April 1, 2020 | 2:00 PM

Join us for the AGE-ING to SAGE-ING® Workshop series led by Audrey Seidman with Rev. Sam Trumbore, Wednesdays, 2:00pm – 4:30pm, April 22, May 6, 20, June 3 and 17.

In five Wednesday afternoon sessions, learn powerful tools for gathering and giving expression to the wisdom of your own ripening life and find inspiration through the gift of mortality. Based on the teachings of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and other spiritual wisdom leaders. 

All who seek to find meaning in the aging process are welcome.

Albany UU Members: $120

If space remains after April 1, Non-Members, $150

Seats are limited. RSVP to the church office. 

Audrey Seidman completed the Sage-ing® Mentorship Program, serves as a spiritual director, and volunteers as a chaplain at Albany Medical Center.

Program Summary

The Age-ing to Sage-ing® workshop series invites you to embrace life and live your elder years more consciously, more joyfully, and more compassionately, while offering powerful contemplative tools for gathering and giving expression to the wisdom of your own ripening life. Participants will be invited to:

• Awaken to a vision of Sage-ing® and engage in the homework of spiritual eldering.
• Use contemplative tools to draw wisdom and harvest blessings from your life experiences.
• Find inspiration in facing your own mortality.
• Consider how you will continue to be of sacred service.
• Explore your own vision and options for ideal community.

Workshop exercises are largely drawn from the work of Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, and his book From Age-ing to Sage-ing® is suggested reading. Teachings draw upon the writings of many others as well, including Father Richard Rohr and Ram Dass. All who want to gain deep meaning in the aging process are welcome.

Session 1 – Approaching Elderhood – In this introductory session we will provide a brief overview of the workshop series, offer introductions and create our covenant for working together. We will explore our images of aging, and engage in contemplative life review exercises. We will awaken to a vision of Sage-ing® and be invited to engage in the homework of spiritual eldering.

Session 2 – Tapping our Wisdom: Tools for Life Completion – In this session we engage in the inner work of Sage-ing, drawing wisdom from our life experiences, harvesting blessings from challenges and pain as we contemplate the work of forgiveness. We will learn from our “severe teachers,” visit with our Inner Elder, and reflect on our beliefs about humanity.

Session 3 –Mortality as Inspiration – In this session we will explore our feelings about loss and death, consider some tools for creating peace of mind, and imagine our final moments on earth, all towards inspiring a richer, more purposeful life.

Session 4 – Sage-ing®: Living as a Spiritual Elder – In this session we explore elder consciousness and are invited to consider how we will both pass along our wisdom and continue to be of service as an elder of the tribe.

Session 5 – Sage-ing® in Community: Creating our Place – In this session we reflect on how we give and receive in relationship, ponder “wise independence” and the “dance of interdependence,” recall memorable experiences of community, identify what we most value in community, and how we might strengthen our own connections. A bibliography and resource list is provided for further learning.