My name is Puanani Rosario Calvillo.
I am a proud Samoan Filipina from Southern California. My identity is formed from a collective of many experiences and roles, mama, teacher, spiritual director, wife, Christian, and the wisdom of my ancestors. For 16 years I served in ministry within multi-ethnic urban spaces, in various positions,co-leading a neighborhood church, mentoring, facilitating support groups, & directing children’s programs.
I earned a master’s in teaching and certification in spiritual direction. My spiritual formation was in evangelical Christianity. Since then, my faith has expanded and will continue to evolve, still rooted in Jesus and the mysterious ways of the sacred. Movement, more specifically with kettlebells or under a barbell, is my spiritual ritual and is when I feel most connected to my body and to the Divine.
I am a graduate of Still Harbor Spiritual Direction Practicum Program. I come to spiritual direction as a companion, holding space to listen contemplatively and mutually to the movement of the sacred in the story of those I accompany. I integrate embodiment, thoughtful reflections, encouragement, and breath work to support meaning-making. I center leaders, teachers, and students in the work of liberation for historically marginalized communities. I value access to affordable spiritual accompaniment and provide a sliding scale for each session. My practice is a part of the movement toward collective healing and liberation.
“In collectivist cultures, our elders told us long ago that we carry the stories of our communities in our bodies.”
— Cindy, Lee of “Finding Eden”