Dates: Thursday, July 29, 2021, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST
Available by: Join by Videoconference Only (learn more about videoconference)
Suggested Love Offering: $ 10.00

Revealing the Divine Feline

Facilitated by Rev. Sarah Bowen & Rev. Elizabeth Friend-Ennis

Prompted by ignorance and fear, religions have not always been kind to cats. Yet, some ancient traditions―and many modern spiritual practitioners―believe each cat holds a bit of divine energy and thus should be cherished and protected. Taking a cue from this perspective, join us as we honor felines of all sizes, shapes, and colors through music, art. meditation, and movement practices. 

(Yes, your furry companions are welcome and encouraged to join this interspecies Gathering!)

Facilitators:

Rev. Sarah Bowen

Rev. Sarah Bowen is an animal chaplain and grateful recovering 12-step champion ordained by One Spirit in 2017. A fierce advocate for all creatures, she teaches interspecies mindfulness practices, works with humans around grief/loss of companion animals, loves up animals in shelters, and provides wildlife struck by cars a “sacred sendoff.” Sarah writes regularly on animal/human relationships for Spirituality & Health magazine, co-hosts the Big Universe podcast on Unity Online Radio, and authored two award-winning books on modern spirituality. Spiritual Rebel: A Positively Addictive Guide to Finding Deeper Perspective and Higher Purpose combines her passion areas―recovery, animals, and spiritual practice―with her favorite sacred myths, including Star Wars and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia. Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through My Father’s Old Sermons is an innovative look at Hebrew and Christian scriptures. As a member of Spiritual Directors International, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, as well as several recovery and faith communities, she guides others in connecting with the higher power of their own understanding to reduce suffering. Identifying as a deeply spiritual and religious “free agent,” when Sarah grows up, she wants to be a Jedi.

Rev. Elizabeth Friend-Ennis

Rev. Elizabeth Friend-Ennis was born to a devoutly Catholic family in the Midwest, and she felt a call to sacred service and exploring her spirituality from an early age. She had a career for many years in non-profit development, supporting environmental, educational, and health service agencies, at the same time that she and her husband became foster parents to several special-needs children. In 2009 she left the workforce to be lead parent for their three children, adopted through the Foster Care System. Her experiences in this arena have immersed her in the work of healing from trauma, abuse, and addiction. After ordination from One Spirit in 2016, she pursued clinical pastoral education (CPE), and worked for nearly three years as a Chaplain at Lutheran Care Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. Her spiritual path has been a circuitous journey including ten years spent in the Unification Church and subsequent interest in recovery from spiritual abuse. Her current practice is heavily influenced by Buddhism and Science of Mind. Much of her experience of the Divine is through nature and the outdoors. She is currently studying for a Master of Divinity degree, with an emphasis on Religion and Psychology, at Union Theological Seminary. She lives in southern Westchester with her husband, youngest daughter, two cats and her dog.

If you have questions about registering for this course, please contact One Spirit Learning Alliance by email to info@1spirit.org or call 212-931-6840.