About Wisdom Seekers

 "Elderhood is a time to discover inner richness for self-development and spiritual growth."
(From Age-ing to Sage-ing, Schachter-Shalomi)
Wisdom Seekers are ...

 
a community dedicated to living and aging consciously. How do we move from being elderly to becoming wise, honored, and respected elders? In Wisdom Seekers, we learn and develop the tools to become sages. Becoming a wise elder is a process best practiced over a period of time with the support of like-minded individuals. By shifting the vision of aging from one of loss and diminishment to one of meaning and purpose, Wisdom Seekers make peace with the past and let go of fear of the future in order to live fully in the present.

History of Wisdom Seekers

Barbara began her sage-ing journey in 2001 when she was in a Spirituality & Aging class. She read a book called From Age-ing to Sage-ing by Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi (1996). That book changed the trajectory of her life. She pursued training at the Spiritual Eldering Institute and became a Certified Seminar Leader. Barbara began giving workshops and classes on Conscious Aging in 2002 through Chandler-Gilbert Community College's Lifelong Learning program. A group emerged  which wanted to continue learning about Conscious Aging. That community in Sun Lakes, AZ, is led by Ellen Engel.  In 2010, Barbara created a Wisdom Seekers group in Flagstaff, AZ.  Both groups continue to thrive.

Wisdom Seekers sponsors book groups which study mindfulness, inner wisdom, gratitude, mortality, forgiveness, and the philosophies of many spiritual traditions. Books are chosen by the group, read aloud, and discussed. There is no charge, and all ages are welcome. There are opportunities to socialize after the meeting.




Barbara Shovers
Co-founder& Facilitator
 
Barbara Shovers, M.A., is a gerontologist, life coach, and community college instructor. She is a Certified Seminar Leader for Sage-ing International and has presented workshops on Conscious Aging since 2002. She currently teaches classes on Conscious Aging and Writing Your Story at Coconino Community College. Barbara facilitates a Wisdom Seekers group in Flagstaff, AZ, and initiated groups in Mesa and Sun Lakes, AZ.
Email    Phone: 480.612.2461
Ellen Engel
Co-founder& Facilitator
 
In February, 2002, I attended a workshop given by Barb Shovers on the book, From Age-ing to Sage-ing, A Profound Vision of Growing Older, by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi.  
When we completed the workshop, several of the attendees decided that we still wanted to meet to study the aging process.  I was 62 at the time and completed training as a group leader from Sage-ing International, an organization created by Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi.  Our group in Sun Lakes, AZ, calls itself Wisdom Seekers, and we have been meeting every Monday morning since 2002.  Now that I’m 85, I find I am living a life that is fascinating.  Although we age physically as time passes, reaching my 80s, I am viewing life not in terms of what is next, but examining the past with awe and living in the present with contentment.  It has been amazing.
Barb and I have designed materials that include the topics of love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, life review and repair, leaving a legacy, mindfulness, finding meaning, facing our mortality, and other subjects related to consciously aging with peace and purpose.  Wisdom Seekers groups read and discuss books which raise consciousness and add to the wisdom they are openly seeking. Other groups around the country have followed in the footsteps of the original Wisdom Seekers group.
Email    Phone: 480.980.6841


Wisdom Seekers AffirmationTM
© 2004 Ellen Engel
 
Wisdom Seekers are people who are curious about the world and who have a desire to learn and grow emotionally and spiritually.  We live with a passion for truth and devote the necessary energy to reflect on what it means to be wise.  We have made the decision to embark on the journey of a lifetime to discover  the lessons we must learn to become wise elders instead of elderly.  We live in the present instead of the past with regrets of the future with anxiety.

We study about inner wisdom, living and aging consciously, forgiveness, love, gratitude, morality, intuition, the various philosophies of the world and many other subjects with an eye toward integrating these qualities and ideas into our lives.  As we transition into this new way of thinking about life, we find that we are becoming  better members of our families, communities and the world. 

We are living longer, but for what purpose?  Wisdom Seekers search to find our purpose for living in this third phase of life.  Instead of the present model for aging that is focused on the physical diminishment of our bodies and minds, we seek to become vital and active members of society and to bring our wisdom to a nation and world that sorely need a new more positive view of the future. 

