Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction is the place where soul meets body.

What do I mean by that?  Spiritual Direction (also known as Spiritual Companion)  is an ancient spiritual practice that is quite simple; the purpose is to listen for and notice the movements of a person’s inner wisdom. Each one of us possesses an inner wisdom.  We may employ a variety of ways to explore that inner wisdom; through Christian prayer practices, through Buddhist zazen or or mindfulness meditation.  This inner wisdom may make itself known to us in Sufi zikhr or while fasting during Ramadan.  It may rise up in ways that are non-traditional and secular, as experienced through the arts or deep contemplation and reflection.  Spiritual directors  notice the ways in which this ineffable presence shows up in a person’s life and  explores the meaning of this presence.  

Although trying to define “spirit” is like trying to catch a wave upon the sand; there is a rich history of spiritual directors doing just that.  Spiritual Direction is the companionship of one person with another, in this life, in this body.  Spiritual Direction allows for the much needed time and space to reflect on questions on meaning and purpose: “Where did I come from?”  Who am I to God and who is God to me?  Where am I going?  What questions are tugging at me that I am afraid to face? 

Spiritual Directors International describes Spiritual Direction in this way:  

“Spiritual direction explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred stories everyday.  Spiritual direction has emerged in many contexts using language specific to particular cultural and spiritual traditions. Describing spiritual direction requires putting words to a process of fostering a transcendent experience that lies beyond all names and yet the experience longs to be articulated and made concrete in everyday living. It is easier to describe what spiritual direction does than what spiritual direction is. Our role is not to define spiritual direction, but to describe the experience. Spiritual direction helps us learn how to live in peace, with compassion, promoting justice, as humble servants of that which lies beyond all names.”

I was trained at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Direction, both for one-on-one Spiritual Direction and group Spiritual Direction.  My teachers were Rosemary Dougherty, Tilden Edwards and Gerald May.  I am a certified Spiritual Director (trained 2004-2006) and am a member of Spiritual Directors International. “

I provide one-on-one Spiritual Direction as well as can meet with a directee using Zoom or Skype.  Spiritual Direction is usually a monthly meeting.  I hold you in my daily prayer practice, and reflect on the issues you bring to Spiritual Direction during that prayer time.  If you are interested in learning more about my Spiritual Direction practice, please email me at kathleen.rolenz  @  gmail.com 

Blessings on your journey!