These are the agreements we hold in order to co-create a meaningful spiritual companionship.
This covenant is an agreement between you and I to set the ground rules and parameters of engagement.
Ground rules
Presumption of fiction: At Mind Geographic, we encourage creative thinking and this also means you might want to "invent" a persona if that would be conducive for you to get out of your normal thinking routine. Everything you share with me, therefore, is presumed to be a work of fiction or a creative retelling of your actual life experience mixed in with fictitious musings.
Confidentiality: Everything that is shared in your sessions will stay in the sessions. I keep extremely minimal records, all records will be encrypted, and nothing will be divulged. All records will be destroyed after 90 days of inactivity (counted from the last session). If you prefer encrypted email communication, I recommend CTemplar as all communications between CTemplar addresses are end-to-end encrypted.
Synchronous versus asynchronous sessions: Because not everyone is able to do live chat, asynchronous sessions are also available upon request. Asynchronous sessions will be through encrypted email, and each "session" for this purpose will be a seven-day period. During this time, I will present you with a set of questions and/or prompts for you to use and you can respond at your leisure within the seven-day period. The fee for a seven-day asynchronous session is the same as a 90-minute synchronous ("live") session.
Cancellation and rescheduling: If you need to reschedule or cancel any synchronous session (i.e., live chat), you must notify Willow by email by no later than 24 hours in advance. Conversely, your session may be cancelled by a 24-hour notice if I am ill or if I have some urgent matters to attend. We use North American Pacific Time Zone (same as Vancouver and San Francisco). Fees are non-refundable but will be applied toward the next session if you cancelled no later than 24 hours before the scheduled session. If you cancel within 24 hours of your session or if you "flake out," you will forfeit the fees paid.
Inappropriate conduct: While I recognize the diversity of sexuality and how sexuality may play important role in people's spiritual life (and I am fairly kink-friendly), spiritual direction is not a forum for overly sexualized or sexually explicit interactions. If I determine that your conduct is becoming inappropriate at any point, I reserve right to terminate your session and discontinue any further sessions. Additionally, any abusive conduct, harassment, hate speech, threats of violence, suicide or self-harm, etc., will have absolutely no place in our spiritual direction sessions and will not be tolerated. It is the intention of Mind Geographic to create an intentionally safe space for everyone.
Support between sessions: You are welcome to email Willow at any time between sessions with questions, feedback, prayer request, or anything else. However, it may take a few days before response. You are also welcome to participate in the official Mind Geographic online groups.
Suicide, self-harm, and mental health emergencies: Please be aware that this is NOT a mental health service and is NOT a substitute for appropriate healthcare. If you're experiencing a severe mental health crisis, you we may suspend our spiritual direction sessions until you have sufficiently recovered.
One more thing, because it's the law: Willow is an ordained member of clergy and this means the Oregon state law requires mandatory reporting of anyone who is suspected of child abuse or elder abuse. If Willow knows that you live in Oregon and it comes to Willow's attention that you may be engaging in child or elder abuse, you will be reported to the Oregon Department of Human Services. You are warned.
- "Spiritual direction" supports you in deepening your faith/spiritual life. Despite the word "direction," I am not here to give you a direction. Rather, I use active listening and thought-provoking questions to help you explore and clarify your belief systems, your values, and your goals. The result is greater self-knowledge, a better grasp of your values and beliefs, deeper discernment abilities, and stronger mastery of your mind.
- Spiritual direction works the best in the context of conversation and listening carried out in a trusting relationship. The primary interest of spiritual direction is your experience of the Sacred and how you can follow the higher calling. That process is a spiritual journey into the greater truth, yourself, your relationships, your work, and the world.
- The fundamental premise of spiritual direction is that you are a unique expression of "God," and the process of spiritual direction is to bring out the clarity and self-knowledge about how "God" is expressed in you.
- My work is to facilitate your path to self-discovery, not to "fix" you or to "analyze" you. I am not here to proselytize, or to judge whether your beliefs are right or wrong.
