Healing and Growth are Primary
The purpose of Shalem Center in Columbus, Ohio is to promote healing and growth for individuals, groups, and organizations. This growth is understood in the larger context of spiritual purpose realized through intentional development of consciousness (of self, others, the natural world, and the divine). Psychotherapy and spiritual mentoring services are a primary means towards fulfillment of this purpose. Each year Shalem offers programs integrating spirituality in daily life experience. Shalem also provides consultation and training for healing professionals and clergypersons on various topics integrating psychology, somatics and spirituality.
By Wahaba Karuna
www.karunaarts.com
Spirituality is Inclusive: Honors All Paths
Spirituality is understood broadly to include all religions, faiths, and paths as expressions of human yearning for realization of divine nature. Interspiritual work is a primary focus at Shalem Center as Divine Unity is recognized in all religions and spiritual paths. Programs and services reflect this inclusive approach. Counseling and consultation services are provided for individuals and families related to religious and cultural issues.
from United Nations 2000 peace campaign
Peace is the Ultimate Goal of Spirituality
Ultimately spiritual purpose expresses itself in service to the larger communities in which we live. This service is towards more peace and harmony in one's existence --- in the inner and outer levels of life and including all spheres of life. At Shalem we seek to support persons in living meaningful lives that contribute to a more just, humane, and peaceful world. Our services include psychotherapy, spiritual counseling, educational workshops, travel seminars and spiritual retreats.
Abwoon Study Circle - Towards peace through the wisdom of Native Middle Eastern traditions
Shalem Center works with
Abwoon Study Circle to develop and sponsor various nonprofit programs and projects. These projects are related to the Aramaic and Native Middle Eastern translation and spiritual practice work of religious studies author and senior Sufi teacher Neil Douglas-Klotz, Ph.D. Such projects include events on various topics related to peacemaking, interspiritual collaborations, universalized views of world religions, embodied spiritual practice, body/mind healing, larger system healing, and other general topics related to mysticism and Sufism.
Ways of the Heart
...through intentional community, spiritual process, purposeful living, peaceful service...
Shalem has developed a program, Ways of the Heart, in collaboration with Jan Bayshor, M.A. of The Greater Pespective. This series will offer a context of intentional community and sacred atmosphere to focus spiritual deepening in living purposeful lives of service. The first group series was completed in May 2007. A new group forms in late September 2007 to run until spring of 2008.
Peace Through Art
In its dedication to peacemaking at all levels, Shalem currently cosponsors nonprofit programs of Peace Through Art organized and created by artist Alana Lea. Her dedication to peacemaking infuses her art and collaborative nonprofit programs are currently in development. This work focuses upon peacemaking at many levels and in many forms --- from inner peace of the individual to large scale global peacemaking efforts. Donations for these programs must be made directly to Shalem Center, clearly designated "For PTA.
Abwoon Circles: Starting A Local Group by Elizabeth A. Reed, Ph.D
