Christine, I love your deep dive into this. It's funny, I've felt drawn both to hospital chaplaincy and spiritual Direction. But have landed on pursuing S.D. for now, and there had been so much affirmation in my spirit. I'm halfway done! (Literally reading Margaret Guenther's book right now :)
Maybe one day I'll go down the chaplaincy road too...
Ah, you should totally do both! They are complimentary. Let me know when you're ready to go down the chaplaincy route and I'll happily help. I'll also edit to include your name up top. I'm guessing you're working with people as a student - so that counts! And isn't her book fantastic!? I especially love the midwivery imagery toward the end, but that should come as no surprise.
When I was offering spiritual direction, I always found it difficult to adequately describe to others. This is a great explanation, Christine! I love it. And I'm with you on the term 'spiritual direction' - I've often wanted to find a replacement term, but nothing that resonated enough with me that others would still understand. When I volunteered at the womens' prison offering spiritual direction, we called ourselves 'Soul Care Mentors.' It seemed to work well at that time.
The terminolgoy is tough to get around. It's funny for me when I describe myself as both a Director of a Spiritual Care Department (hospital chaplaincy) and a Spiritual Director (something else entirely!) I do like Soul Care Mentors!
yes, Maia! It seemed to work pretty well. The corrections officers seemed to get it mostly, which was important for volunteer identification, so maybe it was a good linguistic litmus test? :)
I found this article really enlightening - I have heard of and come upon spiritual direction and directors before but I think this is the first time it has clicked and made sense to me.
I think the way you start your sessions are so beautiful and it seems like such a special space/place to hold for those deeply hurting and searching.
Possibly due to not being clear on SD I opted for creating a sacred and safe space for myself through my writing. It allows me to question, seek and heal as I need to whilst also enabling others to join me on the journey.
Thank you also for taking the time to read and follow my Substack.
This post highlights the profound impact of Spiritual Direction during a crisis. Your journey from doubt to renewal is inspiring. Spiritual Direction offers deep, personal connection and guidance. For those feeling lost, it’s a beacon of hope. Thanks for sharing your transformative experience, Christine!👍❤️
Absolutely Christine, doubts are a part of the journey for many of us. I'm glad my comment resonated with you. Keep going—you’re making a meaningful difference!😊👍
thank you Christine for bringing Spiritual Direction/Companionship to the forefront. it is not easy to "define," like anything that involves mystery, spirituality, liminality, unknowns.
my work as a spiritual companion involves coming alongside those who are grieving (work as a hospice chaplain allowed Grief to become my Mentor), as well as those on a spiritual journey, those on thresholds of life, and, well, those curious about anything. offering a non-judgmental container is an honor. my substack is @followingdandelionseeds and my website is http://nurtureyourjourney.net/spiritual-direction-spiritual-companion (hope that is okay to post too.)
Ahh, I'm sorry I left you out, I knew I'd forget people! Adding you to the original post now. And someday we need to talk more about the overlap and differences between chaplaincy and spiritual direction!
Just peeked at your website - it is gorgeous! Also, I didn't realize you do reiki as well, we will have to add that to our list to chat about (I'm level 2)
Hello. I am an ICU nurse from New Jersey and wanted to thank you for sharing this beautiful story with the world. In 2020 I struggled to do the job I loved with the help of some shoddy internet calls with my therapist. I liked her, but she was clearly panicked and kept asking me about bleaching her groceries and leaving them in the garage. I have never felt so alone in my life. I also wouldn’t change what happened to me as a result of all the hardship I faced that year. All of the humans who stepped forward in my darkest hours. I’m still a heathen from time to time, but I have never once stopped believing in God.
Bless you for bringing parts of our story into the light.
Kristin, it's lovely to meet you! I'm also in NJ, I wonder if we're at the same hospital, I'm at RWJ New Brunswick. That is so unfortunate that the one person tasked with supporting you was using you for her own knowledge/support. It was such an isolating time and I think many of us in healthcare have some PTSD from it. Substack isn't letting me link to her at the moment, but Amy Walsh is an MD writer gathering those of us that had it especially hard during Covid for a healing process group/ritual, etc. (https://substack.com/@thenettlewitchmd)
Christine, this is one of the most beautiful pieces on spiritual direction I've read. You've covered all the bases in such a compelling way ... personally and professionally.
Some years back I worked with a spiritual director who walked me through ministry burn out. We did the work by phone, which worked well. She gave me the gift of presence, of hard questions asked gently, observations which hit home, quiet prayerful companionship. I'll never forget my time with her.
