about meWelcome, I’m Tamarah.
I companion people who are asking deep questions about their lives and faith.
Rather than offering answers, I offer presence. Our time together is a space to be honest, to listen deeply, and to rest in the truth that you are already beloved, already becoming.
I have no doubts that the one who set your feet on this good path will keep walking it with you.
— Philippians 1:6, First Nations Version
The path that led me here
My path to becoming a spiritual director emerged through years of learning to trust the God who spoke to my heart, not merely accepting the god directed at me. After experiencing profound spiritual transformation in my own life, I felt called to companion others on their sacred journeys.
My training in spiritual direction was completed through Christian Formation and Direction Ministries Northwest where I developed skills in contemplative listening, discernment, and holding space for others' spiritual experiences. I continue my education through purposeful reading, regular retreats, supervision, and engagement with diverse wisdom traditions.
My ApproachMy approach to spiritual direction honors the mystery of the divine while remaining grounded in practical wisdom. I welcome people from all faith traditions, those in spiritual transition, and those who identify as spiritual but not religious. My practice is inclusive of all gender identities, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences.
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I believe each person holds the Imago Deo, the Image of God. God breathed life into humans, and God’s divine breath is at the core of our being. To me, this means that each person mirrors a piece of the Divine, and it is a joy to connect with the unique reflection in each person. These beliefs call me to value authenticity and to believe in the spaciousness of grace.
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I am an educator who uses literature to inspire discussion and wondering. I am a parent who believes in nurturing who my children are, not who I want them to be. I am an extrovert married to an introvert. I am woman who continues to become.
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BS from George Fox University in Elementary Education (1995)
MA from the University of Washington, Bothell, in Education, with an emphasis on Woman’s Studies (2002)
Certification in Spiritual Formation from CFDM (2019)
Certification with the Oregon Writing Project 2020
Certification in Spiritual Direction from CFDM (2022)
Prior to spiritual direction, my background in education enriched my understanding of how the sacred interweaves with all aspects of human life.
Teaching literature and history connects me with stories that continue to push me past my own lived experience. This perspective allows me to appreciate the unique ways spirit manifests in each person's journey.
There is space here…
as you desire to engage more deeply with the ordinary moments of your world.
as you seek the courage to invite honesty.
as you find yourself on the edges.
when you long to recognize your place of belonging.
when you need to be heard and seen in your own story.
as you hold your questions, unsure of what those questions might unleash.
It would be an honor to walk beside you.
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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
A quiet space to explore your questions, longings, and connection with the sacred. Here at the edges, your story is held with deep presence.
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GROUP OFFERINGS
In these intimate gatherings, wisdom emerges through our collective listening and reflection. Explore my offerings or reach out if you’d like me to facilitate a safe community.
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LET'S MEET FOR TEA
Curious about working together or have questions about spiritual direction? Let’s have a complimentary 30 minute conversation to connect.
FAQs
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Direction is about listening to the soul and reflecting back the whispers of the spirit, allowing growth at its own pace. Counseling addresses specific issues, often with solid answers and a plan of treatment. Sometimes the topics brought to direction or counseling overlap, but the purpose of direction is to hold your words in the presence of the Divine and listen together rather than offering solutions.
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My job is to listen to you, and help you listen to yourself, so you can learn to discern where love speaks truth. I hope that in this process you find ideas and practices that breathe life into your spiritual journey, finding along the way new freedom to explore places that have been left dormant.
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Typically, we meet once a month for an hour. This rhythm allows space for you to attend to your soul and see what is stirring between meetings without creating a dependence on a person, but opening up the possibility of a fresh practice.
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I can meet in either place. I live in Redmond, WA, surrounded by countryside and love to meet in this quiet space. But most of my directees need the convenience of a zoom meeting, where they are in a space that is homebase for them.
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None. All that is needed is an openness to explore what a spiritual life could look like. I hold space for people who are wondering what religion is or have been hurt and walked away from church. I listen to pastors talk about their congregations and to people who are in the process of deconstructing. I hear people’s story of reconstructing their faith or when they are just not sure who God is to them at this point in their journey. Spiritual Direction is simply a place to talk about where you find yourself interacting (or not) with God.
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Whatever parts of your life connect to your spirit. I find that this means almost everything is fair game. The beauty of direction is that you are listened to for an hour and deeply heard. I’ve worked with young moms in the throws of diapers, other moms whose life is filled with carpools and appointments. I’ve sat with people who wonder, “Why religion?” or who are looking at major life changes. I hold space when people are wondering about racism, LGBTQ and the Bible, or the politics of the moment. I sit with young singles as they sort relationships, gripe about jobs, or push back against how they were raised. Stories tend to touch the sacred and listening with people to figure out how that is true in an honor.
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$100 for a one-hour monthly session
$100 a month for group sessions which meet weekly
I believe that so much life-giving work, traditionally done by women, has been undervalued by society. To support women who are bringing their work to the marketplace and working to support their families with what they bring, I too, will ask the going rates for direction. I also know the very human way we make tight budgets stretch is by cutting out self-care, often to our detriment. Let’s talk if you feel the need for spiritual direction but don’t know how to make space in the budget for it.
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I would love to facilitate a group for you. Maybe you have a group of friends that would like a more directed book club? Or perhaps a guided discussion group? Maybe you would like to join a group and meet new people. Contact me and we will see what is available for each season.
Is something stirring in your spirit?
I invite you to a complimentary 30-minute discovery call where we can explore how spiritual direction might support your path. Of if you would like me to facilitate a group around Lectio Divina or a book, I would love to hear your thoughts.