Rev. Dr. Catherine Quehl-Engel
As a child I fell in love with calming, wonder-filled sensing of oneness and the Sacred coursing through nature. This mystical experience of inter-connective joy, healing beauty, tenderness, and the energy of love drenching everything and everyone evolved into a life long way of being including a vocational call to be love, peace, and an extension of compassionate, healing Presence. Spiritually companioning with others on the life journey is what I do--meeting people as they are regardless of beliefs, background, or orientation. This includes helping people experience inner peace, healing wholeness, and belonging, as well as helping them explore their experiences of Mystery, meaning making, healing beauty, and relationship with others, nature, the Sacred and self.
Please explore my website for ways over a quarter century of experience as inter-spiritual college chaplain, spiritual guide, energy and healing arts practitioner, visual artist, as well as background as Episcopal priest, certified yoga and meditation instructor, and sound healer can assist you. Offerings include universal East-West inter-spiritual, Christian, and secular approaches to classes, workshops, retreats and private sessions.
EDUCATION
Doctorate of Ministry in Christian Spirituality, Washington Theological Union.
Includes mystical and contemplative wisdom of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, and Teresa of Avila. Also creation of a 30 person, multi-week doctoral research project on the use of heart focused compassion, breath, and energy-based meditation/interior prayer for personal and communal healing.Dissertation - Deep Abiding: Praying, Living and Loving from the Inside Out featured by the scientific research and educational org, HeartMath Institute (2014).
Master of Divinity Degree, and Master of Religion and Visual Arts Degree
Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA (1991-1994)
Integrative Master's thesis on Holocaust theology, theology of human suffering, inter-faith relations, and Jewish artists as theologians. Holocaust Studies for Educators, Yad VaShem/Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem, Israel (Summer,1993). Clinical pastoral education at Univ. of Iowa Hospitals then two years of PhD studies in Theology, Ethics and Culture at Univ. of Iowa before leaving that program to embrace joy as a mom and chaplain of my alma mater, Cornell College (1996 to 2021).
TEACHING
Ongoing undergraduate Mindfulness, Meditation, and Psychological Health classes through the Cornell College Psychology Department, as well as weekly yoga. Previous college level courses include Suffering and The Sacred, Jesus and Judaism, and a Namaste: Mysticism, Meditation, and the Inner Life of Leadership taught in India.
Also ongoing non-academic teaching at retreat centers and various locations.
YOGA & YOGA NIDRA TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS
Yoga Alliance 500RYT.
Specializing in gentle breath, energy, and compassion based meditative approaches to Yin Yoga, Yogic Sleep (Yoga Nidra) and related contemplative wisdom for life off the mat.
Includes 300 hr Yin Yoga certification integrating mindfulness and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Also Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra Certified Facilitator.
MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS
Koru Mindfulness Certified Instructor
The American Institute for Health Care Professionals Certified Mindfulness Instructor
See also Yoga & Yoga Nidra teacher certifications
ENERGY HEALING
Reiki Master Teacher; Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry Certified Practitioner;
Certified Atma Buti (Soul Medicine) Vibrational Sound Healer;
Spring Forest Level III Qigong and Practice Group Leader.
RETREAT LEADERSHIP(sampler)
Goodbye/Hello: Healing Relationships for Spiritual Wholeness (Prairiewoods, 2022)
Indwelling Light, Day of Prayer for The Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (2021)
Winter Solstice: Opening to Light (Prairiewoods, 2021)
The Energy of Love (Prairiewoods Spirituality Center, Hiawatha, Iowa, 2020)
Christ Within (The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa Summer Ministry School & Retreat, 2018)
Christ Consciousness (Diocesan SMSR, 2017)
ORDINATION & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Raised and ordained within The United Church of Christ (a tradition I still love), yet eventually followed my mystical wiring and sacramental way of seeing and being into The Sacred Order of Priests of The Episcopal Church in 2006.
Presently I am priest-at-large within The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, after having served as Priest Associate for 12 years at Trinity in Iowa City, IA.
Affiliate of The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Professional member of SDI (Spiritual Directors International)
VISUAL ART
MA, Religion & Visual Art (1994); Undergrad majors in Art and Religion (1989).
Numerous exhibitions include: Mercy Hospital, Iowa City (2021); The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art Into the Blue juried exhibition Art (2019); several Episcopal Church & Visual Arts exhibitions including Ubuntu; Cornell College (solo exhibits and Alumni Art of the Pandemic);
Lincoln Hwy Arts Festivals.
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