Spiritual Paths Foundation Newsletter: October 2026

"Out here, there’s a bowing even the trees are doing."

~ from "Dead Stars" by Ada Limón

~ NEW Mission and Vision ~

The Spiritual Paths Foundation (SPF) is pleased to share that, at a special Board of Trustees meeting on September 29, 2026, the Board unanimously approved the following new Mission and Vision statements.

Spiritual Paths Foundation Mission:

Our Mission is to nurture interspiritual wisdom and inspire lives of meaning, connection, and service.

Spiritual Paths Foundation Vision:

We envision a world where the wisdom of many spiritual paths awakens our common humanity and inspires compassionate service.

We hope these resonate with you, and welcome your feedback and thoughts on them.

Warmly,

Jeffrey Keefer, PhD

Executive Director

Spiritual Paths Foundation

jeffrey@spiritualpaths.net

www.spiritualpaths.net

InterSpiritual Corner:

A Renewed Vision for Spiritual Paths Foundation

Moving Forward with Clarity, Purpose, and Possibility

The Spiritual Paths Foundation is entering an exciting new chapter! After thoughtful reflection and conversation, our Board of Directors has adopted updated mission and vision statements that bring greater clarity to who we are, what we value, and the work we are called to do in the world.

Our New Mission Statement

Our Mission is to nurture interspiritual wisdom and inspire lives of meaning, connection, and service.

Our New Vision Statement

We envision a world where the wisdom of many spiritual paths awakens our common humanity and inspires compassionate service.

These statements reflect our conviction that spiritual wisdom is not confined to any single religion or tradition. Rather, the world's great spiritual traditions offer a rich treasury of insights and practices that can help us discover deeper meaning, cultivate compassion, and live more consciously.

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to honoring each person's unique spiritual journey. We are not interested in prescribing a particular path, but in providing resources, education, and contemplative experiences that empower individuals to discover and develop their own.

Our Board is enthusiastic about moving forward with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer understanding of our distinctive contribution to the growing interspiritual movement. We look forward to translating these inspiring words into meaningful programs, enriching experiences, and new opportunities for spiritual exploration.

Together, we are helping to create a world where spiritual wisdom becomes a living expression of kindness, connection, and service.

~ Rev. Dr. Don Chatfield

Board Chair, Spiritual Paths Foundation

All Souls Interfaith Gathering Seeks Applicants
for Lead Pastor Position

Located in Shelburne, Vermont, All Souls Interfaith Gathering is a spiritual center whose mission is to cultivate inner peace and inspire connection to Divine Source. Our Lead Pastor will retire in April 2027, and we are seeking a new leader to continue cultivating and leading our interfaith/interspiritual community. The Lead Pastor profile is here, and the Congregational Profile is here.

If you would like to apply for this unique spiritual leadership opportunity, please submit the following materials to pastorposition@gmail.com:

Cover letter, including responses to the following questions: What about the mission of All Souls speaks to you? What are three important aspects of your spiritual journey? Please include a copy of your resume.

Sponsored by our Community Partner, All Souls Interfaith Gathering.

January Course Offering

We invite you to consider our January course offering:

InterSpiritual Meditation (ISM) Course

January 19 - March 9, 2027

Tuesdays 4:00pm – 5:30 pm Pacific / 7:00pm – 8:30pm Eastern.

Live sessions via Zoom (will be recorded)

Learn to create a 7-step mindful meditation that aligns with your spiritual and practice styles, and that is based on the combined wisdom of the world’s great contemplative traditions.

Information & Registration

Coming in April, 2027:
Introduction to Interspirituality

What does it mean to be interspiritual?

How can we draw wisdom from the world’s spiritual traditions while honoring their distinctive gifts—and at the same time develop a spiritual path that is authentic to our own lives?

Beginning Tuesday, April 20, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, the Spiritual Paths Foundation will offer a new eight-week course, Introduction to Interspirituality. Designed as a foundational exploration, the class will introduce participants to the principles and practices at the heart of the interspiritual journey.

Inspired in part by Wayne Teasdale’s groundbreaking vision in The Mystic Heart, the course will explore interspirituality as more than the study of different religions. It is an invitation to encounter the wisdom of diverse traditions, deepen our own spiritual lives, and discover the common values that can unite us without erasing our differences.

During our eight weeks together, we will explore the emergence of the interspiritual movement; Teasdale’s Nine Elements of a Universal Spirituality; contemplative practice and inner transformation; interconnectedness and nonviolence; compassion and service; and the relationship between spiritual awakening and engagement with the world.

Most importantly, participants will be invited to consider what these teachings mean for their own spiritual journeys. Through reflection, conversation, and experiential practice, we will begin identifying the traditions, practices, values, and sources of wisdom that can help each of us shape an authentic interspiritual life.

Join us this spring as we explore the many paths of wisdom—and discover how they can deepen the path beneath our own feet. Watch for registration details.

New Member Benefit:
InterSpiritual Book Discussion

The Spiritual Paths Foundation will pilot a new book discussion series on books related to or addressing interspirituality. This free series is available for monthly members.

Our first book will be The Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasdale. We will gather every other Monday for five 60-minute conversations, beginning October 26. Our first discussion will focus on the Introduction and Chapters 1–2.

Schedule: Mondays, October 26, November 9, November 23, December 7, and December 21

Time: 12:00–1:00 pm Pacific / 3:00–4:00 pm Eastern

Each gathering: 60 minutes

Facilitator: Patricia Knutson

We hope these discussions will give us a chance to talk about the book, hear one another’s perspectives, and reflect on how the ideas connect with our own spiritual lives and practices. At the end of the five sessions, we’ll talk about how it went and whether we’d like to continue with another book.

To get the Zoom link and calendar invitation, please contact Jeffrey Keefer.

Volunteer Opportunity: Marketing & Publicity Volunteer

The Marketing & Publicity Volunteer helps share the mission, programs, and spirit of the Spiritual Paths Foundation with the broader community. This role supports outreach, visibility, and engagement by assisting with communications, promotions, and storytelling that invite people into deeper spiritual exploration and practice.

See the job description for this role here and contact us to learn more.

Make a Tax-Deductible Gift

The Spiritual Paths Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, tax-deductible organization. Your gifts help us maintain and expand our healing work.

Make a Donation

We thank you for your time and interest in the work of the Spiritual Paths Foundation and hope you remain connected with us now and into the future.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Keefer, PhD,

Executive Director, Spiritual Paths Foundation