Meet the Stillpoint at Ghost Ranch Faculty

Over the course of Stillpoint’s two-year program, interns will be introduced to and work with a breadth of experienced spiritual directors.

KAREN BASQUEZ

Karen is a retired special education teacher and spiritual director. She serves on both the California and Ghost Ranch faculty of Stillpoint. Karen is also a facilitator and trainer for the Samaritan Woman Retreat that consists of nine meditations based on the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus at the well in John’s gospel. Each meditation is meant to lead you progressively through this story at many levels that will be personal to you. Through this retreat, Karen helps others experience a taste of this process through the use of meditations founded within Biblical, Benedictine, Ignatian and 12-Step spirituality and Jungian psychology.

 

NANCY HERLIN

Nancy is a Stillpoint trained Spiritual Director with additional training in Group Spiritual Direction, Eco-Spiritual Direction and children’s spirituality. She is a Veriditas Certified Labyrinth Facilitator and a Stephen Minister. She serves as a Mentor for Stillpoint. She is a retired healthcare administrator and non-profit leader. She calls the Christian Tradition home and is also a student of Gurdjieff’s Fourth Way and the enneagram to assist with her own spirituality. She sees individuals and groups for Spiritual Direction at her retreat center in AustinShe enjoys providing Holy Space for others to connect with their deepest selves and their understanding of the Divine, spending time outside with her chickens and favorite trees and approaching life with beginner’s mind with her grandsons.

ZACHARY JELLSON

Rabbi Zachary is Spiritual Director and Yoga Teacher who is passionate about helping people find meaning in their experiences.He offers personalized life cycle events as well as one-on-one Spiritual Direction for those seeking direction or connection, regardless of faith background. His work blends Jewish tradition with accessible, inclusive practices, honoring the diversity of each individual’s story. As a queer Rabbi, Zachary especially loves supporting LGBTQIA+ communities in marking sacred moments and deepening their spiritual lives. To learn more about his work or sign up for an online yoga class, check out his site https://www.ehad.one

CHRISTINE NG

Chris is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, church pastor, chaplain, spiritual director, a retired appellate lawyer, and serving as the current Interim Executive Director of Stillpoint. She serves on the Ghost Ranch faculty of Stillpoint and is the Stillpoint at Ghost Ranch program administrator. She holds a Master of Divinity, Juris Doctor, and Bachelor of Arts degrees and did her spiritual direction training through Stillpoint. She also studied the Taoist arts for more than 30 years. Having previously served churches in Southern Florida and Texas, Chris is currently called to pastor First United Church of Christ and Conference Center, Second Life, the only fully authorized church of a recognized Christian denomination that exists only in virtual reality. She lives in Northern New Mexico and also serves as chaplain and EMT with the Abiquiu Volunteer Fire Department.

STACY PARKS

Stacy is a retired physical Therapist and a Stillpoint-trained spiritual director. She lives in New Mexico and serves on the Ghost Ranch faculty of Stillpoint. Stacy also leads retreats for women and helps facilitate a weekly contemplative service. Her special interests include Christian Mystics and mystical experiences, experiencing the divine in nature, and helping others explore new ways of thinking and being with the Holy.


TAKAKO TERINO

Takako was born and raised in Japan, Takako came to the US as a teenager and has lived in a variety of faith communities. Her experience as a religious minority in Japan and then a racial-ethnic minority in the US, combined with her professional experience as interpreter/translator, has given Takako sensibility for the language of cultural, theological and spiritual heritages unique to each individual. Takako received the Master of Divinity degree from the Union Theological Seminary in NYC and her spiritual direction training from Stillpoint. She is a clergy member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and lives in Albuquerque, NM.

KAY VEAL

Kay serves as a spiritual director in Albuquerque, NM.  She graduated from Stillpoint and is on the faculty of Stillpoint at Ghost Ranch.  She has over 30 years experience offering support in various volunteer areas such as a Stephen Minister Leader, hospice companion, bereavement facilitator and the local Childrens’ Grief Center.  Through her Episcopal church she has served as a hospital chaplain and Lay Eucharistic Minister.  She loves the quote from Ram Dass; “we are all just walking each other home.”  As a spiritual companion she welcomes all backgrounds and interests on this walk. 

RAVI VERMA

Ravi is a spiritual director and has worked professionally with churches and lay leaders for over 25 years. Ravi’s passion is to work with individuals and groups to build bridges between parts of ourselves, with others and the cosmos based on our connection to the Divine. Ravi, born in India, now teaches at Stillpoint, and works with corporations, retreat centers, and non-profits on issues of spiritual development. Ravi is a current member of the coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International, the first global learning network of spiritual directors in history.