Our diocese is very keen to promote spiritual direction. In my previous contexts we used to talk a lot about one to one discipleship (the reality was often quite mixed)
I was wondering what thoughts and experiences shippies might have?
I have just started spiritual direction , & I have found it very useful . It has been about focusing on being the beloved of God& which practices bring me nearer to God & which push me away. Also it has made me examine beliefs I have internalised unconsciously from previous churches I have attended
Our diocese is very keen to promote spiritual direction. In my previous contexts we used to talk a lot about one to one discipleship (the reality was often quite mixed)
I was wondering what thoughts and experiences shippies might have?
I have been seeing a spiritual director for decades and I am also a practising spiritual director. I'm an Anglican and am part of the network of spiritual directors in our Catholic diocese (they are very ecumenical) as my Anglican diocese disbanded our own register several years ago.
I would never want to stop receiving direction as it has proved to be so fruitful and life giving.
As regards the practice itself, I'd say that the word direction is possibly misleading (it's historical) as traditional direction means accompanying someone as they explore their relationship with God, not training/ coaching / advising or even teaching.
These things all have their place and can be delivered one on one or in teaching groups.
But they are not direction and I know of a few situations where the these practices have become imo unhelpfully fused with spiritual direction.
I'm happy to try to answer (from my own experience) any other questions that might arise on this thread.
Sadly I keep outliving my spiritual directors, but I found them most helpful in the past. I miss having someone to share my spiritual journey with. There unfortunately seems not to be time or place to do so in day to day life. I think knowing you were going to have a time and place to review your spiritual journey makes you more aware of how God is present in your life.
Try it and see. If they stop the arrangement after a few sessions then you'll have found out if you were right.
If not ...
I saw an Anglican 'spiritual director' for a while and found it helpful.
I know a few people who are trained in the practice and their views and approach are very much as @MrsBeaky describes.
It is something which is available and practiced within Orthodoxy but I've not noticed it particularly being promoted. I imagine it's more of a thing in Orthodox-majority countries.
It seemed to be de rigeur among some Baptist ministers I knew to seek spiritual direction from monks and nuns about 20 years ago now. An Ignatian retreat director told me that they were getting almost as many evangelicals as Catholics around that time.
Since then, the practice seems to have been adopted pretty widely. Which is good.
It has to be something that isn't too directive as Mrs Beaky says.
Good idea, @MrsBeaky . Accompanists in the directory (myself included) aren’t just confined to the London area , or even the U.K and since the Covid pandemic, many of us have moved to working online or hybrid as well as face to face.
Good idea, @MrsBeaky . Accompanists in the directory (myself included) aren’t just confined to the London area , or even the U.K and since the Covid pandemic, many of us have moved to working online or hybrid as well as face to face.
Absolutely. I see both local people and also people further afield online.
Good idea, @MrsBeaky . Accompanists in the directory (myself included) aren’t just confined to the London area , or even the U.K and since the Covid pandemic, many of us have moved to working online or hybrid as well as face to face.
Absolutely. I see both local people and also people further afield online.
That’s the upside and very good too. The downside is that I no longer travel into London to see the people I work with, hire/travel costs etc are too high, not to mention the logistics of finding somewhere to work. But I guess that’s compensated for by the wider pool of potential clients.
'Soulfriend' is also used, but it is not without its difficulties.
My issues with this ministry at the moment are at both ends. I'm struggling to find myself a spiritual director, and I'm also struggling to re-establish my ministry having trained at the London centre when it was a rather different thing.. The water (i.e. its community of spiritual directors and the support given to them) doesn't feel like the warm, supportive thing it used to be, and this is cutting me off from something which I feel is very much part of my vocation in life.
I don't know why but none of the terms we use for this seem adequate to me. 'Director' sounds too well, directive.
'Companion' sounds like someone paid to accompany a Victorian battle-axe on or old duffer on visits to a spa.
Whatever we call them, I hope it works out well @Twangist.
There is definitely a problem with how the different names for this role land with different people. I call myself a spiritual director as that is an old and established description and actually can lead to some fruitful initial exploratory conversations.
I also sometimes describe the role itself (rather than me the person) as accompanying people in the exploration of their spirituality.
You've critiqued the usual terminology so I wonder if there is a better description of the role that you might suggest?
'Soulfriend' is also used, but it is not without its difficulties.
My issues with this ministry at the moment are at both ends. I'm struggling to find myself a spiritual director, and I'm also struggling to re-establish my ministry having trained at the London centre when it was a rather different thing.. The water (i.e. its community of spiritual directors and the support given to them) doesn't feel like the warm, supportive thing it used to be, and this is cutting me off from something which I feel is very much part of my vocation in life.
I'm sorry to hear that. I have no idea if this will be at all helpful - but I have been going through quite a long period (um, years) of adjustment regarding that kind of thing, trying to get used to not minding 'the water', especially in areas where I might hope to feel the kind of certainty / conviction with which you describe this vocation.
If it's for you/me, and other folks have moved away from what you/I feel called to do - perhaps your/my calling is to do it anyway.
I'm speaking to myself here, but I thought it might be worth saying out loud.
I'm a trained spiritual director, but I'm not practicing at the moment, and I would need both a director and a supervisor in order to return to practice.
