Spirituality & Practice - Resources for Spiritual Journeys

Spiritual Literacy Certificates Program

Next cohort for “Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life” begins January 27, 2024
  • Learn to apply spiritual practices to all areas of life.
  • Enjoy a supportive spiritual community.
  • Be equipped to serve and lead others in discovering the sacred in everyday life.
With great pleasure, Spirituality & Practice invites you to become part of our Spiritual Literacy community with a training program based on the recognition that all of life is a spiritual practice. This program is for today's leaders, individual seekers, companions, caregivers, service providers, activists in change-making organizations, and more.

Learn how to bring such qualities of heart and mind as attention, beauty, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, hospitality, openness, transformation, vision, and wonder into your home, community, workplace, and the larger world. You will be part of a global effort to foster a loving world in which all people live with dignity, a sense of belonging, and a reverence for all life through the sharing of transformative practices and the wisdom of the world's religious, spiritual, psychological, and cultural traditions.

Why Spiritual Literacy?

Spiritual Literacy is the ability to read the signs that point to the active presence of Spirit within and around us. This skill can be applied in all life experiences to discern a world full of meaning and connection. As such, it is a foundational study for any personal growth or professional development program.

Spiritual Literacy powerfully enhances engagement both within and beyond the arena of spiritual work. It generates a wider perspective on your experiences and expands your capacities for teamwork, networking, and effective communication. As you practice attention, compassion, kindness, openness, transformation, and 32 other universal practices, your spiritually literate approach will result in more resilience, empathy, patience, equanimity, and adaptability. Spiritual Literacy training enables spiritual leaders, chaplains, life coaches, educators, counselors, spiritual directors and companions, psychologists, social workers, community organizers and activists, healthcare professionals, nonprofit and business leaders, and others to thrive both personally and professionally.

How & What Will You Learn?

Spiritual Literacy is learned through examples and spiritual practices. In our 12-month Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life, you will reflect upon examples of this perspective on life through spiritual quotations, book excerpts, and films. You will be inspired by the experiences of our exemplars (bestselling authors, professors, and renowned teachers). You will have opportunities to try a wide variety of spiritual practices, and you will be able to share what you are learning with a small group.

Your training will begin with an immersion in the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy. This extraordinary tool for cultivating a life of meaning and connection was developed by Spirituality & Practice's founders, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, as the foundation of their acclaimed book Spiritual Literacy. The 37 letters of this alphabet — from Attention to Zeal (see complete list at right) — are universal spiritual practices in every transformative tradition. They can also be understood as core values and qualities of heart and mind. Each has been carefully vetted and validated through a deep study of the world's religious, spiritual, psychological, and cultural traditions. They are essential to personal transformation, wellbeing, strong relationships, social commitment, and openness to diversity.

This training on the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy will help you learn to read the sacred in everyday life. Participants will be encouraged to share with their peer groups how they are applying the week’s Alphabet Practice to their personal or professional life. You will also be asked to keep track of your participation, weekly teachings, monthly exemplar presentations, and practice experiences by completing a short and simple questionnaire and writing a brief reflection for each Alphabet Practice to be submitted three times throughout the course of the year.

Should you wish to become a Spiritual Literacy Facilitator, graduates will have the option to complete a capstone project. The capstone project will give you experience in leading others in living a meaningful life. The capstone project should illustrate competency with teaching Spiritual Literacy to others. Examples include convening a group at the local library, hosting an interfaith council series on the Alphabet Practices, and creating models for using Spiritual Literacy in different settings.

Throughout the Certificates program, you will discover that what makes this study truly unique is the virtually endless set of resources that have been gathered and curated to help you explore, understand, and illustrate Spiritual Literacy. Students and graduates of our program join a worldwide community supported by the Spirituality & Practice website and its 65,000+ pages of content — all coordinated and curated around the framework of the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy. You will never run short of resources and support as you continue in this profound way of life.

The Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy
ATTENTION
BEAUTY
BEING PRESENT
COMPASSION
CONNECTIONS
DEVOTION
ENTHUSIASM
FAITH
FORGIVENESS
GRACE
GRATITUDE
HOPE
HOSPITALITY
IMAGINATION
JOY
JUSTICE
KINDNESS
LISTENING
LOVE
MEANING
NURTURING
OPENNESS
PEACE
PLAY
QUESTING
REVERENCE
SHADOW
SILENCE
TEACHERS
TRANSFORMATION
UNITY
VISION
WONDER
X-THE MYSTERY
YEARNING
YOU
ZEAL

A Path of Learning and Practice

Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life

  • 12-Month "Exemplar" training
  • Receive a Certificate in Spiritual Literacy and Transformative Practices
  • Upcoming Cohort: January 27, 2024 – December 15, 2024

This program will give you practical experience with the 37 practices in the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy. You will develop a deep personal understanding of each practice through readings, reflections, peer conversations, and regular spiritual practices. Guest "Exemplars" will share how they use these practices in their own lives. These esteemed spiritual teachers will provide concrete examples of spiritually literate approaches along with wisdom from their traditions and experiences to support them.

