more about spiritual coaching / spiritual direction
Spiritual Direction is the honor of accompanying another Soul on a Spiritual Journey…
Spiritual Direction is an ancient practice common to almost all spiritual traditions, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic and Taoist, in which individuals seeking guidance meet with a trusted guide or mentor to explore the significant spiritual questions of one’s life. In the ancient Celtic Church, this guide was called an AnamCara, or “Soul Friend” who often took the form of a priest or monastic with whom an individual seeking guidance would meet with privately to discuss matters of the spirit. In the Buddhist tradition, this “soul friendship” is most clearly demonstrated in the relationship between student and teacher and is an integral component of Buddhist Spiritual Practice. But regardless of the terms used or the tradition practiced, Spiritual Direction is a precious and sacred opportunity to journey with others in a discovery of the Divine.
Seekers and Directors agree to meet regularly, typically once or twice a month but more often if needed, for private spiritual conversation, discernment, or instruction.
Spiritual Direction...
Spiritual Direction offers…
Spiritual Direction is an ancient practice common to almost all spiritual traditions, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic and Taoist, in which individuals seeking guidance meet with a trusted guide or mentor to explore the significant spiritual questions of one’s life. In the ancient Celtic Church, this guide was called an AnamCara, or “Soul Friend” who often took the form of a priest or monastic with whom an individual seeking guidance would meet with privately to discuss matters of the spirit. In the Buddhist tradition, this “soul friendship” is most clearly demonstrated in the relationship between student and teacher and is an integral component of Buddhist Spiritual Practice. But regardless of the terms used or the tradition practiced, Spiritual Direction is a precious and sacred opportunity to journey with others in a discovery of the Divine.
Seekers and Directors agree to meet regularly, typically once or twice a month but more often if needed, for private spiritual conversation, discernment, or instruction.
Spiritual Direction...
- Invites another to accompany you on your spiritual journey.
- Cultivates intentionality about spiritual growth.
- Attends to experiences of the Numinous in your life.
- Assists in the search for that which satisfies your spiritual hunger.
- Weaves together memory, story, experiences, feelings, and listening into a conversation to approach the Divine
- Attends to the search for one's deepest Self.
Spiritual Direction offers…
- A safe, confidential space for wrestling with spiritual issues.
- A deeper relationship with the Divine.
- Exploration of callings in new directions.
- A deepening of one’s spiritual life.
- Support for grappling with life’s transitions.
- Support for living more authentically.
- A way to be in touch with those deeper, hidden parts of yourself.
- Discovery of ways to live spiritual practices more fully.
what others have to say
Spiritual direction explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred stories everyday. Spiritual direction has emerged in many contexts using language specific to particular cultural and spiritual traditions. Describing spiritual direction requires putting words to a process of fostering a transcendent experience that lies beyond all names and yet the experience longs to be articulated and made concrete in everyday living. It is easier to describe what spiritual direction does than what spiritual direction is. Spiritual direction helps us learn how to live in peace, with compassion, promoting justice, as humble servants of that which lies beyond all names.
(Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv, Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International)
(Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv, Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International)
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. (Marian Cowan, CSJ)
what spiritual direction is not
Spiritual Direction is NOT "Therapy", but it IS therapeutic...
Although discussions between a Spiritual Director and a Directee can touch on many subjects, Spiritual Direction should not be considered to be psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, psychiatry, or financial planning or financial advising. Spiritual Direction is not a substitute for psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, or treatment for psychological or emotional disorders. Persons in Spiritual Direction who struggle with significant psychological or emotional disturbances are best referred to qualified mental health providers to assist with these issues.
Although discussions between a Spiritual Director and a Directee can touch on many subjects, Spiritual Direction should not be considered to be psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, psychiatry, or financial planning or financial advising. Spiritual Direction is not a substitute for psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, or treatment for psychological or emotional disorders. Persons in Spiritual Direction who struggle with significant psychological or emotional disturbances are best referred to qualified mental health providers to assist with these issues.
"Whatever you do, don’t shut off your pain; accept your pain and remain vulnerable. However desperate you become, accept your pain as it is, because it is in fact trying to hand you a priceless gift: the chance of discovering, through spiritual practice, what lies behind sorrow."
~ Sogyal Rinpoche
Author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
~ Sogyal Rinpoche
Author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
still curious about spiritual direction?
If you are interested in experiencing Spiritual Direction;
Or if you have questions about the practice of meditation;
Or if you have questions regarding individual or group dream work;
Or if you would like to schedule a class, workshop or retreat;
Please visit the CONTACT page and send me an e-mail.
Or if you have questions about the practice of meditation;
Or if you have questions regarding individual or group dream work;
Or if you would like to schedule a class, workshop or retreat;
Please visit the CONTACT page and send me an e-mail.