Katherine Spearing is the founder of Tears of Eden, a nonprofit community of support and recovery resources for the many of us who are healing from spiritual abuse. She also the hosts Uncertain podcast, where she highlights stories of survivors, and imagines a better future for spiritual community.We talk about spiritual abuse in this episode. A lot. So take care of yourself if that touches something tender from your own experience. Pay attention to your responses, because all those emotions want is your attention and your compassion and your love.We also talk about doubts and lies, Mary Magdalene, sex, the Bible—you know, the usual docket for Chickmonks. It gets heavy, but we also have a lot of fun! You know…because as we talk about in this episode, the capacity for two often go hand in hand.   Feedback? Questions? Looking for guidance? Contact Heather here!

Chickmonks

Empowering stories with Katherine Spearing

A reading and homily based on the following gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary:John 15:5-17Jesus said to his disciples,  "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Abba is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become[c] my disciples. “As my Abba has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. And you will abide in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I abide in Abba God’s love and have kept God’s commandments. I tell you all this that my joy may be yours, and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. "And you are my friends, if you do what I command you. I no longer speak of you as subordinates, because a subordinate doesn’t know a superior’s business. Instead I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learned from Abba God. It was not you who chose me; it was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure, so that whatever you ask of Abba God in my name God will give you. This command I give you: that you love one another. "

Branches in Love's vine

Ginny Barker is one of those people you can count on to keep it real, and because of that I have loved her from the moment I met her. She was a part of the church plant I helped start in Asheville, North Carolina. We went through a lot of church trauma together, and this conversation is about all of that. Spiritual trauma, dark night of the soul, narcissism in spiritual leadership, and so much more. If this topic touches you personally, I think you can brace yourself for some lightbulb moments, and stick around to the end, because we talk about how to heal as individuals, and whether a healthy church community is even a thing. As you hear Ginny’s story, may you find healing, hope, and maybe even a few giggles.Ginny&apos;s blog: Cheetos for breakfastGinny&apos;s piece on Tears of EdenShe’s also an avid reader, so there’s an extensive book list of her recommendations that you’ll hear her cite throughout, and most of which are included here:Ecaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin HumphreysIn the House of Friends by Kenneth J. GarrettWhen Narcissism Comes to Church by Check DeGroatSomething&apos;s Not Right by Wade MullenNarcissism in the Church by David Orrison, PhDThe Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse by David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen Broken Trust by F. Remy DiederichA Church Called Tov by Scot McNightRedeeming Power by Diane LangbergSoul Repair by Jeff Van Vonderent and Dale and Juanita RyanHealing Spiritual Wounds by Carol Howard MerrittJames Fowler&apos;s stages of spiritual development

Healing from spiritual trauma with Ginny Barker

A homily based on the following reading from the Book of Common Prayer daily office lectionary:Luke 4:16-30When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,    because he has anointed me        to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives    and recovery of sight to the blind,        to let the oppressed go free,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Shedding false identities

The Rev. Hannah Wilder joined me several weeks ago and I know you’re going to love her. Hannah is ordained in the Episcopal Church and among her many roles in the Diocese of San Diego, she is a curate at St. Mark’s City Heights. Hannah is a passionate leader in the work of reconciliation and inclusion, and man, you should hear her preach about justice. We are so lucky to have her as a priest in the Episcopal Church. Hannah and I talk about death, dying, racism, patriarchy, and what the hell we do with our feelings. Enjoy the abrupt beginning, the pure joy of friendship, the multitude of f-bombs, the invitation to examine your beliefs and the chance to offer yourself some grace, some compassion, and some good old fashioned self-love.We both love you, and would both love to hear from you if you have anything to share in response to this conversation.Contact Hannah @ St. Mark&apos;s City HeightsContact Heather @ ChickmonksClick here for the referenced clip from Rich Roll podcast interview

Getting angry and cussing with The Rev. Hannah Wilder

A homily based on the following lectionary readings for the second Sunday of Lent, year B:Mark 8:31-38[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”Romans 4:13-25The promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.  For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Practice dying for eternal life

A homily based on the following reading from the daily office readings in the Book of Common Prayer:Galatians 4:1-7 (NIV, audio is read from New English Bible)"What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.So also, when we were underage, we were in slaveryunder the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son,born of a woman, born under the law, to redeemthose under the law, that we might receive adoptionto sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Looking for spiritual guidance? Reach out to Heather at the Chickmonks websitefollow Chickmonks on Instagram for podcast updates and free contemplative content!

