About
Welcome! I identify as a white, cisgender, straight, fully-abled, upper-middle class woman. I use the pronouns she and her.
Spiritually, I identify as a mystic with a deep connection to the natural world. Many teachers inspire me and influence my work. Some are mentioned here.
I'm a Board Certified Coach (BCC) and ordained Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister. Unitarian Universalism allows me to be spiritually fluid which means I honor all spiritual orienting systems and meet people where they are.
I received a Master of Divinity from Iliff School of Theology and am an adjunct instructor there.
As a member of the Unitarian Universalist Minister Association and Spiritual Directors International, I am bound and committed by the codes of conduct each provides. Monthly, I receive supervision and spiritual direction to keep my skills sharp and intuition open! I'm also on the Board of Directors and contribute to the curriculum of UU Wellspring, a program for spiritual deepening.
For 25 years, I've been exploring my ancestors and especially their spiritualities. Christianity and pre-Christian Celtic religion are part of my own spiritual life and a way I honor my lineage (with all of its warts and wonders). I've done ancestral research, healing rituals and meditations in Ireland and Germany where many of my ancestors resided before immigrating to the United States. Core shamanic journeying is one of my spiritual practices, although not the only one. I've worked with a variety of Celtic teachers and am in a two-year course on Celtic myth, religion and shamanism taught by Harvard-trained Celticist, Sharon MacLeod. Somewhere along the way, I began to sense the significance of energy and its power, so I completed the Master Teacher Usui Reiki Practitioner Certification and incorporate that into my work with clients when appropriate. My Reiki teachers and I honor the Japanese lineage of Usui, Hayashi and Takata. (The term "master" means teacher, not one who has authority over another.)
The Kamana Independent Study from the Wilderness Awareness School (naturalism training) has helped me develop nature-based contemplative practices and a deeper commitment to environmental justice.
I've been around awhile (I'm 57 years old), so a mix of experience in business, ministry, chaplaincy and justice advocacy influence and enrich my work. Before attending seminary, I had a twenty-two-year career in business which included working for Procter and Gamble, Computer Associates and General Electric. Then for twelve years, a business partner and I led a woman-owned organization to offer consulting and leadership training to small and large organizations. (We had onsite daycare for our babies and offered it to employees, too.) I was an executive coach when the idea of seminary wouldn't leave my heart and soul.
Since my call to ministry and ordination, I've served as pastor of three congregations. I'm also a certified Justice Movement Chaplain and am involved as an accomplice and ally in a variety of social and environmental justice movements. Immigration justice has been at the center of that work for over a decade. As lead minister at the UU Church of Boulder, I supported the congregation as they discerned to become a Sanctuary Congregation and in the work involved after that decision. At Casa de Paz, I volunteer and companion folks who are detained by ICE, and when they are hopefully released. With a Latina partner, I teach a course for Casa de Paz volunteers on anti-racism and being an ally and accomplice in the work.
Some more examples of how I use my privilege to advocate for change include:
Toolkit for Solidarity - developed in 2020-21
Opinion Piece about Immigration
Faith-based Call for Action
Blessing of the Ballots video
Blessing of the Ballots article
I'm working to dismantle characteristics of white supremacy culture that live in me - in my personality and day-to-day life. Right now, I'm working on my own perfectionism, defensiveness, either/or thinking and right to comfort. I'll be learning and growing always, and I'm committed to keep at it. I do believe our spiritual growth needs to take us into the world to create more justice, goodness and love. And as we enact justice, we rely on our spiritual lives to keep us grounded, centered and connected so we don't bring ego and dominance into the justice work.
I live in Denver, Colorado which is occupied land of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux) people whose governments and cultures are still alive. You can learn about the land where you live at Native Land and begin to honor those people and histories. I do believe it's a first step in disrupting the pattern of "dominant and other".
I'm married to Pete Dignan who supports me in all aspects of life and loves me. I love him back.
I have precious descendants whom I adore - two grown children, two grown step children and one step grandson. Both of my brothers live within 15 minutes of me; they have known me the longest and we continue the shared journey. My kids, nieces and nephews are my teachers and bring me great joy as we explore becoming good ancestors ourselves.
As you might imagine, I love to hike and garden. I'm almost embarrassed by my bookshelf (so many books); I love to read. Art journaling has transformed my beliefs about my own creative instincts; I do it for fun and as a way to release perfectionism. And... I really love to laugh.
