What is Spiritual Direction?
Human beings have always been seekers. For as far back as we have recorded history, there have been people searching for spiritual wisdom about the world and our place within it. Sometimes they’ve turned to dreams, visions, or divine omens. Sometimes they’ve journeyed to sacred sites. Sometimes they’ve relied on holy people among them – seers, sages, prophets, priests and priestesses – to teach them and offer insight.
This was the case with the so-called Desert Fathers and Mothers of the early Christian church. In the third century CE these monastics withdrew to the Egyptian desert to live an ascetic lifestyle. The tradition of “spiritual direction” grew out of these groups. Emphasizing prayer, contemplation, solitude, and other spiritual practices as a way of “seeking the Kingdom of God within,” it continued in following centuries within the Catholic Church, primarily as a way of developing priests, nuns, and monks for faithful leadership.
In the twentieth century this changed with a growing interest in the fields of psychology and pastoral counseling. Spiritual issues were seen as important areas of exploration, not just for clergy, but also for lay people. The old idea of spiritual direction took on a new form and emphasis, and was adopted by a wider range of faith groups. Today, there are a number of educational programs, as well as groups like Spiritual Directors International, designed to train and support practitioners of spiritual direction.
Why is spiritual direction still relevant today? We live in a time when an increasing number of people reject institutional religion, but that doesn’t necessarily mean people are any less spiritual than they were five centuries ago or thirty thousand years ago. Surveys suggest that most people in the U.S. today do, in fact, believe in some kind of higher power or greater truth. Even as traditional religions become less relevant, spirituality remains an important part of who we are.
It’s important to note that while religion may be defined a particular set of shared beliefs and practices, spirituality is about broader and more universal needs such as connection, meaning, and transcendence. One need not subscribe to a specific religion, or any religion at all, in order to experience connection. It may be found in relationships to people, or pets, or nature. Likewise, meaning and purpose may be derived from one’s profession or from a social cause. Transcendence, or the sense of something beyond oneself, may come from nature, family, a sports team, or a political party. There are many ways of being spiritual.
Spiritual direction is a process through which we become more deeply attuned to the sources of meaning, connection, and transcendence in our lives. It is intended to be a safe space for exploring spiritual questions and becoming more aware of the deeply held beliefs and values that shape how we relate to the world around us. The focus is different from a counseling or therapeutic relationship. A spiritual director acts as both companion and guide to the client, facilitating a process of reflection, practice, and growth.
What are the relationships and priorities that actually matter? How is the sacred manifesting in your life? What do you believe, deep down in your core? And crucially – are you living in alignment with these convictions? These are the kinds of questions we explore.
If you’re curious about spiritual direction and want to give it a try, click the link below to set up an appointment.