What is it and why might you need it? Let’s begin by looking at what spiritual direction is not.
Spiritual direction is not:
- A replacement for a church, mosque, synagogue or other religious congregation
- Counseling, therapy, or “Biblical counseling”
- A denominational program
- A way of converting you to a specific belief
Spiritual direction is a one-on-one or small group process of working intentionally toward deepening your relationship with The Divine. Most spiritual traditions have some form of Spiritual Direction.
Have you experienced spiritual abuse or trauma that pushed you not only away from religion, but from God as well? Do you feel a tension between what you were told you “need to believe” and what you think you may actually believe? Would you like to reconnect with your faith? Are you feeling that you want to go “deeper” into your spiritual beliefs and make them a bigger part of your everyday life?
A spiritual director listens to these goals and challenges and works with you to achieve your goals. This may include talking through your spiritual history, exploring what you personally believe and why, trying out new spiritual practices (such as different forms of prayer or meditation) and incorporating them into your daily life.
JR will not force you to believe what they believe or use the spiritual practices they use. Instead they will practice holy curiosity, traveling with you and helping you to discover what The Divine is saying to you and where your spirit is being led.
Another term sometimes used for a spiritual director is anam cara, a term used by Celtic traditions and meaning “soul friend.” A journey is better with a friend. You don’t have to feel alone, they can help you when you reach rough terrain and catch you when you fall. For more about spiritual direction, visit Spiritual Directors International.