Welcome to the Guided Exploring Way, a place to begin your exploration of the Center for Spiritual Imagination’s contemplative practices and philosophy. Guided Exploration is a great way to experiment with the prayer practices we teach in order to see what speaks to your sense of spirituality and how you experience God in your life, as well as to see whether you would like to join our community.
What is the structure/ time commitment?
The Guided Exploring Way begins in the fall of 2026 and ends in May 2027. There are a total of four modules, each a month long, that explore the main practices and pillars of the Center for Spiritual Imagination:
The Incarnation Method of Prayer
The Divinas (Lectio, Visio, Musica)
Socially Engaged Mysticism
New Monasticism
Each module follows the same structure:
Take a specific asynchronous course (watch lessons, engage in practices, and do readings where applicable)
Answer and post reflections in Mighty Networks Guided Exploring Space
Interact with other Guided Explorers’ posts
Join a closing conversation on the topic in an Exploring Circle session with other Guided Explorers
Move onto the next module
After the Guided Exploring Way
Completion of the Guided Exploring Way makes you eligible to apply to join our community. You can either apply to the Companion Way or to Postulancy.
If you apply to the Companion Way, you will join Companions from preceding years with whom you’ll engage in monthly readings and reflections. It is not a full cohort experience and does not have successive years of formation; it is our version of an Oblate program. Membership in the Companion Way is discerned annually.
If you apply to Postulancy, you will engage in some of the prayer rhythms, theology, and cohort experience of the Vowed Path of the Community of the Incarnation. You will meet once a week from fall to late winter, after which you will discern with our co-founders if you are called to pursue our 3-year Vowed formation leading up to permanent vows.
Testimonials from the Community
"I was not fully sure what to expect coming into [the Guided Exploring Way]. Most especially since this would be done virtually and with people from all over the country, none of which I had met. I had some reservations but all things were eased once the process began. The facilitators were able to create a beautiful space for all of us where I felt seen even among a large group. The sessions we shared were refreshing and invigorating to my spirit. The readings that we did felt super relevant to current times and I have gone back to reread what was assigned to us to let it sit with me longer. I appreciated the time in this Candidacy process because it helped me to be secure in the decision to continue in the process and apply to postulancy. Even if I would have decided to not move forward, the tools that the Candidacy process gifted me are ones that I use daily. This process helped me to see that there are many others who are seeking these rhythms of contemplation and want to go deeper in community to fortify our faith."
Ready to apply?
Our next Guided Exploring Way begins October 2026. The application is open to all who are interested in joining in this journey. Applications close September 15.