Introducing SGTI's New Intern
11/2/2022
Introducing SGTI's New Intern: Tejai Beulah Howard, Ph.D.
Could you tell us a bit about who you are? What would you like for the SGTI community to know about you?
I’m Tejai Beulah Howard. I use she/her pronouns. I am a creative, compassionate human being who is deeply in love with the Spirit, my ancestors, my spouse, my family, my friends, good food, and music. In addition to serving as a spiritual companion, I teach history and Black Church Studies at a seminary, and I am on the editorial team of an award-winning blog on African American intellectual history. This all means that I’m a loyal, devoted community member, a listener, a professor and teacher, a researcher, and a writer.
I would like for the SGTI community to know that I am excited to learn with this community as we all grow to deepen our practice as spiritual companions.
How do you define spiritual companionship? How do you practice spiritual companionship?
I see spiritual companionship as a safe space in which people are given the time to discern the presence of the Spirit in their lives. The space is safe because the seeker is confidentially and compassionately heard, encouraged to be their authentic selves, and empowered to explore the inner regions of their hearts and minds. The space is also safe because I do the work of caring for myself before, during, and after sessions with my companions.
I practice spiritual companionship prayerfully, with a discerning spirit about how to show up for my individual clients. For example, I have one client who loves to start with a sound bath (a short playlist of music to help her settle down and focus). I have another who prefers to read the Psalms together. Once we perform the ritual that feels the most authentic to them, I then become a spiritual sounding board. I listen and ask questions where appropriate to help my companions hear themselves and the Spirit.
What are your hopes/wishes about working with SGTI?
I hope to be a generative servant-leader with clear discernment as I work with the co-founders/teachers and the students of SGTI. Ultimately, I’m here to serve. I want to help identify needs in the curriculum and in the organization and develop ways to address those concerns. I want to help students to learn who they are as spiritual companions by helping them to discern their own distinct theory and method among the established theories and methods.