Not a Life Coach

It is easy for many to assume that the mentoring work I do is a sort of life coaching.  It is not.

There is an appropriate time and place for the kind of behavioral change and strategic planning favored in life coaching, cognitive behavioral therapy, and recovery programs. There are times in all our lives where we must make a concerted effort to change certain behavior or thought patterns, for our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. There are also times when it is helpful to have a strategy and accountability in making that change.  

Whereas Life coaching, cognitive behavioral therapy (without process work) and recovery programs tend to place their focus on the externals, the services, and programs I provide focus on the internals.

The work that I support clients and students in accomplishing focuses its attention and work on the internal wounds, false perceptions and conditioning that created the unhealthy thoughts and external behaviors in the first place. When we heal these wounds, the unhealthy thoughts and behaviors simply become no longer necessary. The transformational work in which I support my clients and students creates enduring, long-term healing, thereby eliminating the effort required when we are otherwise trying to change.  

Here we no longer need to try because our being itself has changed.

That does not mean that the support I offer doesn’t require work.  In fact, it might be the most difficult work one might accomplish in one’s life. It is for this reason that few find themselves drawn into this work and fewer remain.  To stare down the barrel of our deepest wounds, past traumas, false perceptions, and patriarchal/hierarchical conditioning requires an enormous amount of courage. It then takes persistence, tenacity, discipline, and support to stay with the deep process work that liberates us from these wounds so that we can really and truly be free.

This work might be compared to the fire of a forge that releases metal of its impurities while bringing forth what is precious within.  Through my support, those who do this work discover the truth of who they have always been – beautifully unique and precious in their own way, and confidently empowered to be their truest self in the world for the sake of their own fulfillment and in service to the betterment of the world.  

While the work requires effort, the outcome proves to be effortless.

Lauri Ann Lumby is a trained Spiritual Director with a Master’s Degree in Transpersonal Psychology who has been mentoring individuals in their journey of self-actualization for over 25 years. Lauri further supports self-actualization as a Reiki Master Practitioner and through ancestral shamanic practices.

Lauri primarily works remotely over the phone or via ZOOM.

Schedule your appointment by emailing:

lauri@lauriannlumby.com

or calling:

(920) 230-1313

Book Release: Choosing Love

I am super excited to announce that my latest book, Choosing Love – Lessons and Practices for Personal and Global Transformation is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions.

Choosing Love is a collection of fifty-two spiritual lessons and practices for personal and global transformation. These lessons and practices invite you to shake off the cloak of cultural conditioning and discover the freedom of the LOVE hidden within. Here there is no God to appease, no outside perceived authority whose approval needs to be earned, and nothing that can keep you from being and living as your most authentic self. LOVE is who you are. Choose that LOVE.

The Search for Beloved Partnership

From the introduction to my upcoming live course:  Mary Magdalene and the Path of Beloved Partnership:

I cannot say exactly when my search began, but for as long as I can remember, I have felt (what I now know to be) the longing that fuels the search for beloved partnership.  It was both a longing and a deep inner knowing of a “love” that was deep, abiding, honest, loyal, supportive, and uplifting. In hindsight, I experienced glimpses of this love during the times of silent prayer. But mostly, I was inclined to look outside of myself for that love – primarily in the search for “the one” with whom I would enjoy the fairytale “happily ever after.”

Happily Ever After eluded me, even in marriage.  As my marriage was falling apart, dreams of this elusive love resurfaced, becoming more potent and urgent.  I began having dreams of “the one” and visions of “him” while in prayer.  This “one” took on the appearance of any number of Jesus-looking men and started showing up in movies, television, advertisements, etc. Along with “hot Jesus,” a woman cloaked in red began to make her appearance. She revealed herself as Mary, called Magdalene, who I somewhat already knew through my academic studies. 

All of this was happening as I was experiencing the most profound emotional and spiritual crisis of my life.  The Universe had pulled the rug out from under my feet, and I was in the throes of clinical depression and spiritual collapse.  Through the help of a therapist and my spiritual director, I was brought back to the practices I had learned in my ministry training and began a deep, soul-eviscerating dive into the wounded areas of my Soul and began stitching myself back together.

As I was stitching, my marriage came to an end, and I began the search for the “one.”  I continued to believe in a “love out there” that would make me happy, whole, and complete. In this I turned to the romantic ideas of Jesus and Mary Magdalene as ones who have lived and modeled the external love I imagined.

The “one” I dreamed of never came.  Instead, what arose out of that search was the profound realization that the love I was seeking for “out there” could only be found within.  This is the love that Jesus described as the kingdom of God and which both he and Mary Magdalene embodied in what gnostic scripture refers to as anthropos. This is the love that I have been seeking, nurturing, and cultivating since 1999 when the foundation of my life began its collapse.

As demonstrated by both Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Beloved Partnership is Union with the Divine within.  In this Union, we come to know the Love that we are in Union with our Source.  In this we know that there is no separation between ourselves and Source.  Who and what we are, and our purpose in this life, is to be the full embodiment of the Divine who lives in and dwells through us – through our own unique giftedness and calling. 

At 57, I cannot claim to have fully realized Beloved Partnership within, but I am much closer than I ever have been.  With this I feel I have the experience and wisdom to share what I have learned of this journey while providing a map for those who have heard a similar calling. 

