What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual direction, sometimes referred to as spiritual guidance or spiritual friendship, is an on-going relationship in which one person (the directee), desirous of being attentive to his or her spiritual life, meets with another person (the director) on a regular basis (approximately once a month), specifically for the purpose of becoming more attuned to God’s presence in order to respond more fully to that Presence in all of life.
Spiritual direction has been part of the Christian tradition for centuries.
Why would someone want spiritual direction?
To explore their yearning for God.
To understand meaning in their life.
To gain a sense of discernment.
To understand where they are going.
To live their life more fully.
Meeting with a spiritual director is helpful when you want a deeper relationship with God. Spiritual direction is a vital tool for a healthy spirituality.
Simply, spiritual direction helps people tell their own sacred story and to find the Sacred within their story.
Spiritual direction is not counseling, therapy, nor financial advice. Rather, as a reflective, contemplative process the focus in spiritual direction is always on one’s relationship God, on the state of a one’s spirit. Working in close relationship with a spiritual director, who is trained in the art of sacred listening, one begins to uncover and discover the multitudinous and often unseen ways in the God appears in one’s life.
Thank you for a very concise description of Spiritual Directors. It’s difficult to explain in few words, even to my sis-in-law, a pastoral counselor. I’m beginning the 2-yr training program at Haden Institute here in NC this fall: I’ve been looking forward to this for YEARS! Both as my own ministry contribution, and looking forward to my Second Career. Retire? Not when there’s work to do! – Dr. J.
Thank you all for your comments. Being a spiritual director is very humbling, hearing the deep stories of another pilgrim
Lovely post Jean…Mary Pierce
Would that we all had the art of sacred listening. Good explaination of your spiritual meetings. I understand better now. Or maybe I wasn’t listening?:)
Jeanie, I appreciated this, too, especially the emphasis on strengthening one’s relationship with God. That’s what it’s all about, right? The training must be so fulfilling.
Thank you for explaining. This concept is very interesting to me. I may ask for further explanation. Clella