My Core Beliefs
John O’Donohue, in his OnBeing interview, posited that there
are “seven fundamental thoughts that structure and ground one’s foundation of meaning, and that the ‘mystery of thought’ is where ‘otherness, strangeness, dislocation, intimacy and belonging come home.’” He challenged each listener to write their seven thoughts – “what we really think and implicitly come back to.” My thoughts are constantly refined and, at this point in time, are:
- We are all on a sacred journey.
- We are all taken care of and supported – always, in some way.
- It is helpful to both ourselves and others to open our hearts and our minds.
- Just because we are not loved the way we want, does not mean that we are not loved! AND, the main point is to love others.
- We can only change ourselves, and that only happens by staying in the present.
- Our bodies and souls are firmly linked and body movements are important for healing our souls.
- Actions that start from the seat of love are well-rooted and will not become consumed by anxiety.
- The initial experiences of grace and serendipity don’t last but ripple forever if we pay attention.
About Sandy Ryman
Back Ground
I have an undergraduate degree in Community Health Education with a minor in Biology and try to stay current with evidence-based information on health. I also have a Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis on organizational development. Both of these provide a great background for my understanding and sharing how our body and our current work/life setting may play into our spiritual lives.
About 25 years ago, I really started diving into the Enneagram as a way to understand myself and others. Not only have I attended a lot of training, but this was the focus of my eleven years of work with my first Spiritual Director, Brother Mark Follet at Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey, Lafayette, Oregon.
Spiritual Guide and Companion
My current Spiritual Director is Laura Hudson with First Presbyterian in La Grande, Oregon. She has really supported my journaling and writing. Additionally, she is encouraging my work as a spiritual director because I am not ordained. I can lean into an understanding of those who don’t want to be associated with a traditional church because of past trauma.
Another significant aspect of my spiritual journey has been participating in Centering Prayer. A practice I have engaged in since 2005. Additionally, I have attended multiple day silent retreats focused on Centering Prayer at Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This sounds very Christian focused and yet I am a heavy reader of Buddihist materials, I have taken two Fundamental Yoga classes and practiced yoga consistently for most years since 2002. I do not teach but can listen and encourage and connect you with spiritual teachers in that tradition. Rumi and the broader Muslim faith present profound spiritual teachings and I am astonished by the lack of understanding in our current culture. My training provides me with the ability to companion you in whatever path your spiritual journey takes.
How do I see Spirituality?
We step into the spiritual realm when we become aware of our deep internal longing. We don’t know what it is but we hope it will show us the “way” -- whatever that may be! We learn we can “lean into” the discomfort of knowing there is more.
As we pay attention to this longing, we can begin to nourish our hearing, and cherish, with reverence, the intimate other we sense in the universe.