...seeking connection to the Sacred, self, and the world around us

About

Mary has created a unique practice that allows her to work one-on-one and in small groups with individuals seeking to deepen their connection to the Sacred, themselves, and their world.  She is also an inspirational writer.

 

Having offered small group facilitation and public speaking in her various careers for over 20 years, Mary is a gifted facilitator who enjoys "getting out of the way" to allow the wisdom of the group to unfold.  Over the past two decades, her work has evolved and changed in conjunction with her interests. 

Initially, Mary was a financial consultant earning the Chartered Financial Consultant designation.  When her children, Brendan and Kiki were young, she chose to leave financial planning and devote her energy to parenting.

After the death of her kindred spirit, Rhonda, Mary started an end-of-life care non-profit, Project Compassion.  Due to the hard work of many volunteers and committed staff, In 2003, Project Compassion was recognized by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as one of the top three community-based end of life care coalitions in the US.

When it became clear that Project Compassion would benefit from a new generation of leadership and Mary wanted to shift her focus, she molded lessons learned from the "care of the dying" toward the "care of the living."  After graduating from the Institute of Life Coach Training, Mary started LifeDesign Studio and began offering one-on-one coaching as well as workshops and retreats.  Expanding her training, Mary became a certified  Seasons of Change Training for Professionals™ and Peoplemap™ Facilitator.

Soon after marrying Malcolm Marler and moving her family to Smith Lake in North Alabama, Mary took a sabbatical.  During that time she was encouraged to write about her experiences in losing Rhonda, going through a divorce, remarriage, and unpeeling layers of unproductive roles and beliefs in the search for her true nature.  Ultimately, the spiritual memoir, Dancing Naked Under the Moon Uncovering the Wisdom Within was born. 

While writing her story, Mary saw a connection with her clients and retreat participants' stories and her own. Life appeared best lived by cultivating a grateful awareness of the gift in each moment.  Her work took yet another turn.  Moving away from the language of coaching Mary turned toward the language of the soul; words like "goals" and "accountability" were replaced by "mystery" and "presence."  Immersed in exploring the world's religions for over fifteen years, Mary's passion for connection to the Sacred clamored to be incorporated in her work. 

Since it is such an integral part of who Mary is, and her work, perhaps an understanding of her spiritual journey would be instructive.  It began in a traditional Catholic home, wound through eastern meditation practices, and was especially impacted by a brief encounter as a student of the Tibetan Buddhist master, Lama Norlha Rinpoche.  It was he who surprised Mary by advising, "You were raised a Christian, perhaps it is time you should go home."  Eventually she did return to her Christian roots.  However, her appreciation and reverence for all of the Wisdom Traditions is incorporated in her one-on-one sessions as well as her retreats. 

Mary is the Interfaith Dialogue Work Group Leader for the Alabama Faith Council.  Her primary spiritual practices are Centering Prayer, laughter, tears, and yoga. She is honored to be with fellow seekers as they traverse the path toward wholeness.

© Mary Bea Sullivan 2008