A few words from my Wisdom Mentor, Bill Redfield:
“It has been my privilege to accompany Melissa Auten in the journey of her professional development over the past few years and to witness the blossoming of her work. Her commitment to those who entrust themselves to her is inspiring. But more than just commitment, Melissa also brings a deep intuitive knowing and a comprehensive reading of patterns, relationships, and connections. In other words, she able to take into account the person before her as well as the spiritual and social worlds of that individual.
Melissa is open to the unfolding of the authenticity of the people with whom she works. Rather than have a cookie cutter approach to the spiritual and emotional growth of others, she is able to listen deeply to the needs of those with whom she is working and respond to their unique unfolding. This is because, more than working behind a particular role identification or even within a narrow theoretical or spiritual framework, Melissa brings her own fresh authenticity to her work. As such, her capacity to both see and be seen is always keenly present.
I highly commend Melissa’s work and value her as a trusted colleague.”
— Bill Redfield
Wisdom Mentoring
Wisdom mentoring is a practice that includes elements of spiritual direction but may also incorporate coaching, teaching, counseling, and spiritual friendship with the goal of personal and spiritual integration and transformation.
Similarities and Differences.
In spiritual direction, directors are to practice three-way listening (the third party being the Spirit), and to ask questions carefully and only when needed. They are generally encouraged not to share too much from their own personal journeys and are always encouraged to work to bring the conversation back to the direct relationship between God and the directee.
In wisdom mentoring, mentors listen carefully for the voice of the Spirit, as well; but there is more freedom for them to respond to that Voice by incorporating different disciplines as needed to address what is transpiring in the life of the mentee.
In many ways, wisdom mentoring tends to be a bit more “hands on” and involves more mutual reciprocity than spiritual direction. The relationship I have with my wisdom mentor, for example, is extremely relational. It is the deepest of sacred friendships, thoroughly grounded in mutual love and respect. In fact, in wisdom mentoring, both parties grow and change as a result of the container they create together. What emerges in the space is often something that feels like a new arising for both parties.
My background as a wisdom mentor.
Wisdom mentoring is something that I began working with in 2020. Having completed a two-year wisdom program at The Living School in 2017, I found myself working to incorporate the teachings and principles I had learned there into my ordinary, daily life. This work of integration is the work of a lifetime, though it can certainly be accelerated when done within the context of specific kinds of open hearted, shared community.
After a period of searching, I was eventually led to the dispersed community forged by my mentor, William Redfield. (You can read more about him and his work here: https://www.williamredfield.com/.) Over the course of our extended relationship, I began to see how deeply meaningful and effective this mentoring process was becoming in my life. For his part, Bill sensed in me someone who was ready to learn this process of mentoring others in the way of what he simply calls “the wisdom way of loving.”
To that end, Bill worked with me and a handful of others to develop within each of us the capacity to mentor others in this unique way. In 2020, with his encouragement and unstinting support, I began offering wisdom mentoring, in addition to spiritual direction, to those who may be interested in either discipline.
How do I know if I’m ready for Wisdom mentoring?
Ideally, people who are ready for wisdom mentoring have been grounded in the wisdom tradition and have been working with the integration of wisdom principles in their lives. They are generally at the place in their spiritual journey where they are seeking nothing less than complete transformation of their lives so that they can be “poured out as an offering” to the world. Transformation is never a personal piety project; it is always for the sake of the world. If you are standing at this threshold in your life, then wisdom mentoring may be just what you need to help discern your next steps.
What does it cost?
The wisdom mentoring is offered at a flat rate rather than on a sliding scale, and those who wish to engage in the process are asked to commit to it once a month for at least a year. This process involves deep, committed soul work and a time commitment. The flat fee rate reflects this, and to some extent is designed to discourage casual inquirers who might just be curious about trying “the next interesting thing” in soul care. My intention is to offer the very best that I have to give to all who come to me for either spiritual direction or wisdom mentoring. It’s simply a matter of tailoring my practice to the specific needs and desires of those who come here to assist with their growth and transformation process.
Want to learn more?
If you’re interested in learning more about wisdom mentoring and whether it’s right for you, please contact me through the form to the left. I’ll be happy to schedule a call with you at no obligation.