Rev. Sarah Walker spent her 20’s and 30’s longing for a deeper connection to God but not knowing how to find it. She knew it was possible – she’d been given strong and deep impressions of it in her childhood having come from six generations of New Church traditions. But it wasn’t until an encounter with what seemed like a very simple statement that things began to open up for her … The Lord is the Word. She opened the Text with this in mind and the journey of her spiritual awakening began.

Books that had once laid dead on a shelf suddenly became alive for her, speaking to her inner life processes, with teachings that profoundly transformed (and continue to transform!) the way she understood her relationship with the Divine, with others and her own sense of who she was and what reality is.

Sarah’s passion for ministry lies in supporting others who are seeking this type of connection too. Her work is centred in The Logopraxis Institute which runs out of the Australian New Church College. Logopraxis is a process orientated approach for working with spiritual principles that are drawn from the Bible and expounded up in Swedenborg’s writings. While each experience this in a unique way, the Institute recognises that companioning with others is where the Lord can be made known in the midst and so group life is the other essential half to this practice. As such, Sarah is always excited for any opportunity to share the walk along the path of spiritual life with others.

Keywords

love, spirituality, sacred texts, Emanuel Swedenborg, divine connection, community, spiritual awakening, Logopraxis, individual consciousness, collective consciousness, transformation

Summary

In this conversation, Sage Cole and Sarah Walker explore the profound themes of love, spirituality, and the role of sacred texts in personal transformation. They discuss the importance of community in spiritual growth, the challenges of spiritual awakening, and the interconnectedness of individual and collective consciousness. The dialogue emphasizes the necessity of constant reminders of truth in daily life and the balance between personal experiences and universal truths. Ultimately, they reflect on the evolving nature of spiritual communities and the potential for new forms of gathering that honor diverse paths to divine connection.

Takeaways

Love is the guiding energy of the universe.

Sacred texts can transform lives when their truths are applied.

Spiritual awakenings often come with challenges and resistance.

Community plays a crucial role in individual spiritual growth.

Practicing spirituality in daily life helps integrate divine truths.

The individual and collective consciousness are interconnected.

Surrendering control is essential for spiritual growth.

Personal experiences of the divine can vary greatly.

New forms of spiritual community are emerging to meet modern needs.

The balance of joy and suffering is part of the spiritual journey.

Sound bites

“Love is the only thing that’s really real.”

“Spiritual awakenings are so difficult.”

“The church is heaven on earth.”

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Love in the Church

04:46 The Logos and Its Transformative Power

11:09 Personal Spiritual Journeys and Awakening

15:12 Engaging with Sacred Texts

20:28 The Role of Community in Spiritual Practice

24:52 Practical Applications of Spiritual Principles

27:51 The Essence of Spiritual Connection

30:03 Navigating Inner Peace and External Challenges

33:19 Understanding Trust and Acceptance in Spiritual Growth

37:17 Personal Responsibility in Collective Consciousness

41:00 Shifting Perspectives: From Personal to Universal

47:17 The Evolution of Spiritual Practices and Communities

Our Theme Music is “I Love it,” by Luke Concannon www.lukeconcannon.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit worshipislife.substack.com