Introduction

I came to transpersonal education in the way so many ITP students do: through a of happenstance event that later comes to feel like divine providence; at least, that is how many of us feel when we share our experiences.

I graduated from a small university in southern Utah at forty-three and knew I wanted to pursue more education but nothing I looked at resonated. I applied to several traditional institutions and would have been accepted at many of them yet none felt right. There was a nagging sense that I needed something different, something less hidebound and rigid--but what? Out of nowhere, a friend and fellow graduate sent me a link to ITP. She told me that she "just had a feeling you should see this." I had never heard of transpersonal psychology or alternative education but thought I would take a look. I clicked on the link and....bam! Such a strong sense of "rightness" came over me that it literally took my breath away. The more I read the surer I became that this was the school for me. My interview with Dr. Henry Poon was an event so laden with excitement and anxiety I could scarcely breathe but when Dr. Poon told me that he felt I was standing on the threshold of a amazing journey and he wanted to help me step through the door I was ecstatic. When I told him I was happy-dancing right there in my living room, he told me that he was metaphorically joining in my dance; I knew I was in the right place! Being accepted to ITP gave my heart and soul a home and a challenging and nurturing container to grow and deepen in.

This has been a journey that has so enriched my life that language is an inadequate vehicle for sharing. When I began studying, much of the material was so new that at times I felt completely out of my depth. I had just come from the study of sociology, which I loved (and still do) and had read little spiritual or alternative literature. However, once fully immersed in it I could hardly put the readings down. I particularly loved the experiential aspects of each class; the activities brought to life the essence of the literature in a way that no dry lecture ever could. I began the life-time journey of embodying what I learn. Lest anyone reading this blog think this journey has been one of beatific, fluffy spiritual awakenings, I must state that the "dark nights of the soul" were many and a significant and difficult part of this educational and spiritual journey. It may sound rather dramatic to say that I lost and found my sense of the Divine many times throughout the two years of study, but it is true for me. My spirituality has undergone countless revisions and changes. It is broader and deeper. My sense of spirit and my personal connection to the Sacred bears little resemblance to the poor, naked fledgling spirit-self and tentative connection I began with.

I have discovered my passion as a result of my transpersonal study and for this I am grateful. Learning about the divine feminine fleshed out my sociological interest in Women’s Studies with a sense of the Sacred. My vision is now infused with spirit and joy and a need to share this vision with others. As this leg of my journey nears its end, I am such a mixture of feelings, thoughts, and questions that I am a bit overwhelmed with it all. Have I loved every moment? No, I cannot say I have loved them all and be honest. The dark nights of the soul and the losses of connection to Spirit were terrible and frightening spaces to live in while they lasted. But, I would not trade them for anything: it is from the dark soil of those shadowy places that my most significant growth and most beautiful awakenings have arisen. I have learned what courage looks like, what beauty in the everyday looks like, and that all things worth having are worth the work.

I find myself back at the beginning, wondering where to go from here but this time with a clearer sense of my self-worth, my spirituality, and my ability to succeed. I have learned to listen to and trust Spirit and know that my journey will unfold in exactly the way it should. I cannot wait to see what the Divine has in store for me next. Bring it on!