Aldea Spiritual Community

Growth isn’t always graceful: it’s gritty, uncomfortable, and often asks us to face the gaps between who we are and who we want to be. For the series finale of "Growing Pains", we explore the role of accountability in real transformation...not as finger-pointing, but as an invitation to grow. We’ll journey through cringe-worthy personal stories, "The Coldplay Incident", and honest reflections on how we resist being called out… and how we can choose to lean in to an accountability that is both deeply personal and profoundly communal.   When grace meets accountability, growth happens.   Quotes:   Truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. — Gloria Steinem Without accountability, we drift; with it, we thrive. — John C. Maxwell Accountability without compassion is cruelty. — Krista Tippett “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17  

Pruning is not just a gardening technique... it’s a profound spiritual practice. In this week’s message, we explore the deep wisdom behind letting go, saying “no,” and shaping a life that aligns with what truly matters.   From the necessity of cutting back, to the surprising freedom that emerges when we stop trying to “do it all,” pruning teaches us how to focus our attention, reclaim our energy, and make space for what’s next.   We talk about why society’s obsession with “more” often leads to burnout, how every meaningful “yes” is built on a thousand “no’s,” and how pruning isn’t a sign of failure...it’s a choice for growth, balance, and purpose.   This is about more than minimalism: it’s about living intentionally. Whether in relationships, work, spirituality, or purpose, pruning invites us into a deeper, more focused way of being.   Quotes:   “Whatever is not yours: let go of it. Your letting go of it will be for your long-term happiness and benefit.” — Buddha (Na Tumhaka Sutta) “My experience is what I agree to attend to. Only those items which I notice shape my mind.” — William James    

Check out this in-depth and intimate conversation with Benjie Danquah - a speaker, coach, educator, and self-proclaimed mystic.   In our chat, Benjie is vulnerable and transparent about a faith that is continually evolving and expanding. We discuss what it means to be authentic even when it comes at a cost, and what it means to be a "mystic".

Life often tempts us to distract ourselves from discomfort...through screens, shopping, sugar, or endless busyness. But what if the very things we try to avoid are invitations to deeper truth, healing, and transformation?   This message explores the idea of leaning into the hard places rather than turning away. From the psychological wisdom to ancient parables, we’ll uncover how our fears, symptoms, and triggers can become guides toward greater wholeness.   Through breath, inner work, and community, we can move from fragile to resilient...and even into anti-fragile, where challenges don’t just test us but fuel our growth.   Quotes:   Pema Chödrön: “Rather than trying to rid yourself of your problem, go deeper into it. If you become familiar with fear, compassion arises.” James Hillman: “Follow the lead of your symptoms, for there’s usually a myth in the mess, and a mess is an expression of soul.” Carl Jung: “Where your fear is, there is your task.” Ramana Maharshi: “We cannot mend the whole world. If we try to reform the world without reforming ourselves, we cannot succeed. Instead of trying to cover the whole earth with leather to avoid the thorns, it is enough to wear sandals.” Nassim Taleb: “Wind extinguishes a candle and energizes fire.”  

In this week’s message, Jake explores the tension between certainty and uncertainty, drawing from both personal loss and the wider challenges we face as a community. Through stories of family, grief, and the mysteries of the universe, we’re invited to see that faith isn’t about having all the answers, but about how we live in the questions. From quantum physics to everyday love, from community risk to the unknowns of the future, this talk encourages us to embrace life’s unpredictability, discovering that love, presence, and connection are what sustain us in the midst of uncertainty.   Quotes:   Richard Rohr: “Faith is not about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.” Adyashanti: “To live in the mystery, to dwell in the unknowable — that is the practice of presence.” Alan Watts: “Risk is essential. There is no growth without risk, and no meaningful life without risk.” Deepak Chopra: “Uncertainty is the fertile ground of pure creativity and freedom.” Ram Dass: “We’re all just walking each other home.”  

For Part 4 of our Growing Pains series, we were joined by none other than the founder of Aldea—Kevin Skinner!   in this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Kevin & Jake explore the dynamics of growth, change, and transformation in individuals and communities.    Kevin walks us through some of the pivotal moments in his journey as the pastor of Aldea, as well as some life-changing insights from his current work as a Director of Culture and Organizational Change. 