Thanks Linda! I appreciate you sharing about your experience of SD here, it can be so hard to put into words what this practice looks like unless you've gone through it yourself. It sounds like such meaningful time you both had. I also forgot to mention that some people do the phone option!
I absolutely loved listening today and learning more about how S.D. can nourish our lives. I have been feeling particularly detached, separate-from, and in a summer lull. I didn't quite know how to put it to words, but it is/was spiritual disconnect. Thank you for providing us with this knowledge, and me with the vocab. 🐞
Thanks for listening in. It's so rough to be in a summer lull, but hope you have some power in naming what it is! I am working on another post at some point all about spiritual distress and the ways we dis(connect) from our spiritual selves.
I really enjoyed this article! You articulated so well the answers to questions folks have about spiritual direction. I’m a student spiritual director and am in my practicum (graduating January 2025). It is one of my greatest joys to companion folks on their spiritual journey. My website is http://lindsayoconnor.com
Thanks for reading, my hope was to give people a resource to understand this weird and wonderful work that we do! Congrats on almost being done with your training and I will add you to the list above!
This is an excellent description of what spiritual direction is! I’m a spiritual director, too, and I agree that the worst part about it is the name! I found spiritual direction on my own journey with God and it has been life changing. So much so that I became a spiritual director, too. I continue with my spiritual director (and my therapist! I definitely recommend having both!), and am so grateful for how they have both helped to re-form my spiritual, emotional, and personal life.
So great to meet you! I will add your name to the post above.
My husband told me he thought the line about having a spiritual director and therapist was overkill and no one but me does that - and I had to convince him he was wrong!
Christine, this is one of the best summaries of spiritual direction I've ever read; concise and very accessible. Having read your journey from EMT to where you are now it is amazing and admirable how your heart is soft enough to heed the call to change, to adapt, to move as you are being moved. This is so wonderful and thank you so much for the mention...I'm very honored. Thank you again for such a beautifully written piece.
Thanks Steve - I was trying hard not to sound like a Wikipedia page for Spiritual Direction, but I know that we need to give people basic facts about it to spread the word about what it is and its benefits!
You do an excellent job of lending context to the telling so you really are showing us how spiritual direction works. Just a thought, there seems to be a growth spurt of Substack substacks...Small stack, LGBTQ+ stack, etc...I'm pondering the idea of a Spiritual Substack...just saying.
This is one of the most important ways I am called to serve. Feel free to add me to your list. Thank you for sharing your story and for holding space for so many people.
Such a great piece! I don't like the term Spiritual Director either, it's a hard practice to "title". I hope more people will try spiritual direction, it's easier to experience than explain is what I find!
This is such a great intro! I'm also a spiritual director... I found my way into this practice between walking with a family member through a mental health crisis and COVID times. (Literally, finished my training in the summer of 2020, so... online meetings it is!)
I agree, it does kind of feel like a "best kept secret," and I have such a hard time explaining what I do to people in a way that makes sense. But wow, what a wonderful practice for chaotic times. I'm so grateful for my spiritual director and the folks I get to companion right now. Thanks for sharing a list of other SDs on Substack!
Oh lovely to meet you! I'll edit the post and add your name in. And how wild that our substack publication names are so similar?! I look forward to readding your work.
And I have a hard time explaining it too, hence my trying to write it out to give it more clarity for myself.
Oh my gosh. I am so honored to be on this list and to meet some new faces in our community sharing in this work. I love the insight you've offered here and especially what your directees say about spiritual direction. So amazing and a testament to the wonderful work you to do in deep listening. So blessed to call you a friend and colleague, Christine.
I meant to give you a head's up ahead of time, but you know, life gets busy! Let me know if there are others I forgot to name that you might know of on here.
And yes, I probably could have listed a lot more descriptions from directess, they were so creative with their words.
Christine, I love your deep dive into this. It's funny, I've felt drawn both to hospital chaplaincy and spiritual Direction. But have landed on pursuing S.D. for now, and there had been so much affirmation in my spirit. I'm halfway done! (Literally reading Margaret Guenther's book right now :)
Maybe one day I'll go down the chaplaincy road too...
Also, a "friend of the soul" is my favorite term
That's a great one too - the folks at Anam Cara SD were smart to grab that domain!
Ah yes!
https://faithlead.org/blog/thou-doth-protest-too-much/?fbclid=PAAaauxmkCik6cYZxHOzQPlhok_NH0iVit2YB2xfU0Cx-8b3A9CuhOFDLnWdM
I also published a piece last year on Spiritual Direction ✨️
What a great piece!! I love it! You are prolific!
