Jane Ramsey, formerly a business executive for a global Fortune 500 company, is now an author, artist, meditation coach, and Founder of SoulArt Meditation. Upon retirement, Jane embarked on a course of study in philosophy, fitness, health, nutrition, quantum physics, happiness, and spirituality. She has been meditating for more than twenty-five years and is a Chopra-certified meditation coach, helping clients create a strong daily meditation practice. Jane shares her spiritual journey in her book VISION QUEST: a journey to happiness. Her story is inspiring and enlightening. As a part of her journey, Jane has become an avid and accomplished artist. Jane’s quest to get clearer on her purpose in life inspired her to combine creativity with meditation and spirituality, and that’s how her signature class, SoulArt Meditation, was born.
First and foremost, what would you give as a general definition of a "vision quest"? In your case, what specifically were you seeking?
In my ‘vision quest,’ I was seeking meaning; answers to existential questions like why are we here? and what is the purpose of life? I wanted to find out how scholars and learned people find answers.
And, did you find the answer? What do wisdom traditions tell us?
Many teachers agree that the purpose of an individual life is something akin to ‘be all you can be.’ However, in seeking meaning, I also believe it is about finding your own path to happiness.
I have also come to believe that the size of the stage for the production of life is not what matters. One person can have a huge impact and find joy and deep meaning by interacting with family, friends, or seeming strangers.
Do you have a favorite quote about seeking meaning?
Yes, there is a quote that I treasure from the Upanishads. The ancient Vedic teachers encouraged their students to take nothing on faith and to question everything.
Human beings cannot live without challenge.
We cannot live without meaning.
Everything ever achieved we owe to this inexplicable urge to reach beyond our grasp, do the impossible, know the unknown.
The Upanishads would say this urge is part of our evolutionary heritage, given to us for the ultimate adventure: to discover for certain who we are, what the universe is, and what the significance of the brief drama of life and death is we play out against the backdrop of eternity. (Anonymous, The Upanishads)
You started this spiritual journey in what many call the third chapter of life. What would you say to those seekers who feel they're too old or too set in their ways to begin a quest?
I think everyone’s path is unique and new adventures unfold when the timing is right. One of my beloved teachers, Jean Houston says that we are all works in progress. She explains most of us are dull and exhorts us to “Stop boring God!”
As a late-bloomer, I felt like a complete beginner among more seasoned, experienced, often younger people who had been on a spiritual path for longer than I had. But, as I was seeking meaning, I reminded myself to embrace my beginner status and even relish the process of discovery and learning. I am inspired to stop boring God.
If you feel the pull to seek, to learn, to go on this type of adventure; listen to that call. It may be the universe saying, “wake up! There is more here for you to learn!”
You set out on this year-long journey shortly after retiring. What baby-step activities would you recommend for those who are curious about connecting with and enhancing their mind, body, and spirit, but either can't or aren't ready to take that big of a step?
I would suggest they ask themselves daily what they have done to nurture mind, body, and spirit today. Progress can be made by taking simple steps. His Holiness Dalai Lama asks, “How do you create peace? Smile at your neighbor.”
Meditation helps nurture mind, body, and spirit. To access your own inner wisdom, begin or strengthen a daily meditation or other contemplative practice. Techniques abound. Find one that resonates and stick with it. Meditation is the ultimate way to find meaning.
Following any of the Oprah and Deepak 21-day, guided meditation series is a wonderful way to begin. On my website, I offer a free online on-demand meditation training program.
A number of books from various scholars and luminaries are mentioned in Vision Quest, and they all seem to have been very helpful to you in different ways. If you had to choose only one to recommend to anyone curious about undertaking their own vision quest, what would it be and why?
Your path is unique. It will begin to unfold as you being to seek it. Articles, books, you-tube videos or podcasts will often show up in synchronicity just after you pose the next question in your journey.
For my path, Deepak Chopra resonates strongly with me, but for someone else it may be another teacher.
The first book I most often refer to my students is The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga by Deepak Chopra and David Simon.
Your traditional Catholic upbringing and family feature quite prominently in some sections of the book. What would you say to people who perceive a conflict between traditional Christianity and the broader spiritual practices and teachings in your book?
One of my favorite poems is Outwitted by Edwin Markham:
He drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
You believe there are many paths on the road to enlightenment and they are all valid. Say more about this.
