Zen priest, wilderness guide opens 2003-04 Spiritual Journey series

Stephen Hyde. (David Platt/New Maine Times)

Stephen Hyde. (David Platt/New Maine Times)

Zen priest and outdoorsman Stephen Hyde presents Coming Home: Learning the Sacred and Practical Art of Return at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, in Skelton Lounge, Chase Hall, 56 Campus Avenue. The public is invited to attend this discussion free of charge. Hyde’s talk opens a series of lectures, Spiritual Journeys: Stories of the Soul 2003-04,” sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain.

Call 207-786-8272 for more information.

Hyde has been drawn to the land since childhood. Raised on a farm that was later consumed by subdivisions, he developed a lifelong concern for the preservation of open and wild spaces. A wilderness guide for Two Roads Maine, Hyde leads outdoor retreats for those who are at an emotional or physical crossroads in their lives, such as learning to live with a life-threatening illness, a major trauma or deep grief.

In this presentation, Hyde will discuss his own and others’ journeys “to return to their true homes in the wild landscapes of the earth and the heart.”

Next in the Spiritual Journeys series is David Sanipass of Biddeford, a Micmac flutist and storyteller. Sanipass will present Micmac Songs and Stories: A Native American Journey of Spirit at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Skelton Lounge, Chase Hall.

The Spiritual Journeys series presents a variety of perspectives and traditions as individuals tell the stories of their spiritual awakenings and development. “Guest speakers explore how they experience the holy in their ordinary lives,” says Chaplain Kerry Maloney. Each speaker will lead the audience in a brief encounter with a spiritual practice that has been important in forming his or her own spirit.