Spiritual Direction
“Silence is the royal road to spiritual formation.” ~ Henry Nouwen
Since the ancient times of Christianity, sojourners have realized their need to seek a spiritual guide to come alongside their faith journey amidst the realities of everyday life. Many sought wisdom, inspiration and spiritual accompaniment from the Desert Fathers and Mothers, 3rd-century Christian hermits and ascetics primarily in the Scetes desert of the Roman province of Egypt, to help them deepen their relationship with God. The ministry of Spiritual Direction was born through the desert monastic communities. This rich Abrahamic tradition of “holy listening” is hearing the indwelling fragment of God, a ministry of entering into the deep places of the soul with another, not to instruct but to witness and to listen contemplatively, illuminating a way of being that moves the person being listened to towards God and wholeness.
"There is a part of the soul that stirs at night, in the dark and soundless times of day, when our defenses are down and our daylight distractions no longer serve to protect us from ourselves. It's then, in the still of life, when we least expect it, that questions emerge from the damp murkiness of our inner underworld ... These questions do not call for the discovery of data; they call for the contemplation of possibility." ~ Sister Joan Chittister
Spiritual Direction is a prayer process because the director and directee meet in the presence of the Trinity. It is an unforced and unhurried process. Sessions are held in a confidential and contemplative space - a place for honest reflection and listening to the Holy - and may include centring, healing silence, compassionate conversation, thoughtful questioning, contemplative listening and prayer. It is usually one hour long, prescheduled, and occurs monthly or bi-weekly based on the rhythm set by the directee.
“Take time to see the quiet miracles that seek no attention” ~ John O'Donohue, an Irish poet, author, priest, Hegelian philosopher
A direction-relationship is meant to be entered with prayerful attention. Appropriately trained directors uphold direction ethics, engage in ongoing supervision and soul care, observe the sabbath, notice daily fragments of grace, are grounded in biblical truth and remain hospitable, curious, and prayerful. Deep and growing direction relationships can last a season, years, or even a lifetime.