ABOUT

My name is Beth Fritsch and I’m a Soul Midwife and a Leader of Retreats.  A lover of the contemplative and monastic traditions, I am also a Benedictine Oblate of St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, AR.

My Celtic ancestry deeply influences my soul work.  I attribute my gifts for love of soul, words, poetry, beauty, music, creativity and nature to my matrilineal Celtic ancestors. Formally trained in the Ignatian tradition and standing on the shoulders of my ancestors, I claim the anam cara  [Gaelic: soul friend] tradition of soul companionship as my own life work.

“Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey.”  
― John O'Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

I help individuals and groups connect with their soul’s essence in order to craft lives full of intention, joy and purpose.  I view my ministry as assistive, supportive and alongside the inner work each soul is engaged in as they transform into and become their best and most authentic selves.

I am a writer, singer and poet.  My creative life is a passion for me and one I am able to use in my ministry.  I have been using poetry to guide my own soul life for over ten years now.  I started writing poetry myself in 2006 at a Secret Garden retreat led by Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB www.macrinawiederkehr.com who since then became a soul friend, a writing and creativity muse and a mentor in how to lead retreats that evoke and nourish the soul.  I count myself blessed to have learned significant threads of soul wisdom from Macrina.

I am a member of Spiritual Director’s International www.sdiworld.org.  “Spiritual direction” is an awkward name for the process so I don’t use it.  I use Soul Midwife and Soul Companion instead.   I feel this is more descriptive of the actual process, an assistive coming-to-birth process of the true self.
 
“One of the most beautiful gifts in the world is the gift of encouragement. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own.”
​― John O'Donohue, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong

"Insightful and creative
Beth has a unique way of supporting your
unfolding potential and drawing from you
unrecognized gifts."
– Author Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB
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"Beth’s gentle guidance made me feel at ease and led me to a more prayerful place each time I was with her.  In the course of our sessions, she helped me to find my way toward a fuller understanding of where my faith is rooted."  – Anonymous

Beth Fritsch, 
Soul-Midwife,
Depth-Companion,
Poet, Singer