Celebrating Lives - Sage Bennet, PhD

For the past 25 years Rev. Sage Bennet has been a leader in lifelong learning for the soul. She has taught courses in philosophy, world religions, ethics, multicultural diversity, women's studies, and spiritual development in universities across the country. She performs sacred ceremonies such as weddings, memorials and transition rituals. She is the author of Wisdom Walk: Nine Practices for Creating Peace and Balance from the World's Spiritual Traditions.

Did you have some sort of "awakening" as a child that lead you to be the spiritual teacher that you are today?

That's an interesting question! I had a difficult childhood--my mother was often ill and I was left to be on my own alot. You could call it an early childhood dark night of the soul! While I experienced difficulties with feeling abandoned and neglected, I also reached into a spiritual dimension for support -- like any dark night of the soul provides. I talked to angels, flowers, and "imaginary" guides as if this was completely natural. Now I'm grateful for what I had once thought was a difficulty. I learned to be comfortable in (and love) solitude, which became essential later on in life for my creative, spiritual path.

Have you had a "long dark night of the soul" since your childhood?

I've had several "dark nights of the soul." I've come to recognize them as the opportunites for spiritual growth that they really are. However, it takes courage to ride the waves. I've experienced suffering. I've dispelled illusions and realized greater truths about myself and life . I used to push the darkness away, judge it as undesirable, or less than light. Now I can embrace the darkness more as an essential part of life, an example of the inevitable cycle of change, even a great teacher.

I love how you embrace the dark night Sage. What has helped you get through?

I've stumbled through my dark nights of the soul with support from my friends, myself, and spirit. The nine wisdom practices I talk about inWisdom Walk helped greatly. Through meditation, I contacted a deeper level of peace within myself. Through visioning I glimpsed my destiny.

I'm so excited that you're offering this teleseminar on the visioning process.

Wisdom Walk gives the reader a deep appreciation for different cultures. Was diversity sensitivity training a "subversive plot" for this book?

Sort of! It's a funny thing with writing a book -- at least this was so for me. The intention to invite people into appreciating spiritual diversity--in what Martin Luther King, Jr. called "the beloved community" happened along the way. Rather than having this intention before I started, I discovered this aspect in the process of writing. That's the exciting part of the creative process. The book tells you what it's about even though you, the author, are supposedly the one creating it!

You really disclosed yourself in this book, sharing your struggles with us. Was that an important process for you?

Actually, this focus of telling my story, also came as a surprise. I didn't intend to share this in the beginning. Since I was asking readers to relate to the wisdom practices -- forgiveness, creating an altar, meditation -- I thought I'd try it myself. When I was preparing the manuscript to be considered by publishers, my agent suggested I rework the structure and put my story first. This gave my struggle a much more prominent place in the book than I had originally wanted. So I had to work through my vulnerability about exposing my foibles, which was good, though challenging for me. Surprisingly, readers tell me they most appreciate my writing about difficult times--my trouble with forgiveness, my getting sick because I was living too fast.

Now, when you think about the future you feel...

Awed by the mystery and prayerful that I can greet fully whatever comes.

You, your partner, and your dog live on a boat, how do you maintain peace in such a small space?

Actually, the boat is quite conducive to peace. I find living on the water, watching it now as I write this, enjoying ducks, pelicans, seagulls, and occasional sailboats go by, is a great gift to my peace of mind. Although it is a small space, that is not the predominant feature for me. Being so close to the ocean and open sky every day, feels expansive rather than limiting.

What do you absolutely know to be true?

That we are here to love and to learn.

What is sacred in your life?

My relationship with my partner, myself, others, nature, and the mystery that is everywhere.

Though you've resided over many rituals celebrating other people's transitions, how has the process of creating your ownBcelebrated site been for you?

It is a profound process to consider one's inevitable death. Paradoxically, I find it amplifying my experience of living! Hurray for Bcelebrated! I highly recommend everyone's involvement in this wonderful offering.