• Novice Life •

My Experience
As a Novice

By Faith from Oakland

I applied for the novice program at a time in my life when my same patterns had just spun again with predictably devastating results. I was a broken record of "might have beens". Because of the inspiration of a co-worker/friend, I put action to where my thoughts had been for all of my life: if there really was a Soul and a way to experience God, I wanted to really do it even though I was scared of being rejected. So, I left my cat with my mother, and drove 3,500 miles to join the Oakland novice group. It was a shock at first, and I did a lot of hiding and doubting. Five months into it, I feel like I am maybe growing in love and true gratitude - that there is a plan and a loving plan, and I am unfolding to that. With my novice-mates, I revealed something just the other night - the darkest secret in my entire arsenal, and it was met with utter acceptance and compassion by people who I had earlier rejected as complete strangers. Let this love grow. I get a chance to live with a real teacher who showers love on me and stretches me and knows who I really am. I don't know how it will turn out, and sometimes I still backtrack, but I move... Onward!

Conscious Community is My Home

By Joshua from Chicago

Living in a conscious community has been food for my soul. I've always felt like something was lacking in my friendships and relationships of the past. I never felt like I was entirely understood or seen. Sure, I had good laughs with my friends but there was always a certain vulnerability and intimacy that was missing. The relationships were only so deep.

Now, I have this amazing opportunity to really grow into deep, powerful relationships with other people who are truly committed to knowing themselves and knowing others. Helped, guided, and loved by our priest, we are all taught how to really love one another. It is through this process that I have been able to discover and change things about myself that I've always disliked.

As we novices stumble, fall, and get up again we are gifted with the opportunity to help each other and grow into deeper relationship with God in the process. It's tough to put in words the kind of friendship I have with my novice brothers and sisters. The degree of honesty and integrity that we all strive for is unparalleled in any relationship I've ever been in before.

Stretching... and More Stretching

By June from Minneapolis

Living in the novice program has been a truly wonderful experience for me. I have benefited from spending time with my teachers and forming close, honest, and loving friendships with my sisters. These relationships have helped me grow and deepen spiritually and have been a tremendous blessing.

At the same time, the novice experience has been stretching and challenging. It was uncomfortable at first to be truly seen, warts and all, and believe that I am loved anyway. The priests and my sisters hold me to my highest knowing out of love, which means I've had to be humble and do some work to change a lot of old, bad habits.

It's taken some time for me to relax in this environment and let myself be loved. But now I feel opened to a whole new experience of who I am, what God is like, and how joyful and rich life can be. I feel much more love and peace than ever before. I know I am growing into my full potential as a soul, and for that I am so happy and grateful.

Experiencing Spiritual Community

By Caleb from Milwaukee

Now that I have experienced what it is like to live in a real spiritual community with real teachers and people who have totally dedicated themselves to knowing God, I would not want to live anywhere else. I am so grateful for my life as a novice at the Center of Light.

Being surrounded by people who are dedicated to open, caring, and honest relationships has helped me to better see myself and how I relate to others. The clarity, support and love of the priests is a constant force pulling me towards the light. They are living examples of the joy and blessings received when one surrenders their will to God. Being in the energy here full-time affirms every day that my spiritual growth is the top priority in my life. I am clearly stronger, more capable, more at peace, and more fun to be around than when I moved in here 6 months ago.

If I could not live here, I would pray with all my heart to find another place like it.