Beneath the Tree of Life is an LLC in Arizona,
All photos on site are property of April Boyden
About Me...
I am a human being who loves to explore life in all of its intense colors, feelings and relationships. I currently serve as a hospital chaplain.
I have been serving as a professional in ministry for more than 35 years. For most of those I was a consecrated deacon in the Lutheran Church and in 2019 was ordained as an Interfaith Minister with The Chaplaincy Institute. Always I have been a chaplain of some sort whether in a prison, a group home, a hospital, a hospice, singing at bedsides, or in flooded streets with disaster response.
I am a certified Spiritual Director who studied with the Sisters of the Cenacle in Houston, Texas; a certified SoulCollage® facilitator; Certified Grief Companion having studied with Dr. Alan Wolfelt of the Center for Loss & Transition; an Ordained Chaplain in Good Standing with the Chaplaincy Institute who completed a residency and formation in the Houston Medical Center and The Methodist Hospital; and studied the Enneagram with Russ Hudson and Jerry Wagner.
"April's ability to weave wisdom, spirituality, deep care, and grace into her work is unparalleled. I have witnessed her leadership in retreats and a grief support group, and marveled as others' hearts were lifted and new life paths were discovered. I cannot more highly recommend April as a spiritual companion." --Jana, Lutheran
About You...
You are who you are with all your giftedness and limitedness. Your life is significant and unique! and you are just one of so many humans and so many creatures on this planet. I hope to welcome and honor you just as you are; and while I will listen to how you view yourself, I will seek to see you with the Beloved's gaze and listen for words and ways to speak encouragement to you.
You are welcome here. To come as you are. To sit in silence and to speak your truth.
We are all perfectly imperfect and we all make mistakes. I will trip up sometimes with you, but I will always seek to walk in love and integrity with you.
You may practice any religion or have no particular faith tradition or faith at all. You may be trying to engage your 'higher power' for the first time in your life. You may be younger or older, but you are an adult. You use pronouns that are a fit for you. You might be grieving or experiencing new joy. You may or may not understand things like Enneagram or Sand Tray or Spiritual Direction! but you are someone who values things in life and wants to live with intention. You are someone who wants to live into the understanding that all the things in your life are part of your spiritual life and welcome as a focus.
About the name.... Beneath the Tree of Life
My midwestern childhood taught me the joy of crunching maple leaves in autumn. Hiking in college introduced me to my favorite smell--baked pine needles on the forest floor! My heart home is in the rainforest of the pacific northwest. I love trees! I lean on them, hug them, sit beneath them, and plant them. That 'forest bathing' has been identified as a healing practice was no surprise to me!
As a spiritual explorer and someone who studies world religions and spiritual practices, I delighted to discover how the Tree of Life lives in so many traditions--Indigenous, Celtic, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Christian, Kabbalah, + more.
As I was completing my seminary studies for ordination as an interfaith chaplain I participated in the worldwide gathering of the Parliament of World religions in Toronto. It was there I met members of the Tree of Life Jewish Congregation in Pennsylvania. Together we grieved what was the recent mass shooting there.
In Arizona, the Mesquite Tree, like this one that shades the processional labyrinth that I built from the design by Lars Howlett, can send its tap root down as much as 100 feet to reach water in its desert home and is locally referred to as "The Tree of Life."
As a musician, I have been privileged to be a song leader sometimes of Marty Haugen's work. His Christian liturgy "Beneath the Tree of Life" holds within it the vision I hope for the service I offer and the community we share:
"Come and gather beneath the Tree of Life: root of wisdom, branch of peace, fruit of healing and release."
And so I choose the name that holds the love, the history, the realities, and the vision of what might be....
Root of Wisdom. Branch of Peace. Fruit of Healing.
Explore & Learn. Pray & Connect. Love & Serve.
About Walking with you on Your Spiritual Journey
When you and I gather Beneath The Tree of Life, whether on zoom or in person, we will both check in with you to see what you notice about how you are carrying your particular burdens, exploring your personal gifts, noticing your timely learnings.
I regularly practice and grow my listening and reflecting skills and I will offer you tools to enhance your capacity for self-reflection, self-compassion and self-expression.
Spiritual Companions typically meet once a month for about an hour. This relationship can last for several months or many years. Some choose to meet more frequently for a season.
Let's begin today! Email me so we can find an agreeable time. An initial 20 minute conversation is free. Hour-long sessions are available on a sliding scale.
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Affiliations and Resources
Painted Mandalas, Collages, and most photographs on this site are the work and play of April Boyden.
Reach out anytime for guidance or questions.
april@beneaththetreeoflife.com
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