“Well” is my word of the year and I wondered this month about how “well” is used throughout the Bible. So far this year I have been discovering “well” as a place of water. Picture an actual well with a bucket kind of visual. Depending on the version of the Bible, well can be read […] This post Scriptural Searching for My Word of the Year was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

Silly me.  The email pinged into my mailbox. The anticipated package would arrive the next day. I giggled. “It’s coming,” I shouted to the empty house. Like a kid the day before Christmas, I nervously tremble with excitement.  What was this all about?  Ok, I will tell you, but please don’t roll your eyes at […] This post Silly Me – Getting Excited Over the Little Stuff was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

“I am amazed on how you continue to write in your journal,” Jo said during my group spiritual direction group. “I have learned the hard way,” I answered, “I am more lost, more scattered, find myself drifting aimlessly without this practice. I need to journal.” I thought about my words as I drove home – […] This post What are Your Essential Spiritual Practices? was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

We sang “What Wondrous Love is This” last week during our Lenten service.  Both the music and lyrics haunted me – so lovely and meaningful and full of love. This hymn invites us to pause and ponder the wonderful love from God and the gift of grace. The music is based on an American folk […] This post What Wondrous Love is This Hymn Story was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

One of my favorite authors, Emily P Freeman, just released a new book, How to Walk into a Room. The host of a wonderful weekly podcast too, Emily accompanies us as we discern the decisions we face in life. As a spiritual director, discernment is often the doorway that directees seek an appointment with me […] This post Practical Discernment Tools from a New Book by Emily P Freeman was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

Sacred wells fascinate me. I heard about them on our trip to Ireland and Scotland – their stories and legends around them and their deep connection to God. My word of the year is – WELL – and the image of a well is a wonderful starting point to explore and listen for the sacred […] This post Sacred Wells was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

Do you remember yourself as a teen?  I had a profound dream a few weeks ago that continues to haunt me.  I relived a moment at my older brother’s wedding. During the loud, dancing, partyin’ reception, I sat at a round table in the corner by myself, dressed in a too tight, not suited for […] This post My 14-Year-Old Self was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

Hildegard of Bingen is one of my favorite “lamplighters.”  I heard the term Lamplighters from wisdom teacher mystic Cynthia Bourgeault who described the spiritual teachers in her life – both ancient and contemporary – as lamplighters, those lighting the way for her path. I decided in 2024 to watch for various lamplighters to emerge and call to me […] This post Hildegard of Bingen was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

Why did the word “well” emerge as my word of the year?  I shared a few weeks ago my experience of “well” jumping into my heart. I listened to a poet friend from South African share his newest poem. “Let me answer YES to the lightness of being, that I live well and love well, […] This post Why Well? was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more

15 years ago. What were you doing? Can you recall February 2009? One memory from that month and year stands out for me. I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference for a second year and remet my new writing buddies that formed a great friendship the year before. We called ourselves the Kindred Heart Writers. […] This post 15 Year Blog Anniversary was written by Jean Wise and first appeared on Healthy Spirituality ..read more