Rev. Carolyn N. Graham, B.Msc.
Rev. Carolyn N. Graham serves as the Spiritual Director and Founder of The Mary Elizabeth House, Inc., A Ministry, a 501(c )3 supportive housing and early care and education program she founded in 2006. Her role as “Spiritual Director” has become more crystalized as she began and completed her initial degree B.Msc. in metaphysics at the University of Metaphysics and began counseling and writing materials aimed at transforming human consciousness.
Rev. Graham received her Bachelor of Metaphysical Science, B.Msc., from the University of Metaphysics. She is also an ordained metaphysical minister, having received her ordination and practitioner diploma from the International Metaphysical Ministry University Seminary.
As a Metaphysics Practitioner, she leads a team of 28 employees serving teen mothers and their infant and toddler children. Rev. Graham is also an ordained and trained protestant minister and served as an associate pastor of historic Baptist church in Washington, DC. Her transition to metaphysics reflects the embrace of a “deep desire for knowing” that she believes always existed in and with her—even as a child. Rev. Graham will be examining children’s early encounters with Spirit in writings intended to be undertaken later this year.
Rev. Graham defines herself as a Seeker, pursuing a greater depth and understanding of the Wisdom teachings of Jesus, the Gospel of Thomas, Dr. Master’s works, and all things metaphysical and mystical. Rev. Graham recently (prior to the pandemic) launched an intentional quest aimed at giving her a deeper understanding of shamanistic practices, and spent time at Rhythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica, experienced the joy and wonder of plant medicine and the revelations evolving from it, and the emotional benefits of Breathworks. Subsequent to the Rythmia experience, Rev. Graham had begun to consider ways that new thought, and metaphysical principles, could be introduced into the Ministry for both her staff and the young, single mothers supported by the Ministry.
Contemplation and prayer led Rev. Graham to compose a body of work that would be used to train the staff and young women involved in The Mary Elizabeth House’s work. The period spent prior to writing, was a period of intense reflection and prayer. Rev. Graham sought answers to questions concerning the development of the young women involved in the Ministry’s work and struggled with developing a framework aimed at overcoming historical trauma experienced by her staff and the young women. The young women served by the Ministry were either in the child welfare system or had aged-out of the system. Their self-perceptions were and are literally void of self-meaning and self-actualization and appreciation. The organization’s staff are not immune to feelings of self-negation due to trauma, and lives lived largely in poverty informed environments.
It seemed that no matter how zealous Rev. Graham and members of the leadership team were and are to convey a message of self-love and appreciation, and other-love and appreciation, hoping that it would lead to self-agency and respect for neighbor, throughout the organization, there was little or no effect on behavior or personality in the young adults and sometimes staff. We appeared to consistently hit a brick wall in changing old thoughts, and hence old behavior. The young women’s self-perceptions and ways of being in the world were always in flux and largely informed by information from the social media platforms they frequently used.
This conundrum led Rev. Graham on a quest for answers and guidance that would come from the world of Spirit. She began a deeper dive into metaphysical studies designed by Dr. Masters and other thought leaders. Followed by the visit to Rythmia Life Advancement Center; Shamanic studies with Sandra Ingerman, Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault’s works, and other relevant materials that came to her as she pursued answers for what to do to begin the human transformation process in the young people and staff placed in her hands.
The study, prayer, and meditation have cumulated in a journal and study guide designed to teach one of twelve principles on a monthly basis for one year. The work is to be used in the consciousness formation process of those who will use the materials; our focus in the organization will be the youth and staff with whom we work. The work is entitled, A Journal: Twelve Sacred Values of Gratitude, and a companion training manual, Sacred Values of Gratitude Journal: Spirit-Guide’s Training Manual. The books are at the publisher, Balboa Press, A Division of Hay House, and should be ready for distribution by the end of August. They will be available on Amazon, and through Dr. Graham’s website for the Awaken Your Spirit Institute (AYSI), currently being developed, and from The Mary Elizabeth House, Inc., A Ministry, www.maryelizabeth.org. Listed below is a copy of the proof of the exterior cover of the journal.