Live and video lessons will explore what Spiritual Literacy is, what blocks it, and how it is described in the spiritual traditions. You will explore multiple ways to "read the sacred in everyday life" from the course leaders, guest exemplars, your own small group, and the resources at SpiritualityandPractice.com. You will discover what recognizing the sacred within us, in others, and in the world around us looks and feels like every day.

Graduates will receive a Certificate in Spiritual Literacy and Transformative Practices based on attendance, participation, reflections on each Alphabet Practice, and a final project. Graduates who do not plan on obtaining a Certificate as a Spiritual Literacy Facilitator will complete a final project – written, audio, video, performance – that demonstrates spiritual literacy. The project should explain or illustrate how the participant applies at least one Alphabet Practice and how applying Spiritual Literacy through an Alphabet Practice(s) has changed how they see and respond to the world.

Leading Others in Living a Meaningful Life

  • Capstone Project
  • Prerequisite: Graduation from Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life
  • Receive a Certificate as a Spiritual Literacy Facilitator
  • Within one year of graduation from Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life
  • No additional tuition to participate

Upon completion of Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life, graduates may deepen their practice of Spiritual Literacy with a capstone project. The capstone project is intended to give practical experience to today's leaders, who often find that people come to them seeking ways to deepen their spiritual lives, achieve greater emotional intelligence, embrace a broader perspective, and discover a deeper connection to all of life.

Facilitator candidates will demonstrate their competency with teaching Spiritual Literacy to others. Example projects might be convening a group at the local library and hosting an interfaith council series on the Alphabet Practices. The goal of the capstone projects will be to bring Spiritual Literacy to a wide variety of life experiences. Facilitators may eventually be called upon to apply Spiritual Literacy to relationship situations, work cultures, and service activities.

The Spirituality & Practice team will be available to support those doing capstone projects. For example, some may want to work with the “Spiritual Rx Prescriptions” using specific Alphabet Practices to enhance qualities an individual or a group seek to enhance, balance, or minimize. Over time, additional program material will be developed to help facilitators guide others in Spiritual Literacy in both personal and professional settings.

Spiritual Literacy is a growing movement of training, study, and support and is fueled by the robust online resources in our celebrated website SpiritualityandPractice.com. Spiritual Literacy Facilitators will be encouraged to establish their own groups and centers, develop their own applications, and contribute to the Spirituality & Practice website.



PROGRAM STRUCTURE

• 2-day Opening Immersion.

• Weekly live talk introducing the week's Alphabet Practice plus a guided spiritual practice.

• Weekly email with a link to the recording of the live video plus resources on the week's Practice: spiritual quotations for reflection, book excerpts to read, spiritual practices related to the Alphabet Practice, optional films to watch that illustrate the Practice.

• Weekly small group meeting of 5 peers.

• Monthly virtual events on Zoom with a presentation by a Guest Exemplar of one of the Alphabet Practices, debriefing on the prior month's lessons, Q&A sessions, and group spiritual practice.

• 2-day Final Immersion.

Tuition

Regular Tuition
Full payment before start of program appreciated.
Payment plans available
$2,300
 

Learn more in our free info sessions.

Free Webinar What is Spiritual Literacy?
Watch Now

Free Webinar Discovering the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy
Watch Now

Free Webinar Spiritual Literacy Certificates Program
Open House with Program Co-Directors and Alumna
Watch Now

What people are saying...

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the program?

The Spiritual Literacy Alphabet Practices are transformative practices for self, society, and our common world. Spiritual Literacy connects:

  • spirituality with personal growth and professional development
  • the world's spiritual and religious traditions
  • the traditions and today's spiritually independent and unaffiliated seekers
  • spirituality with the popular culture
  • our work and our values
  • our inner life with our outer engagement
  • people along all points on the political and ideological spectrum
  • diverse communities
  • humans and the natural world
What personal and professional capacities are developed through the program?
  • self-awareness & self-compassion
  • equanimity
  • reverence
  • self-care & resilience
  • joy and enthusiasm for life
  • feelings of connection
  • empathy
  • deep listening and communication
  • energy and focus
  • health and wellbeing
  • personal and group flourishing
  • creativity
  • clarity when facing challenges
  • managing stress, disappointment, and loss
  • patience
  • openness and tolerance
  • compassion and kindness
  • visionary thinking
  • ritual making
  • courage and confidence
  • trust
What are the exact dates?