Ah, you should totally do both! They are complimentary. Let me know when you're ready to go down the chaplaincy route and I'll happily help. I'll also edit to include your name up top. I'm guessing you're working with people as a student - so that counts! And isn't her book fantastic!? I especially love the midwivery imagery toward the end, but that should come as no surprise.
That is so kind of you! I'll keep you posted. :)
I am working with people as a student, thank you!
Margaret's book has been everything just at the right time. I love it
When I was offering spiritual direction, I always found it difficult to adequately describe to others. This is a great explanation, Christine! I love it. And I'm with you on the term 'spiritual direction' - I've often wanted to find a replacement term, but nothing that resonated enough with me that others would still understand. When I volunteered at the womens' prison offering spiritual direction, we called ourselves 'Soul Care Mentors.' It seemed to work well at that time.
The terminolgoy is tough to get around. It's funny for me when I describe myself as both a Director of a Spiritual Care Department (hospital chaplaincy) and a Spiritual Director (something else entirely!) I do like Soul Care Mentors!
Oooooh, Soul Care Mentors -- I like that!
yes, Maia! It seemed to work pretty well. The corrections officers seemed to get it mostly, which was important for volunteer identification, so maybe it was a good linguistic litmus test? :)
The fact that the corrections officers understood it is a huge win!
I found this article really enlightening - I have heard of and come upon spiritual direction and directors before but I think this is the first time it has clicked and made sense to me.
I think the way you start your sessions are so beautiful and it seems like such a special space/place to hold for those deeply hurting and searching.
Possibly due to not being clear on SD I opted for creating a sacred and safe space for myself through my writing. It allows me to question, seek and heal as I need to whilst also enabling others to join me on the journey.
Thank you also for taking the time to read and follow my Substack.
I'm glad this helped shine some light on Spiritual Direction for you. It can be such a precious way of being with others.
And writing is an awesome way to develop sacred and sapce - and an added benefit that others get to read your words and connect over them!
This post highlights the profound impact of Spiritual Direction during a crisis. Your journey from doubt to renewal is inspiring. Spiritual Direction offers deep, personal connection and guidance. For those feeling lost, it’s a beacon of hope. Thanks for sharing your transformative experience, Christine!👍❤️
Thanks, I still have plenty of doubts many days, but I think that's true for a lot of us! I appreciate you reading and commenting!
Absolutely Christine, doubts are a part of the journey for many of us. I'm glad my comment resonated with you. Keep going—you’re making a meaningful difference!😊👍
thank you Christine for bringing Spiritual Direction/Companionship to the forefront. it is not easy to "define," like anything that involves mystery, spirituality, liminality, unknowns.
my work as a spiritual companion involves coming alongside those who are grieving (work as a hospice chaplain allowed Grief to become my Mentor), as well as those on a spiritual journey, those on thresholds of life, and, well, those curious about anything. offering a non-judgmental container is an honor. my substack is @followingdandelionseeds and my website is http://nurtureyourjourney.net/spiritual-direction-spiritual-companion (hope that is okay to post too.)
always appreciate your posts.
Ahh, I'm sorry I left you out, I knew I'd forget people! Adding you to the original post now. And someday we need to talk more about the overlap and differences between chaplaincy and spiritual direction!
oh, I didn’t feel left out at all. you are one busy person! 💫🧡. i thought it was kind of you to offer the place for names.
and, yes, a chat would be lovely in one of your rare spare moments. 🧡🧡🧡
Just peeked at your website - it is gorgeous! Also, I didn't realize you do reiki as well, we will have to add that to our list to chat about (I'm level 2)
Hello. I am an ICU nurse from New Jersey and wanted to thank you for sharing this beautiful story with the world. In 2020 I struggled to do the job I loved with the help of some shoddy internet calls with my therapist. I liked her, but she was clearly panicked and kept asking me about bleaching her groceries and leaving them in the garage. I have never felt so alone in my life. I also wouldn’t change what happened to me as a result of all the hardship I faced that year. All of the humans who stepped forward in my darkest hours. I’m still a heathen from time to time, but I have never once stopped believing in God.
Bless you for bringing parts of our story into the light.
Kristin, it's lovely to meet you! I'm also in NJ, I wonder if we're at the same hospital, I'm at RWJ New Brunswick. That is so unfortunate that the one person tasked with supporting you was using you for her own knowledge/support. It was such an isolating time and I think many of us in healthcare have some PTSD from it. Substack isn't letting me link to her at the moment, but Amy Walsh is an MD writer gathering those of us that had it especially hard during Covid for a healing process group/ritual, etc. (https://substack.com/@thenettlewitchmd)
Thank you and thanks for the recommendation. Nettle Witch, MD looks like my cup of tea as well. By the way I sent you a DM.
