Awakening Spirituality ~ Exploring Our Sacred Stories through Making Mandalas

Debra beholds God’s cosmos through attentive silence, creative artistic expression, and the dusty stuff of life. As a Spiritual Director certified by the Dominican Center, Debra companions with individuals and groups, designs and leads retreats, and consults through her spirituality practice, Pax Luminaria (Peace & Light). You may find Debra with her head in clouds, conversations, journals and books; her feet heading to woods, water and harvest; and her heart leaning toward other souls on her path. A Protestant by upbringing, Debra’s wide spiritual embrace trusts that everyone belongs with inherent dignity, desires to be known and loved, and offers capacity for transformative change within communities. Formerly a professor with a Phd from Michigan State University, Debra’s teaching, research and vision for sacred presence through diverse inclusive communities informs numerous collaborative adventures.

“Anything is possible, one stroke at a time™” is a guiding mindset for Yoli as she explores God’s creativity in the world around her and in her own life.  As a lifelong learner and teacher at heart, she is inspired by nature’s patterns and those that can flow from a pen through her daily practice of Zentangle, a drawing method that extends the invitation to express gratitude, be present, slow down, increase focus and enjoy calm.  Having experienced its benefits, particularly during some of life’s hardest moments, she now eagerly shares it with others through classes and workshops in hopes that they too will discover the artist within.  Yoli sparks joy creating spaces through PAZ for others to Pause and Zentangle (PAZ is Spanish for “peace”).  She finds joy in books, journals, art supplies, the beach and all things coffee.  She lives in Holland, Michigan, is a Certified Zentangle Teacher and holds a Masters Degree in Higher Education from Grand Valley State University.