By Dr. Katie Eastman & Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino When life feels uncertain, hope is often the light we cling to. Hope is more than wishful thinking—it is a spiritual practice, a way of orienting ourselves toward possibility, even when the present feels heavy. Hope doesn’t deny reality. It doesn’t pretend that pain, loss, or challenge don’t exist. Instead, hope says: Even in this, there may still be something good ahead. It is a belief that tomorrow can hold meaning, growth,

By Dr. Katie Eastman & Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino The word consciousness  can sound complicated, but at its heart, it’s very simple. Consciousness is awareness —the ability to notice what’s happening in and around you, to reflect on it, and to choose how you want to respond. Some describe spiritual consciousness  as awareness that goes a step further—awareness that connects us to meaning, values, and something larger than ourselves (Mayer, Spirituality and Consciousness , 200