School Of The New Spirituality

Untitled Document

• Frequently Asked Questions •

Glossary of SNS terms:

School: The word school in the School of the New Spirituality means any learning setting. School is not used in the traditional academic day school sense. SNS promotes part-time, community-based New Spirituality learning as a first step to building any larger founding team's SNS program. Gathering and meeting to form a founding team is crucial to creating any learning environment from a class, to a camp, to a more extensive program that may perhaps develop into an eventual full-time day school. Click on the "Programs" link to view the various SNS learning environs in progress.
Book or Movie Club: Choose a book or movie - call your friends. Discuss and align. Have tea or coffee or a playgroup. See what transpires. Document any dreams for a possible SNS program. Keep meeting. See what evolves! Click here to see one New Spirituality Book Club in Georgia.
Class: SNS promotes New Spirituality learning by planning classes focused on a New Spirituality principle such as "We are One." New Spirtuality principles can be found in many leaders' books. Click here for an instruction sheet that contains many New Spirituality universal principles. We recommend the Conversations with God book series, where the principles clear and highly practical. You can teach a class. Anyone may. To help you plan a class, SNS offers free templates for mini-lessons and course units.
UNIT: SNS classes begin with planning. Depending on a community group's goals, New Spirituality 12-month UNITs are written for adults (parents/grands/teachers) or young people and offered weekly, bi-weekly, monthly. A class can be offered for only a few weeks to test community interest. However, SNS strongly recommends planning New Spirituality UNITS to clarify what will be offered and to co-train one another in how to place New Spirituality into daily learning practice. Click here for a sample UNIT or purchase one in our STEPS List.
Mini-lesson: SNS classes and homeschooling can begin with these short 1-4 page "mini-lesson" plans to bring into a child and family's awareness a New Spirituality in every day activities. Click here for a mini-lesson sample or purchase one in our STEPS List.
Program: An SNS "program" is started by an aligned grassroots developed, community-based founding team that is planning to offer SNS classes in larger/longer camps, retreats in a regular scheduled place such as a library, community center or existing wellness center. Organized founding teams are asked to take our SNS Course #1 or host an SNS weekend workshop to study and implement the SNS Manual, step by step, in order to be a non-profit program under the SNS trademarked, 501c3 education organization. Not all programs will become "SNS Centers." Click here to see the SNS-Atlanta Program's updates and info.
Center: SNS "Centers" will evolve as teacher training locations from open, successful, self-sustaining SNS Programs. Use of SNS Logos and full SNS non-profit management services will be under signed agreements, in which the founding teams will commit to continual yearly co-training with SNS leaders. A weekend SNS workshop funded by your organization will be required before becoming a trademark or service mark SNS Center. In 2007 the first SNS Centers will open. (See archived newsletters for places currently underway.) Click here to see the Programs currently underway in many parts of the world.
Fastrack: The SNS Manual (of STEPS) helps those who do not have a business. If you currently own or work in a wellness or learning center with space not fully utilized, you may follow a custom "Fastrack" to start an SNS club or class. Contact info@SchoolfortheNewSpirituality.com with your invitation or offering to share your business space. Linda, the main leadership trainer, will discuss mapping out a plan, then set a date to host a founder's team workshop in your site which must be funded by your center. Click on "SNS FASTRACK" it links to a pdf step that we give to people.

1. Is the School of the New Spirituality a religious organization?

SNS is a non-profit education corporation. It was founded in 2002 and renamed in March 2006. Initially SNS was coined HeartLight back in 1997 and evolved as a new educational concept by New York Times Best Selling author Neale Donald Walsch. You may hop onto the Internet to research Neale, who stands for a new way of embracing all people in peaceful coexistence that is far more than tolerance. SNS enrichment education classes, camps, retreat programs lead or guide children and adults of all ages how to dialogue and practice peace in every day life.

