ISM Facilitator Training 
(New Cohort Begins in January 11, 2022)
Overview

The year-long ISM Facilitator certification program is designed for those who wish to deepen their own practice and to guide individuals or small groups in the practice of the seven-step process of InterSpiritual Meditation.  Each month and via the ISM course website, trainees will join with a mutually supportive cohort to work with certified InterSpiritual Mentors and Facilitators and Ed Bastian.   

Applicants are required to complete an ISM course and submit a formal application.

Here are seven elements of this training program.

1. Deepen in each of the ISM 7-Steps.
2. Learn to honor, harness and harmonize our personal Spiritual Styles for spiritual and contemplative development.
3. Fully utilize the content, tools and functions of the ISM course website, including the journey, styles profile, practice circles, and custom search engine.
4. Learn to lead InterSpiritual Meditation sessions.
5. Engage in a practicum, working with a individual or small group, under the guidance of a ISM mentor or facilitator.
6. Learn how to facilitate ISM for others using the ISM books and online course content and resources.
7. Join with a mutually supportive cohort of learners and practitioners.

Qualifications

To qualify for this program, applicants will fulfil the following requirements:

• Complete the application form
• Be formally accepted into the Facilitator Training Program.
• Complete and actively participated in-person or online course on InterSpiritual Meditation.
• Complete their Spiritual Styles Profile Instrument.
• Engage in journaling about their seven-steps and spiritual styles.
• A minimum of a 1,000 word summary or equivalent expression covering all of the seven steps and if/how you harnessed your style(s) for each.
  (This should be drawn from the online or written journal.  It will provide an initial waypoint for the upcoming meditative journey..
• An offering of $12.50/mo, or an amount that is affordable for you.  Your offering will help defray some of the costs for the program.
  (The offering can be proportionate to your ability to pay.  For Latin American applicants, contact Alex Warden, essentialoneness@gmail.com )
• CLICK HERE TO MAKE A PAYMENT THAT YOU CAN AFFORD.  (MAKE SURE YOU ARE SIGNED IN AS A  SITE MEMBER BEFORE YOU CLICK ON THIS LINK.)

Requirements for Certification

To gain ISM Facilitator certification, trainees will complete the following:

• Trainees will attend monthly group mentoring training sessions with Ed and/or a certified Mentor.
• Trainees will engage in monthly trainee dyad sessions along with Ed or a certified Mentor.
• Each trainee will practice facilitating the 7-Step Process with at least one outside individual or one small group under the guidance and supervision of a certified InterSpiritual Mentor.
• All trainees and the people they are working with should become members of the ISM online course website. For Spanish language speakers, written materials are available.
• Each trainee will use the journals provided to write about each of their 7 Steps of ISM and their Spiritual Styles.
• Trainees will actively engage in the Practice Circles for each of the seven ISM Steps.
• Continued certification will require adherence with the Guidelines for ethical conduct, facilitating ISM meditations and facilitating InterSpiritual discussions.  

Capstone Paper or Project

Each member of the training cohort will complete a 2,500 word capstone paper and/or other significant form of expression that includes the following:

• A summary of the wisdom gained from at least three spiritual/secular sources/traditions for each of the steps.
• A summary of how they are harnessing and harmonizing at least three spiritual styles.
• A summary of the contemplative practice they have developed for each of the seven steps.
• A summary of their work helping others to learn and practice ISM.
• If a creative project is presented, it should be accompanied by a written overview and rationale.  If the above points are not included in the creative project itself, they can be summarized in this written statement.