Course Instructor: Mary Coffey

Hi, I’m Mary

I’m a creative soul, laughing.

I'm also a mixed-media artist, teacher, a certified spiritual director, and a priest ordained in the independent Catholic movement. I’m curious to see how the Divine shows up in and through creative expression both on the canvas and in real life.

I love exploring how our spiritual connections can be the fuel that energizes creativity and leads to greater flourishing. Although my official title is “spiritual director,” a better description of my role is an anam cara, which means “soul friend.”

After receiving my certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Ignatian Spiritual Institute at John Carroll University in Cleveland Ohio, I went back to school to dig deeper into my understanding of how God shows up in our lives. I earned a Masters’ Degree in Theology at John Carroll, and taught college level courses on the intersection of creative expression and spirituality.

I invite women to release toxic theological beliefs, find a new path back to an authentic, healthy relationship with the Divine, and embrace what feeds their soul. I work with women one-on-one to sort through old beliefs and embrace new understandings using a framework based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I bring creative expression into the spiritual journey, when appropriate, as a way to gain clarity.

My art retreats and online offerings offer a mix of self-reflection and artful play designed to guide women to deeper levels of self-trust. During my offerings, women are empowered to turn toward that which is deepest within them rather than waiting for external permission and approval. We explore compelling concepts that make our minds come alive and then drop into our heart space to create images that bubble up from those concepts. Good stuff!

When I’m not making a colorful mess in my art studio, you can find me hiking to waterfalls, snap-chatting with my four grown children, or reading in my pjs on rainy days.

I believe that through creative expression, women find their own voice and learn to express it in a joyful and soul-nourishing way.