Being present.

A spiritual director provides a safe space for seekers to express their thoughts and needs about their journey. That point may be when they are in that safe and sacred space or at a particular moment.

Spiritual direction is a sacred practice that guides individuals on their spiritual journey, facilitating deeper understanding and connection with the Divine. However, one might conceive.

This process is akin to a companionable exploration, in which the spiritual director acts as a guide, offering support, insights, and reflections to assist the seeker in discerning their spiritual path.

I liken it to being a torchbearer in a series of caves. The literal translation of the Japanese word “sensei,” often translated as “teacher,” means “one who has been this way before.” 

The torchbearer listens deeply to where the seeker wishes to go, shares wisdom, and asks reflective questions, encouraging them to explore their beliefs, experiences, and feelings about life's sacred or divine aspects. When necessary, the torchbearer shines a light on things that are hard to see. Most of the time, the seeker speaks (80%), and the torchbearer provides probing questions that allow the seeker to reflect rather than being told where to go.

For my Pagan path, spiritual direction involves a holistic approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of all aspects of a person’s life. It’s a journey inward and outward, exploring personal beliefs, practices, and experiences and how these shape and are shaped by the individual’s relationship with the world around them.

My role is to provide a safe, sacred space for exploration and reflection, to listen deeply without judgment, and to offer insights and questions that help you navigate your spiritual journey. It’s about walking alongside you, sharing in the discoveries, challenges, and joys of your path, and helping you to cultivate a deeper, more meaningful engagement with the spiritual dimensions of life.

This question leads to the question, “Should SpiDir be present for the community? Should we be sought out?” I will explore this later in the document.

What is the role of the spiritual companion?

Be authentic and articulate needs and wants.

During the ongoing journey, be ready to listen actively, apply critical thinking, and develop new questions as the need arises. This is a discussion between peers and one peer in the role of someone who has been this way. There can and should be an active dialogue about goals and reflection.

I strongly recommend that seekers keep a journal. It is an expressive tool for thoughts and lessons as personal insight through text or images. Reviewing the past week is a good exercise for identifying the natural rhythm in their lives.

Spiritual direction is a reflective journey; the seeker should prepare themselves with as many tools as possible.

What brings folks to Spiritual Direction?

Much depends on the seeker’s spiritual formation. Sometimes, they look for course corrections on their path to the divine. They may have been taught that direction is needed, and this came from their formation. Alternatively, they may have questions from a time and point in their

lives. Hopefully, it is self-directed, but it would not be out of the range of

For the Spiritual Director, a desire to connect and be present. Think of them as a map. A map provides an overview and wayfinding. It may be used in several ways, but a map is agnostic to who uses it or how. There are things a map cannot do, and that becomes apparent after a time; the seeker will move away.

I would like to explore if part of Spiritual Direction is to be there for a community. Writing and public speaking touch many. If a group seeks you, say a Red/Green/Purple (women/men/non-binary + trans + another) tent or an event happens in the community (e.g., I wrote a Pagan response to the events at Christchurch), when and if you get involved?