. . . towards peace within
Services for Individuals
In today’s world, many are seeking a meaningful spirituality or to walk a spiritual path that is inclusive and universal in scope. Also there are those who are comfortably established in a religious organization or community with an open and affirming attitude towards the diversity of spiritual expressions.
We seek to companion with those who are on a spiritual search, and to provide tools, feedback, and support for this process. Most people who seek spiritual mentoring services meet once per month for approximately 45-50 minute session. Services provided on a fee per session.
Reasons for Seeking Support
Clients come to Shalem Center with a variety of life concerns, ranging from issues of relationships, vocation, marriage/partnership and family, spirituality, life meaning and direction, or emotional struggles with anxiety or depression.
Fees
Fees for spiritual companioning sessions are in keeping with the national average. These range from reduced fees of $60 up to $125 per session. Please inquire.
To Make an Appointment
Call (614) 270-6555 to arrange an appointment or to obtain more information.
. . . towards peace without
Dances of Universal Peace
Through the work of our Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Reed, Shalem supports the local work of the International Network of the Dances of Universal Peace. As a Certified Dance Leader, Elizabeth leads regularly at the monthly meeting of the Dances, travels to teach regionally, nationally and internationally and works as a mentor to and with other Dances of Universal Peace leaders-in-training.
Interfaith Rituals and Ceremonies
Providing an inclusive and welcoming ministry of ritual is another arm of Shalem Center. As both an ordained United Methodist minister and Sufi cherag, Rev. Elizabeth is available to officiate at weddings, funerals, and other important life ceremonies or rituals. She (and other ministers “on call” with Shalem to do such work) can design and officiate spiritual ceremonies specifically to honor and respect all faiths represented, including those who do not claim any spiritual path. A fee schedule is determined by the Board of Trustees of Shalem Center. Click to get more information about Wedding Policies.
Interfaith Counseling and Consultation Services
Shalem provides culturally sensitive consultations for individuals, couples, and families dealing with issues related to differences in religious heritage or spiritual path. See information about individual services above.
Ways of the Heart
A joint program of Shalem Center and the Greater Perspective
In 2006, Shalem began a new program, Ways of the Heart, in collaboration with Jan Bayshor, M.A of The Greater Perspective. This series offered an opportunity to participate in intentional community, in sacred atmosphere, for spiritual deepening towards living purposeful lives of service. There have been three years of ongoing groups and occasional weekend retreats. Information will be posted when new events are planned.
. . . towards peace through the wisdom of the Native Middle Eastern traditions
Abwoon Resource Center
The Abwoon Resource Center is the major program arm of Shalem Center. It exists to support the research and teaching work of Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz in his work in Native Middle Eastern spirituality and peacemaking, including work on the Aramaic words of Jesus, Hebrew and Native Middle Eastern creation mysticism and Sufism.
Over a number of years in this program development, the Abwoon Resource Center was funded by the Kalliopeia Foundation as well as many individual donors. The Abwoon bookstore is maintained at the Shalem Center office, communications are a key aspect of the work, workshops and events are organized and produced, resources are developed and distributed there, as well as other related projects as described below.
Outreach Work of Abwoon Resource Center
Shalem Center supports the Aramaic and Native Middle Eastern translation work of Neil Douglas-Klotz, Ph.D. (through his Abwoon site) as the nonprofit arm for outreach work of Abwoon Study Circle.
Donations received for outreach work support such projects as the Edinburgh Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, support of research, writing, and/or production of new resource books or audiovisuals, travel support for Neil or Elizabeth for teaching trips, and/or scholarships for new leaders from non-hard currency countries to attend workshops and trainings.
Abwoon Network Online Communications
Through the use of Constant Contact we stay in touch with interested persons with news on “occasional” basis. (After 2014, we no longer produce a hard copy annual publication of the newsletter.) Please send an email message if you would like to be placed on this mailing list to resourcecenter@abwoon.com.
Workshops
Since COVID, we no longer organize workshops in Columbus, OH. All workshops are offered in other regions by invitation.
For twenty years, Shalem Center sponsored an annual spring workshop featuring Dr. Douglas-Klotz on some aspect of his research, writing, and spiritual practices from a Native Middle Eastern perspective. Topics have included: The Hidden Gospel (2000), The Aramaic Lord’s Prayer (2002), The Beatitude Way (2003); Genesis Meditations: A Shared Spirituality of Peace (2004), The Sufi Book of Life (2005), Blessings of the Cosmos (2006), The Aramaic Lord’s Prayer: 25th Anniversary Celebration (2007), The Healing Breath: Beatitudes (2008), The Aramaic Jesus and the Sufis (2009), plus The Way of Renewal (in North Carolina), Many Mansions: Yeshua’s Last Teachings (2010), Thousands of Ways to Kneel and Kiss the Ground (2014), and Nomad’s Way (2016).
From 2013 to 2016 Shalem cosponsored workshops when Neil cotaught with Natalia Lepteva, Walking the Stars (2013), followed by (2014-2017) a series of three retreats (by application) focused on healing, as well as (2017) a Light of Success weekend workshop.
Shalem sponsored Aramaic focused workshops in Cincinnati Ohio in 2018 (Reborn from the Breath, which Munira Elizabeth Reed taught last minute due to medical emergency) and 2019 (The Beautiful Names of Life).
For more information on Neil’s current and future retreats, go to www.abwoon.com.
For more information on Munira Elizabeth’s workshop, go to
Leadership for Local Workshops and Retreats
Persons can be referred to be a speaker or introductory workshop leader in spiritual or devotional practice with the resources of Abwoon Study Circle. This may include Aramaic translations of the Lord’s Prayer, Beatitudes, various aspects of the Divine Feminine, or other topics related to embodied spiritual practices. Elizabeth Reed is available for leadership as well as other persons (Abwoon Interspiritual Leadership Program graduates) located across the United States who have worked deeply with the material over some years time.
We are grateful for Kalliopeia’s support in the Abwoon Interspiritual Leadership Program for the course of three graduating classes and now for this outreach work to southern states. From 2015 to 2019 Abwoon Resource Center received support from the Kalliopeia Foundation for Elizabeth Reed to present introductory workshops in the Aramaic/Native Middle Eastern work of Neil Douglas-Klotz to audiences in the USA southeastern states. Her outreach work also has reached both Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Turkey over the past fifteen years.
Web-Based meditation courses
Please note: Currently SelfHealingExpressions.com is currently under revision. We hope to provide these meditation courses again soon.
- A Healing Journey with the Aramaic Lord’s Prayer
- Breathing with the Divine Breath: Deep Inner Healing in the Beatitude Way
These courses are produced by SelfHealingExpressions.com. Online sessions can be received daily, weekly or biweekly at the reader’s choice and guide the participant through either the lines of the Aramaic Lord’s Prayer or the Aramaic Beatitudes. These courses help reclaim the mysticism of Yeshua (Jesus) through a first century Native Middle Eastern worldview. Edited from the writings of Neil Douglas-Klotz, Elizabeth Reed has added other material to expand the meditations and invite new perspectives. By using the link here to sign up for the course, a donation is made by SelfHealingExpressions to the outreach work of Abwoon.