Fall Series

7 messages, oldest first

2025-10-05 Part 1 of 7 “The Intentional Everyday Mystic” Rev. Kristin In this opening message of Unity of Walnut Creek's fall series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound truth that we are all mystics living on sacred ground. Drawing inspiration from Jane Goodall's reverence for nature and a simple story of a woman experiencing the divine in a sunset at a traffic light, she invites us to recognize that mystical experiences are not reserved for saints or sages but are available to each of us in our everyday moments. Through setting clear intentions and crossing the thresholds of our daily lives with awareness, we can transform ordinary activities like washing dishes or commuting into sacred ceremonies. Rev. Kristin challenges us to claim our inherent mystical nature and discover the presence of the sacred hidden within the beautiful chaos of our regular lives.
2025-10-12 Part 2 "Loving Attention and Compost Rev. Kristin In this second part of the series on everyday mysticism, the speaker explores how paying loving attention to our daily experiences can transform ordinary moments into sacred encounters. Drawing inspiration from nature's teachings and Brother Lawrence's kitchen monastery wisdom, the message invites us to move beyond constant judging and categorizing toward a deeper awareness that sees the divine in simple activities like cooking, commuting, or even scooping pumpkin seeds. Through contemplative practice and intentional attention, we can become "translucent love light" that serves not only our own spiritual growth but also illuminates the path for others in their darkness.
2025-10-19 Part 3 "Surrender into Radical Amazement Rev. Kristin In this transformative message, Rev. Kristin explores the profound spiritual practice of surrender as a pathway to radical amazement, drawing inspiration from Mirabai Starr's "Ordinary Mysticism." She illustrates how true surrender involves both releasing what no longer serves us and opening to the divine mystery that surrounds our everyday experiences, using touching examples from "Tuesdays with Morrie" and personal encounters with the sacred in ordinary moments. Rev. Kristin invites us to embrace our identity as "ordinary mystics," recognizing that when we peel back the layers of resistance and self-consciousness, we discover that our seemingly mundane lives are actually filled with magic, miracles, and divine presence. Through surrender, we can step into our magnificence and walk through life like the Roman goddess Flora, with flowers blooming beneath our feet.
2025-10-26 Part 4 "Step into Your Sageness Rev. Kristin In this fourth installment of the "Step into Your Sageness" series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound difference between spirit and soul, defining the soul as our unique spiritual imprint that yearns to be nurtured and expressed. She guides us through understanding how to tend our soul's garden - sometimes lush through nature, art, music, and community, and sometimes arid during necessary desert periods of spiritual growth. Drawing wisdom from mystics like St. John of the Cross and contemporary teacher Mirabai Starr, Rev. Kristin reminds us that as ordinary mystics, we are called not only to cultivate our souls but to transmit our authentic light into the world, recognizing that there is a void in the universe when we fail to share our unique soul expression.
2025-11-02 Part 5 "Co-Creating Beloved Community Rev. Kristin In this fifth installment of the Co-Creating Beloved Community series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound difference between being watched and being truly seen, drawing inspiration from the transformative work of Father Greg Boyle with former gang members. She emphasizes that authentic community is built not by trying to fit in or conform, but by courageously expressing our unique soul essence and honoring the beautiful diversity within our spiritual family. Through the wisdom of Rumi's poetry about soul friendship and the evolution from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule - treating others as they wish to be treated - Rev. Kristin invites us to create deeper connections that serve as both safety nets and springboards for our collective becoming. This message calls us to step boldly into our authentic selves as the foundation for building the beloved community we are all meant to co-create.
2025-11-09 Part 6 "Let Your Heart Break Open Rev. Kristin In this powerful message, Rev. Kristin explores the profound spiritual practice of allowing our hearts to break open rather than resisting life's inevitable heartbreaks and losses. She shares that while we often try to numb, resist, or quickly fix our pain, true healing comes when we embrace our feelings as pointers to wisdom and allow ourselves to move through grief with the support of loving witnesses. Through personal stories, including her friendship with Joni and the mysterious connections that emerged after loss, Rev. Kristin illustrates how heartbreak can lead us into greater love and the beautiful mystery of life itself. She offers practical tools for navigating difficult times - from staying present to beauty and using encouraging affirmations to creating meaningful rituals that bridge the spiritual and physical realms.
2025-11-16 Part 7 "Ordinary Mystics Unveiled Rev. Kristin In this culminating message of the "Ordinary Mystics" series, Rev. Kristin explores the profound truth that spiritual awakening doesn't require mountaintop experiences or cave meditations - it unfolds in the sacred simplicity of folding laundry, smiling at strangers, and being fully present to everyday moments. She acknowledges that spiritual transformation, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, often involves grief for what we're leaving behind and the disorienting process of growing into our new selves. Drawing on Emily Cady's concept of "chemicalization," she offers compassionate guidance for navigating the sometimes challenging physical and emotional symptoms that can accompany spiritual growth, reminding us that we are explorers of the sacred ordinary and devotees of what is.