Make a lasting connection!
Joining a group in our spiritual community is your opportunity to make friends and form lasting bonds with like-minded people. Between our interest-based small groups and our book-based SpiritGroups, you’re sure to find a place to connect with our community in deeper ways.
Join a SpiritGroup
SpiritGroups are small groups that come together to study spiritual books. Depending on the group, you meet either online, in person, or both.
The 2025 Fall SpiritGroups book is “Ordinary Mysticism” by
Mirabai Starr, and will officially kick-off on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Currently we are seeking volunteer hosts.
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In Ordinary Mysticism, Mirabai Starr helps readers discover their own inner mystic and let go of the limiting belief that spiritual life exists only in traditional places of worship. Mysticism, she explains, is a direct experience of the sacred—no church or clergy required. Our everyday life can be an encounter with the sacred if we pay attention. Starr explores the magic of mundane life, from weeding in our humble gardens to a slow evening walk with a friend to a full kitchen table surrounded by family. Embracing mysticism in our everyday is a way of being more alive in the world, an awakening to the interconnectedness between all things.
You can visit an ashram in the Himalayas or kneel in a church pew to connect to the spirit or examine life’s big questions—but these aren’t the only opportunities to discover the sacred. Life, Starr reminds us, is holy ground. Lyrical and tender, filled with profound wisdom and mind-opening insights, Ordinary Mysticism is about finding wonder in regular life, grounded in lessons from spiritual teachers across the centuries—from Julian of Norwich to Ram Dass. Starr combines their ancient wisdom with the story of her own personal and spiritual journey—from surviving the heartbreak of her fourteen-year-old daughter’s death to growing up amid the 1960s counterculture that introduced her to mysticism to her self-made spiritual practice of today. Alongside storytelling and age-old teachings, Starr offers practices and writing prompts for help our souls seek holy ground.
When you decide to walk the path of the mystic, the mundane shows up as miraculous, the boring becomes fascinating, and your own shortcomings turn out to be your greatest gifts. May we all find meaning and wonder in our most ordinary moments.
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Hosting a SpiritGroup is where the magic begins! As a host, you choose the day and time that fit your life, and decide if your group will gather in person, meet online, or enjoy the best of both worlds with a hybrid format.
For seven weeks, you’ll guide your group on a meaningful, joy-filled journey—keeping the conversation flowing, the energy high, and everyone connected to the SpiritGroup vibe.
No need to worry, we’ve got you covered! You’ll receive all the training, tools, and resources to confidently lead a small group and make it an unforgettable experience for everyone.
You aren’t responsible for finding people to join your group, however, we encourage you to reach out to friends to join!
Your energy. Your leadership. Your group. Ready to make a difference?
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SpiritGroups is what we call “book clubs” and they are a gathering of about 4-10 people that meet either online or in person. Over the course of eight weeks, your group will meet to discuss what you’ve read in the pages of our chosen book.
By joining a SpiritGroup, you’ll not only learn from the topics of the chosen book but you’ll also meet new people and cultivate friendships and bonds that can last a lifetime. SpiritGroups have “Five Core” intentions…communion, connection, compassion, community and challenge.
Small Groups
Small groups are a way to connect with others based on shared interests. Below, explore which upcoming small group activities you want to join, or view the list of small groups available to be part of.
SpiritGroups
Several times each year our community comes together to study spiritual books in a small group setting both online and in person. We call these SpiritGroups. You can choose to either host your own group or join a hosted group that is already formed.
SpiritGroups fill quickly so sign up to get notified the moment groups become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most of the Small Groups socials are planned as in-person events, with occasional online gatherings based on the purpose of the event.
SpiritGroups are both online and in person depending on what the host of the group prefers.
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You are welcome to join a group at any time, and while we hope you'll stay and enjoy the activities, you are free to leave whenever it suits you.
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Absolutely! We encourage you to share the joy of our planned events with your friends and family. It's a wonderful opportunity for them to connect with our spiritual family and experience the warmth of our community.
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Joining any of our Small Groups or SpiritGroups is free of charge, however, your generous donations are what sustain and allow us to grow this program. Keep in mind, there may be costs to participating in some of the planned events as communicated by the group leaders.
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For any inquiries about Small Groups or SpiritGroups, feel free to reach out to leo@unityonthebay.org.
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Great question. We conduct surveys twice a year to gather information on the types of groups our community is interested in. Announcements are typically made around May and November, giving you the opportunity to propose and form new groups based on community preferences.