Yes, I believe you have the right to choose your own belief systems and not just adopt, by default, those beliefs that are thrust on you by someone else.
Many people follow a certain faith but also have a wide enough perspective to appreciate broader views. Though millions of people hold that their personal belief system about God is the only correct one, millions more reach out with curiosity to see what has interested others and to enlarge their understanding and awareness. I think of priests who welcomed divorcees and gay people to mass during times when this was not a typical practice in Catholicism.
Many Christians believe in reincarnation. Though the view from the pulpit may be that there is only one exclusive group that can get to heaven, someone in the congregation can have more breadth in their private view. This openness to understand a broader view is helpful in seeking meaning.
Your Dad was a devout Roman Catholic. Did he inspire you in your own spiritual quest?
Yes. In a letter I wrote him on his 90th birthday, I thanked him for his lifelong example of deep spirituality and said:
“I believe that the face of God looks different to different people but that we all can get to the same place, entering the same beautiful room from different doors. I’m grateful for the belief in a soul, in immortality, and in the idea that there is something bigger than each of us, that we will be together again after this life.”
How do you reconcile the faith of your childhood with what you believe now?
I will always feel connected to Catholicism and I have been inspired my entire life by the devotion of my dad and other members of my family. My close cousin and friend who is called Clara in my book works ‘within the system’ of the Catholic church to modernize views and broaden roles for women. I follow Pope Francis in the news and send him positive intentions and support.
I still feel welcome in the church. The works of many current priests including Father Richard Rohr are always on my reading list. In my travels, I often stop into a Catholic church for a meditation break.
Christianity and Catholicism are woven into the fabric of my belief system. I was gratified to learn that many Hindu teachers are followers of Christ, including Paramahansa Yogananda, the yogi featured in Autobiography of a Yogi.
The major wisdom traditions all contain some version of a core belief in the Golden Rule. Can you expound on this?
I am particularly drawn to the explanation of “many paths to the same door” in the Bhagavad Gita:
Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him;
all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me. (Gita)
Painting is a great passion of yours, and you often mention certain pieces were inspired by meditation or retreats. Do you feel painting---or, for that matter, engaging with any art form, including writing---can be a spiritual practice?
Yes, definitely. Both meditation and creating are vehicles for connecting to our higher self; they are both vehicles that help us escape the rigidity of our thoughts. As a meditation teacher, I see the benefits and power of sitting in regular meditation. As an artist, I realize that the act of creating can also be a type of meditation.
The process of painting, writing, composing, making music, cooking — anything creative — can help us tap into a deeper, quieter part of ourselves. We enter into a state of flow and present moment awareness. This place helps us find meaning in life.
How can creative activity enhance mind, body, and spirit?
Creative activity can uplift you and help you transcend physical parameters. When you create something, just like when you meditate, you can glimpse that place beyond space and time and realize that you are more than your thoughts, your mind, your body.
Your soul can be stirred into expanded awareness by looking at a sunrise, a work of art, or listening to music. Creating something can take you to the same place.
Daily practices like meditation and creativity can nurture that spark within you that provides stability, balance, harmony, and a constant connection to your true self. This helps enhance mind, body and spirit.
Finally, you include a lot of inspirational quotes throughout the book. Give us one that is foundational in your belief system.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Tell us about your current passion, SoulArt Meditation.
My secret dream for a long time was to combine art and meditation and the dream has manifested with the creation of SoulArt Meditation.
I work with spiritual seekers who want to amplify life with more meaning, purpose, and self expression, but who struggle with unleashing their creativity.
My students learn to tune in to their own intuition, enjoying the process of creation. Through deep, introspective work, they consider the answers to questions like who am I? and what is my purpose? They identify their unique gifts and talents, their legacy and examine how they are
When they are at their best. We do imagination exercises, get clearer on desires and learn tools to go deeper in spiritual practice.
What do students learn in SoulArt Meditation?
The ultimate lesson of the class is that we all have the ability to use more of our potential, create the life we want and find meaning and purpose.
My courses help you silence your inner critic, free your inner artist and connect with your inner wisdom so you use more of your potential and make a bigger impact. This helps you find meaning and enhance your mind, body, and spirit.
Is SoulArt Meditation right for you? Enroll in Jane’s free webinar to find out: https:// www.soulartmeditation.com/courses/free-webinar-are-you-a-soul-artist
Or to hear more about Jane’s book, free courses, or SoulArt Meditation, visit her website at
