“Listen to your life

“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 God*, 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. Often, however, the word, spirituality, is used to describe a particular method of seeking and developing a deeper relationship with God*, yourself and the cosmos.

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.

*Divine Presence/Mystery, Holy Other, Higher Power, Spirit or What is life giving.

(information from Spiritual Direction Institute http://www.centacleretreathouse.org/sdi.htm)

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 God 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 God 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 God* inherent in all of life.

The purpose of spiritual direction :

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  Growth in self knowledge - by bringing to the surface the abiding tendencies/ dispositions of your heart,
  
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  Discernment –of what you are called to do through the art and gift of recognizing the movement of God* in your life,
  
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  Invitation – to respond to God’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 ”.

*Divine Presence/Mystery, Holy Other, Higher Power, Spirit or What is life giving.

The goals of spiritual direction:

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

*Divine Presence/Mystery, Holy Other, Higher Power, Spirit or What is life giving.

What happens in a spiritual direction session?
In formal spiritual direction, you usually will meet with a director monthly for about an hour. The director provides a safe environment for you to share your story. During your time together the director will accompany you on your journey by:

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  Companioning you in articulating your story
  
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  Facilitating the integration of all aspects of your life experience
  
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  Assisting you to speak your God* experience
  

In a preliminary meeting or in your first meeting with a spiritual director, information will be sought as to what you desire in spiritual direction and fees will be discussed.

*Divine Presence/Mystery, Holy Other, Higher Power, Spirit or What is life giving.

(information from Spiritual Direction Institute http://www.centacleretreathouse.org/sdi.htm)

Why you might seek spiritual direction:
Reasons vary:

You may seek out direction from a person trained to journey with you as a spiritual practice, which supports your faith life in an ongoing way.

You may be experiencing ordinary life transitions that are so confusing and pain-filled that you feel you’re losing direction. The death of a loved one, job loss, divorce, chronic illness etc. – any of these may cause you to question the meaning of life and yearn for hope. Spiritual direction is often sought in such times of crisis.

You may be struggling to believe that God* awaits you, ever present, and not only in your prayer times or when you are on your best behavior. In spiritual direction you will become aware of the reality of God* present in all aspects of your life.

Spiritual direction is an open-ended process that seeks to call forth your own inner wisdom in order to be attentive to the spiritual journey. This is a lifelong process.
*Divine Presence/Mystery, Holy Other, Higher Power, Spirit or What is life giving.
(information from Spiritual Direction Institute http://www.centacleretreathouse.org/sdi.htm)