Katie Rea Spiritual Direction

Tales of a Haunted Asheville, NC

Tales of a Haunted Asheville, NC An evening walk through Asheville’s ghostly past, where history and legend meet! By Katie Rea — spiritual director, writer, and companion for those listening deeply to life as it  Tales of gho…

“Prayer Is How I Breathe”

"Sister Mary Rose Bumpus (our Year Two Instructor and Supervisor) read this meditation on prayer in class this week from Steven Charleston, who is an Indigenous Elder and retired Episcopal bishop. WTC thought you might enjoy it, too." ~Kasey Hitt, Co-Founder of WTC School of Spiritual Direction.



“Prayer Is How I Breathe”

People have asked me, since I pray so much

Do I ever get discouraged or doubtful

Because not all my prayers are answered.

No, and for lots of reasons.


For me, prayer is not a gumball machine

Where I put in my quarter and take out my prize.

Because I am not a puppet on a string

I cannot pull on that string to get some attention.


The natural state of prayer is mystery.

I only know that I am born into a life

Where I am fragile and finite.


I believe there is a conscious presence

Around me that cares for me.

I offer my thanks and my hopes.

I feel and see the response.

The response is always loving.

So prayer is how I breathe: Spirit is the air.



Charleston, Steven. Spirit Wheel: Meditations from an Indigenous Elder. Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf Books, 2023, p.

The next time you are in real pain, see how you feel about television shows, new appliances, a clean house, or your resumé. Chances are that none of these will do anything for you. All that will do anything for you is some cool water, held out by someone who has stopped everything else in order to look after you. An extra blanket might also help, a dry pillow, the simple knowledge that there is someone in the house who might hear you if you cried.

A Lighter Way of Being: Ordinary Time and the Permission to Be Real
Reflection:

Working at the Nashville Rescue Mission included an unexpected gift. At the time, Garrett and I were dating, and my office happened to be only five minutes from his workplace. Occasionally, we would meet for a quick lunch between busy schedules.

One afternoon, Garrett was waiting for me in the parking lot when I walked out of the building. I waved toward his car, but before heading over, I stopped to talk with a group of women congregating on the front steps. Most were either experiencing homelessness, in the addiction recovery program, or both. We chatted for a few moments before I excused myself and headed to lunch. The women waved goodbye, and I waved back.

I apologized to Garrett for keeping him waiting, and we drove off.

Years later, after we were married, Garrett told me that was the moment he knew I was the one. Despite the rush of the day, I had stopped to notice and acknowledge people others might overlook. He said, “You are a genuine people person, and I love that about you.”

What strikes me now is that I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I wasn’t performing goodness or carefully managing how I appeared. The Mission was one of the few places where I didn’t have to think about whether it was okay to stop and say hello. So, when I walked out and saw people I knew, I didn’t hesitate. I was simply being myself.

That memory feels connected to the invitation of *Ordinary Time: a lighter way of moving through the world. Not a life without responsibility or difficulty, but a life less weighed down by self-monitoring, perfectionism, or the pressure to perform.

Ordinary Time reminds us that we do not have to become shinier, more impressive versions of ourselves to be worthy of love. We are invited to live more honestly and more freely, not Easter perfect or Christmas polished, but authentic and fully human.

Part of what made that moment possible was the environment itself. The Rescue Mission was a place where people could show up honestly. There was room for struggle, spiritual texture, genuine relationships, and meaningful care for one another. Safe spaces have a way of making lightness possible. When criticism softens, and authenticity is welcomed, people begin to breathe differently.

Perhaps that is part of the sacred invitation of this season: to become communities where people no longer feel the need to hide, perform, or earn belonging.

*Ordinary Time is the part of the Christian liturgical calendar that focuses on the life, teachings, ministry, and ongoing presence of Jesus Christ in the everyday life of the Church.

Practice:

Journal Questions

Where in your life do you feel most free to be fully yourself?
What internal pressures or expectations feel heaviest right now?
What helps you feel grounded, safe, and authentic?
Where might you be exhausting yourself trying to perform rather than simply be?
What would a “lighter way” of moving through this season look like for you?
Who are the people or communities that make it easier for you to breathe freely?
Blessing:

May you release the burden of becoming someone else in order to be loved.
May you discover the quiet freedom of simply being yourself.
May safe and gentle spaces surround you with grace.
And may you walk through this Ordinary Time with a lighter heart, grounded in the steady love of God.

This second reflection comes from Katie Rea, a Writing Coach at WTC's School of Spiritual Direction and a 2021 Alum.

https://www.wisdomtreecollective.com/blog/a-lighter-way-of-being-ordinary-time-and-the-permission-to-be-real

Writing, Like Life, Is a Work in Progress

Confessions of a Recovering Adverb Addict By Katie Rea — spiritual director, writer, and companion for those listening deeply to life as it is. A fellow bibliophile recently asked me, “So, what have you been reading lately?” It is a simple question, except for those of us who read like we are at an all‑you‑can‑eat buffet. I mentally flipped through my current stack: the spiritual one, the sci-fi adventure, the nerdy one, the one I swear I am…...

Writing, Like Life, Is a Work in Progress Confessions of a Recovering Adverb Addict By Katie Rea — spiritual director, writer, and companion for those listening deeply to life as it is. A fellow bibliophile recently asked me, “So, what hav…

Emma is officially a high school graduate! Her cords and stole represented Beta Club, Art, and Cum Laude with Honors and Distinction. This was also the last choir performance in chamber choir. She’s a Wilson Central High School alumni.

We are so proud or her and her fellow classmates. Congratulations Class of 2026!

Graduating practice yesterday at WCHS. Getting ready for the real thing today.

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10). The weekend is a sacred invitation to rest, recharge, and reconnect. How will you honor your need for stillness and renewal this Sabbath?

As the week draws to a close, take a walk down your own spiritual path. What moments of insight or challenge did you encounter? How has your journey unfolded this week? Share your reflections below.