What is Spiritual Direction?
In Margaret Guenther’s book Holy Listening, she calls the spiritual director a midwife to the soul. Guenther says: like a midwife, she (the spiritual director) works with the whole person and is present throughout the whole process. She “has time”... she offers support through every stage and waits with the birth giver when “nothing is happening.” She goes on to say that, of course, there is never a time where nothing is happening, but the midwife or director is there to affirm that something is indeed “happening.”
I was fortunate to have a midwife attend all three of my births. At my first birth, I remember asking, “why didn’t you tell me it would be this hard?” questioning why I even decided to give birth this way. During my second birth, I recall exhaustedly yelling, “I can’t do this anymore!” doubting my ability to carry on, and my midwife gently responding, “you can do it. you are doing it.” The strongest memory from my third birth is when I cried out the moment my son emerged from my body, my midwife’s gentle and supportive hand on my shoulder, as I did the hard work of bringing new life into the world.
David G. Benner says that spiritual direction is primarily a relationship of accompaniment, and I can think of no better metaphor for a spiritual director than that of my midwife quietly listening to me and encouraging me as I gave birth. Like the midwife during labor, the spiritual director walks alongside another person as they live life with God.
How Does it Work?
In his book Sacred Companions, Benner writes: Spiritual direction is a prayer process in which a person seeking help in cultivating a deeper personal relationship with God meets with another for prayer and conversation that is focused on increasing awareness of God in the midst of life experiences and facilitating surrender to God’s will.
Spiritual direction is an ancient practice, beginning to be recognized again for its role in spiritual formation. In my own experience, direction has opened up a safe space to question, doubt, and slowly participate in the work of transformation and new life, just as I did during my births. This is the kind of space I hope to create for others as a midwife to the soul.
I meet one-on-one with clients, and sessions last about an hour — online, in-person and on walks. Please reach out for more information or to inquire about availability.