Pain, scars, and setbacks often feel like they disqualify us...but what if they are the very things that qualify us? In Part 3 of our Growing Pains series, we explore the archetype of the Wounded Healer, a universal pattern showing how our struggles can become the ground of compassion, service, and deeper connection. Drawing from the Greek myth of Chiron, insights from spiritual teachers, and real-life reflections, this talk unpacks how the wounds we carry might actually reveal our strength, deepen our empathy, and open us to healing both ourselves and others.   Quotes: Kahlil Gibran: Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. Rumi: The wound is the place where the Light enters you. Stevie Wonder: Shortly after my birth I became blind. Now, that was a blessing because it’s allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit? Helen Keller: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart. Henri Nouwen: When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers. Pema Chödrön: Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others.  

In this message from Aldea’s Growing Pains series, Kathleen draws on her love of gardening to explore how plants can teach us about growth, change, and co-evolution. She weaves together stories from the plant kingdom, reflections on Aldea’s journey through challenges, and the ways individuals and communities evolve through both success and failure.   Using the metaphor of pollination, Kathleen highlights how interdependence shapes all life and how Aldea continues to adapt, thrive, and blossom through the contributions of its members. This message invites us to see our community as a living, evolving organism...one that grows richer, more colorful, and more resilient as we nurture and shape it together   Quotes:   "All the accomplished gardeners I know are surprisingly comfortable with failure. They may not be happy about it, but instead of reacting with anger or frustration, they seem freshly intrigued by the peony that, after years of being taken for granted, suddenly fails to bloom. They understand that, in the garden at least, failure speaks louder than success. By that I don’t mean that the gardener encounters more failure than success (though in some years he will), only that his failures have more to say to him—about his soil, the weather, the predilections of local pests, the character of his land. The gardener learns nothing when his carrots thrive, unless that success is won against a background of prior disappointment. Outright success is dumb, disaster frequently eloquent. At least to the gardener who knows how to listen.” — Michael Pollan “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” — John Muir “We are not separate from the web of life, but strands within it—each tug and vibration shaping the whole.” — Thích Nhất Hạnh “The whole universe is one great symphony of mutual conditioning and interdependence.” — Dōgen Zenji “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — often attributed to Charles Darwin “Outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders; we see that the miraculous is not extraordinary but the common mode of existence. It is our daily bread.” — Wendell Berry  

We all know that growth is rarely easy. It often comes with discomfort, vulnerability, and the need to let go of what no longer fits. Just like the aches of childhood, the growing pains of life can be messy, confusing, and even painful...but they are also the very signs that something new is unfolding.   In the opener of our new series Growing Pains, we explore what it means to outgrow old systems, beliefs, and relationships, and how stepping forward into the unknown often reshapes us into more expansive versions of ourselves. Growth stretches us beyond the familiar and invites us into a bigger world, even when it feels risky or uncertain.   At the end, Jake makes a major announcement about the future of our community. Join us as we step into the next chapter together!   Quotes:   “There is no coming to consciousness without pain.” — Carl Jung “In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” — Abraham Maslow “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” — Neale Donald Walsch “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. “Pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” — Kahlil Gibran “It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go we have begun our real journey.” — Wendell Berry  

This candid and vulnerable conversation between Jake & Olivia explores four common myths about relationships and how they can limit connection, growth, and authenticity—whether you’re single or partnered.   We unpack the cultural narratives that tell us someone else should “complete” us, that change is dangerous to a relationship, that conflict is a sign of failure, and that there’s only one “true” reality between two people. With humor, stories, and spiritual insight, this talk is an invitation to embrace change, navigate conflict with grace, and cultivate deeper connection by truly seeing and supporting one another.   Quotes:   It is not the responsibility of your partner to make you happy. That is your job. And until you accept that, you will never be truly happy in a relationship. — Elizabeth Gilbert The romantic view is that our partners are here to make us whole. The wiser view is that they are here to help us become ourselves. — Alain de Botton The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. — Carl Jung Most people are going to have two or three relationships or marriages in their lifetime. Some of us are going to do it with the same person. — Esther Perel The success of a relationship is not measured by how few arguments you have, but by how gracefully you navigate the ones that inevitably arise. — Alain de Botton It’s not about solving the problem. It’s about being present with each other in the midst of it… You don’t need to fix your partner’s feelings. You need to show them they’re not alone in them. — Sue Johnson One of the most important skills in intimacy is learning to tolerate two different realities at the same time. — Terry Real Empathy is not connecting to an experience, it’s connecting to the emotions that underpin the experience. That means we don’t have to have the same story to feel with someone. — Brené Brown  

