Podcast Episode: The Power Of Spiritual Community

(Edited Transcript)

Welcome to the Active Love Project Podcast

Welcome to the Active Love Project Podcast. I'm Jesse Brune, the host and founder of Active Love Project, and I’m glad you’re here. This is our very first episode, and it feels right to begin with a conversation about something central to my heart and to the mission of Active Love Project: community.

Before we begin, I invite you to take a grounding breath, place a hand on your heart if you’re able, and join me in a blessing of gratitude.

What Is Spiritual Community?

Spiritual community is any gathering of people who come together with a shared intention of practicing, exploring, and supporting one another on the path of spiritual growth.

It can look like:

• A yoga studio

• A meditation circle

• A 12-step program

• A Sunday service

• A book group

• Even a hiking club that shares reflections along the trail

The form doesn’t matter — the function does. Like prayer and meditation, spiritual community is a tool that helps us expand awareness and deepen practice, while reminding us that joy is an essential part of the path.

What Does Like-Minded Mean?

In spiritual community, “like-minded” doesn’t mean everyone thinks the same way or agrees on everything. It means the group shares values like a commitment to peace, kindness, and conscious growth. It means recognizing that love is real, that life is more than survival, and that practicing these truths matters.

The Importance of Safe Space

Safe space is another phrase you’ll hear often in this context. To me, safe space means a community built on nonviolence, kindness, and non-judgment to the best of our ability. It doesn’t mean you’ll never feel uncomfortable. Healing often stirs things up. Safe space means that when those triggers arise, the community responds with compassion, integrity, and support, allowing growth and transformation to unfold.

Lessons From Leadership

For nearly a decade, I served as the spiritual director of Inspire Spiritual Community in West Hollywood. Leading taught me hard but important lessons — like the fact that trying to please everyone dilutes the impact of teaching.

As a teacher, I learned that the job is to shine a light on the growing edge of participants. That doesn’t always feel comfortable. People can get upset, but avoiding truth doesn’t help anyone heal.

Over time, I discovered that authentic leadership requires the willingness to speak truth in love, even when it challenges comfort.

Healing as a Path of Unlearning

The spiritual path is a process of unlearning. We shed false beliefs and outdated identities that keep us small, contracted, or unworthy. As A Course in Miracles teaches, healing can feel like death to the old self. But what emerges is our truer self — alive with the qualities of love that were always there.

The Gift of Spiritual Community

Community gives us a place to be supported in this work. It reminds us that we’re not alone. Through shared practice, listening, and authentic connection, we find encouragement to keep saying yes to love.

Spiritual community empowers individuals. It doesn’t make them dependent on leaders. Instead, it offers tools for the healing process so that peace can be realized. And the more peace individuals experience, the more peace expands into the collective.

The Law of Giving and Receiving

Community also thrives on circulation. Just like a favorite café can’t stay open without support, spiritual communities need giving to sustain their work.

For a long time, I resisted giving. But over time, I learned that generosity keeps the flow of love open. Every time we give to a place or teacher that nourishes us, we acknowledge our Source and participate in the law of giving and receiving.

Key Takeaways

• A spiritual community is a group gathered around shared values and intentions.

• Like-minded means aligned in purpose, not identical in thought.

• Safe space is built on kindness, nonviolence, and compassion, even when things get uncomfortable.

• Spiritual community supports unlearning false beliefs and empowers individuals toward peace.

• Giving and receiving keeps the community alive and the flow of love open.

  
  

Bring It Home

Spiritual community reminds us that we are not alone, that peace is possible, and that healing is contagious. As we heal, our healing blesses others.

Take a deep breath with me now, in and out. May you feel supported. May you feel connected. May you know peace.

Thank you for joining me for this first episode of the Active Love Project Podcast. You can find more at activeloveproject.com, and I look forward to connecting with you again soon.