Awakenings, Inc.

✨ Reconciling Scripture with Reality—Justice, Curses, and God's True Nature ✨

This week, our series led us into the challenging work of reconciling certain scriptures with our lived realities and experiences. Together with our Theologian in Residence, Chrystal Golden , and Pastor Tia Norman shared a collaborative Truth Communication exploring Biblical history—its flourishing, failures, and exiles. We looked deeply into The Fall and the Curses, seeking to uncover God’s true nature of justice and grace.

Missed this session? Catch the replay on our page and join us next week as we continue to explore God’s redemptive grace and unconditional love.

Looking for more resources? Get our free guide, Moving Through Biblical Hindrances and Toward Spiritual Growth, through the link in our bio!

📢 Introducing Jia Johnson as our Next BIPOC Speaker!

We’re thrilled to have Jia Johnson joining us in the BIPOC Speaker Series! Jia is a somatic mind-body coach, intuitive energy healer, shaman, and the founder of Freedom Dream Collective, LLC, a coaching and consulting firm supporting the wellbeing of mission-driven individuals and organizations.

In her recent work, Jia served as the founding director of the Solidarity Building Initiative for Liberative Carceral Education, offering higher education to incarcerated communities. With a Master’s in Public Ministry and training in Shamanic Reiki and grief care, Jia combines social justice with deep spiritual healing practices.

Join us virtually for her talk and experience her transformative wisdom! Forward this post to friends who may be interested, and remember that signing up once gives access to all Solace & Serenity Gatherings.

🔗 in bio

💫 Follow Jia on Instagram:

Honoring Dr. Barbara Holmes and Her Legacy

When dreams and plans for the first Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit began, Dr. Barbra Holmes was one of the first hearts I envisioned guiding us through the weekend. Her recent passing brings both deep sadness and a powerful reminder to create spaces for contemplation, community, and honoring our diversity as a path to interconnectedness.

I once asked Dr. B what it means to be part of a beloved community in a world that often pressures us to define ourselves as either/or instead of both/and. She reminded me that we sit in silence, in contemplative practice, to let God name who we are.

Dr. B’s wisdom was truly unique. May we each remember more of who we are, thanks to her gift for helping us connect beyond what divides.✨🌙💫

-Pastor Tia Norman

Join us this February as we continue the work she inspired. Link in bio for details.

🌿 Exploring True Freedom in Faith 🌿

Are you ready to break free from fear-based beliefs and experience a deeper, more loving connection with God? In our latest series, we’re diving into how we can move from people-pleasing to embracing true spiritual freedom. Each week, we’re uncovering biblical truths about God’s nature, shifting from judgment to grace, and finding worthiness in God’s love.

Join us on this journey, and if you’re looking for more guidance, don’t miss our free resource: “Guide to Moving Through Biblical Hindrances and Toward Spiritual Freedom.” Download it through the link in our bio to help you take steps toward a liberated, fulfilling faith.

Tag a friend who could use some encouragement on this journey! 💫

📸:

📢 Join Us This Sunday for Our BIPOC Speaker Series with Felicia Murrell!

We’re excited to welcome Felicia Murrell to continue our BIPOC Speaker Series during this week’s Solace & Serenity Gathering! 🙌

Felicia is a spiritual director, freelance copy editor, proofreader, and author of two books, including her latest release AND: The Restorative Power of Love In An Either/Or World. With over 20 years of church leadership experience and a background as a certified master life coach, Felicia brings profound wisdom and insight into her work. 🌿

✨ Join us virtually this Sunday for an enriching conversation led by Felicia! Forward this post to friends and family who would love to join as well. Once you sign up, you’ll receive a link that’s good for any of our Sunday gatherings.

🖱️ Sign up here in our

📅 See you Sunday!

Join us on October 27th for the next installment of the BIPOC Speaker Series with Felicia Murrell!

Felicia, a spiritual director, will guide us through her unique approach to contemplative spirituality, healing, and transformation. Her wisdom invites us to embrace presence, deep listening, and the sacred worth of all people. ✨

Invite a friend and register now using the link in our bio!

We are excited to announce that Alfonso 'Trey' Campbell and Julian Davis Reid will be speaking at the Black Contemplative Prayer Summit in February 2025! ✨

Trey is a Baptist Minister and advocate for justice, creates spaces that foster freedom and inclusivity.

Julian, founder of Notes of Rest®, blends music and theology to lead us into divine rest.

Don’t miss these inspiring voices!

📆 Early Bird registration ends October 15th. Take advantage of the Buy One, Get One Free offer and bring a friend to this transformative event. Plus, 50% of proceeds go to support Awakenings!

Join us on October 27th for our next BIPOC Speaker Series featuring Felicia Murrell, a spiritual director whose work centers on presence, deep listening, and honoring the sacred worth of all people.

Felicia’s wisdom guides others toward living authentically and finding peace on their spiritual journey. Don’t miss it - save your spot by visiting the link in our bio! ✨

✨ NEW SERIES ANNOUNCEMENT ✨

Have you ever wrestled with questions like:

• “Am I good enough for God?”
• “Is my worth tied to how well I follow the rules?”
• “Why does so much of my faith feel rooted in fear?”

