Justin Ferko (he/they) is an Interspiritual Companion, Certified Relational Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, spiritual companion supervisor and professional chaplain. He is a graduate of Oasis Ministries’ Spiritual Direction Training Program where he now serves as Dean of the Year II of the program and Dean of the Wisdom River Program on Deep Ecumenism and Interspirituality. He is a Co-Teacher for the Spiritual Life Center of West Hartford, CT, Spiritual Companionship Training Program.

Justin earned a Master of Theological Studies from Trinity Lutheran Seminary and a Master in Education from Boston University. Justin honors the beauty and complexity of each person’s relationship with Earth, their embodiment and Source of Meaning. He celebrates the giftedness of the LGBTQIA+ community and facilitates soul friendship with Mother Earth. These practices of loving tending of soul, Earth and intersectionality of experience as LGBTQIA+ folks in spiritual direction are healing balm.

Justin’s practice of spiritual companioning is contemplative and interspiritual, drawing on poetry, Joanna Macy’s The Work that Reconnects, Earth-honoring traditions, compassion practices from Tibetan Buddhism, the Beatitudes and Divine Feminine from Christianity. He and his spouse Craig live on the banks of the Susquehanna River with their beloved rescue dogs Yeshe and Benny. Justin offers in-person and online forest bathing walks and spiritual companioning. You can learn more at his website or email justin@wildspiritpaths.com.