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                                    “Listen to your life. See it
                                      for the fathomless mystery that it is…All
                                      moments are key moments and life itself
                                      is grace .” 
                                      Frederick Buechner  
                                  What is ‘spirituality’?  
                                  Spirituality
                                    involves an understanding of your personal
                                    relationship with God*, yourself and the
                                    cosmos. The focus of spiritual direction
                                    is the exploration and deepening of these
                                    relationships.  
                                   Every human person has spirituality. It
                                    is present in the experiences of your life.
                                    This experiential level of spirituality embraces
                                    you as a whole human person who is part of
                                    a constantly changing creation. Often, however,
                                    the word, spirituality, is used to describe
                                    a particular method of seeking and developing
                                    a deeper relationship with God*, yourself
                                    and the cosmos.  
                                   Although spirituality as a lived experience
                                    must be personal, it doesn’t happen
                                    in isolation. You were introduced into a
                                    particular social and cultural spirituality.
                                    This includes the formulation of teaching,
                                    the development of symbols, rituals, artistic
                                    or other expressions, as well as guidance
                                    about your lived reality and how it can be
                                    deepened. Sometimes it includes the life,
                                    example and/or teaching of an outstanding
                                    person.  
                                   A variety of spiritualities will continue
                                    to arise as human beings continue to wonder
                                    about the mysterious dimension of reality.  
                                     
                                   
                                   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.  
                                   The basis for the traditional understanding
                                    of spiritual direction is an appreciation
                                    of human freedom and the natural attraction
                                    toward God* inherent in all of life. 
                                     
                                     
                                    The purpose of spiritual direction : 
                                  
                                    -  Growth in self knowledge
                                      - by bringing to the surface the abiding
                                      tendencies/ dispositions of your heart, 
 
                                    -  Discernment –of
                                      what you are called to do through the art
                                      and gift of recognizing the movement of
                                      God* in your life, 
 
                                    -  Invitation – to
                                      respond to God’s* movement in ways
                                      that are healing, just and reconciling
                                      for all creation. 
 
                                   
                                   Persons offering to guide others on
                                      the spiritual journey traditionally were
                                      called spiritual directors; today other
                                      terms may be used, such as “spiritual
                                      guide” or “companion ”.  
                                       
                                       
                                      The
                                      goals of spiritual direction: 
                                  
                                    -  To integrate both the conscious and
                                      unconscious elements of your life – which
                                      leads to greater compassion, freedom and
                                      mission 
 
                                    -  To make conscious the ongoing dialogue
                                      with God* that gives meaning to life. 
  
                                   
                                  What
                                        happens in a spiritual direction session? 
                                  In formal spiritual direction, you usually
                                    will meet with a director monthly for about
                                    an hour. The director provides a safe environment
                                    for you to share your story. During your
                                    time together the director will accompany
                                    you on your journey by: 
                                      
                                    -  Companioning you in articulating your
                                      story 
 
                                    -  Facilitating the integration of all
                                      aspects of your life experience 
 
                                    -  Assisting you to speak your God* experience 
 
                                   
                                   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 . 
                                       
                                       
                                  Why
                                      you might seek spiritual direction:  
                                  Reasons
                                      vary:  
                                   You may seek out direction from a person
                                    trained to journey with you as a spiritual
                                    practice which supports your faith life in
                                    an ongoing way.  
                                   You may be experiencing ordinary life transitions
                                    that are so confusing and pain-filled that
                                    you feel you’re losing direction. The
                                    death of a loved one, job loss, divorce,
                                    chronic illness etc. – any of these
                                    may cause you to question the meaning of
                                    life and yearn for hope. Spiritual direction
                                    is often sought in such times of crisis.  
                                   You may be struggling to believe that God*
                                    awaits you, ever present,
                                    and not only in your prayer times or when
                                    you are on your best behavior. In spiritual
                                    direction you will become aware of the reality
                                    of God* present in all aspects of your life.  
                                   Spiritual direction is an open-ended
                                      process that seeks to call forth your own
                                      inner wisdom in order to be attentive to
                                      the spiritual journey. This is a lifelong
                                      process. 
                                   
                                  
                                  * Divine Presence/Mystery, Holy Other, Higher Power, Spirit or What is life giving.
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