What is Spiritual Direction?

There are many traditional definitions (below) but my favorite description of what I do is:

Fostering connection and direction to live a more meaningful life.

You might be alienated from religion, and even from the idea of "God." Everyone's path is unique.Most of us share a desire to feel connected to someone or something. We yearn for meaning and purpose.

"Direction" refers to directing your attention to your experience. "Spiritual" refers to that which carries the deepest meaning for you. Engaging in that journey of discovery with you is what I do. Walking with a guide or a companion is like using a map or a compass to find the best path for your unique vision and experience.

"Within you dwells the desire to find meaning in every moment ... to discover your true self... to experience kindness and acceptance for ourselves and share it with others... to feel a deep connection to the ground of all being. A spiritual companion can support this journey of a lifetime." (Spiritual Directors International)

"The goal of Spiritual Direction is to help individuals name and claim their personal experience of God." (Charlotte Spirituality Center)

"The core mission of spiritual companionship is helping others recall their true essence, however they might perceive it. And although it can be described as a journey of discovery, in some ways it is more of a process of unveiling and revealing what has already been there." (Listen magazine)

Spiritual Direction is a counseling relationship designed to cultivate our innate spirituality in order to live a more grounded, meaningful life. While a Spiritual Director receives special training, the relationship is one of equal partners in a journey together.

My approach to deepening a connection with The Divine is consistent with science. I engage in deep listening. I came from a place that doubted God's very existence, and am keenly aware of the many different ways to describe or understand what is essentially indescribable and beyond understanding - The Divine.

Elements that influence my views on Spiritual Direction include Positive Psychology, meditation and creative expression, especially writing and journaling. While in some ways similar to Coaching, Coaching tends to rely on planning and creating action steps to accomplish specific goals. Knowing where you want to go and how you will get there is a bit like the outermost ring of Spiritual Direction.

Spiritual Direction is rooted in listening, observing, and asking the right question at the right moment. Coaching assumes you know where you want to go. Spiritual Direction is committed to the journey of discovering and deepening your most meaningful connections.

You may understand that you are seeking a closer relationship with God. You may be uncomfortable talking about "God," but you long to understand what it might mean for you if you were able to establish a level of deep peace, meaning and purpose in your life.

Spiritual Direction is a journey of discovery and connection, a journey of finding and making meaning.