Click here to read a beautiful statement of the New Spirituality written by a wonderful and gifted healer. SNS ESSENCE

2. What is an easy, clear definition of the new spirituality?

"The new form of spirituality is one that will allow us to express our impulse toward the Divine in a way that does not make others wrong for the way in which they are doing it."
~ Part of the Change, E-Booklet by Neale Donald Walsch

3. Do I have to be certified to start an SNS?

No. We are establishing a certification process for future SNS teachers who will train future SNS program groups from their own experience as SNS enrichment education program leaders. You may receive our guidance to start a homeschool, after hours or vacation enrichment program first through the SNS Steps. When downloaded, these 100+ steps and supplements will comprise your own SNS Manual. Current CwG educators and Humanity's Team group are already well on their way because they have teams established.

4. What will facilitate and empower me to start an SNS program right away?

a) First, be a learner and student of the New Spirituality by reading. Read a book each month from the Conversations with God books or any number of the hundreds of empowering spiritual leaders' works that feel right to you. Inherent in these is a game plan to step forward as a leader of your own convictions.

b) Secondly, utilize the SNS guidance through our SNS STEP Program which means that you regularly go to our website and download the pages of our SNS Steps Manual.

c) Register for the SNS course through the CwG "Life Education Plan " (LEP) course (available to register in July through the CwG website). This will be a personalized coaching program implementing the SNS Manual in an E-Class with conference calls and milestone goals to get your own SNS formal program open and functioning.

d) And/or make an appointment for custom SNS workshop sponsored by you or you and your own community leader group This means covering the travel cost of Linda Ratto coming to your location for a weekend course in how to a) speak NS and b) get your after school or after work hours program for children or adults jumpstarted.

5. Do I have to be a teacher or business owner to open an SNS program?

No, however, creating and keeping a balanced and aligned founding team is key if you open any business such as a more formal SNS program with many classes and programs. The longevity of your program depends on staying in business. This is not over stated. In this global environment, your enrichment program must be self-sustaining from the start. No person can do this alone. It takes sustainable energy from a team that works well together. It takes a team whose participants embrace and then consent to set aside their ego-drives and together become focused on blending talents to achieve their NS legacy.

6. What is a SNS founding team's "legacy"?

Each SNS program is a fundamental part to bringing the New Spirituality into the world for children and adults right their own back yard. This is your own NS legacy as leader of your life, which allows the NS messages to spread and grow into the next generations when you SNS program is successfully self-sustaining. This could mean a free class in your home or church building or a formal SNS business. Either one, you are a core part of bringing the New Spirituality forward to the next generations. This is the "SNS Legacy" we leave for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

7. "I read the first two recommended SNS STEPS on your website. There is a lot about forming a founding group. I live very simply and quietly on my own. How do I fit into SNS?"

On the "How You Can Help" page of this site it says in the third section:

Your school can be something as small as a one room meeting space. It can be in your family room or in a space that you lease or rent downtown, or in a church building somewhere -- but wherever it is, you could be one of those who will provide us with an opportunity to instantly (almost overnight) create a network of such classrooms and schools around the world!

SNS is saying to folks to start meeting together heart-to-heart! This involves talking about the CwG and other New Spirituality messages and how they move us! The first two SNS documents (1. The booklet Part of the Change PLUS 2. SNS STEP #1 are both free) share/guide people in various ways and methods of actually LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT the New Spirituality !!

SO, in re-reading the SNS "How You Can Help" page's "Part of the Change" paragraph 3, you can see that anyone, anywhere can start a class in their home environment:

Your school can be something as small as a one room meeting space. It can be in your family room or in a space that you lease or rent downtown, or in a church building somewhere -- but wherever it is, you could be one of those who will provide us with an opportunity to instantly (almost overnight) create a network of such classrooms and schools around the world!

For example:

A) Home or neighborhood class in the New Spirituality: Reading with a small group of children and Moms/Dads as a part of a small bi-monthly play group: "LITTLE SOUL AND THE SUN" by Neale and walking through the many very new (to some folks) notions contained within that one beautiful fable story.

B) Again, download for free book and workbook. "PART OF THE CHANGE" www.PartoftheChange.com. These contain oodles of action ideas for a person by him/herself or with just a partner or just one child TO "TRY-ON" IN DAILY LIFE AND SEE HOW AND WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR THEM.

C) "JUST" creating a BOOK CLUB with your friends to read ONE book such as "Conversations with God" Book 1 PLUS its companion CwG Book 1 Workbook which is totally filled with lessons and ways to speak and live NS by self or with others.

