About Aaron Manes…

My own journey has been anything but ordinary. It’s been marked by seasons of seeking, thresholds of change, and an evolving connection to the divine. In those barren places, where old certainties crumbled, I discovered that uncharted territory is often holy ground. Father Richard Rohr’s words, “God comes to us disguised as our lives,” remind me that even in times of confusion, our experiences are sacred invitations to growth and transformation.

In the mid-2000s, I entered a desert of faith deconstruction that was both disorienting and formative. What I thought was an unraveling became a doorway; leading me to the practices of spiritual direction and coaching, and eventually to becoming a Spiritual Director myself. There, I discovered that spiritual growth is not abstract or out of reach; it thrives when it is practical, grounded, and embodied, meeting God and ourselves exactly as we are.

Now, I see my work as guiding others through their own seasons of unknowing into practical transformation. Using the wisdom of the Enneagram, grief work, the twelve steps, mysticism, somatic awareness, and the guidance of so many wounded healers, I help seekers awaken head, heart, and belly so they can live fully alive. Transformation, I believe, is not mysterious or reserved for a few; it’s possible for everyone who longs to awaken to their wholeness and live with grounded freedom.

Alongside spiritual direction, I’m deeply engaged with the Somatic Enneagram, a transformative approach pioneered by Marion Gilbert. As a certified teacher in her program, I guide clients to connect with their bodies and experiences, unlock blocked parts, and cultivate real-life transformation. I also co-host The Somatic Enneagram Podcast with Marion, where we explore these practices in depth.

Whether you’re navigating a dry stretch of faith, standing at a threshold, or longing for an embodied way of working with the Enneagram, I offer an open, affirming spaceboth in person in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and online via Zoom. I use he/him pronouns and am committed to helping each person I meet access their full self and live whole, because transformation is not a distant dream; it’s a lived reality.

Today, my work can be summed up like this: practical pathways through life’s thresholds toward spiritual transformation (whole self, whole life).

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Aaron Manes Bio:

Aaron Manes (he/him) is the Executive Director for the Retreat House Spirituality Center, a somatically-informed spiritual director and an Accredited Professional with the International Enneagram Association. Aaron accompanies individuals through seasons of transition, loss, and deep personal change.

Aaron serves on the board of the International Enneagram Association’s IEA Texas affiliate, is a contributing writer for The Enneagram Monthly, and is a faculty member in SMU Perkins School of Theology’s Certificate in Spiritual Direction program. Through one-on-one accompaniment, workshops, and group facilitation, Aaron creates grounded, compassionate spaces for people doing the brave work of reconnecting with themselves and learning how to live with greater presence, clarity, and integrity in an ever-changing world.

Coaching & Spiritual Direction Notables:

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