Spiritual Directors

As Phileena often reminds us, “to the degree that we are transformed, the world is transformed.” Spiritual direction is such an important component to the process of awakening and transformation that we have made it a central part of Gravity’s services.

Spiritual direction helps you live into your best self and offer your truest self in service to others. And so we work hard to make spiritual direction available and affordable for anyone who desires it.

Click here to learn more about the art and practice of spiritual direction.

Following are a few leading certified spiritual directors who are available by appointment. Each director has their own training and specializations, and we would love to connect you with the spiritual director who can best support you on your spiritual journey.

Read more about each of our certified spiritual directors below.

Click here to inquire about scheduling an appointment with one of Gravity’s spiritual directors.


Phileena Heuertz

Specializations: Integration of Essential Self with Life’s Challenges and Opportunities, Establishing Contemplative Practice, Navigating the Spiritual Journey

Availability: Tuesdays – Thursdays at 1:00 & 2:00, CST

Phileena spent the first part of her adult life in social justice work among the world’s poor. For nearly 20 years she and her husband Chris served an international nonprofit in more than 70 countries building community among victims of human trafficking, survivors of HIV and AIDS, abandoned children and child soldiers and war brides.

Phileena founded Gravity with Chris in 2012 to support the development of consciousness by making contemplative practice accessible to individuals, communities and organizations who engage the challenging social justice perils of our time. Phileena’s work is spiritual direction expressed through public speaking, teaching and writing on contemplative spirituality, facilitation of contemplative retreats, yoga classes, and private client sessions. Phileena believes that contemplative spirituality is crucial to authentic, creative, liberating social change. 

In addition to a masters in Christian spirituality, Phileena holds a three-year certification in the Ignatian contemplative evocative method of spiritual direction from Creighton University. Ignatius is one of the renowned 16th century Spanish mystics and founder of the Society of the Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He was a master in discernment and his spirituality has been likened to St. Francis of Assisi. 

Phileena is known for her provocative theological narrative, Pilgrimage of a Soul (IVP 2010, 2017 revised) and Mindful Silence (IVP 2018). She is  a board member emeritus for Duke Divinity School’s Center for Reconciliation and Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation.

Click here to inquire about scheduling an appointment with Phileena.


Cristina Mejía

Specializations:  Deconstruction & Reconstruction of Faith, Multi-faith & Spirituality, Sacred Feminine, Midlife Transitions, 12-Step Recovery, Divorce, Multicultural & Bilingual (English + Spanish)

Availability: By appointment

A seeker since early childhood, Cristina born Catholic, followed the call to missions for 12 years in Colombia with a fundamentalist church. She has spent the last 15 years exploring in and beyond the walls of religious institutions. Drawn to the sacred and liminal spaces, Cristina seeks truth in inter-faith contemplative practices that heal and unify, creating social change. She discovered Truth while sifting through her own life experiences and asking the difficult questions that allow her to accompany other seekers wishing to explore their stories of faith, doubt, transformation, and personal experiences with the sacred.

Cristina has 30+ years of experience in the design industry after obtaining her BFA in Communication Arts after studying at Virginia Commonwealth and Harvard University’s Extension School. Her experience has been in international editorial design for commercial organizations such as ELLE, Impremedia and General Mills- to social organizations such as the National Immigration Forum and Catholic Relief Services.

She is a board member with the National Organization of Women (NOW) of the Palm Beaches, FL, an Activist and Designer for POAST (Partner Organizations Against Sex Trafficking), a member and volunteer of the Wild Goose Festival tribe for five years (www.wildgoosefestival.org), she is honored to be part of the team at Gravity, a Center for Contemplative Activism. Cristina is a certified Spiritual Director from the Hesychia School, a member of Spiritual Directors International, and focuses on the evocative method in her practice.

Click here to inquire about scheduling an appointment with Cristina.


Rev. Oreon Trickey

Specializations:  Enneagram, Vocational Discernment, LGBTQIA individuals, city-dwellers, Spiritual Practices, Self-Care for Ministry and Social Service Practitioners

Availability: By appointment

Oreon is a long-time resident of Chicago, where she currently lives and serves with Jesus People USA in the city’s Uptown neighborhood.  She recently retired from serving as the Associate Pastor of Congregational Life at LaSalle Street Church, where her ministry areas included working with homeless individuals, young adults, facilitating spiritual formation groups, and leading Benedictine Spirituality classes geared toward Millennials who live in the city.  Oreon received her Spiritual Direction certification from North Park Theological Seminary and is a Professional Member of Spiritual Directors International as well as an Accredited Enneagram Professional with the International Enneagram Association.  She received her Enneagram Certification through trainings with Dr. Jerome Wagner and is also a certified ©️iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner. Oreon serves on the board of the IEA Great Lakes Chapter, is a member of the ECC Central Conference Spiritual Directors’ Network, and is part of the Red Letter Christians movement.  

Click here to inquire about scheduling an appointment with Oreon.


Eric Wilson

Eric’s client load is currently full. He is not taking new directees at this time.

Specializations: Life Transitions, Dark Dry and Arid Seasons of Faith, Meditation Practices, Spiritual Dramaturgy for Artists, Leader/Activist Soul Care

Unavailable

Eric Wilson serves as the Associate Chaplain at Pepperdine University in Malibu California.  Wilson is a certified Spiritual Director, Executive Coach and is a religion blogger for the HuffPost.  He is an award winning playwright and theatrical director.  His work has been published and performed around the country including the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.  Eric’s work attempts to leverage contemplative practice, the arts, and soul care for the purpose of fostering social justice in the world. Wilson’s book, Faith: The First Seven Lessons was released Fall of 2016.