Contact me directly at kgdignan@gmail.com. Visit my blog which is the place I tell stories and reflect on topics that might interest you.
Spiritually, I identify as a mystic with a deep connection to the natural world. Many teachers inspire me and influence my work. Some are mentioned here.
I'm a Board Certified Coach (BCC) and ordained Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister. Unitarian Universalism allows me to be spiritually fluid which means I honor all spiritual orienting systems and meet people where they are.
I received a Master of Divinity from Iliff School of Theology and am an adjunct instructor there.
As a member of the Unitarian Universalist Minister Association and Spiritual Directors International, I am bound and committed by the codes of conduct each provides. Monthly, I receive supervision and spiritual direction to keep my skills sharp and intuition open! I'm also on the Board of Directors and contribute to the curriculum of UU Wellspring, a program for spiritual deepening.
For 25 years, I've been exploring my ancestors and especially their spiritualities. Christianity and pre-Christian Celtic religion are part of my own spiritual life and a way I honor my lineage (with all of its warts and wonders). I've done ancestral research, healing rituals and meditations in Ireland and Germany where many of my ancestors resided before immigrating to the United States. Core shamanic journeying is one of my spiritual practices, although not the only one. I've worked with a variety of Celtic teachers and am in a two-year course on Celtic myth, religion and shamanism taught by Harvard-trained Celticist, Sharon MacLeod. Somewhere along the way, I began to sense the significance of energy and its power, so I completed the Master Teacher Usui Reiki Practitioner Certification and incorporate that into my work with clients when appropriate. My Reiki teachers and I honor the Japanese lineage of Usui, Hayashi and Takata. (The term "master" means teacher, not one who has authority over another.)
The Kamana Independent Study from the Wilderness Awareness School (naturalism training) has helped me develop nature-based contemplative practices and a deeper commitment to environmental justice.
I've been around awhile (I'm 57 years old), so a mix of experience in business, ministry, chaplaincy and justice advocacy influence and enrich my work. Before attending seminary, I had a twenty-two-year career in business which included working for Procter and Gamble, Computer Associates and General Electric. Then for twelve years, a business partner and I led a woman-owned organization to offer consulting and leadership training to small and large organizations. (We had onsite daycare for our babies and offered it to employees, too.) I was an executive coach when the idea of seminary wouldn't leave my heart and soul.
Since my call to ministry and ordination, I've served as pastor of three congregations. I'm also a certified Justice Movement Chaplain and am involved as an accomplice and ally in a variety of social and environmental justice movements. Immigration justice has been at the center of that work for over a decade. As lead minister at the UU Church of Boulder, I supported the congregation as they discerned to become a Sanctuary Congregation and in the work involved after that decision. At Casa de Paz, I volunteer and companion folks who are detained by ICE, and when they are hopefully released. With a Latina partner, I teach a course for Casa de Paz volunteers on anti-racism and being an ally and accomplice in the work.
Some more examples of how I use my privilege to advocate for change include:
Toolkit for Solidarity - developed in 2020-21
Opinion Piece about Immigration
Faith-based Call for Action
Blessing of the Ballots video
Blessing of the Ballots article
I'm working to dismantle characteristics of white supremacy culture that live in me - in my personality and day-to-day life. Right now, I'm working on my own perfectionism, defensiveness, either/or thinking and right to comfort. I'll be learning and growing always, and I'm committed to keep at it. I do believe our spiritual growth needs to take us into the world to create more justice, goodness and love. And as we enact justice, we rely on our spiritual lives to keep us grounded, centered and connected so we don't bring ego and dominance into the justice work.
I live in Denver, Colorado which is occupied land of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux) people whose governments and cultures are still alive. You can learn about the land where you live at Native Land and begin to honor those people and histories. I do believe it's a first step in disrupting the pattern of "dominant and other".
I'm married to Pete Dignan who supports me in all aspects of life and loves me. I love him back.
I have precious descendants whom I adore - two grown children, two grown step children and one step grandson. Both of my brothers live within 15 minutes of me; they have known me the longest and we continue the shared journey. My kids, nieces and nephews are my teachers and bring me great joy as we explore becoming good ancestors ourselves.
As you might imagine, I love to hike and garden. I'm almost embarrassed by my bookshelf (so many books); I love to read. Art journaling has transformed my beliefs about my own creative instincts; I do it for fun and as a way to release perfectionism. And... I really love to laugh.
Contact me directly at kgdignan@gmail.com. Visit my blog which is the place I tell stories and reflect on topics that might interest you.
