Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction may be an unfamiliar term and process for some. Some may have heard of it, but have never engaged a Spiritual Director. Others may feel the need to have a Spiritual Director, but live in an area where there are no Directors nearby or accessible.

Spiritual Direction can be described as "spiritual companioning" or "spiritual dialog" between two people. The process is rooted in prayer, trust, life experience, honesty, openness and a willingness to speak and listen with the heart. The subject matter and essence of the topics explored is not prescribed; rather it is the life and prayer experience that a person would like to explore or discover. Spiritual Direction is a way to come to know and to be known in an intimate and holy way.

Some questions that might reflect Spiritual Direction could be:

Where is God in this event or person in my life? How do I experience the Spirit’s presence in this? How do I become more spiritual?

How is forgiveness active in my life? Receiving it? Extending it? Is my prayer life fulfilling?

What form does it take? Is that form compatible to my personality?

Are there spiritual signs that I am missing?

"Spiritual direction is a time-honored term for a conversation, ordinarily between two persons, in which one person consults another, more spiritually experienced person about the ways in which God may be touching her or his life, directly or indirectly. In our postmodern age, many people dislike the term 'spiritual direction' because it sounds like one person giving directions, or orders, to another. They prefer 'spiritual companionship,' 'tending the holy,' or some other nomenclature. What we call it doesn't make any real difference. The reality remains conversations about life in the light of faith." Marian Cowan, CSJ

Perhaps hearing the words of one of our generation's great contemplatives, Henri Nouwen, SJ, may shed some light on this subject for us:

For me, at least three classic disciplines or spiritual practices are particularly useful in the spiritual direction relationship. They can help create space for God within us:
  1. the discipline of the Heart,
  2. the discipline of the Book, and
  3. the discipline of the Church or community of faith.
Together, these spiritual practices help us overcome our resistances to contemplative listening and active obedience to God and free us to live an embodied and fulfilled spiritual life. Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith

Perhaps you have had a Spiritual Director in the past and have fallen out of touch because of one reason or another. We hope that your Spiritual Direction experience was a rewarding and blessed one. Perhaps you have never done Spiritual Direction before, but are interested in seeing if a Spiritual Director can help you on your faith journey.

If you would take a few minutes to introduce yourself, it will help both of us decide if this could be a good process for us to embark upon. The Spiritual Direction Assessment is a FREE service. By completing it, you are under NO OBLIGATION. If after hearing back from us you decide that you would like to have one of us as your Spiritual Director, then return to this page and click-on the REQUEST SPIRITUAL DIRECTION link below. After that, our fee is only $20 for written monthly e-mail sessions. You can request Spiritual Direction with or without taking advantage of the free Assessment.

PLEASE be assured of COMPLETE CONFIDENTIALITY! We hold this ministry to be sacred.

Go To Spiritual Direction Assessment Page > Go To Spiritual Direction Sign Up Page >