Regular Spiritual Practice
UU Wellspring has several layers that lead to spiritual deepening and personal transformation. Spiritual
Practices are described by UU minister Scott Alexander from the introduction to the book, Everyday
Spiritual Practice: Simple Pathways for Enriching Your Life:
“Spiritual practice is ultimately designed for something more: to make us better people and to bring our
gifts into the world. The most important spiritual task we have as human beings is to make this planet
kinder, more humane, and more just. My eclectic spiritual practice works for me because it helps me
stay centered on who I am, why I’m here, and what I am to do. I believe I am a better person because of
the unique path I have chosen.”
Spiritual practices have only a few requirements:
- Daily, or very regularly
- Done with intention
- Purpose of deepening a sense of the spirit within or around me
We talk about how to begin a spiritual practice, as simply as walking, reading, or meditating and finding
how to add intention to the practice. Perhaps more importantly, we check in with one another about
how it is going in each UU Wellspring session. This allows us to develop our practice to become a
meaningful part of every day.
Path to Spiritual Direction
Spiritual directors support people in discovering how love is moving in their lives. They help
people create the space necessary to hear the voice of the spirit. Importantly, they also help
people discern themes in their lives. This article in the UU World describes it beautifully.
Download the FAQ on Spiritual Direction for UU Wellspring.
Note for religious professionals: there is a scholarship fund for religious professionals from the UUMA who are seeking spiritual direction.
Your UU Wellspring facilitator will either provide a list of spiritual directors in your area from
which to choose or, you may also search out your own spiritual director.
Helpful resources for finding spiritual directors include:
Note that the UU Spiritual Director’s Network includes a page devoted to UU Wellspring, so that anyone who appears on that page know about the UU Wellspring program. See the bottom of the UU Wellspring UUSDN page where there is
a special program for UU Wellspring where small groups will gather for spiritual direction. You
will be provided with a handout in your first session that also provides suggestions beyond a
certified spiritual director.
We recommend interviewing more than one potential director before choosing someone to work
with. The second-year spiritual directors in training at the Rowe Spiritual Direction Program and
other training programs may be able to provide pro bono direction beginning in November of
each year. Please contact director@uuwellspring.org if you are interested. Some participants,
after taking UU Wellspring, decide they would like to become religious professionals, such as
spiritual directors, ministers, religious educators and other staff roles in our Unitarian
Universalist Faith. Here is a flyer to explain more.
Spiritual Reflections
Each year of UU Wellspring provides various topics for reflection. For example, in Sources, the
first-year program, you will reflect on article you read, videos you watch, and experiences you
have that are related to the theme.
The arc of the year will take you from your own spiritual journey, through UU History and Theology and onto the big questions in life. Your reflections based on the pre-work before each session will inspire and challenge you as you explore your inner wisdom.
In Deep Questions our reflections will revolve around our seven principles, which allows you to
look deeply into the principles that guide Unitarian Universalist lives. The program year based
on Spiritual Practices brings in a deep look into how our faith can be supported by the centering
practices that we develop to help us lean into our faith.
Faithful Actions brings us the opportunity to engage more deeply in justice work and Sacred Arts engages us in reflections
about the spiritual nature of all kinds of art.
Heart Opening Discussions
UU Wellspring groups are a unique opportunity to come together with the intention of holding
sacred space for one another. This means that we listen deeply and learn to share from our hearts.
The readings lead to new thoughts, and the sessions allow us to check in deeply about our
spiritual practices, spiritual companioning, and reflections on the session’s theme.