The Shalem Institute Personal Spiritual Deepening Program is an ecumenical, spiritual formation program for those seeking support for living each day prayerfully and authentically
The Personal Spiritual Deepening Program is a resource for those wishing to integrate a contemplative attitude—an attitude that encourages moment by moment awareness and openness to God’s grace—in all the changing circumstances of daily life.
This one-year program supports not only personal spiritual deepening but also growing compassion for others, and it encourages individuals to connect what is happening in them with where they sense they are called to act in the world. It is for anyone, anywhere—lay, clergy, and those without a church home—who feels drawn to contemplative spirituality and who:
· Desires a deepened relationship with God and to live out of that relationship;
· Wishes to develop or deepen a consistent spiritual practice;
· Wants the regular guidance of a spiritual mentor for daily contemplative living;
· Seeks authentic spiritual community and support;
· Is eager to learn within a broad ecumenical Christian framework, enhanced by the wisdom of other traditions;
· Longs to be a transforming presence in the world.
Begun in 1992, this program brings together Shalem's learnings from over thirty years of experience with contemplative formation and support. It provides in-depth experiential opportunities, participation in two residencies, personal availability of Shalem's associate staff through regular mentoring, and structured at-home components that support the enrichment of one’s spiritual life.
Program Components
The Personal Spiritual Deepening Program: Living in God is comprised of personal mentoring, supported at-home enrichment activities and spiritual practices, spiritual community, and two residencies.
All of the following are important aspects of the program. We expect participants, through prayer and dialogue with their spiritual directors and program mentors, to integrate these components in a way that will best serve their spiritual deepening.
At-home activities
Mentoring: All participants in the program will have a relationship and regular monthly contact with a Shalem mentor, plus face-to-face meetings at the residencies.
Your mentor is someone with whom you can share your experience during the program, explore resources for your spiritual life, reflect on selected reading, raise questions, and who can support you in remaining faithful to your intention in the program. Your mentor helps shape your individual program to reflect where you are in your spiritual journey.
Commitment to a spiritual practice: All participants are expected to maintain some form of daily practice that will nourish and expand their capacity for openness to God.
In addition to some form of prayer/meditation/presence for God, we expect you to keep a journal during the course of this program. Journal guidelines will be provided.
Spiritual direction: We expect all participants to be in spiritual direction where attention is given intentionally and specifically to their ongoing relationship with God, including the ways that relationship is reflected and honored in all aspects of their lives.
Spiritual direction may be one-to-one with a spiritual director or may take place with a spiritual direction group; some people may feel called at this time to have both.
Authentic spiritual community: It is essential that all participants have a group of people praying with them while they are in the program. At the first residency we will explore ways to recognize and/or cultivate that community of support with other program participants and in at-home settings.
Shalem will provide guidelines for forming this small group. If you need to find people for your group, Shalem will provide names of local program graduates, if any, who may be available for networking. If you are meeting monthly with a group for spiritual direction, this could also be your spiritual community. Just as you receive the support of your own community, we expect ongoing prayer from you for other program associates in whatever way is right for you.
Solitary retreat days: We recommend that participants spend at least two solitary retreat days in each half of the program. The time, place and format for these days are determined by each individual, in consultation with his/her spiritual directors and mentors.
Recommended readings: An extensive list focused on contemplative presence and leading a spiritually-grounded life is provided.
With your mentor, you will decide which of these readings and others to select, and after reading, you will be able to discuss questions and their relevance for your journey.
Residencies
There are two Monday - Friday, four-night residencies in the program, each of which provides the opportunity to gather with the other participants and Shalem staff – all of whom share a desire for an appreciation of the holy in the midst of their daily lives.
The structure will include prayer, teaching, small- and large-group sharing, time to meet with mentors, and time for fellowship, solitude and rest. There also will be an overnight silent retreat.
The teachings and group sharing will cover areas related to contemplative living, including spiritual practices and various prayer forms as well as the difference between meditation and contemplation, discernment, spiritual community, group spiritual direction, creativity, solitude, and contemplative activism.
Integrative Phase and Beyond
Because the purpose of the program is to enable each participant to take the spiritual deepening back into their lives, and because this contemplative living requires continued support, there are two final pieces:
A final integration project: a personally integrative response of each participant’s own choosing in which to reflect on his/her experience of the spiritual life over the course of this program, and
Support after PSDP program completion: Graduates may continue to receive support from Shalem and graduates of other programs through:
Shalem newsletters, regional programs, and various graduate offerings.
The Shalem Society for Contemplative Leadership. The Society, recently founded for all extension program graduates, seeks to provide a way for graduates to commit to an ongoing spiritual discipline and to share resources and insights.
