who?

The Vining Center SOUL Journeys are for folks who are looking for transformation more than information, direct experience more than rigid belief systems. For those who want to live more fully into their True Selves, strengthen their core relationships, and be more in harmony with Creation. It’s also for those who have lost the “container” of church and want to reignite their divine spark. Maybe it’s simply for you.


why?

Because so many of us are hungry for more spiritual depth and connection. Because we’re tired of being spectators in our faith communities and want to experience more of God firsthand. Because some of us have been hurt or disappointed with church and are looking for new ways to practice spiritual community. And because our spiritual narratives are growing and changing!


what?

SOUL is an acronym for “School of UnLearning,” and we have learned that to really enter new spiritual territory, we first have to let go of some of what we thought we knew. Before we can re-learn, we have to do a little un-learning. We have to open our hearts and minds and become like a child again (Mt 18:3).

Each SOUL Journey centers around a 3-night retreat weekend, supported by reading and monthly Soularium calls. In a cohort of up to 12 kindred spirits, you will learn and practice new spiritual skills for connecting with your own heart, with God, with other seekers, and with Creation. We incorporate a combination of presentation, conversation, and experimentation to instigate fresh meaning for your spiritual journey in the company of other Godward souls.

Check out the SOUL Journey options below, and then look at the Events page for the next one up. If you would like to bring one of the SOUL Journeys directly to your city, please inquire here!


inward

The Journey Inward invites us to contemplative perspectives and practices from the ancient Christian tradition. Specific topics and community practices revolve around some of these:

  • Learning your True & False Self

  • Activating your Inner Observer

  • Getting off the Unconscious Racetrack

  • Pursuing Three-Centered Awareness

  • Reclaiming Celtic Spirituality


outward

The Journey Outward shifts from focus on contemplation to focus on action. How do we actually do life from a contemplative orientation? Here are some of the focus areas in this community:

  • Building Contemplative Relationships

  • Caring for the Divine Creation

  • Reinventing Church

  • Championing Contemplative Economics

  • Cultivating Compassion & Seeking Justice


enneaforming

The EnneaForming Journey is an exciting dive into the Wisdom tradition with its pre-Christian roots and its expression in the life of Jesus as a moshel mashalim, a wisdom teacher. Perhaps this tradition’s greatest modern figure is Cynthia Bourgeault, whose book The Wisdom Way of Knowing will be our primary text. We will also be referencing the Enneagram as you might expect from the title, but our focus will not be on personality type per se; instead, we will be exploring this ancient tool more around its larger spiritual insights. Scheduled for August 20 - 23, 2026!


how much?

The Vining Center is committed to not letting financial constraints prevent anyone from participating in our services. You will see pricing shown for each retreat based upon our costs, and then you will also see the opportunity to apply for a scholarship.


content?

We have curated what we believe to be the best gems from the organized church as well as more hidden gems from traditions less visible. In our experience the church in general has been heavy on propositional truth but light on experiential practice, which is the core of the contemplative tradition. The contemplative path is the practice of “abiding in the vine” (Jn 15), of “gazing on the beauty of the Lord” (Ps 27:4), and of the divine union Jesus calls us to in Jn 17:20-21.

When we go back in time, we find a host of these contemplative spiritual practices from the Christian monastic communities, Celtic Christianity, and the many Christian mystics. We even look for common spiritual threads woven across other religious traditions that might inform our following of Christ more fully. Intrigued? Come experience it for yourself!