In the English language, the phrase spiritual work designates a particular, lofty, often aloof brand of labour or, more often, contemplation. Spiritual as often as not leaves the world behind. It lifts itself above the fray, the ordinary, the everyday, where it imagines the deities no longer make their place.

Spirit work, though, that describes the worker, the motivation, the discipline, tone of engagement, the awareness of the stakes, the times. Spirit is the soul and the sinew that the worker brings to any work.

Times of trouble properly lay a claim upon the spirit. They oblige the spirited to translate the realizations they’ve managed in times of peace or prosperity or prayer into some kind of direct action, the spirit newly engaged, newly born and wizened now, pressed into serving a better day. Spirit work is a condition of citizenship, a code for belonging to a world where the deities are close at hand.

And crisis: that means that the usual horde of opinions are rendered down into a few options, each weighty and worthy in some way. Crisis means that a time for choosing is at hand. Crisis means that you are choosing, even now.

They’re not opposites. They’re kin.

Stephen Jenkinson, MTS, MSW, is an author, culture activist, ceremonialist and farmer
Stephen teaches internationally and is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, founded in 2010.

With Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work), he has worked extensively with dying people and their families, is a former programme director in a major Canadian hospital and former assistant professor in a prominent Canadian medical school.Stephen is the subject of the National Film Board of Canada feature length film documentary Griefwalker.

He is the author of several books including the award-winning Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul (2015). His newest book is co-authored with Kimberly Ann Johnson, Reckoning (2022) and he’s written A Generation’s Worth: Spirit Work as the Crisis Reigns (2021), Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble (2018), How It All Could Be (2009) and Money and the Soul’s Desires: A Meditation (2002).

All of Stephen’s books can be purchased here or downloaded (some only available via us at Orphan Wisdom)

Stephen is also the subject of Lost Nation Road, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the wheelhouse of a mystery train, Nights of Grief and Mystery. The world tours are odes to wonder, love letters for the willingness to know endings.

2023 World Tour Stops/ Dates & Tickets

Read more about Stephen at orphanwisdom.com/about