We are delighted to welcome our founding minister, Regina Dawn Akers, as our January Satsang guest. This special event will take place on Sunday, January 19th, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. MT in our Zoom sanctuary. Regina will be interviewed by Rev. Rhoda Makled.

Following one of Regina’s recent homilies, Rhoda found herself writing to Regina to inquire about some of her statements during the gathering. What followed was a conversation about some of the questions Rhoda found herself not posing publicly or with others. Following this written exchange Regina graciously offered to participate in a Satsang. We are excited to have this opportunity to have Regina in the sanctuary as our first Satsang guest of 2025.

For those who are not as familiar with Regina’s story here is some background:
Awakening Together‘s founder, Regina Dawn Akers, grew up in middle-America as a Christian. Her religious training came from more than one Christian faith, and she was aware of differences in Biblical interpretation within the Christian community. She was also aware of the similarities that crossed all denominational boundaries, the most important of which was the statement, “God is love.” Regina knew in her heart that this must be true, and she yearned to know God’s love perfectly.

Although Regina was fascinated by all religions, she never felt to settle with any particular religion. She was driven by an inner desire she was not yet fully aware of, and Regina needed time to discover the calling within her heart.

In April of 2004, Regina spontaneously awakened to her own desire while praying. She describes that prayer this way:

“As I was praying, I felt overcome by a desire to be useful. I wanted nothing more than to be completely useful to God for the rest of my life. I told Him that I would learn anything He wanted me to learn and do anything He wanted me to do. I just asked Him to please make me useful.”

Regina left her career and home in Massachusetts and moved with her young daughter to North Carolina. After the move was complete, she began the work of listening to the inner dictation that resulted in The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI).

In March of 2006, Regina received guidance to start The Foundation for the Holy Spirit with two friends, David Fishman and Phil Frisk. The purpose of the foundation was to provide resources, teaching and counseling to help individuals become Self-Reliant with their own inner guide, the Holy Spirit. Regina later received guidance to convert Foundation for the Holy Spirit into a church (an assembly of people with a common spiritual purpose) called Awakening Together. Awakening Together’s purpose and five core values were given to her right away from within, so Awakening Togethers’s vision was clear from the beginning.

Books from Regina, all which can be purchased through Amazon:
The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI)
The Teachings of Inner Ramana
Thoughts of Awakening: 365 Thoughts for Contemplation
Out of the Stillness: Realizing Non-Dual Truth One Step at a Time
Tao Te Ching: An Interpretive Translation to Live By

For Regina’s Full Bio, please click this link: Regina Dawn Akers Bio

Join us for the brand new program, “Transcending the Addiction to Mind” with Rev. David Hemphill debuting this Sunday, January 5th, 2025 at 12:30pm ET/10:30am MT. This program will be in the Sanctuary weekly on Sundays, from 12:30pm -1:00pm ET/10:30am-11:00am MT.

David invites us to explore the belief in separation through the lens of addiction to the mind! On this journey we will explore many topics such as:

1. What does it really mean to have spiritual awakening as part of my path?
2. What is my unique path?
3. Why do parts of my path feel uncomfortable?
4. How do I navigate the uncomfortable parts?
5. Where is the inherent bliss and joy on my path that spiritual awakening says is there? How do I access it now?
6. Why does my bliss come and go? Why do the bad parts always come back?
7. How do I get “unstuck” if I’ve been on this path many years and yet still have the same issues I’ve always had?
8. What is “Self-will” and why do I need to pay attention to it in order to get unstuck?
9. What is the nature of “desire” and “aversion,” and how are they related to stuckness?
10.  Once I understand everything, or if I already understand everything, how do I actually make the realization happen?
11.  What are paradoxes and how should I react when I find one?
12.  What specifically is it that will permanently lead to spiritual awakening? How do I cultivate this?

