Relational Spirituality

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		THE CENTRE FOR RELATIONAL SPIRITUALITY
		Navigating the Spiritual Journey
The Summary of the Law ‘To love God and to love one’s neighbour as oneself’
BOOKMARKS logo definition uniqueness importance navigation for whom? programs membership support us contact

THE WIND SURFER LOGO

The image of the wind surfer illustrates the three way interaction of the Summary of the Law. The wind, the sea and the surf board and rider all interrelate with one another in the way the love of God, the love of neighbour and the love of self are connected. The relationship of the rider and sail speaks of the relationship of ego and self archetype. The sail focuses our attention on the self archetype as the doorway to the wind – the spirit in action. The rider and his management of the board on the waves speak of our interaction with the wider community.

It is the context of operation.

The wind speaks of the creative manifestation of the “spirit-in-action”. The harmonious dance between the wind, the sail, the rider and the board and wave represent the broad context of life. They work as one when displaying both assertive and receptive qualities. When displaying such an interdependent unity they are both powerful and graceful - a living organism. Should one component fail then the others will also fail.

Relational spirituality is such an interrelated system and identifies God, neighbour and self as the essential ingredients of life. When viewing these three in the context of each other, they become a wise self-navigating model for one to operate in this contemporary world.

DEFINITION

Relational Spirituality is a holistic model for spiritually managing one’s life. It is a contemporary reflection upon the Summary of the Judeo-Christian law - to love God and love one’s neighbour as oneself. Psychological insights and current knowledge of the mystical journey particularly characterize this reflection.

UNIQUENESS

It is unique in that it highlights how the love of god, the love of neighbour and the love of self are interrelated. Each dynamic is dependent upon the other to fulfil its purpose. One cannot fulfil the purposes of the life journey without respecting the place of all three components. Hence Relational Spirituality is both a sound and necessary model for living the spiritual life.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

The first World War had a profound effect upon the way people viewed religion and coupled with the increasingly dominant position that science held in explaining life issues, by the second half of the 20^th century and the early years of the 21^st century, many in Western society had turned away from Christianity. It was deemed to be irrelevant.

Relational Spirituality is both an effective and relevant response because it combines historical wisdom, it values contemporary insights and it is mindful of the most significant dynamics that are necessary to shape life in the new millennium.

The significant change that I speak of here has resulted in a vastly different understanding of life and the world in which we live. Notably we have seen a change from regional concerns to global issues. We now speak of living in a ‘global village’. Factors, which have been instrumental in bringing this change can be, identified both externally as well as internally. A few of the significant external factors include wealth, information, communication, transportation and immigration. Internally, evolutionary developments within the mind have led to a changing understanding of the world and are most significant. This is evidenced in the increased desire of humans to move beyond a life primarily shaped by the rational mind. There is a new hunger to include broader psychic capacities. The once materialistic and scientifically dominated way of knowing has expanded to include numerous fields of spiritual endeavors. Consequently our opportunities for living have broadened. The resulting smorgasbord of spiritual nourishment methods has led to a confused sense of direction for people moving toward the less than clear horizon of the future.

Relational spirituality is a necessary method for navigating one's spiritual life through this sometimes confusing and less than certain New World.

SPIRITUALITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NAVIGATION

A description of early Australian settlement clearly shows the importance of navigation.

Thousands of despairing British peasants saw great possibilities in the new world of the recently discovered island continent of Australia. A vision enticed them to step bravely forward in search of freedom from the squalor of a despairing nation. This journey of hope required great courage as ships braved the great southern oceans for periods of up to five months without sight of land. The destination of Port Philip Bay was far from a certain point of arrival. Its entrance was guarded by a stretch of sea 90 kilometres in length between Cape Ottway and the North West tip of Tasmania. Because of poor navigational processes this stretch of sea was referred to as the ‘eye of the needle’. Arrival in these waters at night, in fog or rough seas resulted in countless shipwrecks.

Navigation was dependent upon time. Clocks were expensive and hence ‘penny pinching’ ship owners regularly provided only one clock for each ship. Inaccurate time resulted in inaccurate position location and hence increased danger near land in less than conducive conditions. Good and safe navigation required not one, not two, but a minimum of three clocks to provide the necessary checks and balances in determining accurate time.

I see a parallel between this story of physical journeying toward the new horizons of the new world and the spiritual journey we are presently facing in the 21^st century and beyond. The experience of spirituality in itself is not a guarantee of safe travel. It likewise needs sound navigational methods

I propose Relational Spirituality as a truly sound method. It is based on the ancient teaching of the summary of the Jewish law - “To love God and to love one’s neighbour as oneself.” It consists of three interacting dynamics of life against which each is to be understood. An understanding of it is based upon timeless wisdom but explained through the most relevant of contemporary psychological insight and mystical intuition.