I don't know why but none of the terms we use for this seem adequate to me. 'Director' sounds too well, directive.
'Companion' sounds like someone paid to accompany a Victorian battle-axe on or old duffer on visits to a spa.
Whatever we call them, I hope it works out well @Twangist.
There is definitely a problem with how the different names for this role land with different people. I call myself a spiritual director as that is an old and established description and actually can lead to some fruitful initial exploratory conversations.
I also sometimes describe the role itself (rather than me the person) as accompanying people in the exploration of their spirituality.
You've critiqued the usual terminology so I wonder if there is a better description of the role that you might suggest?
If I could think of one, I'd suggest it. There are no 'easy' terms which suggest themselves.
FWIW I don't have a problem with the term 'spiritual director' myself as I know that it's not meant to convey the sense of 'directing' or lording it over people.
But I can understand why people might understand it that way.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, I've done spiritual retreats following the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and worked with Jesuit directors who have been very directive in following the dynamics of the Exercises over eight days. That was helpful in keeping me focused on close reading and meditation on certain passages, quite intense visualisation and guided reflections. I've also had longish periods of spiritual accompaniment with very gentle and non-directive Ignatian and Carmelite women and men who have understood themselves to be sounding boards for helping directees or companions listen for the promptings of the Spirit.
Comments
I have been seeing a spiritual director for decades and I am also a practising spiritual director. I'm an Anglican and am part of the network of spiritual directors in our Catholic diocese (they are very ecumenical) as my Anglican diocese disbanded our own register several years ago.
I would never want to stop receiving direction as it has proved to be so fruitful and life giving.
As regards the practice itself, I'd say that the word direction is possibly misleading (it's historical) as traditional direction means accompanying someone as they explore their relationship with God, not training/ coaching / advising or even teaching.
These things all have their place and can be delivered one on one or in teaching groups.
But they are not direction and I know of a few situations where the these practices have become imo unhelpfully fused with spiritual direction.
I'm happy to try to answer (from my own experience) any other questions that might arise on this thread.
Your diocese will have a person in charge of spiritual direction, and they can direct you towards someone.
If not ...
I saw an Anglican 'spiritual director' for a while and found it helpful.
I know a few people who are trained in the practice and their views and approach are very much as @MrsBeaky describes.
It is something which is available and practiced within Orthodoxy but I've not noticed it particularly being promoted. I imagine it's more of a thing in Orthodox-majority countries.
It seemed to be de rigeur among some Baptist ministers I knew to seek spiritual direction from monks and nuns about 20 years ago now. An Ignatian retreat director told me that they were getting almost as many evangelicals as Catholics around that time.
Since then, the practice seems to have been adopted pretty widely. Which is good.
It has to be something that isn't too directive as Mrs Beaky says.
Sadly, still without that here in the Chichester diocese!
You could try finding one via
https://www.lcsd.org.uk/
Good idea, @MrsBeaky . Accompanists in the directory (myself included) aren’t just confined to the London area , or even the U.K and since the Covid pandemic, many of us have moved to working online or hybrid as well as face to face.
Absolutely. I see both local people and also people further afield online.
That’s the upside and very good too. The downside is that I no longer travel into London to see the people I work with, hire/travel costs etc are too high, not to mention the logistics of finding somewhere to work. But I guess that’s compensated for by the wider pool of potential clients.
I've pulled the trigger.
Will be meeting an accompanist recommended by the diocesan person soon.
Great news and I do hope it's a fruitful first meeting.
I don't know why but none of the terms we use for this seem adequate to me. 'Director' sounds too well, directive.
'Companion' sounds like someone paid to accompany a Victorian battle-axe on or old duffer on visits to a spa.
Whatever we call them, I hope it works out well @Twangist.
My issues with this ministry at the moment are at both ends. I'm struggling to find myself a spiritual director, and I'm also struggling to re-establish my ministry having trained at the London centre when it was a rather different thing.. The water (i.e. its community of spiritual directors and the support given to them) doesn't feel like the warm, supportive thing it used to be, and this is cutting me off from something which I feel is very much part of my vocation in life.
There is definitely a problem with how the different names for this role land with different people. I call myself a spiritual director as that is an old and established description and actually can lead to some fruitful initial exploratory conversations.
I also sometimes describe the role itself (rather than me the person) as accompanying people in the exploration of their spirituality.
You've critiqued the usual terminology so I wonder if there is a better description of the role that you might suggest?
I'm sorry to hear that. I have no idea if this will be at all helpful - but I have been going through quite a long period (um, years) of adjustment regarding that kind of thing, trying to get used to not minding 'the water', especially in areas where I might hope to feel the kind of certainty / conviction with which you describe this vocation.
If it's for you/me, and other folks have moved away from what you/I feel called to do - perhaps your/my calling is to do it anyway.
I'm speaking to myself here, but I thought it might be worth saying out loud.
If I could think of one, I'd suggest it. There are no 'easy' terms which suggest themselves.
FWIW I don't have a problem with the term 'spiritual director' myself as I know that it's not meant to convey the sense of 'directing' or lording it over people.
But I can understand why people might understand it that way.
I've certainly heard "direction is not directive" a few times
And I've seen a lengthy list of other things that it isn't