Meet Jen
Jen Eckles
interfaith/interspiritual spiritual Director
Founder/Owner of Sguaro Roots Spiritual Direction, LLC.
Jen Eckles (She/They) is the founder and owner of Saguaro Roots Spiritual Direction. With a long background in Christianity, Jen is now an interfaith/interspiritual spiritual director. Jen received their certificate in spiritual direction from The Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction. They also hold a Doctorate in Audiology from A.T. Stills University. After leaving their nearly twenty-year career, Jen felt a pull toward spiritual direction. As a spiritual director, they sit with and hold space for people as they journey to deepen their relationship with God/the Divine.
For years, Jen has wrestled with the idea of the need for safe, sacred spaces; gentle spaces where those who have been hurt by their spiritual communities can be invited to be seen, heard, and valued as they are. A place for individual growth and the chance to interact in a spiritual community through classes and retreats. Most importantly a space where people can come, knowing that God/the Divine is inside them, and listen as He/She/They whisper the truth into their lives that they are loved.
Born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, Jen has lived their entire life in the Sonoran desert and is proud to still call it home. When they’re not doing spiritual direction, Jen enjoys spending time with their spouse and son, spending time in nature, reading, gardening, and taking frequent trips to Flagstaff, Arizona, where they trade saguaro cacti for pine trees for a time.
Interfaith/Interspiritual
You don’t have to be a part of a specific religion to seek spiritual direction. In fact, you can even be Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR). Some coming for spiritual direction have perceived the heavy hand of the institutionalized church as an impediment to their lived experience of faith. Church life is too noisy to ultimately be sustainable for them. Although their heritage is in a specific religion, they now believe that there is a truth that runs through all the world’s religions. At Saguaro Roots, we are honored to companion with directees from various religious and spiritual backgrounds.
Jen’s specialties include:
Crisis of faith
Discernment
Doubt
Deconstruction
Forgiveness
Grief and loss
Religious and Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual But Not Religious
Reclaiming Spirituality
Self-Image
Spirituality and Faith
Coming Out
Trans and Non-Binary
Parents of LGBTQ+ Youth
Gender Questioning
Who we are
Authentic story-telling is powerful.
Be you. Share your story.
At Saguaro Roots, diversity and inclusion are at the core of what we celebrate. This translates into creating an environment where everyone can bring their authentic selves to a session/class/retreat.
Our commitment to these values is unwavering, and they are central to our mission to walk alongside every individual as they deepen their relationship with the Divine. We know that having varied images of the Divine helps understand our diversity.
We offer ourselves as an inclusive entity without regard to age, race, ethnicity, or national origin, physical, mental, emotional disability, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation, political affiliation or immigration status.
What to expect
Jen’s practice is centered in prayer and contemplative listening. They welcome all persons, including clergy, from diverse faith backgrounds, settings, and spiritual practices. Jen also sits with those who are Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR). Jen uses the evocative method, which means they engage in deep listening. You can expect a 90/10 approach from Jen, where they listen 90% and speak 10%.