My Story 

I grew up in a household where neither religion nor spirituality was ever discussed. By age nine, however, I began my own search. I devoured every book I could find on the occult, astrology, numerology--anything that purported to give order or meaning to the universe, and particularly, to my seemingly alien existence in this apparently cold and indifferent world. 

By the time I entered law school in 1995, I was a confirmed existentialist, having dismissed Christianity as I understood it then. I had studied with Presbyterians and Jehovah's Witnesses but never adopted their beliefs. I had also read up on Eastern traditions, such as Taoism and Buddhism, and while I liked some of those ideas, I did not fully comprehend them. I was a Philosophy major in college, but the mainly Western philosophies I studied seemed to take me on circular paths of reasoning.  An honors student, I could dissect arguments exceedingly well but I could not piece them together in a way that made me feel ‘okay’ or whole.

After graduating from Stanford Law School, I married a classmate who was caring, smart, and handsome. Both in our mid-20s, we had lucrative careers, owned a home in San Francisco, and were healthy and fit. In short, we were living the American dream.

There was only one problem: I was miserable. So, in one weekend, I decided to quit my law job and get a divorce. But far from feeling joyous and free, I spent several years running even further from intimacy with myself and others. I was continuously changing residences, jobs, and partners until I was finally so devoid of love or hope that I ‘hit bottom’ and began a 12 Step program of recovery.

Only four years along this profound journey of surrendering my ego to a power greater than myself, I have been reborn into a fuller sense of self and of life. Day by day, I am living the life of my dreams—one that abounds with authenticity, love, community, inspiration, as well as ample challenges to keep life exciting!  J

My Life Today

While I am connected to different spiritual communities, including friends from 12 Step meetings and fellow students of A Course In Miracles, I tithe my time, talent, and treasure to Unity In Marin (“UIM”), in Novato, California. At UIM, I currently serve as a Unity Teacher and facilitate Beyond the 12 Steps, Meet Your 12 Powers, a monthly study and support group for continuing spiritual growth beyond mere sobriety. I am a UIM Prayer Chaplain Emeritus, having served as a Prayer Chaplain for 2 years.  In 2007, I coordinated and led monthly Wednesday Night Healing Services, including the 2007 Unity World Day of Prayer Service, and served on the team that coordinated the Spiritual Education & Enrichment (SEE) Week held at UIM in fall 2007. I am also in my third year of service on UIM’s Board of Trustees.

Currently, I am simultaneously completing Unity Church's Spiritual Development Program (toward becoming a Licensed Unity Teacher) and the Enneagram Professional Training Program® (EPTP) to become a Certified Enneagram teacher in the Narrative Tradition.  Both paths are part of my larger path of ministry with the Unity Church. In the meanwhile, I work part-time as an Attorney/Mediator, specializing in relationship, family, and divorce mediation. I am also on the Communications Committee for the Association of Dispute Resolution of Northern California and I serve as the Program Director for the Northern California Mediation Center's Affordable Mediation Program, whereby NCMC, a non-profit, provides divorce and family law mediation to qualified low- to mid-income families on a sliding-scale, reduced-fee basis. (For more information about NCMC or "AMP", CLICK HERE.) Every Sunday afternoon, as the Spiritual Director at Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center in Vallejo, I provide transformational spiritual care via an interfaith healing circle.

Phoenix Rising, based in Northern California, is the 'umbrella' ministry through which I am now offering all of my transformational study and support services.  Everything from my mediation to my one-to-one spiritual tutoring services can be accessed through this website. As someone who is perpetually curious about matters of Spirit, meaning, aliveness and connectedness, I am so excited about making my work more accessible to others by creating this "portable" church.  There is nothing I would rather do than engage intimately with others in this magnificent journey of transforming our lives from the inside out.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind . . ." Romans 12:1&2

Phoenix Rising
Nhien T. Vuong
Phone: (650) 888-3018
Skype User Name: nhienvuong
Email: info@phoenixwayoflife.com