MENU

If St. Hildegard Was Your Coach…

Mar 1, 2023

by Meg Hess, D.Min., PCC

St. Hildegard lived, and thrived, in Germany in the 12th century. The more I learn about her remarkable life with her outstanding contributions to medicine, theology, art, and writing, the more I think of her as a guide for those who wish to flourish in life. Hildegard’s spiritual tradition taught her to practice “discretio.” In the Middle Ages the Latin term “discretio” had a complex meaning which wove together the spiritual practices of discretion and discernment. “Discretio” involved self-awareness, the ability to take a clear-eyed look at one’s life and goals, and the capacity to identity one’s deepest longings. In a sense, the practice of “Discretio” is very much like the process of coaching.

Coaching creates a space where the client can touch base with an inner compass which guides them to live a life of integrity, meaningfulness, and purpose. With our accompaniment, clients are invited to identify their gifts and strengths, artfully navigate their challenges, and bring their deepest longings into alignment with how they love, live, and work in the world. Coaching is a place where one learns to listen as they practice “discretio.” This is “global listening” where client and coach are listening to one another as well as to the space between them. Listening for hints and guesses about one’s callings as they clarify feelings, needs, and longings for wholeness.

In the MCS March Coaching Call I will dig a little deeper into the life of St. Hildegard of Bingen. We will discover more about how this Medieval Mystic practiced self-care, developed her gifts, strengths, and skills, and provided leadership to others in her community who sought to follow her example of living a full, flourishing life. Her bold life provides many clues to how we might be a more effective coach and live with less fear and more courage.

Sign Up for Meg’s Mindfulness Coaching Call, March 6, 2023.
Our Mindfulness Coaching call is held every month and is our gift to the community.
Anyone can attend!

Meg also teaches:
Right Speech: Listening Deeply, Speaking Truth
Skillful Means: The Coaching Skill Set

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Posts

Testimonials

[The Dynamic Trio] was a great class that mixed experiential learning with incredible tools that I could use immediately with clients.  Ann-Marie was an incredible instructor with a myriad of knowledge and experience from many different backgrounds. I really appreciated her ability to interact so personally and intentionally with students in the class all while teaching a strong skill set.
Dawn GabrielMA, LPCCastle Rock, CO
More Testimonials »
I fell in love with somatic coaching. I never thought I could actually talk to my body. A completely new world opened up for me personally, as I am sure will be the case also for my clients. I now fully understand as I have experienced it that somatic coaching is the only really holistic way to get to core of the challenges and to the goals that are completely aligned with ourselves.
Silvija ZagarStudent CoachHunsdorf, Luxembourg
More Testimonials »
I love the capacity to be “unique and whole.” In this course, amidst the trauma of coronavirus, I found it was still possible to listen deeply in the moment. So thank you to this class and the life-giving experiences it offered. The course gave me fresh air for both my mind and body.
PCC, MWSC, MCS AlumnaVerona, Italy
More Testimonials »
Simply put, when I was taught coaching by a popular institute, I learned to coach thoughts and feelings. When I was taught The Dynamic Trio: EMDR, Positive Psychology, and Somatic Coaching at MCS, I learned how to feel those feelings and release them. The mind and body connected; this was the missing link for me.
Moira ClearyStudent CoachJohns Creek, GA
More Testimonials »
I am so glad that my introduction the coaching experience was under the guidance and care of Ann-Marie. The courses I have taken so far at the Mindfulness Coaching School has absolutely nurtured my ability to enrich my world and grow my capacity to support others as they work to enrich their own lives. I have already enrolled in more classes and am very excited for the next steps in my journey as they unfold with Mindfulness Coaching School!
Danielle TaylorStudent CoachOakland, CA
More Testimonials »
The readings for this class [Skillful Means] were amazing and opened wonderful insights and discussions. I learned a lot about myself, both personally and professionally.
Lara T. AbreuB.A., M.A.Pleasanton, CA
More Testimonials »
Ann-Marie is a fabulous teacher and mentor. She is a superb coach who models coaching skills and mindset throughout the learning process. Coaching is an exciting profession and Ann-Marie’s passion for coaching is contagious. I have made more changes in my life in the 6 months I’ve been taking classes with Ann-Marie than I have ever made in an entire year. I am now more confident and more energized in my work. I am so happy that I’ve taken the leap into coaching with Ann-Marie leading the way!
Christy EndicottLICSW, Psychotherapist, Wellness/Mindfulness Coach
More Testimonials »
[Right Speech] was a transformative class for me and Meg Hess was an inspiring and compassionate teacher. I have had an abiding interest in the notion of Right Speech, so I was looking forward to taking this class and curious about how it would unfold. It was very gratifying to see the teachings and practices we learned making a real impact on my listening skills, as well as on my responses to life circumstances and even world events. I am certainly taking away a wider scope of curiosity and the communication and listening tools to more effectively investigate that curiosity, which, in turn, expands the scope of my compassion.
Ilse ThompsonStudent CoachAuburn, Maine
More Testimonials »
What a way to start my journey at MCS! This was my first class related to my Coaching endeavor. The STRETCH class is a marvelous macro-level course about what one can expect in the coaching field. The instructor fostered such a memorable and supportive space and I know I will nurture those friendships for years to come.
Sharon ScottStudent CoachCoronado, California
More Testimonials »
Business Alchemy helped me grow into and clarify my purpose in coaching. I was able to create the story of me that brought me to where I am and my passion to inspire others on their journey. Ann-Marie’s guidance through understanding service marketing was heartening, powerful and inspiring. Sarah’s encouragement and gentle way of pulling the essence of us to the surface was spectacular! Thank you both, as well as my fellow students, for an incredible experience! And I’m getting clients!
Brenda FaganStudent CoachNew Orleans, LA
More Testimonials »
Accredited Logos

© Copyright 2005 – 2023 Ann-Marie McKelvey | Buddhist Chaplain • Mindfulness, Wellness and Somatic Coach • Psychotherapist • EMDR Consultant