What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is an ancient tradition of a covenanted relationship with a spiritual companion occurring in an atmosphere of trust and loving presence. The goal is to lead a person into a deeper awareness of and appreciation for God’s presence and movement in the interior and exterior circumstances of daily life. The fundamental assumption is that God speaks to us in our daily lives, is present in all experience, and reveals self through creation, scripture, life experiences, human relationships, dreams, creative expression, solitude, and prayer. Spiritual direction is a process of deep listening designed to help people who are seeking to live a more fully human and reflective life. Spiritual direction embraces both the quest for God and the quest for a transformed world by emphasizing the call to both contemplation and action.

What is a Direction Session Like?

Topics discussed in spiritual direction include relationships, images of God, discernment, prayer life and practices, and the striving for greater balance in one’s life. Essentially, all of what happens in our lives is potential material for spiritual direction. However, it is essential to understand that spiritual direction is not the same as psychotherapy; a director is not trained to attend to therapeutic needs. The focus of spiritual direction is the relationship between the directee and the divine presence. Among the ways of tending to this relationship within direction appointments include conversation, deep listening, time for silence, prayer, dream work, art-making, and guided imagery/visualization. Direction sessions are always confidential.

What is Spiritual Direction Through the Arts?

Traditional spiritual direction focuses primarily on conversation as a way of exploring a person’s relationship to the sacred dimension of their lives. Using the arts we expand the possible ways of knowing we can access to include visual art, poetry, journaling, movement, music, and guided imagery. During each session I listen for what might be the most appropriate medium to use to deepen reflection on a particular experience. The arts are always an invitation and you are free to choose to engage or not as you feel moved during our session. We will always spend time in reflection on the experience.

How often a directee meets with a director is dependent upon the directee’s needs, but usually the sessions are once a month.