Register for this 9-month group HERE by September 8th.
One of the sacred tasks of being human is making meaning of our lives, our identities, and the ever-unfolding story we are part of. In these threshold moments—when something ends and something new begins— ritual, reflection, and community provide needed grounding.
As Unitarian Universalists, we are blessed with a tradition rich in honoring life’s passages, especially for our children and youth. Yet too often, adults must navigate profound change without the spiritual scaffolding of ritual or the comfort of shared witness.
If you are living through a major life transition— loss of a beloved, birth of a new beloved, retirement, new job, gender transition, new relationship commitment, divorce, recovery, or any other significant turning point—you are not alone.
We invite you to join Crossing Thresholds, a 9-month spiritual journey beginning in September. Together, we’ll explore the depth and complexity of personal transformation through three cycles of reflection.
What to Expect
Each cycle will include a rhythm of ritual, reflection, communal support, and creative exploration guided by a team of facilitators:
At the beginning of each cycle (September, December, March), Susan Sanford will lead a simple, grounding ritual that honors the turning of the Wheel and the thresholds we are crossing. Through embodied practices, evocative imagery, and gentle reflection, you’ll be invited to locate your personal story within the greater rhythm of Earth’s seasons.
The next month of each cycle, Dorrie Board will provide a casual and light-hearted approach (mostly, but sometimes laughter evolves into tears, and that’s ok, too) as you travel through your “seasonal” transition. The bulk of this session will be open discussion and sharing/listening, and lots of laughing, and there might be room for related media and movement. Participants will help to create the flow of each experience as Dorrie is the guide on the side. (October, January, April)
At each cycle’s close (November, February, May), Skyla King-Christison will guide hands-on creative art sessions, including altar making (with Ginny Gibson, as a bonus in September), sigil creation, personal history scrolls, and ancestor collage. These projects were chosen to help us engage with the discomfort of transformation through creative exploration. No art skills needed.
Ongoing Practices
All participants will be invited to:
- Create a personal altar to live in the UUFC atrium
- Schedule solo meditation time in the atrium space
- Join monthly nature-based meditations and socials
Our time together will culminate in the River of Life Service in June, where participants will be lovingly witnessed by the congregation as they cross into what comes next.
If you have any questions, please contact Skyla King-Christison at dre@uucorvallis.org
We’re excited to go on this journey together!