As we close our gargantuan ETHOS series, we explore the theme of humanity...not just as a concept, but as a way of being. What does it mean to be truly human in a time when empathy can feel dangerous and dehumanization is common? We take a hard look at our capacity for compassion, our inclination toward “us vs. them” thinking, and how our values shape the way we show up in the world.   Drawing from stories, history, and modern examples, we unpack how honoring our shared humanity is the key to healing ourselves, our communities, and the systems we’re part of. This finale in our ETHOS series brings it all together, reminding us that the values that define a full life are the same values that make us more human.     “In times of crisis, we must decide again and again whether to become more or less human.” – Terry Tempest Williams “The capacity for empathy is the distinguishing mark of humanity.” – J.M. Coetzee “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.” – Elon Musk “No more apologies for a bleeding heart when the opposite is no heart at all. Danger of losing our humanity must be met with more humanity.” – Toni Morrison “Dehumanization distances not only the out‑group from the in‑group, but those in the in‑group from their own humanity. It makes slaves to groupthink of everyone in the hierarchy.” – Isabel Wilkerson “What makes us human is not our mind but our heart, not our ability to think but our ability to love.” – Henri Nouwen “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him.When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’ “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”—Luke 10:25-37 “This ain’t nothing, but it might be everything. And the paradox of that is, if I live like it’s everything, then I might actually live a life that’s so beautiful, it might be worth continuing for eternity.” – Ryan Meeks “When it comes to firefighters, there’s no borders…There’s nothing that’ll avoid us from helping another firefighter, another family. It doesn’t matter where we’re at in the world. That’s the whole point of our discipline and what we do.” – Ismael Aldaba  

In this message, we explore humility not as self-belittlement, but as a powerful grounding force that reconnects us with ourselves, each other, and the Earth. From cosmic perspectives to our own human awkwardness, we journey through what it means to live low to the ground—in the best way possible. Quotes: Richard Rohr: “I have prayed for years for one good humiliation a day, and then, I must watch my reaction to it. I have no other way of spotting both my denied shadow self and my idealized persona.” Carl Sagan: “It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” Carl Sagan: “For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” Genesis 3:19: “From dust you are and to dust you shall return.” Nisargadatta Maharaj: “Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. Between the two, my life flows.”  

Forgiveness is one of the most misunderstood yet liberating forces in our lives. In this message, we explore what forgiveness really means—not as a religious duty, but as a radical act of spiritual freedom. From the weight we carry toward others, to the harsh inner critic within ourselves, to the bitterness we can unknowingly harbor toward life itself—this talk invites us to release, reflect, and reimagine.   We’re not here to excuse harm, erase consequences, or forget what’s been done. We’re here to heal. We explore how forgiveness can free us from the cycle of pain, debt, and self-punishment, allowing us to begin again—with others, with ourselves, and with life itself   This isn’t about pretending it didn’t happen. It’s about choosing a path of liberation.   Quotes:     Cūḷamālunkya Sutta (MN 63) – “It’s as if a man were wounded by an arrow thickly smeared with poison, and his friends and companions brought a surgeon to treat him. But the man would say: ‘I won’t let the surgeon pull out this arrow until I know who shot me—was it a noble, a brahmin, a merchant, or a worker? What was his name? What village did he come from? What kind of bow did he use? Was the bow made of horn or wood? What kind of string? What kind of arrow? What feathers were used? What was the poison?’   That man would die before he ever found the answers to all his questions." David Whyte – “Forgiveness is a profound interior act that allows us to lay down the burdens we have been carrying—toward others, toward ourselves, toward the way life has unfolded.” Roshi Joan Halifax – “Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is the one staring back at you in the mirror.” Jack Kornfield – “Forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past.” James Baldwin – “Forgiveness is not for the other person. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. But it does not mean you forget or that you excuse the harm done.” Desmond Tutu – “Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering—remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning.” Stephen Levine – “Forgiveness is not about letting anyone off the hook. It is about understanding that we are all caught in a web of conditioning, trauma, and forgetfulness—and choosing to step out of the cycle.” Tara Brach – “Radical acceptance is the willingness to experience ourselves and our life as it is.”  

