The last few lines of Mary Oliver's poem When Death Comes read:
When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.
I don't want to end up by simply having visited this world.
Nancy Millner did not "simply visit this world;" she made a profound impact on the psychological and spiritual growth of many individuals in and outside of the Richmond community. To me, she was "spiritually advanced," a phrase I once heard Phyllis Theroux use. Nancy was a seeker and a doer; she opened doors for many people through her counseling and the many organizations with which she was involved, including Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond Women's Resource Center, the Association for Psychological Type, the Richmond Society for Jungian Psychology, The Educational Center in St. Louis, Union Theological Seminary, First Presbyterian Church, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Nowhere did Nancy's determination and love manifest themselves more than in The Chrysalis Group, which came into being on January 20, 1994. Nancy formed a board of directors consisting of herself (president), Bill Arnold (vice president), Barbara Outland (secretary), and B. Millner (treasurer), with support from ten others who comprised a board of advisors.
On June 25, 1994, Chrysalis held its christening event, "Walking a Sacred Path," led by the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress, Canon for Special Ministries of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and initiator of Labyrinth activities in the United States.
In a May 1994 letter, Nancy described Chrysalis as "a nonprofit association to provide opportunities for people seeking psychological and spiritual growth." She went on to say ,"More than a place, Chrysalis seeks to provide a creative context in which diverse people will be offered opportunities and the freedom to become seekers and to explore the unfolding meanings and purposes of their lives."
Nancy led Chrysalis as its President from 1994 to 2000. During that time, she brought many gifts to Chrysalis - gifts she continued to contribute as an emeritus Board member until her recent death. One such gift was Nancy's relentless push to keep Chrysalis on the cutting edge. Under her leadership, Chrysalis brought in such renowned speakers as James Hollis, Parker Palmer, Marcus Borg, Angelo Spoto, Jean Shinoda Bolen, David Whyte, Paula Reeves, and Jeremy Taylor. Nancy also led a number of programs herself, on topics such as creating a spiritual autobiography, exploring one's inferior functions, and making the most of mid- and later-life.
A key component in Chrysalis' early success was Nancy's inclusive and collaborative spirit. She initiated a number of fruitful partnerships with other organizations to achieve the vision. The Community Lecture Series was one such example; co-sponsored by Chrysalis, the Center for Spiritual Formation, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Union Theological Seminary, and the Presbyterian School of Christian