FOR WHOM? FOR ALL?

The command to “love God and love one’s neighbour as oneself” emerges from the Judeo-Christian tradition but is affirmed by Jesus as an approach for discovering eternal life.

The young man came to Jesus and said ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

Jesus replied ‘What does the law say?’

The young man said ‘To love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love your neighbour as yourself’.

Jesus replied ‘Do this and you will live’ (Luke 10:25 -28)

The Shemah, as this scriptural command is known, has been deeply treasured by Christians as an expression of the life to which Jesus' followers are called. Nevertheless it is not necessarily restricted to Christianity. Most traditions are interested in one's relationship with God, one's knowledge of oneself and one's way of relating to a neighbour. It can therefore be used by all spiritual perspectives and hence can be a sound basis for interfaith dialogue

PROGRAM

Relational spirituality is an approach to life, which can apply in all settings, circumstances or stages of life. The Centre for Relational Spirituality offers a range of programs to introduce and develop this approach.

Core Program

Relational spirituality introduces its core concept via a short course. Subsequently it offers interested people an opportunity to implement this approach to life by either joining a peer support group or through individual supervision. Application of the method is developed towards life in general or by focusing upon specific life contexts. It encourages people to clarify an understanding of personality theory - in particular it makes use of the personality theory of Carl Jung.

A six session introductory course

General application

A monthly meeting with a peer support group

Personal supervision by arrangement

‘Life context’ focus groups

Relational Spirituality and family life.

Relational Spirituality and marriage

Relational Spirituality and the single person

Relational Spirituality and the work place

Relational Spirituality and the carer

‘Life Stages’ focus groups

Relational Spirituality and the young adult

Relational Spirituality and the middle aged.

Relational Spirituality and Retirement

Relational Spirituality and the Frail Aged

Relational Spirituality and Interfaith dialogue

Component Program

Because it is concerned with our relationship with the Divine, our relationship with others and our relationship with ourselves, it offers a range of educational and growth programs to enhance our experience of each dynamic of love:

Loving God

Five Payer Sails.

'Sails’ Christian Meditation

‘Sails’ Contemplation

24/7 Prayer

Loving Self

Shadow work

Knowing Self through art therapy

Dream work

Journal keeping

Autobiographical reflection

Book Reading

Loving Neighbour

Relationship skills

Ethics and Social Justice

Institutional Care

Spirituality in General

Ken Wilber: A New World Paradigm

PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM

If you are interested in attending one of the above programs, please complete our application form

ARTICLES

Relational Spirituality Explained (Geoff Cheong)

Relational Spirituality Scripture References (Geoff Cheong)

Ken Wilber’s Integral Model of Evolution and Personal Development (Geoff Cheong)

Christology (Geoff Cheong)

Carl Jung's Theory of Personality (Geoff Cheong)

Edward Edinger and the Ego - Self Axis (Geoff Cheong)

The Place of Evil (Geoff Cheong)

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CENTRE FOR RELATIONAL SPIRITUALITY

MEMBERSHIP

The Centre for Relational Spirituality is an organization consisting of people who contribute in a variety of different ways. These roles include:

Members of the Governing Council

Consultancies

Office team members

Program facilitators

Course participants

General members

Anyone who has an interest in the areas of relational spirituality or spirituality is most welcome to join our group

Should you be interested in becoming a member, please complete our registration form

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Centre for Relational Spirituality is an organization which is accountable to:

The Anglican Church of Australia, Diocese of Melbourne

The Anglican parish of Holy Trinity, Balaclava and Elwood

Professional organizations which its members represent

Government accounting requirements

DONATIONS

While the work of the Relational Spirituality Centre is an extension of the life of the Anglican parish of Holy Trinity, as an organization it stands alone as an independent body and is dependent upon its own ability to raise money to meet expenses.

Donations can be made to support its work by sending contributions to:

The Treasurer

The Centre for Relational Spirituality

C/- The Anglican Parish of Holy Trinity, Balaclava and Elwood

P.O. Box 1105

Elwood, 3184

Victoria, Australia

(A tax receipt will be mailed or faxed back to you)

CONTACT

The Anglican Parish of Holy Trinity, Balaclava and Elwood

Vicar: The Reverend Geoff Cheong

Office contact for callers from outside Australia