A little about me...
Originally from Canada, I have spent the past fifteen years living & working in beautiful Southernmost Illinois, Shawnee Forest country. My life's work has been enriched through my experiences in nature, travel, the arts, relationships, motherhood, holistic health & healing, meditation & mindfulness. If my spiritual life were a tree, I would say that my roots are Christian, my branches are Buddhist, my trunk flows with the sap of indigenous teachings, various faith traditions & philosophies. New leaves of spiritual ecology and Oneness are always budding. I am deeply connected to the earth and draw inspiration and life from the natural world around me.
I have encountered many wonderful teachers along the way, often in the most unexpected places. I am deeply indebted to my first spiritual director and good friend, David Giuliano, for his guidance, encouragement, shared humour & great wisdom. David introduced me to the Jubilee Program in Spiritual Deepening & Spiritual Direction where I studied, graduated and served as facilitator for several years.
In my early thirties, I had lost my mother to cancer, and was pregnant with my third child. My partner and I were struggling and I was seeking out ways to heal and grow. At that time, I was gifted Thich Nhat Hahn's book, "The Miracle of Mindfulness," and began my journey into mindful living and coming home to myself. Since that time, so many other spiritual, philosophical & ecological teachers have been a great influence on my life and work, both from afar and in person. I am forever grateful.
I returned to university in my 40's and completed a degree in psychology and spirituality. I spent five years studying under Sean Murphy, a Zen teacher and founder of Sage Institute for Creativity & Consciousness. I am a graduate of Sage and my specific area of study and practice has been The Five Conditions, based on the Buddhist Five Aggregates/Five Skandas. I continue as a member, mentor and student of Sage.
I have dedicated my life to providing a safe space in which people can retreat from their lives - whether for an hour, a day or an extended stay. The way in which I offer this has changed over the years, but the spirit in which I do so remains the same. I have been committed to having my own guide along the way - both for accountability and personal growth. I am deeply grateful for those who have accompanied me and have been honoured to have the opportunity to companion others.
In my 50's, I rediscovered my love of creative writing, poetry, photography & doodling. All of these have been integrated into my spiritual practice as well in my offerings with others. The pandemic, an ensuing back injury/surgery and my partner's serious illness over the past few years, have given me pause and been a source of great strength, compassion and re-commitment to being Love in the world.
I am now in my 60's, an age of wisdom which I embrace. I know that this time in human history has forced many of us to go inward, perhaps in ways we never wanted or thought possible. I continue to be a student of life, and am happy to companion others on their journey. May our paths cross soon in mindful, meditative and creative ways.
Bonnie Burton
Soul in the World
Originally from Canada, I have spent the past fifteen years living & working in beautiful Southernmost Illinois, Shawnee Forest country. My life's work has been enriched through my experiences in nature, travel, the arts, relationships, motherhood, holistic health & healing, meditation & mindfulness. If my spiritual life were a tree, I would say that my roots are Christian, my branches are Buddhist, my trunk flows with the sap of indigenous teachings, various faith traditions & philosophies. New leaves of spiritual ecology and Oneness are always budding. I am deeply connected to the earth and draw inspiration and life from the natural world around me.
I have encountered many wonderful teachers along the way, often in the most unexpected places. I am deeply indebted to my first spiritual director and good friend, David Giuliano, for his guidance, encouragement, shared humour & great wisdom. David introduced me to the Jubilee Program in Spiritual Deepening & Spiritual Direction where I studied, graduated and served as facilitator for several years.
In my early thirties, I had lost my mother to cancer, and was pregnant with my third child. My partner and I were struggling and I was seeking out ways to heal and grow. At that time, I was gifted Thich Nhat Hahn's book, "The Miracle of Mindfulness," and began my journey into mindful living and coming home to myself. Since that time, so many other spiritual, philosophical & ecological teachers have been a great influence on my life and work, both from afar and in person. I am forever grateful.
I returned to university in my 40's and completed a degree in psychology and spirituality. I spent five years studying under Sean Murphy, a Zen teacher and founder of Sage Institute for Creativity & Consciousness. I am a graduate of Sage and my specific area of study and practice has been The Five Conditions, based on the Buddhist Five Aggregates/Five Skandas. I continue as a member, mentor and student of Sage.
I have dedicated my life to providing a safe space in which people can retreat from their lives - whether for an hour, a day or an extended stay. The way in which I offer this has changed over the years, but the spirit in which I do so remains the same. I have been committed to having my own guide along the way - both for accountability and personal growth. I am deeply grateful for those who have accompanied me and have been honoured to have the opportunity to companion others.
In my 50's, I rediscovered my love of creative writing, poetry, photography & doodling. All of these have been integrated into my spiritual practice as well in my offerings with others. The pandemic, an ensuing back injury/surgery and my partner's serious illness over the past few years, have given me pause and been a source of great strength, compassion and re-commitment to being Love in the world.
I am now in my 60's, an age of wisdom which I embrace. I know that this time in human history has forced many of us to go inward, perhaps in ways we never wanted or thought possible. I continue to be a student of life, and am happy to companion others on their journey. May our paths cross soon in mindful, meditative and creative ways.
Bonnie Burton
Soul in the World
