Welcome to this new endeavor of The School of Spiritual Psychology! Spiritual Psychology is first and foremost a new discipline that comes from a tradition of scholarship, meditation, creativity and prayer. It is also a body of work consisting of research, books, conferences, classes and spiritual therapeutics. From the interest of fellow researchers in the fields of psychology, theology, literature, anthroposophy, medicine, music, education and the arts, spiritual psychology is coming to live in the world with presence. From the love of hundreds of students, it is beginning to flow into any number of professions and far-flung fields of those who seek renewal in their inner life, for the sake of their work, relationships, family, etc.

As Spiritual Psychology grows in the world we must seek more and more diverse avenues to bring and keep the community together. Robert and I have traveled, written and connected with approximately 8,000 to 10,000 people in the past 11 years. Many of those people return again and again to this work, for they have a heart connection to the streams that flow in and through spiritual psychology. They recognize the imprint of the soul, and, through these streams, stand with and for soul and spirit, in a world of materialism and machines.

We hope through this Sophia Journal to offer more than just information about spiritual psychology, soul, spirit, anthroposophy, or any of the other diverse topics that have been researched through spiritual psychology as a way of knowing about the world. We hope to provoke thought, awaken heart forces, and inspire you to do the unexpected and the glorious.

Of the hundreds of dear friends we have made in these initial years of development, one small regret is always that there are so many people we think would love to know this or that person. Here you may begin to meet some of them, through their creative and articulate words they will come to you to speak of the soul of the world as it resonates and rests in their house. Perhaps you will find your way to each other, and the fabric of this work will become less of a patchwork, and more of a quilt. A visible work of art, that has been created by each person who comes and adds their measure, their “stitches” to the whole.

We begin every class with the statement that we will here “make” spiritual psychology together, and when we leave, it will disappear, for it is in our coming together and working with one another that something new is created freely. Our hope now is to begin to make that “something new” more visible. That is the purpose of this Journal. Our gratitude for all that has been brought together, and that helps this continue, is immeasurable. We are continually blessed by dozens of caring visionaries who we have called “future-world-ers”. Those who perceive tomorrow through the heart’s silent attention, and work consistently to support the School, but more importantly to recognize and acknowledge her angel, are our greatest allies. We introduce you to a few of them here. We hope this finds you well, and helps you remember you are, or can be, part of a large, loving and thoughtful community, creating together a work of art for the sake of the world.

In Gratitude,

--- Cheryl L. Sanders