Wellbeing: Spiritual Exploration

SPEX 9 is an exploration of the meaning of spirituality and what it looks like to live a spiritual life. Students will learn about how spirituality can benefit personal well-being, understand the relationship between spirituality and being religious or non-religious, discuss some of the "Big Questions" that spirituality can address, interview trusted spiritual mentors in their personal life, and engage with values and practices emerging from the world's spiritual traditions in ways that are applicable and accessible to people of any or no religious affiliation.

SPEX 10 is an exploration of identity and purpose as it relates to our spiritual journey. Students will consider the fundamental spiritual nature of humanity, create an identity chart to reflect upon the core aspects of their identity, reflect on the interplay of reality and illusion in creating identity, express their open selves through a collage, gain awareness of their blind, hidden, and unknown selves, engaging in a loving-kindness action project, and write a letter of encouragement to their future selves.

SPEX 11 is an exploration of finding balance within ourselves and the world around us by integrating the values that comprise our lives. Students will use the model of “spiral dynamics” to analyze these seemingly competing values and set their sights on a spiritual journey which seeks to “transcend and include” all these values with harmony, flexibility, and compassion. In particular, students will study the non-judgmental awareness of Daoist philosophy and unconditional love of Christian spirituality as examples of guiding principles for this journey.

SPEX 12 is an exploration of spiritual practice and storytelling as students look forward to moving beyond high school in their spiritual journey. Students will create a kintsugi bowl, participate in a Chinese tea ceremony, practice tai chi, try their hand at rock binding and rock balancing, and creating narratives of self and their spiritual journey from childhood until now. The final experience in Spiritual Explorations will walking a labyrinth with their classmates marked by signs of the spiritual truth they intend to carry with them from high school.