Our Vision
Eremos envisions a world with fewer barriers and greater access to shalom, an ancient Hebrew concept encapsulating peace, harmony, and wholeness. Living in shalom fills life with mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational health and energy. However, experiencing this fullness of life requires deep connections to God, ourselves, and others. While we desire such connections, we also fear the risks inherent in the vulnerability required. Therefore, guidance and community centered around increasing self-awareness and God-awareness are needed to overcome such barriers to shalom.
Our Mission
In the New Testament, eremos (Eh-RAY-moes) is a Greek word translated as a solitary place, the wilderness, or the lonely place. Throughout the scriptures, individuals and communities find a more profound knowledge of self and God in the solitude of the eremos. Notable figures included the likes of Moses and Elijah. But, perhaps most notable would be Jesus himself.
Our organization takes its name from this Greek word because we believe that solitude leads us from loneliness (including shallow community) to true communion with ourselves and God.
As said by Parker Palmer, “solitude does not necessarily mean living apart from others; rather, it means never living apart from one’s self. It is not about the absence of other people – it is about being fully present to ourselves, whether or not we are with others.”
Therefore, the pattern that genuinely leads to abundant life is not going inward and staying there. Solitude can become isolation if we are not careful. The pattern of a flourishing spiritual life is a rhythm of going inward (solitude in the eremos) and then outward (living in a community with others who have also been to the eremos). Helping others live in this rhythm is our mission.
We seek to nurture shalom (mental, emotional, and spiritual health) by educating and coaching others in a contemplative lifestyle while creating a community centered around it. We offer contemplative and communal experiences through spiritual direction (individual and group), life coaching, support and formation groups, retreats, workshops, courses, conferences, educational resources (blogs, podcasts, videos, books, etc.), and more. All of these virtual and in-person offerings are organized within our online community.
Our Story
Eremos is the result of many conversations between Co-Founders Zachary Bryant and Brian Nicklaus over the years.
Brian and Zach met in the summer of 2019 while working for a faith-based inpatient recovery program. Over coffee and lunch breaks, they quickly bonded as they discussed life, pop culture, books they were reading, and wisdom on theology, recovery, mental health, and contemplative spirituality. They also bonded over a shared background in church traditions that focused heavily on intellect and emphasized moral codes over friendship with Jesus. While the Biblical knowledge and good intentions of their past were valuable to them, they agreed they were not sufficient for the transformed life they each longed for. As a result, the friendship expanded out of a shared desire to experience more and help others do the same.
Not long after becoming friends, Brian and Zach began dreaming of expanding the reach of what they had been learning and experiencing over the years, both individually and now together. Finally, after some time, the next step became clear. In the fall of 2022, they discerned that God had long been preparing them to channel their ideas, experiences, and dreams into what is now Eremos.
Whether you’re struggling to go inward, outward, or both, you’re welcome here at Eremos. Within our community, you will find information and resources on many topics: spiritual formation, mental health, emotional intelligence, prayer, deconstruction, and more. But, most importantly, we hope you will find a true community within a safe and contemplative space where everyone’s stories and experiences are heard and validated.
Come join us!