Sacred, adjective Entitled to reverence and respect; Worthy of religious veneration; Highly valued and important. Immanence, noun The state of being present as a natural part of something; The doctrine or theory that the divine encompasses or is manifested in the material world.

Deep Awakening was born out of a profound concern about the direction in which humanity is currently heading, and a sense of hope that finding a different way forward is possible.

Looking around I see more and more people struggling to get by, more suffering and more desperation by the day. At the same time, I see our natural environment being polluted, ransacked and degraded at an alarming rate. I believe these issues are not separate, but are symptoms of a deeper problem. It is the problem of perceived disconnection from ourselves, from each other and from our world. 

This, in turn, is related to another problem - deeper still. This deeper, core problem is a perceived disconnection from The Sacred. What I am calling The Sacred is a profound, ineffable sense found deep within our souls and the soul of our world and that connects us all.

Our conscious connection to this world can be captured by the concept of immanence. 

Immanence, which can also be understood as "soul work," means to recognize this world as a sacred place and our lives within it as sacred experiences. Immanence is not about trying to escape or transcend anything. It is about fully embracing our embodied experience in the world with all that it entails - mystery, vulnerability, joy, pain, love, grief, struggle and celebration. When we engage in soul work and embrace immanence, we are saying "yes" to the fullness of life and to the project of bringing as much meaning, depth, vitality, love, and beauty into the world as possible.

The healing potential of therapeutic practices such as counselling, meditation and psychedelic-assisted therapy is becoming better understood and accepted in mainstream culture. This is a good thing because we need as much healing as possible in the world right now. Currently, the main focus of therapy in modern, Western culture is on individual healing. Again, this is important, because when we are wounded, as many of us are, the first thing we must do is heal. But, once we are healed as individuals, the healing can continue. From a place of wellness we are well-positioned to help in the work of creating a sacred, sustainable world for all.

This is the vision and mission of Deep Awakening - to help individuals heal themselves and, in so doing, play a part in the healing of our world.