Groundings is a monthly lecture series offered September through May by Sacred Ground in collaboration with Loyola Spirituality Center and the Ignatian Spirituality Center at Saint Thomas More. Groundings is open to anyone interested in deepening their spirituality, their capacity for deep listening, and their contemplative engagement in our world.
Engaging in memory work through family archives, stories, and practices can deepen self-awareness and strengthen one's sense of spiritual direction. Drawing on two works, (Re)storying the Family Table and Incomplete Stories: On Loss, Love, and Hope, Ebony J. Aya will illustrate how memory work and reflective inquiry have shaped her own journey, leading to greater clarity, creativity, and a deeper sense of possibility.
Ebony J. Aya
Ebony J. Aya is a writer, scholar, and publisher whose work explores Black feminist spirituality, storytelling, and memory. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in Culture and Teaching and African American Studies. Ebony is the founder of Aya Collective Publishing, an independent press dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black women writers. Her scholarship and creative work examine sacred writing practices, Black women’s experiences in higher education, and the role of storytelling in preserving cultural memory and fostering collective healing.
Her publications include Incomplete Stories: On Loss, Love, and Hope and the collaborative anthology Finding the Voice Within. Ebony's current work explores writing as sacred practice through the framework of Endarkened Feminism, examining how storytelling functions as spiritual reflection, cultural preservation, and communal healing.
Registration is requested for planning purposes. A $20 suggested donation to help cover costs may be paid at the door or online.
We are happy to be able to offer a live Zoom link to those who are unable to attend this event in person. Please request the zoom link when you register.