Podcast Interview: Spiritual Direction & Small Handcrafted Business

I was called last week with an invitation to do a podcast interview about Fervent Folk's Spiritual Direction and Handcrafted Business for Global Podcast Network.

My first reactions to the offer: trepidation, thrill, feeling flattered to be asked. :-) I agreed, because, "Why not?" After I hung up the call and processed how I felt about it, I did some research on the Global Podcast Network, the company hosting the interview, because there are a lot of scams and whatnot out there! My search uncovered a few mixed reviews, some of them indicating that the podcast invitation comes with subsequent calls from the company to invest in larger opportunities at a premium price point. I'm definitely not in a place financially to invest in much other than what I've got currently (website and domain fees, Etsy fees, a Canva subscription) I did experience a moment of indecision and suspicion, to be sure, but since this podcast interview wasn't costing me anything upfront I figured I had nothing to lose and something to gain:

• practice in speaking live on a podcast,

• potential new contacts, and

• free exposure to an audience who would not otherwise ever hear of me and of Spiritual Direction otherwise.

  
  

  So, the question still stood, "Why not?"

Regardless of how the podcast interview goes, I already know that it was good practice for me to work through and examine the answers to the podcast questions I was sent. The longer I work at developing Fervent Folk and my practice of Spiritual Direction, the more clarity I gain on my own priorities, how & why I practice Direction, and what I want to offer to others. Businesses - like people - are often in a state of growth and transition. Certainly those, like me, who value development and wisdom will always be changing as we glean new insights. So, with that in mind, acknowledging that things may likely change going forward, this is where I find myself at this point in time. Once the podcast is available to listen i will post the information on where to access it here.

1.  Please give a description of your company and the products/services you offer.

Smelted, hand casted Aluminum earrings. Lightweight, tarnish free, earth-friendly ear wear.

Fervent Folk offers handcrafted items made from recycled and organic materials. Some of our most popular items include earrings made from smelting aluminum cans and other scrap, hand casted into beautiful shapes. The aluminum is super lightweight, won't tarnish and is environmentally friendly. I also make jewelry from seeds I source from Madagascar where we lived for over a decade. You can see photos of the items and the Making process on the website, FerventFolk.com

I also offer a service called Spiritual Direction, or Soul Care. Spiritual Direction has been practiced for hundreds of years, and is gaining greater recognition again. Spiritual Direction can be described as 'Holy Listening', or Soul Companionship. It's not Therapy, not Life Coaching. It's a practice where a Director (that's me) listens and helps the Directee (that's you) notice the movement of God/the Divine Presence (or whatever name you are comfortable using for 'Ultimate Reality') in your life. 

Spiritual Direction offers a safe space to talk about, and examine, your experience of God/the Divine Presence

Many of us who gather with other people of faith don't actually know how to experience personal encounters with God. We know intellectually what we believe, but we don't experience or engage with the presence of God, nor do we have spaces to really think about, examine and engage with our spirituality/faith. Many of my clients tell me it's just helpful to have a space to talk about their spiritual experiences, because they don't have anyone else who they can talk with about these things. How often do you talk about your experiences and encounters with God/the Divine Presence with your friends, family, or co-workers? It's a vulnerable and intimate topic to discuss, and there are many people who we sense will not listen to us talk about these things without giving unsolicited feedback, judgement, or criticism of some kind.

Spiritual Direction offers people the opportunity to talk about and examine thoughts, beliefs, and experiences in a safe, non-judgmental space. The Director doesn't 'teach', judge, or correct what you say, which are things we often can experience in religious settings. Spiritual Direction, as I practice it, is based on the belief that God/The Divine wants to connect with us but we've lost the knowledge of how to notice, engage with, and experience being in God's Presence. We often learn about God, but don't engage with God. 

2.  How long have you been in business?

Me (right) and Madame Odette, the Maker of the tin-can 'Bookshelf Bicycles' offered in our shop

I have been selling and making handcrafted accessories since 2011. I started this business when I lived in Madagascar as a way to financially support the Malagasy women and children I knew personally. The sales of items went directly into paying for school fees and supplies, health care and emergencies, because their access to these resources was limited. Since moving to Canada in 2017, I continue to support Malagasy Artisans by investing in, promoting and selling their work online and at Maker/Farmer's Markets in my area.

I added the Spiritual Direction services to my offerings in 2020 after I completed my training as a Director. It's a practice I deeply resonate with and feel is so important and needed in our current society.

3.  Tell us about your business.

Fervent Folk is a one-woman company. I do all the importing, making, marketing, online and in person sales as well as the Spiritual Direction, or Soul Care. My products and services are about celebrating life simply: Slowing down, taking a breath, noticing what is important. Fervent Folk believes that while life can become complicated and overwhelming, most of us already possess what we need to live a good life, but our culture/society doesn't offer us space to do this without buying into the latest trend. The handcrafted items in my shop are not trendy, they are simple accessories that highlight the beauty of recycled and/or organic/natural materials. You don't need them, I will never tell you that you need to buy them, but I offer them for those who are looking for unique, handcrafted, ecologically-mindful accessories that tell a good story.

The Soul Care I offer helps people access the wisdom, discernment and relationship with the Divine that they already have within themselves, but haven't had the space or opportunity to develop. Spiritual Direction is NOT about receiving direction from me! My task is to help direct your attention to God/the Divine Presence/Spirit so you can experience divine encounters and gain insight directly from the Source. 

4.  What inspired you to pursue your profession?

I am a Creative, a deep-thinker, someone who experiences awe in the everyday and encounters what I know to be the Divine Presence in unexpected places. As someone who was brought up in the Christian Church, I began to realize that not everyone experiences this delight in engaging with God in such an intimate way, yet they seemed to long for it. While I have always been a Contemplative, a Theologian and an Academic, I trained in the art and practice of Spiritual Direction to learn and improve the skills I already had to be able to help others to discover ways they can encounter Divine Love, or God, themselves. There is a writer and theologian, A.W.Tozer, who wrote that,

"The most important thing about a person is their image of God."

I've found this to be true - the way we experience and think about God impacts everything in our lives including the way we think about ourselves, the people around us, and the world. Yet we have few resources to help us learn how to examine these beliefs or spaces to do it safely, without fear of judgement or correction from people who think they know better than we do about our own relationship with the Divine. 

5.  What would you like the listeners to know about you?

I would like people to know that they are deeply loved, and that I would be honoured to listen to them and help them engage with their Spiritual selves more deeply. I want people to know that I am not trying to sell them anything. I offer what I have in my shop and my skills as a Spiritual Director, but am not interested in being salesy, or pushing a sale. I'm not interested in judging or promoting 'correct doctrine'. I'm interested in hearing about you and your experience of the Divine Presence of God, whatever that entails. I have learned that this practice has helped people to live lives more aware of their belovedness, and the felt Presence of God in their lives, which subsequently impacts all areas of life - our relationships with others, ourselves, and the world. 

Wish me luck! LOL. Public Speaking is definitely not something I'm confident in! I'm excited to do the interview, but super nervous at the same time.

Questions or Comments? I would be genuinely delighted to hear from you! Leave me a comment below, or message me privately - I welcome words of affirmation, questions, constructive criticism/suggestions because I'm interested in personal/professional growth and development and in relationship building.