Your Spirit In The Desert!

Connect, Refresh, Renew in Carefree. All are welcome here.

Location Details

7415 E Elbow Bend Road Carefree, AZ 85377

New Touchpoints

Touchpoint: The death of John the Baptist. Painting by MARCEL-BÉRONNEAU of Salome holding the head of John the Baptist

John, Jesus and Ravi

“More happened in that session, and I went to my room and packed, ready to walk out of the Episcopal retreat center in LA’s Echo Park. I yelled to no one, aloud, “I can’t believe I’m paying for this abuse!” I sat on the edge of the bed and heard a voice inside me saying, “Henry, they are just a bunch of human beings.” (There was an expletive before the word ‘human’ that I left out.) I returned to the group and talked with Ravi, and he said, “Henry don’t ever lose your magic. But in spiritual direction, it’s about the directee, and how Spirit directs them together. You are a witness; listen for your own prompts.””
Touchpoint: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve. Image is watercolor painting by Wayne Pascall of Jesus and his disciples,

Shape of My Heart

“We have been told, or we may think, that we need to be fit. Boy scouts need to be prepared, yes! But why do we need to be prepared to love… to engage strangers and deliver life-giving seeds of new beginnings or watering the seeds already scattered? Jesus said, “You don’t need any other equipment; you are the equipment!” In talking to Samuel he said, ‘They don’t need a king to tell them what to do, they have me!'”
Touchpoint: The Other Side; image portrays a black woman on her knees reaching to touch the cloak of Jesus

The Other Side

Grace and peace to you from the Mystery in whom we live and move, and have our being. A woman healed. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.’” Mark 5:21-43 A woman healed Whenever we go to the other side, we leave where we were. The Other Side can be a mystery. We are often led to…

Spirit Blog

Daily Devotions

I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.” vs. 2 2 Corinthians 12:2-5 Many Jews believed that when a righteous person died they would be taken to a garden called Paradise, a place similar to the Eden that was well-known from the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul claims in this boasting section of his letter to the Corinthians that…

Daily Devotions

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.” vs. 4 Psalm 23:4-6 There is a lot to be troubled about in our good but broken world. Even if we don’t believe in climate change, global warming cannot be denied, and we’re feeling its effects in a myriad of ways. The war in Gaza continues with little prospect of even a ceasefire agreement to…

Daily Devotions

He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’” vs. 34 Psalm 23:1-3 In case you missed it, there is a presidential campaign going on, one of the most divisive in generations, with both major candidates framing the election as a choice between good and evil. Of course that’s not true, and we should know better. Both men have been created in the image of God, both have goodness…

My First Visit

We welcome you to explore the campus…

I came for the Healing of Memories workshop for veterans, and I almost didn’t come because of the trauma I wrestle with, but your staff, the workshop leaders and the quiet and safe campus held me there and I’ve found a new sense of peace and healing.

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The Next Big Thing

Healing of Memories for Religious Leaders

A retreat for religious leaders who have experienced emotional, psychological and spiritual distress in their personal or professional lives — facilitated by the Institute for Healing of Memories — is coming June 3-6, 2024.