What Is Spiritual Direction?
In short, it's one way to care for your spirit and be affirmed of your belovedness. Spiritual Direction is primarily a listening practice rooted in many different traditions. A seeker listens for the sacred in ordinary lived experiences to move deeper into wholeness and joy. Below are some insights to give you a better picture of what a Spiritual Direction practice is and is not:
Spiritual Direction is not mental health therapy
Spiritualize is not designed to be a substitute for mental health therapy. The goal of Spiritual Direction is to orient you back to your relationship with the Divine, God, or your understanding of God.
Spiritual Direction is not quite life coaching
Spiritual Direction is more about providing a sacred space for a seeker's discernment. Practitioners ask more questions that provide answers or advice, always seeking to reflect the unconditional love of God / The Divine / God of your understanding.
Spiritual Direction IS about listening to the sacred
The goal or focus of Spiritual Direction is to be able to sense the sacred / Divine / God of your understanding in your every day experiences. To sense the presence of the sacred and your path through listening.
Spiritual Direction is for every life stage
Whether a Seeker needs to make a major life decision or simply articulate the definitions and purpose of their spirituality, Spiritual Direction offers a grounded way to move deeper into wholeness, authenticity, and joy.
A regular practice can have many outcomes
A Spiritual Direction practice can result in many different outcomes - it can help us trust ourselves more, trust things unseen, and above all, remind us of our belovedness and that we are not alone.
Spiritual Direction is usually a monthly practice
Most seekers meet with their practitioner once a month, although you are welcome to meet more or less often.
A Spiritual Practitioner's role is to help you listen
Spiritual Practitioners listen to assist a Seeker understand their experiences in the context of faith and their journey with God or the Divine. Spiritual Practitioners do not aim to provide counsel or try to convert you into a specific way of thinking or religious perspective.
Spiritual Direction takes different forms
While listening to the sacred is the main goal, the practice can take many forms. Some practitioners encourage prayer, others meditation, and still others creative / artistic forms of discerning where the sacred is and where it might not be. Be open to different practices and discern what feels best for you with your Practitioner.
Spiritual Direction spans religions and cultures
While one understanding of Spiritual Direction comes from the ancient Christian tradition formalized by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century, the practice is NOT exclusive to Christianity's Western colonial roots. It is an inter-religious and inter-spiritual practice that has its roots in many different traditions.