Our world faces many challenges and, we as wise elders, can be an example of how to make a difference in the world, one person at at time. 



Book Groups
Wisdom Seekers Book Groups

The Wisdom Seekers book club focuses on books which raise consciousness and contribute to personal growth.  Books are chosen by the group, read aloud and discussed.  There is no charge for the group, all ages are welcomed, books are read aloud and members can come with or without the current book.  Afterwards, there are optional socializing opportunities at local restaurants. 




Flagstaff Book Group meets: 

When: 1st , 3 rd , and 5 th Tuesdays of the month from 1:30 - 3:00 pm

Where: Joe C. Montoya Center, 245 N. Thorpe and on Zoom

Currently reading and discussing: 

Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh

our next book will be: The Service Berry by Robin Wall Kimmerer



Get on the email list to receive meeting reminders: Barbara@WisdomSeekerAZ.org  480-612-2461


Sun Lakes Book Group meets: 

When: Mondays from 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. 

Where: 25630 Brentwood Dr, Sun Lakes Cottonwood Clubhouse and on Zoom

Contact: Ellen Engel, Co-Founder & Facilitator, Wisdom Seekers, rosellen10@live.com 
480-980-6841

 
Books We have Read in Flagstaff
 
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer
Dear Human by Kay Eck
Learning to Fall by Phillip Simmons
The Zen Commandments by Dean Sluyter
Frequency by Penney Pierce
The Intuitive Way by Penney Pierce
Welcoming the Unwelcome by Pema Chödrön 
Taking the Leap  by Pema Chödrön 
 Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Journey from Ego to Soul by Karen Wyatt
My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander




Community Education
Elders share wisdom, empowering growth for curious minds

Come Meet Us, Ask Questions and Learn more!

Date: July 26, 2025
Time: 10am - 2pm, Special Wisdom Seakers Session @ 10:30 am
Where: Montoya Center 245 N Thorpe Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Writing Your Story

As an elder, you have gathered many experiences from a life well-lived. Leave a legacy to future generations while you make sense of your own life by writing your story. In this class, you will begin the process by responding to writing prompts which will elicit stories from different chapters of your life: childhood, early adulthood, mid-life, and older adulthood. Beginners as well as seasoned writers are welcome as we share our stories with one another. Please bring a notebook or laptop.

Where: Coconino Community College Lone Tree Campus
Class dates: June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 2025 
Time: 1:30-3:30
Cost: $55
Instructor: Barbara Shovers, M.A. is a life coach, gerontologist, and writing instructor. She co-founded Flagstaff Writers Connection and has organized and given workshops on personal growth through writing. She has been a member of a memoir group for eight years.


Testimonials
Wisdom Seekers has been creating community in Flagstaff since 2010
 
I’ve only been attending for a couple of years and I thoroughly enjoy every gathering and look forward to seeing the special people who attend. My favorite aspect of this group is the way we create an open, compassionate space where everyone raises thoughtful questions and each one of us is able to share our experiences and ideas. Hearing different perspectives as we discuss the various concepts presented in the books we read really provides a unique and creative learning environment. I am so thankful to have found my people.

Wisdom Seekers is:
Definitions created by the Wisdom Seekers group on October 18th, 2022

  • A group of longtime members and new ones too that form a friendship (lasting for many) and sharing discussion and opinions about meaningful spirituality thru books and discussion.
  • Making wise choices
  • To let everyone have their own opinion
  • The ability to be accountable for making the best choices at the time and learning from errors in those choices for future decisions.
  • Insight and deep understanding of life
  • What I have learned from my life experiences that make my decisions more conscious and clear
  • Awareness and knowing that we don't know everything
  • Gathered from life experience and education
  • Curiosity and a willingness to be open and to learn
  • Knowledge of facts mixed with compassion
  • The ability to understand life challenges and blessings
  • Innate knowledge, a knowing from within and a special "link" to the universal intelligence
  • Clarity, release of expectations, ability to see many sides of an issue, depth of experience
  • Discernment
  • The ability to let go
  • An excellent bullshit meter
  • Learning from experience
  • Cosmic Laughter



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