Endorsements of Footprints of the Soul

“Footprints of the Soul” is an important resource for those who are looking for ways to reflect on the spiritual journey of life. Elizabeth Willey is unusually gifted at integrating the head and the heart. She brings an impressive breadth of knowledge to her deep commitment to practice. Her starting point, which is vital in all of the great traditions of spirituality, is the belief that we can hear within our own depths divine guidance for the journey, and very importantly that there are practical ways in which we can help one another listen. Footprints of the Soul is a superb example of this.”

The Reverend Dr. J. Philip Newell, author of Listening for the Heartbeat of God

“To journey with Footprints of the Soul offers the opportunity to experience prayer more personally and deeply. It is a creative way to enhance the awareness of God’s presence in daily life.”

Sonja M. Stewart, Ph.D, author of Young Children and Worship and Following Jesus

“As a spiritual director, I find Footprints of the Soul a life-affirming resource for individuals as well as for groups. I have drawn from a number of the book’s creative exercises in my spiritual direction sessions. The “Journey” on Discernment has been especially helpful. I was privileged to attend one of Ms. Willey’s workshops where she led a selection of journey components from her book. She taught the whole time with enthusiasm and a smile. I see this joy and sense of adventure bubbling up through her text too. I heartily recommend it for broadening and deepening one’s spiritual practices.

Donna Rathert, spiritual director, labyrinth facilitator, iconographer

“Footprints of the Soul was invaluable to me for facilitating our church’s Spiritual Growth Group. I was able to start the group using the exact Footprints structure and content, and then as group members’ individual spiritual paths became known, we augmented that with topics and material that were personally meaningful to us. The resource of Footprints of the Soul makes it easy to conduct a spiritual journey group that can provide guidance, support and safety for interested participants.”

Lucie Nisson, therapist & group facilitator at First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor

“Using material from her book, Footprints of the Soul, Elizabeth Willey facilitated the prayer experience for the annual gathering of Spiritual Directors in West Michigan at the Dominican Center at Marywood in the spring of 2004. Her gentle style and gracious presence invited participants to journey deeply into the Holy Presence as she used guided imagery and prayer to begin and end our time together. Elizabeth’s approach to the use of the imagination in prayer provided as well, an energized and energizing sharing and reflection on the experiences. We were blessed to have Elizabeth as our leader that day.”

Nancy Brousseau, OP, Co-Director, Dominican Center at Marywood