traditions, meditation practices rooted in the Forest’s interspiritual heritage, and ritual moments to anchor our shared journey. There will also be abundant time for rest, quiet, and discernment about how to carry this work into the next chapter of your life.

Weekly sessions will be on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on Zoom, and technical assistance will be available as needed. 

This course is for anyone who is seeking to go deeper into their own spiritual practice, those open to learning from the wisdom of many faith traditions, and those who are looking for renewal in this time of their life. We aim to provide you with practices and friendships that will sustain your journey long after the course ends. 

Cost: $700 (includes weekly sessions and retreat)– Early bird price of $600 if registered by December 31st. We are committed to making this experience accessible–payment plans are available, and those who register and make their first payment by the early bird deadline will pay the early bird price.