Hello,

My name is Joy Andrews Hayter.

I am a scientist, contemplative person, and lover of nature and the arts.  As a scientist I am curious about nature and the fundamentals of what we are made of. As a contemplative I have always had some sort of spiritual practice since my teen years, and find that this has drawn me to explore more of what it means to be a human being, in relationship with the divine indwelling and the world around us. I love exploring the connections between the two: science and spirituality.

I have let go of full time work in science to make more room for the spiritual side of life. I teach Centering Prayer, a form of meditation, and other contemplative practices within the Christian Wisdom tradition. I also co-lead wisdom circles, regular online meditations, and facilitate retreats and quiet days. I am a spiritual director, a companion to people in their search to find a deeper relationship with the Source of Being, by whatever name people prefer to call it. Having been in cross-cultural communities all my life, I am comfortable working with people from diverse racial, cultural, and faith traditions, and I enjoy relating to people going through various life changes and stages. I am also interested in dream exploration, the enneagram, pilgrimage journeys, and links between spirituality and creativity.  My training in spiritual direction and in spiritual direction supervision are from Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA.

As for my background as a scientist:  My PhD is in physical chemistry, from the University of California, Berkeley, and my BA is in biochemistry from Barnard College. As I scientist I loved tackling issues related to the health of our planet home, such as environmental remediation and alternative energy solutions. I am a Professor Emerita of Physical Chemistry at California State University East Bay, and I also worked as a staff scientist researcher at Stanford University's SLAC National Laboratory. This was a precious opportunity to engage in meaningful research with people from all over the world. I co-authored over 70 academic publications and enjoyed presenting plenary and invited talks on several continents. 

I live with my husband Paul in Northern California. Some of my favorite pastimes are Scottish Country dancing, hiking (and pilgrimage), cooking, and grandmothering.