The Practice
The Practice
Spiritual companionship enables you to experience authenticity in your spiritual life as you explore deep truths within yourself and relate more intimately to the Reality that goes by many names or no name, and which can ultimately be understood as the Universe itself. Authentic spirituality promotes your sense of connection and belonging to everything that is.
Spiritual companionship enables you to experience authenticity in your spiritual life as you explore deep truths within yourself and relate more intimately to the Reality that goes by many names or no name, and which can ultimately be understood as the Universe itself. Authentic spirituality promotes your sense of connection and belonging to everything that is.
Spiritual companionship has a long history across many religious traditions. The contemplative writings of Catholic priest and monk Thomas Merton in the 1940s, 50s and 60s renewed public interest in both mysticism and spiritual companionship among Christians and people of other faiths.
Today, spiritual companionship is sought by a wide range of people for many reasons. Spiritual companions, too, come from an array of spiritual and religious backgrounds. This article from The New York Times presents a solid introduction to what the art of spiritual companionship looks like today. Enjoy!
Spiritual companionship has a long history across many religious traditions. The contemplative writings of Catholic priest and monk Thomas Merton in the 1940s, 50s and 60s renewed public interest in both mysticism and spiritual companionship among Christians and people of other faiths.
Today, spiritual companionship is sought by a wide range of people for many reasons. Spiritual companions, too, come from an array of spiritual and religious backgrounds. This article from The New York Times presents a solid introduction to what the art of spiritual companionship looks like today. Enjoy!
On Spiritual Companionship
On Spiritual Companionship
“Spiritual direction explores the spiritual aspect of being human, helping people learn how to live in peace and with compassion. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred stories.”
— Liz Budd Ellman, former Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International
“Spiritual direction explores the spiritual aspect of being human, helping people learn how to live in peace and with compassion. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred stories.”
— Liz Budd Ellman, former Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International
“Spiritual direction is a time-honored term for a conversation in which one person consults another about the ways in which God may be touching her or his life, directly or indirectly.
Spiritual direction is quite ancient. Across both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, we find people seeking spiritual counsel. The Queen of Sheba sought out the wisdom of Solomon. Jesus gave examples in his conversations with Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and in the ongoing formation of Peter and the other disciples. In the early church, people flocked to hermits in the desert for spiritual counsel. Across the centuries, we find examples in Irish monks, German Benedictine nuns, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and others. Today, spiritual directors come from many traditions…”
— Marion Cowan, CSJ
“Spiritual direction is a time-honored term for a conversation in which one person consults another about the ways in which God may be touching her or his life, directly or indirectly.
Spiritual direction is quite ancient. Across both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, we find people seeking spiritual counsel. The Queen of Sheba sought out the wisdom of Solomon. Jesus gave examples in his conversations with Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and in the ongoing formation of Peter and the other disciples. In the early church, people flocked to hermits in the desert for spiritual counsel. Across the centuries, we find examples in Irish monks, German Benedictine nuns, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and others. Today, spiritual directors come from many traditions…”
— Marion Cowan, CSJ
“Spiritual guidance is a holy encounter with a trustworthy guide who lovingly and gently points you back to ‘the Sacred.’ If you are a seeker who longs to explore and deepen your unique understanding of life from a spiritual context with an experienced, well-trained, and compassionate guide, spiritual guidance may be for you.”
— Jan Lundy, co-founder, Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
“Spiritual guidance is a holy encounter with a trustworthy guide who lovingly and gently points you back to ‘the Sacred.’ If you are a seeker who longs to explore and deepen your unique understanding of life from a spiritual context with an experienced, well-trained, and compassionate guide, spiritual guidance may be for you.”
— Jan Lundy, co-founder, Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
“Spiritual guidance is the art and science of guiding and nurturing the human soul. It is empathetic listening within the context of a caring relationship. According to Lisa Fullam and John Mabry, a spiritual guide may be a coach, a confessor, guru, soul friend, companion, or saint, among many other roles or archetypes.”
— Jeanette Banashek, co-founder, Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
“Spiritual guidance is the art and science of guiding and nurturing the human soul. It is empathetic listening within the context of a caring relationship. According to Lisa Fullam and John Mabry, a spiritual guide may be a coach, a confessor, guru, soul friend, companion, or saint, among many other roles or archetypes.”
— Jeanette Banashek, co-founder, Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
“Spiritual guidance serves to help you reclaim your spiritual health. Inner calm, enhanced well-being, personal and spiritual insights, healing, and a deeper connection to self and Spirit can be yours through consistent spiritual guidance. The guide will encourage you to explore contemplative practices that help you slow down, notice, and pay attention so you can see the whole of your life more clearly and discover how the Sacred is present in the dailyness of life.”
— Jan Lundy, co-founder, Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
“Spiritual guidance serves to help you reclaim your spiritual health. Inner calm, enhanced well-being, personal and spiritual insights, healing, and a deeper connection to self and Spirit can be yours through consistent spiritual guidance. The guide will encourage you to explore contemplative practices that help you slow down, notice, and pay attention so you can see the whole of your life more clearly and discover how the Sacred is present in the dailyness of life.”
— Jan Lundy, co-founder, Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
On Spiritual Companions
On Spiritual Companions
“A true spiritual director is good at helping people uncover their ‘deep down’ wisdom. A spiritual director will walk with you on your spiritual journey, listen as you uncover your true purpose, and support you as you discover your true path.”
— John Mabry
“A true spiritual director is good at helping people uncover their ‘deep down’ wisdom. A spiritual director will walk with you on your spiritual journey, listen as you uncover your true purpose, and support you as you discover your true path.”
— John Mabry
“The spiritual director serves as a midwife to the soul.”
— Margaret Gunther
“The spiritual director serves as a midwife to the soul.”
— Margaret Gunther
“Spiritual directors tend the holy.”
— Norene Vest
“Spiritual directors tend the holy.”
— Norene Vest
