The Journey From Grievance To Gratitude
How to Navigate the challenges and obstacles to your relationship or divorce
Relationship (and/or divorce) is a spiritual practice and a sacred journey inward. Neither relationship nor divorce can be fixed on the outside. They can only be transformed from the inside and that, in and of itself, is quite a journey. Like any great adventure, the rewards are unexpected and surprising.
If you can imagine that you are on a sacred journey to Mecca or Machu Pichu, rather than enduring the biggest heartbreak or difficulty of your life then your experiences begin to take on entirely new meanings. When you are on a sacred journey, every moment is rich with images, symbols, and messages that reveal your intimacy with the world. This is also true with every aspect, every moment of life whether you are aware of it or not. On a sacred journey you tend to meet each moment with a profound sense of wonder and awe because you are in a state of not knowing. You don’t know the landscape. You don’t know how the weather will be. Sometimes you don’t know the language spoken and you don’t know who or what you will meet on your path.
If you believe that you know all you need to ever know about yourself and your journey with your partner or spouse, then life can become stagnant, even stale. However, with this new point of view, your partnership or even your divorce can become a gateway to discovering the beauty and mystery in the life you have right now.
This course is organized around seven spiritual principles that I offer as a kind of road map on your personal journey to Mecca or to the center of your life. As you travel you might discover that your relationship opens up in unexpected ways. Each section of the course begins with a Zen Koan Meditation Practice to serve as a container for each section as well asone of seven spiritual principles, a meditation practice, a ritual, an exercise or writing assignment along with some inspirational readings to guide you from grievance to gratitude.
“And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles,
no matter how long,
but only by a spiritual journey,
a journey of one inch,
very arduous and humbling and joyful,
by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet,
and learn to be at home.”
~ Wendell Berry ~
Your Instructor
I am a spiritual counselor and coach specializing in relationships. I have been in private practice for 15 years in Oakland and Scotts Valley, CA. I have had the great privilege to work with elders, healers Zen teachers and wisdom keepers from all over the world. These wonderful teachers and their teachings have deeply informed me and the work I offer to you.
My core philosophy is that healing and wholeness begins first with yourself, then extends to your family and finally to the larger communities that surround you. Life is an adventure that we don't want to miss as it ends so quickly. Joy, love and happiness are inside jobs. I support you in that discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Congratulations on completing this course. I hope you were able to experience how you can move from your dis-ease, complaints and obstacles to compassion, kindness, joy and even love. It is not about approving or disapproving, it about meeting what is and discovering something about yourself. This a journey we all take for all of our life. If you want more guidance please reach out to me. None-the-less join my meditation group on Fridays at 4:30 by visiting my website at www.illanaberger.com and sending me an email that you would like to join us. It is free of charge and it will support you on your journey. Blessings to you.