Starting this month, we’re launching a 5-week thematic series designed to help us unlearn fear and rediscover our worth through the lens of God’s love and grace. Together, we’ll explore the transformation of faith from condemnation and people-pleasing to a deep, liberating relationship with God rooted in love.

We are especially excited to feature an interview with Felicia Murrell , a spiritual director and author of AND: The Restorative Power of Love in an Either/Or World. Felicia brings her deep experience as a former pastor, spiritual guide, and advocate for healing love to our series.

Series Title: Unlearning Fear, Embracing Worth: Transformative Theology for the Beloved
When: Every Sunday for the next 5 weeks at 11 AM CST
Where: (First Sunday) Hybrid + (Every Sunday) Virtual Gatherings

Join us for these powerful conversations, where we’ll tackle tough topics like worthiness, fear, judgment, and God’s true nature. Each week will challenge you to shed fear-based beliefs and live from a place of divine grace and freedom.

💛 Come as you are—this is a space to question, learn, and grow.

Special Guest: Felicia Murrell
Felicia is a spiritual director, copy editor, and author of AND: The Restorative Power of Love in an Either/Or World. A former ordained pastor with over 20 years of church leadership experience, she has a heart for helping others discover healing through love. Connect with her on Instagram or her website www.feliciamurrell.com.

Tag a friend who needs this reminder! 💫

Psalm 46:10 invites us to transform inner awareness into healing, even in times of fear and division.

‘Be still and know that I am God’ calls us to relax into our oneness with God, allowing what happens in our 'inner room' to transform our outer world. By staying present to our thoughts and emotions, we support our own healing and the healing of our communities.

Curious to learn more? Sign up for our newsletter to get the replay sent directly to your inbox!

We're happy to share a new resource with you - Moving Through Biblical Hindrances and Toward Spiritual Growth!

This resource was created to address the most common questions from our community and offers practical tools for navigating challenging scripture passages. Explore the literary and cultural context of the Bible, explore how individual actions can transform systemic sin, and deepen your understanding of Christianity’s Jewish roots. ✨

Download the guide and share it with friends! Link in bio.

The replay of our first BIPOC Speaker Series conversation with R.G. Shore is now available!

R.G. shared a powerful and personal reflection on his journey through trauma, incarceration, and healing as a person of color. His story offers deep insights into facing wounds and supporting others on their healing paths.

Missed the live conversation? Make sure your signed up for our newsletter to get the replay sent directly to your inbox!

Join us this Sunday for our next BIPOC Speaker Series featuring Cameron Johnson, a contemplative teacher and spiritual companion from Atlanta, GA. 🌿 Cameron will share personal stories, unique insights, and lead a practice to help deepen your spiritual journey. Click the link in our bio to register! ✨

Beatrice Klokpah shared a powerful reflection on how synchronicities have shaped her spirituality and identity, reminding us of the sacredness of our connections. Her story highlights the importance of paying attention to those divine moments that reveal God's love and support. ✨ Reflect on the synchronicities in your life and the grace they bring.

Sign up for our newsletter to watch the replay 📩

Mark your calendars for the weekend of September 12-14, 2025 as we come together to celebrate 20 years of Awakenings!

Here’s a preview of what’s planned:
✨Friday Night Meet-Up: Community dinner
✨Gallery Event & Happy Hour: Time to unwind and celebrate our journey
✨Sunday Gathering: Featuring Awakenings alumni sharing their memories and reflections

We look forward to celebrating these milestones with you! Stay tuned for more details!

The lineup for the Black Contemplative Prayer Summit is now complete, and we’re thrilled to announce that Cole Arthur Riley will be our keynote speaker!

Cole, a New York Times bestselling author known for her book This Here Flesh and as the creator of Black Liturgies, beautifully weaves together contemplative spirituality, Black culture, and collective memory. Her voice will bring incredible depth to our summit’s exploration of contemplative practices.

🎟️ Early bird pricing is available until October 15th, with a special buy-one-get-one-free offer.

Plus, 50% of all proceeds from registrations through our affiliate link go directly to Awakenings, supporting the work we do together!

Click the link in our bio to register!

We’ve explored how abundance, kenosis (self-emptying), and singleness reveal our wholeness and creative potential. This week, we reflect on Jesus as a Wisdom teacher, guiding us to shift from storing up to pouring out, even in challenging times. 💫 Discover how this wisdom can transform your spiritual practice. Replay available when you sign up for our newsletter.

Today marks a milestone—our 19th anniversary as a community! For nearly two decades, we’ve prayed, supported each other, and deepened our connection to the Divine and one another. I’m so grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together. 🙏

However, I’m sharing a personal and important need. Recently, we've faced a drop in giving, impacting our ability to meet financial commitments, including my salary. Some weeks, I haven’t been fully paid, and as we approach the end of September, the challenge continues.

With approval from our board, we’re launching a special fundraiser in honor of our anniversary to cover my back pay and salary through the end of this month. We need to raise $3,641.50. Reaching this goal will allow me to continue serving you fully and with all the focus and love you deserve.

I know financial matters can be sensitive, and it’s not easy to ask for help. But I’m turning to you, our beloved community, for support. Every bit, no matter the size, makes a huge difference.

If you feel called to give, you can do so using the link in our bio.

Thank you for being a part of this beautiful community. Here’s to many more years of growth and connection! 💫