Who I Am

Spirituality, words, movement, and images are the primary threads woven through my life.

I am a spiritual guide and writer from the United States’ desert Southwest who ponders the sacred through prayer, poetry, dance, photography, nature, and contemplation.

My mission is to cultivate deep spiritual roots in others so that all of us may spread our wings and fly freely in pursuit of our particular lives and callings.

See Shirin’s e-books and published works

My Roots

My calling came to me early in life. I wrote my first poem in fifth grade. I grew up in a Christian church with an active liturgical dance program. At the age of fourteen, I received a call to ministry—specifically to support people in living out their individual calls to serve others.

In preparation for living out this ministry, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and History from Trinity University, a Master’s of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology, and a Certificate in Spiritual Guidance through the Shalem Institute.

For many years I was a member of the Massachusetts liturgical dance group Dancers of Spirit under the direction of Jessie Sayre Maeck, a former soloist with the Alwin Nikolais Dance Theater. I am also a certified Let Your Yoga Dance® Instructor.

My Wings

I have been offering spiritual guidance for over twenty years and have clients who see me in person and via phone and Skype.

I have been leading retreats on various topics since the early 1990s. I have led sessions in Embodied Prayer around the United States since 2008.

I began work as an editor in 1986 and also serve as a spiritual writer coach. I write for a variety of clients, including Loose-Leaf Lectionary and Civilis Marketing.

My poetry, photography and prose has been published in Women’s Uncommon Prayers and I have published A Wing and a Prayer, the first in a series of contemplative photo books.

My Hope

Whether you

• find stillness and prayer in my galleries,
• subscribe to my blog,
• seek my support for your writing process,
• register for an upcoming online retreat or event, or
• explore your deeper journey through spiritual guidance,

I pray that here you may find both nourishing food to grow your spiritual roots and encouragement to spread your wings and fly.