“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is.…All moments are key moments and life itself is grace.” --Frederick Buechner

What is ‘spirituality’?

Spirituality involves an understanding of your personal relationship with the Sacred, yourself and the cosmos. The focus of spiritual direction is the exploration and deepening of these relationships.

Every human person has spirituality. It is present in the experiences of your life. This experiential level of spirituality embraces you as a whole human person who is part of a constantly changing creation.

Although spirituality as a lived experience must be personal, it doesn’t happen in isolation. You were introduced into a particular social and cultural spirituality. This includes the formulation of teaching, the development of symbols, rituals, artistic or other expressions, as well as guidance about your lived reality and how it can be deepened. Sometimes it includes the life, example and/or teaching of an outstanding person.

A variety of spiritualities will continue to arise as human beings continue to wonder about the mysterious dimension of reality.

What is spiritual direction?

Spiritual direction is an ongoing conversation between a trained director and a person seeking self knowledge and an understanding of what the spirit invites that person to do with his/her life. This is accomplished through regular private meetings in which you, as the seeker, are invited to relate and embrace your life experiences, both conscious and unconscious; to recognize the movement of the Sacred in these events; and to respond in a way that leads to greater compassion, freedom and mission. The ultimate goal is for you to gain a conscious awareness of and participation in the ongoing dialogue with the Sacred that gives meaning to life.

The basis for the traditional understanding of spiritual direction is an appreciation of human freedom and the natural attraction toward the Sacred inherent in all of life.

The purpose of spiritual direction:

• Growth in self knowledge - by bringing to consciousness the abiding tendencies/dispositions of your heart
• Discernment – what you are called to do through the art and gift of recognizing the movement of the Sacred in your life,
• Invitation – to respond to the Sacred’s movement in ways that are healing, just and reconciling for all creation.

Persons offering to guide others on the spiritual journey traditionally were called spiritual directors; today other terms may be used, such as “spiritual guide” or “companion.”

The goals of spiritual direction:

• To integrate both the conscious and unconscious elements of your life – which leads to greater compassion, freedom and mission
• To make conscious the ongoing dialogue with God* that gives meaning to life.

Are you being called to the Ministry of Spiritual Direction?

What is happening in you?

Here are some questions for you to reflect on as you consider a call to the ministry of spiritual direction.

• Are you passionate about your own journey with the Sacred?
• Do you allocate time regularly for exploring/deepening this journey?
• Do you desire to live out of a more contemplative attitude towards yourself and our Earth Community?
• Do people seek you out to talk with about important or difficult aspects of their lives?
• Do you feel energized/more deeply connected with others and the Sacred through these conversations?
• Are you currently receiving spiritual direction?

Spend some time reflecting on these questions; notice what happens within you as you sit with them. Allow your inner wisdom to inform your response.

What do spiritual directors do?

As a spiritual director, you will assist directees by:

• Listening reflectively to that which is deeper than words.
• Helping them “notice” how the Sacred is present in their lives.
• Enabling them to hear and trust their own inner wisdom, the place where the Sacred is within them, and to respond to that presence.

The goal of spiritual direction is the integration of your directees’ spiritual development in all aspects of their lives.

Next Steps:

Here are a few further steps you can take as you seek to discover what is stirring within you:

• Talk it over with your spiritual director or a trusted friend.
• If you are not receiving spiritual direction, seek it out.
• Spend some time on retreat with your questions around this issue.
• Attend some workshops that relate to spiritual direction.
• Consider attending a training program in spiritual direction. Usually part of the training is a continued discernment of a call to the ministry of spiritual direction.
• You may call or e-mail the Institute for Spiritual Leadership for further information. The Institute offers several schedule options for spiritual direction training.
• Join a network or association like Spiritual Directors International: www.sdiworld .org

At the Institute for Spiritual Leadership, we believe that this sacred relationship requires art as well as skill on the part of the director. Skills can be taught and learned; art is a gift.