“It is by being awake to God in us that we can increasingly see God in the world around us.”

Henri J.M. Nouwen, Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith

After a wonderful two-year journey, I attended my last spiritual direction class. Now I am awaiting the review of my final paper. By October, I should be a certified spiritual director.

Spiritual direction is a valuable practice that supports people to explore their spirituality, find meaning in their lives, and connect with a higher power.

I felt a mixture of emotions as we met for our last class together.  I was excited for what the future may hold. The next step will be us sharing these skills with others through spiritual direction or in other capacities. I was relieved as our goals have been achieved. I felt sad, as I realized we would not be meeting together as a group after this day. We have followed a journey of open vulnerability and I will miss that safe space of friends.

In a ritual we have followed in class before, each of us was given an opportunity to speak, and then other participants offered a word or phrase to describe the person in the spotlight. This is called the “gift of words and phrases” offered to one another in love and respect.  We keep and treasure these gifts.

These were the words and phrases gifted to me:

Boundless Seeker – looking in curious, intelligent way, boundless openness

Charitable – as a listener and reader even when you didn’t agree

Intuitive – seeking what’s new and right

Gentle, Self-Aware – desiring to grow, facing fears, and doing it anyway

Curiosity and Openness – called to more and to explore

Curious Story Tender – wisdom, longing to hear and value story

Watching in Advent – awaiting with anticipation

Gentle, compassionate, discerning listener

I had never felt so seen before. It’s an amazing and heartfelt ritual. Many tears were shed within our group.   

Several reasons were shared for why the spiritual direction program was beneficial:

• Helping others

We all shared a passion for helping others. Spiritual direction certification allowed a way to help others in their spiritual journeys. It opened doors to a fulfilling and meaningful career and/or enhanced our current career path.

• Enhancing our skillset

We learned a diverse set of skills in our classes including holy listening, discernment, and developing a compassionate presence. These specific skills are essential in any setting in life.

• Expanding our knowledge

The Wisdom Tree Collective is Christian oriented but opened up discussions with other religious backgrounds and perspectives. It felt all inclusive, which I appreciated. I personally enjoyed reading Buddhist traditions and wisdoms.  We had the opportunity to explore further if we desired.

Also, while I am strong in using active imagination in prayer, practicing Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, I’ve learned more about Visio Divina and other prayer methods and meditations which have enriched my prayer life. There is always room to grow in our relationship with ourselves and the divine.

• Gain Professional Recognition

My desire was to start a practice in spiritual direction, and I wanted the training to establish myself as a professional in the field. It gave me the courage and creativity to create a spiritual direction program which fits my personality and passions. It wasn’t a one-size fits all approach. We spoke and learned from a variety of spiritual directors. Some directors hiked in nature with their directees, others focused on writing, Ignatian Spirituality or other prayers like Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. I chose my concentration on Dreamwork following a mentor in the program. It’s been an eye-opening experience. I have cultivated a curiosity of what my dreams have been telling me. (Aside from laying off the late-night cheese snacks.) I have also helped some of my directees see additional layers in their dreams and meaning they initially missed.

• Join a Supportive Community

Not everyone in the group planned to become a spiritual director. They enrolled in the program to connect with a supportive community of like-minded individuals. This provided opportunities for networking, ongoing learning, and sharing of personal experiences.  This, in turn, created a sense of belonging and support throughout our journeys together.

The Importance of Spiritual Direction

Spiritual direction is a sacred and transformative process where a trained spiritual director accompanies individuals in their spiritual journey. It provides a safe and non-judgmental space for exploration, reflection, and discernment. Spiritual direction can help individuals deepen their relationship with the divine, navigate life transitions, and gain clarity about their purpose and values.

Embarking on this journey has been an incredible and enriching experience. It has been transformative. We discussed our personal images of God, and we focused on what we were drawn to and what we were resistant to. I was drawn to God as a comforter, caretaker and a Shepard guiding his sheep. I was resistant to the idea of God being a punisher. I had to understand my foundation and theology of how I experienced God before I could help others in their foundations.   

It is essential in today’s fast-paced and chaotic world to seek guidance and inner peace. By enrolling in a spiritual direction certification program, you can deepen your spiritual practice and make a profound impact on the lives of others.

“When I heard about spiritual direction, I felt as if I was seeing an old friend I had never met. Spiritual direction (this new old friend) led me deeper into the love of God. Spiritual direction helped me experience more intimately the God of love. And spiritual direction equipped me to be in relationship with others where I could love as I was loved.”

Alice Fryling, Seeking God Together: An Introduction to Group Spiritual Direction

More Information:

Wisdom Tree Collective

Coming soon… Sacred Journey – Thought, Word & Deed Home Page (katierea.com)

Katie Rea Spiritual Direction Facebook page

Wisdom Tree Collective Team

Classes, Groups, Retreats (wisdomtreecollective.com)

SDI – The Home of Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Companionship (sdicompanions.org)

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