“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought….You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11
What Is Spiritual Direction?
A spiritual director is a person who serves as a prayerful, non-judgmental and supportive presence to someone who desires to go deeper in God, a companion for the spiritual journey. The term “spiritual director” is a bit misleading, because this person doesn’t tell you what to do; rather, they are trained to listen to your story and help you discern where God is acting in your life. They are someone who helps you tend the garden of your soul.
Spiritual direction is a sacred practice, as old as the questions we have about life and faith. It provides, as the Dutch writer Henri Nouwen said, a safe place to bare our souls.
Photo courtesy of Kristen Wheeler
What Does It Cost?
The fee for a one hour session is $100, payable by check, Venmo, or PayPal, normally due within three days of the session. If this will present a significant hardship for you, let’s talk. I don’t want anyone to go without spiritual companionship because of a lack of funds.
How Does It Work?
Spiritual direction is a relationship that is based on regular time together. Directors and directees (yes, that is a word!) usually meet once a month for an hour, but this will depend on your wishes and needs. You are free to discontinue the relationship at any time with no questions asked, though it can be helpful to have a final “closure” session. This also means that I will not check with you more than once if I’ve stopped hearing from you.
What happens in a session? While I may have offered suggestions of things to try or think about since the last session, there is no “homework,” no necessary preparation, and we’ll discuss whatever is on your mind. We will usually begin with a short period of silence so we can shake off any preoccupations and distractions we came in with. Directors typically listen more than they talk, and ask questions for clarification and exploration. We’ll usually close by setting up the next session, unless we have a standing day and time. This format will be the same for both in-person and online sessions.
Interested? Schedule a free, thirty minute “meet-and-greet” session in which we can get acquainted, see if we’d be a good match, and you can decide whether spiritual direction with me is something you’d like to pursue.
Who Benefits from Spiritual Direction?
Anyone can benefit from spiritual direction, but it’s especially helpful for those who want to attend to their spiritual life and deepen their relationship with the Sacred. This includes people who are:
experiencing life transitions (marriage, divorce, job or career change, retirement, grief)
going through spiritual transitions (reexamining their faith and practice)
seeking recovery from spiritual/religious trauma
living with chronic illness or disability, or
longing to explore the depths of prayer and contemplative living
If one or more of those sounds like you, a practice of spiritual direction can be a great support for your life and faith. If you’d like to pursue it, or if you’re not sure, let’s talk.
Contact me
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