I gratefully acknowledge the influence of five professors at The University of Virginia who re-ignited my passion for world religions in the "Gendered Relations in World Religions" summer institute of 2004: Sarah Jacoby, Vanessa Ochs, Lauren Winner, Farzaneh Milani, and Cindy Hoehler-Fatton.   Vanessa Ochs has graciously served this year as my mentor for this project.  Without her attention to detail and astute recommendations, I could not have proceeded efficaciously.

I also thank a middle school student "Claire," who conducted interviews and reflected upon what she learned.  Thanks, too, to a high school student "Veronica," who wrote about what she learned from a visit to an Islamic Cultural Center.

I relied on Mark Grochmal, Director of Technology Services at Norfolk Academy, to build the website for this project.  I am grateful for his gifts of time and expertise.

Finally, I cannot express adequate gratitude to the women who opened their hearts and sacred spaces to me over the past year.  These women have taken time to examine and explain their spiritual inheritances and practices in frank, personal interviews.  I hope I have captured some of the beauty of your language and lives. 

I acknowledge the spiritual influence of my beloved mother Sarah Katherine Crocker Hobbs, devoted member of Oxford United Methodist Church, who read "The Upper Room" every day and who knelt often to pray throughout our house.  Though I did not know the substance of your prayers, mom, I have felt their power. 

I also acknowledge my mentor Eleanor Raphael Beckham who introduced me to G. I. Gurdjieff, P. D. Ouspensky, Krishnamurti, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Compassionate Buddha, and many other wise voices.  Eleanor opened wide the spiritual realm for me in my twenties.  Though she had no children, she was my spiritual mother.