Weekly on Sundays, 12:30-1:00pm ET / 10:30-11:00am MT
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Join Sami Ross for “Centering Prayer”, on Saturdays & Sundays at 8am ET. This practice is currently taking place in the Sanctuary Monday through Friday, 7-7:30am ET and now Saturday & Sunday, 8-:30am ET.

Awakening Together is delighted to continue the recently renewed Spiritual Mentoring Program, designed to support you on your spiritual journey through two possible opportunities. This program is tailored to accommodate both communal and individual needs as well as fostering a nurturing environment where participants can explore, understand, and deepen their spiritual practice.

Mentoring Sangha: 6 or 12 Week Spiritual Practice Sessions

Part one of our program offers participants the unique opportunity to join a small, intimate sangha that meets weekly under the guidance of a certified spiritual mentor. Sanghas are best for those who are seeking an opportunity to grow their own spiritual confidence, competence and commitment. Each sangha is limited to a maximum of three participants plus the mentor, creating a supportive and confidential space to share and explore spiritual practices. Over the course of 6 or 12 weeks, these sessions are dedicated to the following:

• Collective Sharing: Engage in meaningful discussions about personal challenges and spiritual questions, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
• Agreed Practices: Through consensus, the group will select specific spiritual practices to contemplate and implement in their daily lives, creating a practical framework for becoming Self reliant on Inner Wisdom.
• Reflective Reporting: Participants will have the chance to reflect on their experiences, sharing insights and breakthroughs, fostering spiritual commitment, competency and confidence through an ever-deepening connection to Inner Wisdom.

The 2- hour sangha meetings are structured to ensure a nurturing and productive environment. The cost for this transformative journey:

• 6-week journey is $180
• 12-week journey is $360

A valuable investment in your spiritual confidence, competence and commitment.

If you’d like to participate but require financial assistance, we offer scholarships that cover 50% of the cost. Please contact us for more information. Our pricing policies and scholarship opportunities are designed to ensure that no one is excluded due to financial limitations.

To participate in a Sangha as a mentee, the mentee agrees to uphold the covenants of membership.

Meet the Sangha Mentors

• Six Week Sanghas
  • Sundays: Jan 26 – March 2 from 1:30-3:30 pm ET; Mentor is Rev. David Hemphill
  • Mondays: Jan 27 – March 3 from 7-9 pm ET; Mentor is Rev. Dianne Scott
  • Tuesdays: Jan 28 – March 4 from 3-5 pm ET; Mentor is Rev. Karen Worth
  • Wednesdays: Jan 29 – March 5 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm ET; Mentor is Rev. Melody Brauninger
  • Wednesdays: Feb 5 – March 12 from 5-7 pm ET; Mentor is Rev Saina Fernandez
  • CLOSED/FULL Thursday: Jan 23 – Feb 27 from 6-8 pm ET; Mentor is Rev. Anne Blanchard
• Twelve Week Sangha
  • Tuesdays: Jan 28 – April 15 from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm ET; Mentor is Rev. Billy Sintiris

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Registration for the Mentoring Sangha closes as each group fills up but no later than:
Tuesday, January 21st @ 5 p.m. ET

One-On-One Mentoring

For those seeking more confidential guidance, Awakening Together offers a second component which is one-on-one spiritual mentoring. This aspect of the program is designed to provide:

• Individual Confidential Attention: These sessions are available to support you as you navigate challenges, uncertainties, and the complexities of your spiritual journey.
• Flexible Support: These sessions can be either on-going or a one-off depending on the uncertainties or complexities involved. You and your mentor can come to agreement on this aspect either from the beginning of your registration or during the first session.
• On-going Availability: You have the opportunity to develop an on-going relationship with a mentor who is on stand-by for when you get the prompt to seek ongoing mentoring support even if it’s not immediately clear what the frequency or duration will be.  You need not pre-pay, or specify beforehand.  This allows you to deepen your relationship with your own inner teacher and trust the prompts to seek mentorship when needed.

Our donation-based approach ensures that no one is turned away due to financial constraints. Participants are encouraged to contribute according to their ability, with a recommended donation of $75/hour. Contributions can be allocated solely to the mentor or shared with Awakening Together, supporting the broader spiritual community.

