nancy clark
by melissa stanz

Reverend Nancy Clark, an ordained Unity minister, searched for spiritual answers for many years, like many of us.

The former Senior Director of Marketing and faculty member for Unity School of Christianity in Unity Village, MO, Nancy Clark moved to Asheville four years ago. She came searching for a deeper connection to Spirit, to give of her considerable talents in ministry and counseling, and to live a more relaxed, peaceful life. Has she found those things?“Well, yes and no, and I don't know,” she laughed. “Does that cover all the possibilities?”

“Actually, I've quit searching for answers in any traditional sense. I've decided that real wisdom is admitting 'I don't know.' It's what the Buddhists call beginner's mind. I've come to believe that people who say they have all the answers are limiting themselves. What they're really trying to do is find a comfortable structure to live within. My challenge is to keep letting go, to just stay present. Seeking and having answers keeps us out of this moment, out of the Truth that's here and now.”

Letting go of much of the traditional perspective on spiritual and religious pathways led Nancy and a partner, Dorothy St. Clare, to open The Unity Café—a nontraditional alternative to church. No minister stands up and talks while the congregation sits and listens. She says that just doesn't feel right any more.

A gathering of people from all spiritual paths, Unity Café takes place each Sunday for an hour at the Mountain Metaphysical Institute. People sip coffee, eat pastry, and sit at small tables. Typically, each hour includes live music, a short topic for discussion, sharing from attendees, & closing meditation. Nancy and Dorothy, a licensed Unity teacher, each lead the group on alternate Sundays.

“Almost everyone offers their wisdom and experience about whatever subject we select. The depth of insight and the real personal stories are what make this so special,” she explained.”

Definitely not your structured church scene, Unity Café meetings draw from Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Jewish, Islam, and the Goddess traditions. “It's really a spontaneous authentic community exploring and experiencing the Divine, whatever that means to different people,” she said.Unity Café is one expression of Nancy's spiritual path since she moved to Asheville, but it's by no means the only one.“

When my husband Rick and I moved here four years ago, we knew it was time to make career and life changes. I've made it a priority to take time for inner work and contemplation,” she mused. “The Hindus speak of four phases of life as youth, house holding, forest dwelling, and immersion. Our house in the woods is a literal symbol of this forest dwelling stage of my life. I'm finding my grounding in the earth, my animals, my relationships, and a simpler life. It's a big change from climbing the corporate ladder or building a big ministry.”

Nancy learned that living a simpler life isn't always simple. One of the hardest things to do is just stop, to learn not to act, but just to be. She spends time each day in meditation and faithfully keeps a journal. After many months of what she calls “cocooning”, she now approaches life with a deeper, more grounded sensibility.

“After this time of inner work, I wanted to come out and do what's mine to do,” she said.

Unity Café is part of her diverse ministry called Sacred Nature
(sacrednature.com). As part of Sacred Nature, Nancy leads workshops around the country on a number of subjects, including the Enneagram and the historical goddess traditions. She also provides body-centered personal and spiritual counseling to a growing clientele, and is studying toward certification in Hakomi counseling. She teaches meditation at the YMCA and performs weddings and sacred ceremonies.

Her deep love of animals figures prominently in her daily life. She often rides her horse Takhi, and credits him with helping her overcome many fears. “He's a real teacher for me, I was so deeply afraid of riding and now what joy he gives me. He's taught me the meaning of freedom, friendship, and moving through fear to joy.”

One new role she relishes is serving as Vice President of the Asheville Humane Society. She spends many hours weekly helping raise funds and increase awareness of the plight of homeless animals. She adopted one of her two beloved and, she admits, spoiled, Yorkshire terriers from the shelter.

“Sometimes I wish I had a more traditional faith, that I had found Unity or the Episcopal faith of my childhood to have all the answers. Each of the great spiritual traditions is founded on wonderful truths, but they all have their strengths and weaknesses, their truths and fallacies. There is great richness and wisdom in all spiritual traditions, so we need to call upon their ancient insights to guide us, yet live from the truth of this moment. From the wisdom and insight within each one of us and within all creation.”