D) Make any new commitment or agreement with self to move the New Spirituality material into the world. This will accomplish what Neale is speaking about across the planet: "In just ten years, several individuals have affected our world in a very negative way. How did they do it? They started with educating/training -- especially the young." Neale continues and has spoken this directly to SNS teammates: "WHAT IF WE DID THAT WITH THE NEW SPIRITUALITY? WHAT IF WE COMMITTED TO SHIFTING THE PLANET, PERSON BY PERSON? In just ten years WHAT would we accomplish? SURELY as much as those who would fill the planet with terror. Let us come from a far different heartspace in the education and training of our young. Surely there must be another way, a peaceful and loving way, to resolve our disagreements, address of grievances, and accommodate our differences; another way to experience our very SELVES."

Visit and refresh your bookmark of our SNS website often, we'll be posting a lot in the next months and years !

8. Can I just download part of the SNS STEPS? I don't think I need all of the SNS Manual and I do not have extra money right now.

That is the reason SNS is NOT selling large, expensive books, only parts and steps for any and every price range. As the SNS STEPS and "NS Lessons" are written, there will be "Homeschool Kits" and "New Spirituality Kits" with countless tips and how-to's for any size budget. Keep tuned into our website and visit us often for loads of fun in bringing the New Spirituality into this world - now here.

Please know: the SNS STEPS collectively build into over a 100 page SNS manual of highly valuable ideas and best practice-guidance on gatherings, organization formations, group dynamics, if-you-wish-to-incorporate resources, mini-lessons, and full SNS "UNITS" for teaching/sharing/exploring the New Spirituality material in organized-yet-open frameworks comprised of mapped-out lessons for one year/12 months of weekly classes, for children and/or adults. Stay tuned!

9. May I write a School of the New Spirituality UNIT?

Of course! SNS welcomes all draft lessons and units of 12 month's of weekly lessons for those wishing to formally teach NS in classes in their home town environments. If you have not seen an SNS UNIT or Mini Lesson, please sign into the SNS webpage grid and ask for a template. The SNS Lessons and UNIT co-writers are sending-in the waves of plans now. Please see this as an OPEN INVITATION to consider writing a UNIT for/with SNS now. Your name will appear on the UNIT you co-write and edit along with the editing group of Linda Lee Ratto, SNS CEO, plus Neale and Rita Curtis, The Group of 1000 Executive Director. These SNS UNITS will be sold as downloadable and/or as a hardcopy workbook "Kit" on how to teacher/share the New Spirituality. I hope you or some of your colleagues jump-in and co-write with SNS. We look forward to any DRAFTS now and soon -- if you possibly can. Neale has stated over and over again, that the people he meets truly, truly wish guidance. The SNS aim is to give and share LOTS AND LOTS of NS (SNS)guidance. Join in. Send us your best SNS-action plans for one whole year of classes or a mini-lesson fashioned after our templates.

10. What is New Spirituality education or learning?

What does it look like on the ground? Please see this Learning Model Comparison Chart which highlights the CwG based "HeartLight Learning Model" alongside other progessive, global learning models. Let us know what you think!

11. Can I attend an SNS training or workshop now or very soon if I can pay my own way?

Yes! SNS - Atlanta after school enrichment program is launching August 14th. Potential SNS Leaders might come to Atlanta to visit our classes and participate in SNS regular staff development mini-retreats. This is a fabulous way to learn-while-living the New Spirituality with the SNS - Atlanta team! Send an email to request next mini-retreat dates and reserve your place in NS history.

12. How do I sign up to be on the SNS mailing list?

We are currently upgrading our mailing system. To be on our list in the meantime please sign up on the SNS Steps page by clicking here and filling out the form.

13. Do you have a fast track program?

If you are already a leader and have access to a wellness center or space for classes, retreats or camps, your organization may be a non-profit project under the SNS non-profit umbrella organization. Please see FREE FASTRACK STEP 1B listed on our STEPS Table of Contents.

14. What are the age ranges of your Manual How-to STEPS?

Please click here for our Age Curriculum Master Chart in PDF format.