“You have to be in the world to understand what the spiritual is about, and you have to be spiritual to truly be able to accept what the world is about”
— Mary Oliver

WELCOME!

about the Spirited Purpose project

Spirited: Lively, full of life, spirit or courage.

Purpose: A result that is desired, an intention.

Project: A planned endeavor, usually with a specific goal & accomplished in several stages.

ABOUT

The Spirited Purpose Project is a place for spirit-fueled, courageous folks to come together in a safe space, with intention (or goals) — whether that be to discover or grow a business, get clear on their deeper purpose, or to connect more deeply & meaningfully with themselves, with life, & with others.

If you wish to bring more good to the world through your work, personal endeavors, or “just” being who are meant to be — then you’re sure to find something here for you.

Together we can make magic happen.

The time is now.

Mission Statement

The Spirited Purpose Project is a vibrant & growing online space for spiritual entrepreneurs — as well as spiritual seekers.

Here, you are empowered to find clarity of purpose, to deepen your connection to yourself and to others, & to unabashedly use your gifts & personal light to bring more good to the world in your own special way.

The mission is to weave the spiritual & practical by:

— Providing non-traditional chaplaincy (e.g. safe presence with deep listening), business/marketing, & intuitive skills;

— Offering practical resources, tools, & support;

— Connecting those seeking healing, creative, & other spiritually infused services with those who offer them.

MEET DANA
Bits & Bobs: A Little About My Orientation & Values

  • I’m an ordained interfaith chaplain, but NOT the kind most people think.
    I don’t officiate ceremonies or stand behind a pulpit.
    I use this education & training by creating presence & a safe space for listening, both in everyday life — & uniquely, “in business.”

    (Read My Story for more about this)

  • I like business, in general, & marketing, especially.
    But not the kind of marketing that suggests you contort yourself into someone you’re not in order to follow someone else’s outward-focused “rules.”
    To me, being in business & marketing your work starts as in “inside job.”
    It’s from that place you move outward, purposefully into the world to get stuff done.

  • I’ve been told I’m a great listener — who likes to talk!
    But in my defense, it’s to process what’s going on with me.
    We don’t need answers; We need others to listen so we can hear ourselves.

  • I’m an introvert with bold extrovert tendencies & to pull that off I need lots of contemplative, quiet time.
    That’s my business secret — do “nothing” to do something.

  • I’m a creative who for decades believed that I wasn’t that at all.
    Until I realized that creating a business is a grand creative act — as is growing & sustaining it.
    Given that The Spirited Purpose Project is my third entrepreneurial venture, I can now say I own my creativity.

  • I’m spiritual-but-not-religious, though I was raised in, & have since parted ways with, the Catholic Church.
    I respect those who find their truth in churches, temples, & mosques, even if I do not.
    I consider myself more of a mystic. I look inward through the lens of various mystical teachings. Universal Sufism is my foundation.

  • FINALLY —
    I live in a cozy camp-turned-cottage along the midcoast of Maine.
    I’m a full-on cat lady with no cat, who shares my life with a dog (aka Jarvis the Brave). And with my husband Mark, our son Brennan & daughter-in-law Hannah (who live in an even tinier cottage in our backyard).

  • ~ B.A.. International Studies
    ~ Suluk Academy: A two-year, intensive study of Universal Sufism with the Inayatiyya Movement on the teachings of Indian mystic & classical musician, Hazrat Inayat Khan
    ~ Coordinator Training: A multi-year training within the Inayatiyya’s Inner School leadership training track
    ~ Chaplaincy Institute of Maine: Two-year interfaith education/training & ordination
    ~ Reiki level I & II trainings
    ~ Lee Harris Energy: Energy Mastery
    ~ Astrology: beginner’s study with Bronwyn Simons Astrology & Astrology Hub courses
    ~ Notable, well-respected business training & courses, including: Marie Forleo’s B-School & The Copy Cure; Carol Tice’s The Freelance Writer’s Den Mastermind group/coaching; Mark Silver’s Heart of Business marketing trainings; Stu Mclaren’s The Membership Experience; Coastal Maine Enterprises’s (Brunswick, ME) entrepreneurship advising services

  • How do you define a spiritual entrepreneur?
    By this Project’s “definition,” a spiritual entrepreneur is someone who brings their heart & soul into every aspect of their work.

    Unlike traditional business owners or even conscious entrepreneurs they tend to weave spirituality & often their own spiritual practice seamlessly into their business offerings. There is likely little separation between their spiritual life & their work life. What makes them unique is that they get to define this spiritual connection in their own authentic way, whether that means incorporating meditation, energy work, intuitive practices, or whatever else resonates with them.

    At the core of their business is a genuine desire to create positive change, knowing that their work, their spirit, & their impact on others are all beautifully interconnected.

    They’re not only building a business; they’re creating a sacred space where their gifts can serve the greater good.

    People doing spiritual work don’t expect to be compensated for their services, do they?
    Ummm, those I work with sure do!

    Spiritual practitioners, like all professionals, deserve fair compensation for their expertise & services. It’s no different than paying a doctor or therapist or any other teacher or guide.

    When you pay for spiritual guidance, ritual or ceremony for your life event, help in writing the book of your heart, or holistic healing work, you're acknowledging both the value of what you receive & the time, training, & dedication required to provide these services.