Mary Magdalene and the Path of Beloved Partnership LIVE/online course begins January 17, 2022

Mary Magdalene and the Path of Beloved Partnership

Live/online course

created and facilitated by

Lauri Ann Lumby, OM, OPM, MATS

Twelve Live Sessions 

Mondays via ZOOM

January 17, 2022 – April 4, 2022

6:30 – 8:30 pm central time 

(Content portion will be recorded for later viewing  by those who are unable to attend live gathering.) 

Beloved Partnership is a term that has been alternatively associated with concepts such as soulmate or twin flame.  Beloved Partnership is neither of these.  Beloved Partnership has nothing to do with the human pursuit of external love. 

Instead, the longing for Beloved Partnership and its resulting pursuit can only be satisfied from within.

The journey of Beloved Partnership has been portrayed throughout history in legend, myth, and fairytale.  The story of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is one such tale – one that institutional religion would like to ignore, and which popular culture has turned into a romance. Whether Mary Magdalene and Jesus of Nazareth enjoyed a romantic partnership is immaterial to the Beloved Partnership that they both embodied within themselves. 

This course explores Beloved Partnership as the process of human self-realization reflected in the embodiment of the Beloved within as it was achieved through both Mary, called Magdalene, and Jesus, called Christ.   

Beloved Partnership is nothing short of the embodiment of that which some might call God.

Lauri Ann Lumby, OM, OPM, MATS

is a Priestess of the Magdalene and the founder of both the Order of the Magdalene and the Temple of the Magdalene.  Lauri has been a dedicated student of the Magdalene since first experiencing her portrayal in the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar in 1978.  Lauri has since studied every scholarly work that has been made available on the Magdalene, and many works of fiction.  Lauri has come to believe that Mary Magdalene was indeed Jesus’ closest disciple, possibly his wife, and that it was Mary who was ordained to continue Jesus’ mission of transforming the world from fear into love.  Rejected by the patriarchy, the Magdalene influence has flourished in the mystical traditions of Christianity, though few would acknowledge this. The Magdalene has been a profound influence in Lauri’s own mission and has been the inspiration for Lauri’s writings, books, teachings and online courses all available through Authentic Freedom Academy.

Lauri Ann Lumby has her BBA in Marketing, a master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology and has certificates in Pastoral Ministry and Spiritual Direction.  She is a Reiki Master in both the Usui and Karuna traditions and is an ordained interfaith minister.

Learn more at www.lauriannlumby.com.  

Transformation vs. Modification

toward enduring recovery

Psycho/spiritual transformation: the process by which one identifies, heals, and is freed of the wounds, false-perceptions, traumas, and societal conditioning that prevent them from living a joyful and contented life.

Behavioral Modification: using effort to change one’s behavior, thoughts, or beliefs. Behavioral modification might include: therapeutic treatment, addiction and recovery programs, affirmations, and positive self-talk.

Photo by Adonyi Gu00e1bor on Pexels.com

Whereas there is a value to and an appropriate time for employing behavioral modification for the eradication of non-loving behaviors towards oneself and others, unless these programs employ additional techniques for healing and eliminating the wounds that created these behaviors in the first place, recovery will always prove effortful.

Transformational practices, on the other hand, get at the core of our non-loving behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs by providing effective tools for identifying, healing, and transforming these wounds. Transformation creates the environment in which non-loving behaviors prove no longer necessary. With attention and over time, it is found that refraining from these non-loving behaviors no longer requires effort because through transformational practices, we have literally been changed from the inside out.

The transformational approach understands non-loving behaviors (what some might call sin) to be symptoms of something deeper out of alignment with our original nature. When we approach non-loving behaviors as symptoms rather judging them as wrong, sinful, or as a character flaw, our recovery hastens because we are no longer suffering the judgment (from self or others) that would otherwise impede our healing.  Like “gold that is tested in fire,” transformational work burns away that which is preventing us from being our most magnificent self – shining with joy, and content in the life we’ve created for ourselves.

Lauri Ann Lumby provides transformational support using her trademarked Authentic Freedom™ protocol through one-on-one mentoring, Reiki, and her Magdalene Priesthood and Order of Melchizedek training programs.

In Defense of Reiki

I am honored to have been at the forefront of the conflict between the Catholic Church and Reiki – a conflict that (at least officially) continues. To my knowledge, the Catholic Church HAS NOT rescinded it’s prohibition against Reiki.

Oshkosh WI 2/9/11: Photo by Jeannette Merten.

I first heard my calling to practice Reiki in the late 80’s and it wasn’t until 1999 that I found the path that resonated with me. My path of Reiki training was facilitated by CATHOLIC NUNS! I have always seen Reiki as part of my ministry of service to the world and as a natural response to Jesus’ call that we continue the healing work he did in the world. Jesus laid hands on people for the purpose of healing. Why wouldn’t we do the same?

Below are the opportunities I was given to respond to this conflict. I continue to stand in support of Reiki and the calling thousands have been given to be a source of healing in the world through hands-on-healing.

Reiki allows me to continue the healing ministry of Jesus.
Reiki and the Catholic Church
Obedience to God or Man?

You may also find support through my book, Christouch – a Christ-Centered Approach to Energy Medicine through Hands-on-Healing.

Lauri Ann Lumby is a trained Reiki Master Practitioner who completed her training under the guidance of Maureen Conroy, RSM and Donna Koch, SFHC. You can reach Lauri at lauri@lauriannlumby.com or by calling (920) 230-1313. Lauri lives in Oshkosh, WI and provides local as well as remote Reiki services.