Meet the One-On-One Mentors

For one-on-one spiritual mentoring please complete this intake form.

Why Would You Choose Spiritual Mentoring Support?

Whether you’re grappling with a specific challenge or seeking clarity and direction, Spiritual Mentoring can be a support in holding the space of clarity until you feel confident and committed in your own spiritual practice. Our Renewed Spiritual Mentoring Program offers a comprehensive, supportive framework to elevate and deepen your spiritual practice. With both sangha-based sessions and individual mentoring options, Awakening Together is dedicated to supporting your spiritual growth in a way that resonates with your journey and supports your ongoing needs.

Embark on this transformative journey with us, and discover the profound impact of nurturing your spiritual well-being in a supportive, understanding community. Join Awakening Together’s Spiritual Mentoring Program today, and take your next steps with Life.

Please contact us if you would like to be notified of the next round of Mentoring Sanghas.

Join Rev. Michele Hojnacki and Sami Ross for their new program, Contemplating the Thoughts of Awakening – A Daily Devotional Practice. This year-long daily devotional program begins on January 1, 2025, and will be held seven days a week from 8:30am – 9:00am ET / 6:30am – 7:00am MT.

The Thoughts of Awakening were given to Regina Dawn Akers in response to her prayer for help. In her book, Thoughts of Awakening, Regina wrote, “she found the contrast between profound spiritual devotion and her typical day-to-day state of mind unbearable”. The Thoughts of Awakening were given to help her from “falling back into the old state of mind after her morning devotional practice”.  Regina shares the impact of Thoughts of Awakening: “They are the thoughts that led from suffering with a split mind to the experience of a highly consistent, happy way of being. Each of the 365 thoughts is intended for a full day’s contemplation. They are to be read and contemplated repeatedly throughout the day. If you read and contemplate each thought deeply for a full day, you’ll experience shifts towards true perception this year.”.

The group’s aim is to support one another in a daily practice of inner listening using the Thoughts of Awakening. This group could benefit those new to inner contemplation or anyone wishing to enhance their practice. Daily, we will contemplate a single Thought of Awakening with our inner teacher. Following Regina’s recommendation, we’ll write it down and carrying it with us for reflection throughout the day, as well as reflecting on and putting into practice guidance received from our own inner teacher.

Support your Awakening Together Retreat House by
Becoming a Sustaining Subscriber!

What is a Sustaining Subscriber?

A Sustaining Subscriber is someone who makes a regular monthly donation to Awakening Together, specifically to help support the care and upkeep of the Retreat House.

As a thank you for your monthly donation between $50 and $200, you will receive:

• 20% off all in-person retreat fees*
• 10% off lodging at the Retreat House

You can use both benefits together for the same retreat—enjoy 20% off the retreat fee and 10% off lodging.

*Minimum sustaining subscriber contribution of $250 per retreat

Click Here to sign up and say YES!

Join Rev. Anne Blanchard for her new program, “Centering Prayer”, every Monday through Friday at 7am ET. This practice is currently taking place in the Sanctuary five days a week, 7-7:30am ET.

It has been said that more than 50% of the members of an effective sangha are likely to awaken. The Sanskrit word, “sangha,” literally means community. Specifically, it refers to a community that is dedicated to spiritual awakening. The primary qualities of sangha are: Members genuinely live the spiritual teachings they study; they speak and teach from their own authentic experience; they support one another on the spiritual path. Awakening Together was designed by inner guidance to be a sangha rather than a guru-centered collective. At this retreat, you will learn how the sangha is its own teacher, and you will hone the skills that are important for each member of a highly effective sangha. Come, and learn how to genuinely support awakening, both for you and for your friends.

Retreat Schedule

The retreat will begin at 10am ET (8am MT) and end at 5pm ET (3pm MT) each day. A 2-hour lunch period will be provided beginning around 1pm ET (11am MT).