Spiritual Direction

What Is Spiritual Direction?

 

The term “Spiritual Director” is something of a misnomer, even an oxymoron.  Spiritual realities are individual, interior, invisible, and a “director” sounds like someone who gives precise instructions and who gets predictable results:  “Do 20 minutes of Ignatian Exercises every day and become more spiritual in 30 days.”   Little wonder that spiritual directors, when defining their ministry, generally begin by saying firmly what spiritual direction is not:

Spiritual direction is not aerobics of the soul.
Spiritual direction is not counseling.
Spiritual direction is not therapy.
Spiritual direction is not problem solving.

 

The spiritual director may suggest a way of prayer or a helpful book; she may introduce various “tools,” such as journal keeping, guided meditations, or icons.  But mostly a spiritual director shares your journey of faith and listens with “the ear of her heart,” to borrow St. Benedict’s evocative phrase.  Indeed, the director and directee ponder together the events of life’s journey, seeking to discern God’s workings in the mundane and extraordinary events that make up our days.  The classic spiritual direction question is, “Where was God in all this?”  Or, “What is God saying to you in – the new puppy, the move to a smaller house, the desire to change your job?”  The assumption is, always, that the spirit of God is a third when director and directee meet.  And sometimes, with a surge of joy or breakthrough of understanding, we sense that Presence.

            In the conclusion of For the Time Being W. H. Auden wrote:

 

                                    He is the Way.
                                    Follow Him through the Land of Unlikeness;
                                    You will see rare beasts, and have unique adventures.

                                    He is the Truth.
                                    Seek Him in the Kingdom of Anxiety;
                                    You will come to a great city that has expected your return
                                                for years.

                                    He is the Life.
                                    Love Him in the World of the Flesh;
                                    And at your marriage all its occasions shall dance for joy.

 

As a spiritual director of more than ten years, I cannot guarantee that you will see rare beasts and have unique adventures as you seek Him.  But you might!

How does one find a Spiritual Director?

            Retreat centers that have spiritual direction formation programs can usually connect you with directors.  In our area there are two such places that I know of:  Trinity Cathedral in Portland (503-478-1218) and Shalom Prayer Center at Mt. Angel, Oregon (503-845-6773).  The contact person at Mt. Angel is Sr. Joan Pokorny.
            You can also contact Fr. Jon Goman at St. Anselm (541-752-3734) or me at (541-745-5196).  We can pass your name on to some local spiritual directors. 

What is the fee for Spiritual Direction?

            Some directors do not charge for direction and some do.  I don’t know of any director who would turn a person down for inability to pay.  The usual fee requested ranges from $25 to $55, but it can be higher.

 

Elin Stetz