Does this sound like you?

• Are you longing to listen more deeply—without fixing, advising, or absorbing what is not yours?

• Do you learn best through practice, reflection, and shared experience rather than lecture?

• Are you seeking a spacious, compassionate approach to listening that honors boundaries as much as empathy?

• Are you drawn to contemplative practice that is accessible across spiritual paths and professions?

• Do you sense that how you listen matters—not just what you say?

“Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond.”

-Henri Nouwen,

Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith

This experiential training is open to people of all backgrounds, professions, and spiritual paths and is designed for those who learn best through practice rather than lecture.

Each week, participants receive access to a brief 10-minute video introducing the theme and listening posture for the upcoming week. Our live sessions then focus on reflective questions, guided meditation, one-on-one and group listening conversations, offering spacious, supported practice in contemplative, active listening. 

Along the way, we gently notice the habits, pressures, and cultural patterns that can interfere with deep listening, practicing a compassionate return to presence while learning to stay attentive without over-carrying or absorbing what is not ours.

Rooted in the wisdom tradition of spiritual companionship, this series draws from the first year of Wisdom Tree Collective’s formation and spiritual direction trainings while remaining fully accessible to the wider public. No prior experience is required.

For anyone longing to listen more deeply—to others, to life, or to the Sacred.

Q & A

Who is this series for?

This series is open to people of all backgrounds, professions, and spiritual paths. Participants include caregivers, ministers, therapists, educators, leaders, spiritual seekers, and those simply longing to listen more deeply in their everyday lives.

Do I need prior experience with contemplative practices or spiritual direction?

No prior experience is required. This series is designed to be accessible while still drawing from the depth of Wisdom Tree Collective’s formation and spiritual direction trainings.

Is this a lecture-based course?

No. This is an experiential series designed for those who learn best through practice. Each week includes a short preparatory video, followed by live sessions focused on reflection, guided meditation, and listening practice in pairs and small groups. You will have lifetime access to the videos so you can return whenever you need a refresher.

I’m highly empathic—will this help me avoid taking on others’ emotions?

Yes. A core part of the series is learning how to listen with compassion and clarity while staying present without absorbing or carrying what is not yours. This includes noticing personal and cultural patterns that can interfere with healthy listening.

Is this religious?

The series is rooted in the wisdom tradition of spiritual companionship, but it is not tied to any one religious tradition. Participants from many spiritual paths—or none at all—are welcome.

Will this be a safe and supportive space?

We are intentional about creating a gentle, spacious, and trauma-informed container. Clear agreements, consent-based practices, and supported facilitation are central to the experience.

What if cost is a barrier?

We offer partial scholarships and trust participants to discern their needs with integrity. No explanation is required. If cost would be a barrier, you are warmly invited to request a scholarship.

“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” 

-Simone Weil, 

Letter to Joë Bousquet, 13 April 1942; Simone Pétrement Simone Weil: A Life (1976) tr. Raymond Rosenthal