In this soul-stirring message from our ETHOS series, we dive deep into the transformative power of presence—not as a trendy concept, but as the foundation of a full, grounded, and values-driven life. Drawing on stories, humor, and personal reflections, we challenge the cultural pull toward distraction and future-chasing, offering a counterintuitive invitation: that real freedom, depth, and connection arise when we stop trying to control everything and simply show up—right here, right now.   Whether it’s discomfort, uncertainty, or even mundane moments like being stuck in traffic, this message offers a radical reframe: presence isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the key to a life well-lived, to genuine relationships, and to spiritual depth.   This is a reminder to stop postponing your aliveness for a “better” future and instead ask: What would it mean to be fully here—today, in this moment, as you are?   Quotes:     Krista Tippett: “The spiritual life is not a separate compartment of life, but the deepening of presence in every part of it.” Eckhart Tolle: “The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.” Thich Nhat Hanh: “Life is available only in the present moment. If you abandon the present moment, you cannot live the moments of your daily life deeply.” Michael A. Singer: “Eventually you will see that the real cause of problems is not life itself. It’s the commotion the mind makes about life that really causes the problems.” Alan Watts: “No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.” Tara Brach: “The biggest disease of our time is the disconnection from our bodies, from our own hearts. And the medicine is presence.” Sigmund Freud: “One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.”  

This message dives deep into the misunderstood terrain of vulnerability—not as weakness, but as the courageous art of being seen. Drawing from thinkers like David Whyte, James Baldwin, Henri Nouwen, and Richard Rohr, we explore how unmasking ourselves is both a risk and a path to freedom.   What if your wounds weren’t problems to fix, but places where light gets in? What if healing isn’t about having answers, but sharing presence in the ache? What if your mask—your armor—is the very thing keeping you from love?   Join us as we unpack the paradox: the more we risk, the safer we become. This is a message for anyone who’s ever asked, “Am I enough?” You are. Not because you’re perfect—but because you’re real.    At Aldea, we don’t strive to fix each other—we strive to see each other.   Come, unmask with us. The truth will set you free.   Quotes:     David Whyte “Vulnerability is not a weakness, a passing indisposition, or something we can arrange to do without. Vulnerability is the underlying, ever-present, and abiding undercurrent of our natural state… To run from vulnerability is to run from the essence of our nature. The attempt to be invulnerable is the vain attempt to become something we are not and most especially, to close off our understanding of the grief of others.” Richard Rohr “We wear the masks that keep us from the very love we long for.” Leonard Cohen  “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Henri Nouwen “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain…” James Finley “It’s a very vulnerable thing to be loved because you risk being seen.” James Baldwin “Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”  

Check out this rich and heartfelt conversation with Ryan Meeks as we explore the depth of his guiding phrase: “Life is a Gift, Love is the Point.”   Ryan shares with honesty and humor about milestone experiences that have shaped his journey—including the bold and transformational shift of EastLake Church, which he founded in the early 2000s. Under his leadership, EastLake evolved from a fast-growing evangelical megachurch to an inclusive spiritual community that made headlines when it fully embraced LGBTQ+ inclusion and reimagined its core values around love, justice, and belonging.   We also dive into Ryan’s deeply personal journey through cancer and how it has further shaped his understanding of what really matters in life. And we talk about his current work helping others build lives of meaning and purpose beyond religious boxes—work that resonates deeply with Aldea’s vision of open-hearted, inclusive spirituality.   If you’re drawn to conversations about spiritual evolution, personal authenticity, and building communities where love truly is the point, this is one you won’t want to miss.   To learn more about Ryan and his work, visit loveisthepoint.com

