"Thank you for the way in which our journey together, our words and our companionship has, and continues to, and in its continuation will always be changing vinegar into wine"
We live in the small Karoo village of McGregor in the Western Cape. Our home is named ‘Magdala’ a Hebrew word meaning ‘tower’ which is a title associated with Mary Magdalene .
We participate in the life of the McGregor wisdom School as co-founders and members of the Wisdom Circle who feel called to co-create a new vision for the renovated heritage school buildings in the village.
We have responded to a calling to enter into a marriage relationship to live out concretely the ancient wisdom of the sacred marriage. That journey has begun and is our shared life purpose.
We are inspired by the depths of meaning and power held in the icon of the Black Madonna of McGregor that is in the meditation room in the Wisdom School House.
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I have been involved in psycho-therapeutic work with people since 1972. Before that I was a Dominican priest involved with pastoral and counselling work.
I am blessed to have been able to contribute to creating structures at national and regional level for holistic care of the whole person – body , mind, emotions and spiritual wellbeing. This experience involving commitment to working with diverse groups and individuals has enriched my therapeutic work with people deeply. During lockdown I researched the phenomenon of how different cultures embrace the process of living and dying well.
My particular psychotherapeutic interest is in helping people resolve and grow through differing life stage crises. This specifically involves growing in wisdom and understanding of the life-death-rebirth process and I accompany people through it.
The modalities that I am trained in include Gestalt therapy, Ericksonian hypnotherapy and transactional analysis . I am influenced by Jung and transpersonal psychotherapy for working deeply with dreams, breath and bodywork.
Contact me directly ;
mikeobrien@ksem.za
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For friends and adventurous souls across the globe who mentor and accompany me. In recent years I have had the privilege of participating in the practicing community of Integral Christian Spirituality.
For innumerable soul encounters as a hospital chaplain training in clinical pastoral education and then in formation as a spiritual director – in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
For the spiritual teachers of Contemplative Outreach who first helped me see Christian wisdom with fresh eyes and an open heart . And flowing from this co- leading contemplative retreats and participating in wisdom work in diverse contexts.
For years of immersion in the mystical writings of great spiritual masters, particularly of the Spanish Renaissance, with the then London based ‘School of the Heart’.
For the genius of Eugene Gendlin and the remarkable processes of Focusing that exercise such spiritual intelligence ; and for the immersive experience of becoming a practitioner and active participant with the Focusing Association in the UK.
For the love of reading and writing poetry that has been a way of being fed and of creating reality from within and transforming life crises into initiatory experience.
For beloved Michael, husband, scholar, pioneer and companion in service to wisdom.
For the academic rigour and breadth of vision of Unisa and Sarum College, Salisbury in interdisciplinary and inter-spiritual religious studies.
For all these and more, I give thanks.
Contact me directly:
vivienclaire1@gmail.com
