Jay Lukis

Pronouns: They/He
Language(s): English

Spiritual Bio: First and foremost, I myself identify as a Spiritual Seeker. More specifically, I identify as a spiritually fluid interfaith/interspiritual practitioner, predominantly informed by Lutheran Christianity, as an ordained pastor in the ELCA since 2011, and as a student of Buddhist philosophy and practitioner of Vipassana/Insight Meditation practices and teachings. Some affinity groups where I find a sense of belonging include neuro-diverse, disabled, clerical, queer, and householder. I am a spouse and parent of 4 children, seeing parenting as one of the most challenging—and rewarding—vocations for one who has a simultaneous intention to walking a path of spiritual growth. Throughout my whole life, music has stirred my spirit; as a guitarist and singer/song-writer, I often incorporate music into my own sacred practices. one example of how I have incorporated music into my own sacred practice, is this song which I wrote to creatively express my intention and commitment I bring to my work as a Spiritual Care Provider.

What does Spiritual Care Providing mean to you? To me, I am most at home in providing spiritual care in the modalities of Spiritual Guidance, Spiritual Companioning, Spiritual Direction, and Pastoral Counseling, but I always seek to follow the needs of the individuals with whom I meet, and the unfolding of spirit between us. I practice sacred listening rooted in an intention to accompany clients/spiritual seekers while they explore their own interior and exterior sacred landscapes. This might include strengthening their relationship with their own understanding of the divine, cultivating new contemplative practices for experiencing the divine in their lives and world around them through all aspects of our being, or simply dwelling in divine wonder together. I find my former work, as a wilderness guide at a summer camp, to be an apt metaphor for my understanding of the role of a spiritual guide. Much like a wilderness guide, I could accompany fellow sojourners along their journey, show them some canoe paddling techniques, teach the how and where to best set up a tent, but I could never experience the wilderness for them. Much like the wildernesses of the natural world, the wilds of spiritual landscapes can come along with their own kinds of inclement weather, long portages, steep and slippery slopes, as well as breathtaking beauty, awe-inspiring wonder, and mountain top experiences. My goal as a spiritual guide is to accompany and guide you in discovering the broader territory of you own spiritual landscape(s).