Join us for this stirring interview with Scott Blades—founder and executive director of TIHAN, a faith-based non-profit serving those affected by HIV/AIDS in the Tucson region.    In this far-reaching conversation, we explore the importance of compassion as a virtue, the role of stigma in marginalization, and the connective power of empathy.    To learn more about TIHAN, visit TIHAN.org

Enjoy this in-depth conversation with Naturopathic Doctor Jaden Hawkinson, as we explore what it means to live a balanced life of spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness through the lens of "holism".   What if we saw our health and wellbeing as more than just symptom management, but as a holistic system where diverse parts interact and work together? What if we pursued "side benefits" instead of simply tolerating "side effects?   Learn more or work with Jaden:   https://www.jadenhawkinson.com/ https://genesisnmc.com/    

This Pride Month, we’re reflecting on what true inclusion means—not just in theory, but in practice, in our communities, and within ourselves. This message explores the sacred value of belonging, especially for those who have historically been excluded from spiritual spaces. Inclusion isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s a necessary foundation for healing, identity, and even survival.   We dive into the complexities of creating safe spaces, acknowledging the layers of trust and vulnerability needed before genuine self-expression and love can emerge. You’ll hear reflections on how inclusive communities like Aldea have had to take bold stands in the face of resistance—and why that fight still matters.   Ultimately, this is an invitation to each of us to examine our internal and external “tables”: Who do we welcome? What parts of ourselves have we yet to embrace? And what might it look like to move toward a deeper, more expansive love—for ourselves, for others, and for the world?   Quotes:    Kevin Garcia “I’m telling you my story because not everyone has survived to tell theirs… bad theology kills… I attempted suicide twice… spent most of my life hating myself and abusing my body with drugs and alcohol… bad theology is killing all of us.” Dr. Thema Bryant “You cannot heal in a space that is unsafe. Safety is not a luxury; it is a necessity for wholeness.” Brené Brown “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known. And that can only happen when we are safe.” Kevin Garcia “Inclusion isn’t about tolerating difference—it’s about celebrating the divine in every expression of it.” Ram Dass “Treat everyone you meet like God in drag.” Barbara Brown Taylor “The hardest spiritual work in the world is to love the neighbor as the self—to encounter another human being not as someone you can use, change, fix, help, save, enroll, convince, or control, but simply as someone who can spring you into spiritual reverence.” Brian McLaren “Why would I trust a God who is less merciful than I am? If I can imagine a more loving God than the one I’ve been taught, maybe that’s the Spirit inviting me to grow.” Desmond Tutu “Inclusive, good societies try to accept people as they are—even those whose acceptance of others is still evolving.” Richard Rohr “True inclusion doesn’t just welcome the outsider, it calls everyone into deeper maturity, including those who resist it.”  

In a time when headlines echo with conflict, uncertainty, and collapse, it can feel foolish—maybe even dangerous—to remain hopeful. But what if optimism isn’t about ignoring reality, but about choosing how we respond to it? In part 6 of ETHOS, we dive into the difference between naïve positivity and what we’re calling Sacred Optimism—a courageous, disciplined, even strategic way of engaging with life.   We explore how your worldview shapes your participation in the world and examine the spiritual, historical, and psychological roots of optimism as a powerful human choice—not a prediction, but a practice. This is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the state of things but still senses there’s something worth planting, even if tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.   Quotes:   James Baldwin “I can’t be a pessimist because I’m alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter. So I’m forced to be an optimist.” Howard Zinn “To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion… What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives.” Teilhard de Chardin “The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.” Martin Luther (attributed) “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree today.” Victor Hugo (Les Misérables) “There is nothing like a dream to create the future. Utopia today, flesh and blood tomorrow.” Dhammapada 1:1 (Buddha) “With our thoughts, we make the world.” Noam Chomsky “Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.” Mariame Kaba “Hope is a discipline.” Viktor Frankl “Everything can be taken from [us] but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” John O’Donohue “The soul is the place where the eternal and time meet… where the future is still willing to emerge from the unknown.”