What's a child of God?

Register for classes with Dope Yogi!Nicole Gheorghe is one of the best yoga teachers I know, and an all-around gift of a human. She and her husband Jeremy have started an incredible online yoga studio called Dope Yogi that is all about authenticity over perfection.Nicole’s classes at Dope Yogi are approachable, flexible, and transformative, and are perfect for all levels of experience. Your membership will include over 90 on-demand classes, as well as weekly live zoom yoga.Follow the new Chickmonks Instagram account to stay in touch and incorporate spiritual wisdom in your algorithm!Follow Dope Yogi on Instagram!

Owning Who We Are with Nicole Gheorghe

Based on the following passage from today&apos;s daily office lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer:James 1:1-15 NIVJames, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:Greetings.Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

More Love, less fear

Today’s guest is Julia Brown, an artist, entrepreneur, recovering fundamentalist Christian, and a living example of the mystical wisdom of the artist. Julia drops wisdom left and right in this conversation as she shares how she’s learned to navigate capitalism as an artist, and how her faith directs and influences her creative work. We talk about the limits of language, embracing mystery, and choosing compassion instead of judgement for ourselves and others. Julia has her own pottery business, and previously started an art studio for adults with disabilities in Nashville, TN. Julia and her husband live and work on the farm they created, the Tiny Giant Farm in Kalamazoo, MI.Connect with Julia's art and lifeConnect with Julia's craft and businessConnect with Heather on InstagramDid you hear? I'm now offering one-on-one spiritual guidance. If you're interested in diving deeper Into the work of God in your life, and feel like a guide would be helpful, you can learn more about spiritual guidance and get in touch with Heather on the Chickmonks website.Julia's references:Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently, Beau LottoThe Faithful Artist, Cameron J. AndersonChanging Signs of Truth, Crystal DowningHow Postmodernism Serves My Faith: Questioning Truth In Language, Philosophy, and Art, Crystal DowningBezalel's Body: The Death of God and the Birth of Art, Katie KresserPsychology Today's Narcissism series (my favorite line: "So, if there is an increase in narcissism, maybe it’s not such a bad thing.")

Changing Perception with Julia Brown

A homily based on the following reading from the daily office lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer:Luke 4: 14-30 (NIV)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,    because he has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners    and recovery of sight for the blind,to set the oppressed free,    to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Rejection and the Kingdom of God

Professor Betsy Coughlin is back for the first episode of "Heather and Betsy talk about sex," where Heather and Betsy talk about talking about sex.In this conversation we talk about the history of the Church, how we understand the Bible, and, spoiler alert: the patriarchal values that shaped both.Please, please reach out to Heather via Instagram or the Chickmonks website, or connect with Betsy if you&apos;d like to respond directly to her.

Heather and Betsy Talk About Sex: How did we get here?

Did you hear? I&apos;m offering Individual spiritual guidance/coaching sessions. If you&apos;re craving a more meaningful path and a more fulfilling spiritual journey, consider working with me to discern next steps to clear the path for your bright future. It is truly the most life-giving part of my life to work with you as you discover your direction. Contact me to find out more.A homily based on the following Daily Office reading from the Book of Common Prayer:John 11:1-16Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”Then Thomas (also known as twin) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Lazarus

This episode is a beautiful and vulnerable interview with my friend Valerie Hernandez-Sigamani. We cover big, important injustices in our experiences of Christianity and our hopes for what the future could be like for communities of people following Jesus, but doing it differently--especially making the church better for women and people of color.Connect with ValerieValerie's work: Wild Faith Co.Connect with Heather{NEW} Chickmonks website!

Reclaiming our bodies with Valerie Hernandez-Sigamani

There is a love that is so strong, it is present even in the most isolating and agonizing darkness. This love has been represented in the feminine form for millennia across spiritual traditions, so it’s no surprise that the love that accompanied Jesus into his agony is represented by these three women.Referenced:Christena Cleveland, author, theologian, activistA homily preached from the following daily office reading of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer:Matthew 27:55-66 (NRSV)Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

The Crucifixion and the Divine Feminine

Exploring the spiritual path of contemplative Christianity with a female voice

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Chickmonks

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