Certificate in Spiritual Literacy and Transformative Practices
January 27, 2024 – December 15, 2024

  • Opening Immersion Weekend: 8 am – 11 am PT and 12 pm - 2 pm PT Saturday, January 27, 2024 and Sunday, January 28, 2024
  • Weekly small group meeting (day and time to be determined by group)
  • Monthly 2-hour Zoom gathering on last Saturday of the month, 8 am – 10 am PT, February – October
  • Contemplation Weeks (Contemplation weeks can be used for your reflection, catching up on assignments, or vacation – whatever you need): March 17-23, May 5-11, June 23-June 29, August 11-17, September 29-October 5, 2024
  • Holiday Week: November 24-30, 2024
  • Closing Immersion Weekend: 8 am – 11 am PT and 12 pm - 2 pm PT Saturday, December 14, 2024 and Sunday, December 15, 2024

Certificate as a Spiritual Literacy Facilitator

  • Capstone project plan submitted by December 14, 2024 (submitted as final project for Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life)
  • Capstone project, written report, and presentation of oral report on project must be completed by December 14, 2025
What if I miss a session?

All sessions are recorded so they can be viewed at your convenience in the event of scheduling conflicts.

Where do these trainings take place?

All online, synchronous and asynchronous connections. No travel involved.

How much time will I need to commit to the program?

It is anticipated that reflections, journaling, and reading; participation in the 90-minute weekly meeting with your small group; and daily practice will require 3 - 5 hours per week; the monthly Zooms will be for two hours. The immersions at the beginning and end of the program will be 10 hours over two days. As with all practice-based programs, consistency of participation is important, and the more time you are able to devote to the program, the more you will get out of it.

Can chaplains claim CEHs for this program?

This program has been designed so that it may be considered by participants for use as continuing education to enhance the professional knowledge and pastoral competency of chaplains certified through the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc., an affiliate of the Association of Professional Chaplains. If you need help calculating your continuing education hours (CEHs), please contact Dr. Habib Boerger at Habib@SpiritualityandPractice.org.

Is a religious and/or spiritual background required?

The Spiritual Literacy Certificates Program is a unique training, created and curated by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat and Dr. Habib Todd Boerger. The program offers you carefully guided journeys into deep studies of what it means to be a vibrant spiritual being in service to a world brimming over with wisdom, life lessons, and deep connections in each and every moment.

The program is rooted in the study of the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy (see list in the right column of this page) made up of universal qualities of heart and mind that have been uplifted in traditions around the world and throughout time. Hence, the program is compatible with people of all religious and cultural backgrounds, including those who are spiritual but not religious, agnostic, or atheist.

What is the cancellation policy?

If you are accepted and enrolled in the program and you wish to cancel, you must notify Spirituality & Practice in writing. Prior to February 18th, we will offer a 50% refund for those who have paid in full. No refunds will be provided after February 18th or for participants on monthly payment plans.

Who developed the Spiritual Literacy Certificates Program?

The Center for Spirituality & Practice in Claremont, California, has been developing the field of spiritual literacy, drawing upon the wisdom first presented in the national bestselling book by its founders, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life, and the companion volume Spiritual Rx: Prescriptions for Living a Meaningful Life. The Center runs the multifaith website SpiritualityandPractice.com. Coding on the website indicates which of 37 universal spiritual practices in the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy practices are illustrated by each piece of content.

The website is a unique wisdom archive providing resources for spiritual journeys in a multifaith and multicultural world. Its 65,000+ pages of content include book, film, audio, and art reviews; book excerpts; profiles of spiritual teachers from many traditions; articles on and instructions for spiritual practices; spiritual quotations; blogs; plus curated content on topics, traditions, and three special projects: The Practicing Democracy Project, The Elder Spirituality Project, and The Reverence Project.

Spirituality & Practice has also developed or partnered with teachers to create more than 200 online courses on spiritual practices.

Do you pay commissions for referrals through an affiliate program?

Spirituality & Practice believes that the Spiritual Literacy Certificates Program will have wide appeal to those who pursue their own or support others’ personal growth or professional development, recognizing that we all benefit from learning transformative spiritual practices and applying the wisdom of the world's religious, spiritual, psychological, and cultural traditions. We welcome those who share this vision to become our affiliates and help spread the word about this unique training program.

If your association, retreat center, congregation, health care system, website, or other group works with spiritual seekers, spiritual leaders, chaplains, life coaches, educators, counselors, spiritual directors and companions, psychologists, social workers, community organizers and activists, healthcare professionals, nonprofit and business leaders, or other innovators, we invite you to consider this option. We will provide a trackable link to this page that will tell us when your referrals apply for the program. Upon the referral’s payment of his/her tuition, S&P will send the affiliate a 25% commission.

If you are interested in becoming an affiliate, please email brussat@SpiritualityandPractice.com

If you have questions regarding the curriculum/content of the program, please contact Dr. Habīb Boerger at Habib@SpiritualityandPractice.org. If you have any questions regarding logistics, please contact customer service at SandPTeam@SpiritualityandPractice.com.