How to Find Your Spiritual Direction
Have you ever noticed the subtle ways God is present in your life? The spiritual path can feel a lonely and confusing experience. There may be questions that you have, or spiritual experiences that you long to share with someone you trust, so you can gain clarity and understanding. Could spiritual direction provide the answers you are looking for?
Read on to discover what spiritual direction is, how it differs from traditional counselling, and the benefits it can have for your spiritual growth.
What is spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction focuses on helping a person to embrace spirituality, and discover how it shows up in their own life. It is a conversation between 2 people, in which a spiritual director holds space for a person to recognise the work of God and the Holy Spirit in their own life.
William A Barry, a spiritual director and author of The Practice of Spiritual Direction, defines spiritual direction as a way of helping people to strengthen their relationship with god.
Having someone to share personal experiences with and help you reflect on what is going on from God’s perspective, can allow you to build faith to work through things that feel troubling. Each spiritual direction session will provide a sacred space for non-judgemental listening, spiritual counsel, and deepening a person’s experience of God.
Features of spiritual direction
Being in conversation with someone who has experienced deepening their spiritual connection, is a great way to help you reflect on your journey with God. Here’s what you can expect to experience during a session:
A safe space - whatever you choose to share or question is always kept confidential, and you are free to share your thoughts and experiences of Christianity, spiritual life, and ways you have encountered God’s love.
A person who will walk beside you on your spiritual journey, without judgement, accepting you for who and where you are. The Spiritual Director respects that your journey towards a deeper relationship with spiritual life is unique to you. The conversation during a session is one of listening and reflection.
Direction back towards the wisdom of God in your life - the Spiritual Director is here to help a person understand their experiences, and help them pay attention to Spirit and its subtle messages within their life.
How can spiritual direction help you?
There are a number of ways that spiritual direction can help you in life. Perhaps you are confused, and struggling with spiritual life, or have some issues that you are working through. Maybe you are feeling the call to gain more clarity on God, and are longing to experience God’s love more deeply. Wherever you find yourself right now, spiritual direction will help you enhance your awareness of God’s presence in your life, and help you to deepen your relationship with Spirit.
Finding spiritual direction
It’s important to find the right person, who can be your spiritual guide, and channel for God’s wisdom to flow through to you. This could be someone you already know and trust, who you feel you could open up to. A good spiritual director is someone who has a strong faith and is spiritually committed. They will be an empathetic listener, and be able to discern God’s presence in your life. The most important thing is that you feel instinctively drawn towards working with this person, and at ease. A spiritual direction session usually occurs face-to-face, or online if an in-person meeting is not possible.
What is the difference between counselling and spiritual direction?
Both counselling and spiritual direction use similar skills, in that they provide a safe space where active listening helps a person feel supported, and become more aware. But depending on what you are hoping to achieve, one may be more useful than the other. Counselling tends to focus on solving problems, whereas spiritual direction is about learning to strengthen faith, and embrace God’s presence within life. Spiritual direction uses prayer and spiritual exercises to fortify connection to God. Whatever struggles a person experiences, a strong connection to God will help them to deal with these challenges, allowing them to notice the teaching within the pain.
Deepening your spiritual connection
If you’re feeling the call to deepen your relationship to God, then seeking support with spiritual direction can enhance your awareness of how God moves within your own life. Get in touch today to book your free 30 minute consultation, and discover more about our spiritual coaching services.