Episode 6: Tree hugging, Seminary and the Socially Anxious
About this episode
In this episode, Marcella shares her personal journey during her first year of seminary and the impact of a yellow paper star on her life.
What happens when your "star word" contradicts your fear? In this special Epiphany episode, I’m sharing a story I’ve never told in detail: my first year of seminary, hiding in my car during lunch breaks, and the moment a yellow paper star changed the trajectory of my life. We talk about: The "J-Term" struggle: Surviving seminary when you feel like an outsider. The Connection: Why none of us are "qualified" to lead alone. Tenderness: Reflections on my very first star word from 2019. https://open.substack.com/pub/thegroundedsoul/p/tree-hugging-seminary-and-the-socially?r=17n5on&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Visit the link above to see the original 2019 worksheet mentioned in this episode and to join our community of clergy and seekers. About the Host: Marcella Ciccotelli is an Eco-Chaplain and Clergy member currently exploring the intersections of grief, nature, and spiritual rest. #StarWords #Epiphany #ClergyWellness #UMC #VulnerableLeadership
People in this episode
Host: Marcella Ciccotelli
Topics covered
- seminary
- social anxiety
- spirituality
- personal growth
- connection
- vulnerability
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: UMC
Books & works: Star Words
More episodes of To Be a Mystic
- Roots of Compassion: Cultivating Loving Kindness
- Finding the Quiet Frequency: A Trial in Sacred Listening (Episode #7)
- Mini-pod: Milestones, Mail & Winter Sun
- Silver Maples and the Longest Night (Solstice 2025)
- Episode 4: The Mycelial Mystery: Connected in the Soil of God
- Episode 3: Wilderness Moments (Lent 1)
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