Praying with Mandalas: Contemplative Coloring in the Belly of the Whale

Friday, 1:00pm | River

The Praying with Mandalas session will be a creative combination of contemplation in action, prayerful coloring, and faith-inspired social justice. We will explore “the belly of the whale”—that safe space where we pray deeply, reconnect with God, and gain the spiritual strength to go forth boldly as the people God has called us to be.

Together we will
* share in a dramatic reenactment of the story of Jonah,
* explore the spiritual practice of contemplative coloring,
* savor a time of shared sacred silence, and
* co-create a prayer mandala mural designed to offer hope and healing for those in prison.

Sharon Seyfarth Garner

Rev. Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Director & Founder of Belly of the Whale Spiritual Direction & Retreat Ministries, is an avid mandala colorer, mother of two, returned peace corps volunteer, and life-long contempl-activist (one who seeks to be grounded in contemplative practices while actively working toward peace with justice). Sharon is the author of two books – Praying with Mandalas: A Colorful, Contemplative Practice and Mandalas, Candles and Prayer: A Simply Centered Advent. Formally, she holds degrees from Swarthmore College (B.A.) and Methodist Theological School of Ohio (M.Div); and has earned graduate certificates in Spiritual Direction (Ignatian Spirituality Institute of John Carroll University), Diversity Management (Cleveland State University), and Ecumenical Studies (World Council of Churches). Informally, she loves being at her little cabin in the woods, kayaking, making pottery, singing loudly and talking walks with her husband and beloved dog, Bear.

prayingwithmandalas.org, bellyofthewhaleministries.net

Session ID [109]