    And here's something to consider - that money you spend? It creates this amazing ripple effect. The spiritual entrepreneur might use it to take more courses, help their kids through school, or support other small businesses in their community. It's like dropping a pebble in a pond - the waves keep spreading outward.

    What do you mean by “spiritual-but-not-religious?"
    For the Project’s purposes these are people who are not likely part of any organized religion. They define their faith or their spirituality — as well as a “higher power” (for example, be that nature, god, goddess, diety, the cosmos, the beloved, the divine, source, the-all-that-is, etc.) — for themselves. They are curious, open-minded seekers.

    What do you mean by “inside job?”
    Here at the Project this means understanding that to move through life authentically, do good work, & show up as ourselves, we must first examine what's happening within. For example, we need to look beyond what others or life has told us we are, as these external influences can trip us up & hold us back. When we recognize & understand these influences, they lose their power over us. Only then can we truly be ourselves & do our work with greater ease—in ways that feel both right & uniquely our own

    “… if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, the slow freeing of the self to its full capacity for action and creation … we have to be willing to go naked.”
    — May Sarton

    I don’t have or want a business. Is this space for me?
    Definitely!

    Do you long for deeper connection & conversation with other similarly-hearted seekers? Then check out DEEP DIVE, our online conversation gatherings, HERE.

    Are you in need of spiritual, spiritually oriented, as well as creative & healing services?
    Contact us

    This project is growing & expanding!
    So please get on our email list to be notified of added offerings & services.
    Please to our HOME page and subscribe in the box there.

    I’ve read enough.
    How do I work with you & your project?
    See the Contact page.

Reflections from others who have studied or collaborated with — & mentored — Dana:

  • “Dana leads and follows with curiosity. Dana embodies humility and courage whether she is stepping forward to reflect, share, and invite or stepping to the side to listen, wonder, and question. Her patient and kind presence shines a gentle light on the truths that are hiding in plain sight. As a student, teacher, companion, and mentor, Dana's honesty, humor, and compassion will support others in finding their own way to shine.”

    Rev. Lisa Steele-Maley, she/her
    Executive Director / Dean
    ChIME, Chaplaincy Institute of Maine

  • “It was my honor and pleasure to serve as Dana’s advisor for her years at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine, leading up to her ordination as an interfaith minister. Our institute attracts many remarkable beings and surely, Dana is right in there with those. She was always thoughtful, dedicated and genuine, and I so looked forward to our meetings. One of the stand-out qualities of Dana’s is the way she shows up in the face of conflict. She is clear and courageous. Multiple times, Dana was the first to give voice to a challenge a group was silently affected by. She did so with respect and honesty - never blaming anyone, while inviting others to join her in moving closer to ‘right relationship’ for all.”

    Craig Werth
    Academic Coordinator
    ChIME, Chaplaincy Institute of Maine

  • “Mentoring and guiding Dana through the last several years has been like working with a flowing river.  A wonderful flow, a constancy of intention and purpose toward the goal, and a bubbling up of life energy combined with keen intuition.”

    Tara Inayat Chishti
    Senior Sufi Teacher / Spiritual Guide

  • “Sitting in the safe and supportive space of Dana’s presence is healing in itself. She is one of those rare human gems who listens more than they speak, and who has the remarkable ability to reflect back and reveal to you the wisdom of your own heart. She walks the path by your side, humbly shining the light of her deep and mystical knowledge.”

    Rev. Kate Dufort
    2024 ChIME Graduate

  • “I met Dana more than a decade ago, when she was living in Pennsylvania and I in Connecticut. Our paths crossed at a Sufi retreat center in the Berkshires, first for a couple of weekend retreats focused on spiritual practices informed by the rhythms of farming and the growth cycle, and later we both committed to a two-year retreat/study program for a deeper dive into Universal Sufism. Still, at that time we were acquainted, but hadn't developed the bond we have now. Now we both live in Maine and she and her family are my Maine family. Besides our Sufi connection and living in Maine, we've both been ordained as interfaith chaplains and have nurtured a deep friendship and spiritual companionship. I've watched her bloom as she's explored and integrated the joyful, fun, serious, deep, loving, beauty-seeking, practical, skillful, irreverent, creative, courageous, intuitive aspects of her being. She's the full package, the real deal.”

    Jan King
    2022 ChIME Graduate

  • “Dana is an excellent communicator. She listens carefully to other people’s ideas, and she’s very insightful at pulling out and helping them to develop these. When she’s involved in a project or group, you can count on her to be enthusiastic and fully committed to a ‘successful outcome’.”

    Karen Pearson
    Spiritual Conversation Co-Creator

  • “I met Dana when we attended a Sufi retreat several years ago. I experienced her to be fast on her feet and a truth seeker with a contagious sense of humor. Over many years of friendship, we collaborated to originate, design, and offer a well-received, successful weekend women’s retreat we called The Heroinne’s Journey.  Dana has a strong backbone and a unique ability to let her Soul lead the way, even when she is called to stretch way beyond her comfort level. She has finely turned listening skills and the capacity to take appropriate and courageous action in a variety of personal and collective situations.”

    Carol Rodrigue
    Retreat Collaborator, Facilitator