“Directors do not create relationships between God and their directees, they simply foster these relationships so that they may deepen and grow.”
W.A. Barry & W. J. Connolly


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.


What do directors do?
A spiritual director assists you by:

• Listening reflectively to that which is deeper than words.
• Helping you “notice” how God* is present in your life.
• Enabling you to hear and trust your own inner wisdom, the place where God* is with you, and to respond to that presence.

What can you expect?
Meetings are normally monthly for about an hour. The director provides a safe atmosphere for you to share your story.

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.

What happens in you?
It helps to describe spiritual direction as a process because this emphasizes its dynamic, developmental nature.

Something happens. Something changes. There is a growth and becoming .

You enter direction with a certain element of risk, because it means opening yourself up to the “more” of life, being ready to let go of whatever hinders your growth and sometimes leaving behind cherished parts of yourself. In direction you freely submit to the action of the Divine, trusting this loving presence to give you life and lead you through your own history as you and your director reflect together on your life stories in the present moment.

Where to begin
You may find it helpful to do some reading on the topic to get a sense of spiritual direction and what to look for in a spiritual director.

You may like to discuss your desire for spiritual direction with someone you trust, (e.g. pastor, counselor, priest/ religious, or close friend) who could suggest an appropriate person.

ISL maintains a list of its qualified graduates across the country and around the globe. Simply call or e-mail to request the name(s) of a trained spiritual director(s) in your area. There are also associations/networks of directors, such as Spiritual Directors International, as well as other training programs that may be able to give you the names of people in your area. In all cases, you can make contact and decide for yourself whether the person(s) suggested are appropriate for you.


What to look for in a director :
The art and practice of spiritual direction has a long history. From early times the ability to discern, to speak of God* and to help another with prayer were critical gifts. This suggests that the director be a person of prayer and experience who:

• knows and is comfortable with self, accepting both gifts and failings
• has faced his/her own shadow enabling him/her to help another face darkness without judging
• is in touch with and able to identify feelings
• has the ability to stay with sadness, tears, anger, helplessness, fear.

It is important for the director to be her/himself in the relationship, that is:

• warm without engulfing
• trusting without anticipating
• knowing one’s strengths and limits

This will ensure openness and respect for your in-depth sharing during the process.

An important question to ask is: “Do I feel comfortable with this person?”

You should easily be able to turn to your director for encouragement, reassurance, firm guidance or support when it is needed.

Keep this in mind:
In an ongoing spiritual direction relationship it is important to look for someone who:

• is also receiving spiritual direction
• is in supervision
• is adequately prepared for the ministry of spiritual direction
• is continuing to develop skills with ongoing training/workshops where possible