- I recommend a minimum of four sessions, held in the interval of four weeks. Thereafter, follow-up sessions may be arranged quarterly or semi-annually depending on your needs. Every six months we evaluate whether you are genuinely benefitting from spiritual direction and whether to continue or discontinue.
- The standard fee for your initial session is $75 (USD) or its equivalent at current exchange rates, and each subsequent session is $50 (USD) or its equivalent at current exchange rates. The fee must be received by the start of each session through an agreed-upon payment method (your session will be automatically cancelled if payment is not received by 30 minutes prior to your appointment); however, If you opt for anonymity, the fee will be payable when booking your session instead. Limited fee reduction and trades are available for those in need and those who have limited to no access to banking services.
- Payment methods: PayPal (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, ACH), money orders and certified checks in USD and payable in the U.S. (mail-in), BTC, LTC, BCH, ETH, XLM or FAIR. For a limited time, we are offering a 10 percent discount if paid with a money order (must be negotiable in the U.S.) or Bitcoin (BTC). Contact me for alternative payment methods or barter options if you are unbanked or unbankable.
- Mind Geographic's services are available worldwide, including censorship-heavy countries, except for Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela (due to economic sanctions, which is beyond our control).
Ground rules
Presumption of fiction: At Mind Geographic, we encourage creative thinking and this also means you might want to "invent" a persona if that would be conducive for you to get out of your normal thinking routine. Everything you share with me, therefore, is presumed to be a work of fiction or a creative retelling of your actual life experience mixed in with fictitious musings.
Confidentiality: Everything that is shared in your sessions will stay in the sessions. I keep extremely minimal records, all records will be encrypted, and nothing will be divulged. All records will be destroyed after 90 days of inactivity (counted from the last session). If you prefer encrypted email communication, I recommend CTemplar as all communications between CTemplar addresses are end-to-end encrypted.
Synchronous versus asynchronous sessions: Because not everyone is able to do live chat, asynchronous sessions are also available upon request. Asynchronous sessions will be through encrypted email, and each "session" for this purpose will be a seven-day period. During this time, I will present you with a set of questions and/or prompts for you to use and you can respond at your leisure within the seven-day period. The fee for a seven-day asynchronous session is the same as a 90-minute synchronous ("live") session.
Cancellation and rescheduling: If you need to reschedule or cancel any synchronous session (i.e., live chat), you must notify Willow by email by no later than 24 hours in advance. Conversely, your session may be cancelled by a 24-hour notice if I am ill or if I have some urgent matters to attend. We use North American Pacific Time Zone (same as Vancouver and San Francisco). Fees are non-refundable but will be applied toward the next session if you cancelled no later than 24 hours before the scheduled session. If you cancel within 24 hours of your session or if you "flake out," you will forfeit the fees paid.
Inappropriate conduct: While I recognize the diversity of sexuality and how sexuality may play important role in people's spiritual life (and I am fairly kink-friendly), spiritual direction is not a forum for overly sexualized or sexually explicit interactions. If I determine that your conduct is becoming inappropriate at any point, I reserve right to terminate your session and discontinue any further sessions. Additionally, any abusive conduct, harassment, hate speech, threats of violence, suicide or self-harm, etc., will have absolutely no place in our spiritual direction sessions and will not be tolerated. It is the intention of Mind Geographic to create an intentionally safe space for everyone.
Support between sessions: You are welcome to email Willow at any time between sessions with questions, feedback, prayer request, or anything else. However, it may take a few days before response. You are also welcome to participate in the official Mind Geographic online groups.
Suicide, self-harm, and mental health emergencies: Please be aware that this is NOT a mental health service and is NOT a substitute for appropriate healthcare. If you're experiencing a severe mental health crisis, you we may suspend our spiritual direction sessions until you have sufficiently recovered.
One more thing, because it's the law: Willow is an ordained member of clergy and this means the Oregon state law requires mandatory reporting of anyone who is suspected of child abuse or elder abuse. If Willow knows that you live in Oregon and it comes to Willow's attention that you may be engaging in child or elder abuse, you will be reported to the Oregon Department of Human Services. You are warned.
