In a world where the journey of spiritual growth can often be solitary and challenging, Gwen Peterson emerges as a guiding light, illuminating the path with her profound wisdom and compassionate leadership. As the visionary Founder of the Spiritual Communities Network, Gwen has dedicated herself to creating a sanctuary of shared exploration and mutual support for both spiritual seekers and teachers. Her journey, shaped by an unwavering commitment to her Soul’s guidance, has also led her to the realm of authorship, where her recent book “Insights & Illuminations” serves as a beacon of insight for those navigating the realms of personal and spiritual development.
Join us in this interview feature on MysticMag as we delve into Gwen’s journey, her perspectives on spiritual community, and the profound messages within her latest literary offering.
What inspired you to start the Spiritual Communities Network, and what were your initial goals for the organization?
This may sound corny but Spirit inspired me to start Spiritual Communities Network. Early in my personal spiritual journey, I kept getting the word ‘community.’ I wasn’t really sure what or how that would look. Then in early 2011, a message came through to start what was then Spiritual Community of Naples on 11-11-11. When I asked about the purpose, the response was to anchor in a spiritual community consciousness. On 11-11-11, we held an event similar to a pub crawl where folks would have a map of locations where they could visit a variety of locations that offered spiritually based programs.
How has the Spiritual Communities Network grown and evolved since its inception?
The next year we changed the name to Spiritual Communities of SWFL as we had more and more locations interested in being a part of the group. We started out with a Meetup Calendar and newsletter. Today we have an international following of teachers and seekers of spiritual growth under the name of Spiritual Communities Network. On one side, I am a business coach helping our members/teachers use our platforms to connect with new clients. On the other side SCN provides free community educational programs so our followers can meet our members and feel comfortable in what our members have to offer.
Can you share with us the inspiration behind your book, “Insights & Illuminations”? What message or knowledge do you hope readers will take away from it?
The inspiration for my new book Insights & Illuminations came from the same group of Archangels and Ascended Masters behind the creation of SCN. The book centers around an event that happened in my life about 30 yrs. ago. An event that led me on a spiritual journey to discover a unique perspective on life. One that is meant to demonstrate how we can have fun and be happy in our life experiences. It is my hope the reader takes away the idea that life is not as serious as we make it out to be. Each of us has a Soul and that Soul knows what this life is about and how to navigate it in a way that is amazing and magical.
As someone deeply connected to spiritual growth, what practices or techniques do you personally find most transformative in your own spiritual journey?
There are many techniques and practices out there, but meditation was a game changer for me. Then journaling became a layer that helped me to transform my meditation. The cherry on top was finally understanding the role our emotions play in our connection to our Soul. Through the Abraham-Hicks work. These three things open a dialogue with ourselves, if you will or better yet, the building of the Antahkarana.
In today’s fast-paced world, how do you believe individuals can find and sustain a sense of spiritual community and connection with others who share similar values and beliefs?
I think that the easiest way for someone to begin finding a spiritual community or connecting with other who share similar values and beliefs is to start your spiritual journey. It’s easy to begin to bump into others who share your new thoughts and questions at spiritual fairs or visiting spiritual shops and asking questions. Soon you’re living a new lifestyle and in a community that is supportive to your path. In order to sustain this new lifestyle though, the trick is: Are you willing to give up the old community? Are you willing to let loose of those who are toxic to you or habits that don’t feed and nourish you in a deeper way? It’s like the story of the two wolves. The one that grows is the one you feed.