Christine, this is one of the most beautiful pieces on spiritual direction I've read. You've covered all the bases in such a compelling way ... personally and professionally.
Some years back I worked with a spiritual director who walked me through ministry burn out. We did the work by phone, which worked well. She gave me the gift of presence, of hard questions asked gently, observations which hit home, quiet prayerful companionship. I'll never forget my time with her.
Thanks Linda! I appreciate you sharing about your experience of SD here, it can be so hard to put into words what this practice looks like unless you've gone through it yourself. It sounds like such meaningful time you both had. I also forgot to mention that some people do the phone option!
I absolutely loved listening today and learning more about how S.D. can nourish our lives. I have been feeling particularly detached, separate-from, and in a summer lull. I didn't quite know how to put it to words, but it is/was spiritual disconnect. Thank you for providing us with this knowledge, and me with the vocab. 🐞
Thanks for listening in. It's so rough to be in a summer lull, but hope you have some power in naming what it is! I am working on another post at some point all about spiritual distress and the ways we dis(connect) from our spiritual selves.
I will look forward to your next post! 🤍🤍
Might not be the next one, but soon(ish!)
This is so well written, thank you. I have been a spiritual director for 25 years now. Peace to you.
Lovely to meet you! I'll add your name to the list and thank you for the ministry you provide!
Lovely to meet you, too. :)
I really enjoyed this article! You articulated so well the answers to questions folks have about spiritual direction. I’m a student spiritual director and am in my practicum (graduating January 2025). It is one of my greatest joys to companion folks on their spiritual journey. My website is http://lindsayoconnor.com
Thanks for reading, my hope was to give people a resource to understand this weird and wonderful work that we do! Congrats on almost being done with your training and I will add you to the list above!
Thank you!
This is an excellent description of what spiritual direction is! I’m a spiritual director, too, and I agree that the worst part about it is the name! I found spiritual direction on my own journey with God and it has been life changing. So much so that I became a spiritual director, too. I continue with my spiritual director (and my therapist! I definitely recommend having both!), and am so grateful for how they have both helped to re-form my spiritual, emotional, and personal life.
The practice is definitely a “Hidden Gem”!
So great to meet you! I will add your name to the post above.
My husband told me he thought the line about having a spiritual director and therapist was overkill and no one but me does that - and I had to convince him he was wrong!
Christine, this is one of the best summaries of spiritual direction I've ever read; concise and very accessible. Having read your journey from EMT to where you are now it is amazing and admirable how your heart is soft enough to heed the call to change, to adapt, to move as you are being moved. This is so wonderful and thank you so much for the mention...I'm very honored. Thank you again for such a beautifully written piece.
Thanks Steve - I was trying hard not to sound like a Wikipedia page for Spiritual Direction, but I know that we need to give people basic facts about it to spread the word about what it is and its benefits!
You do an excellent job of lending context to the telling so you really are showing us how spiritual direction works. Just a thought, there seems to be a growth spurt of Substack substacks...Small stack, LGBTQ+ stack, etc...I'm pondering the idea of a Spiritual Substack...just saying.
Ooh, that's a great idea! You should totally create a Spiritual Substack (I have no idea how that works, but will support you in doing it!)
This is one of the most important ways I am called to serve. Feel free to add me to your list. Thank you for sharing your story and for holding space for so many people.
💖
www.phoenixsoulcoaching.com
Nice to meet you and I'll add you to the list above!
Thank you!
Such a great piece! I don't like the term Spiritual Director either, it's a hard practice to "title". I hope more people will try spiritual direction, it's easier to experience than explain is what I find!
That is why our marketing is so tough - because it is the type of thing you have to experience to really understand what it is and what it's about.
Thanks for letting me include you!
This is such a great intro! I'm also a spiritual director... I found my way into this practice between walking with a family member through a mental health crisis and COVID times. (Literally, finished my training in the summer of 2020, so... online meetings it is!)
I agree, it does kind of feel like a "best kept secret," and I have such a hard time explaining what I do to people in a way that makes sense. But wow, what a wonderful practice for chaotic times. I'm so grateful for my spiritual director and the folks I get to companion right now. Thanks for sharing a list of other SDs on Substack!
Oh lovely to meet you! I'll edit the post and add your name in. And how wild that our substack publication names are so similar?! I look forward to readding your work.
And I have a hard time explaining it too, hence my trying to write it out to give it more clarity for myself.
Sorry for the late reply, but lovely to meet you too! And yes I was delighted by our similar substack names too. :D it’s such a good word.
Oh my gosh. I am so honored to be on this list and to meet some new faces in our community sharing in this work. I love the insight you've offered here and especially what your directees say about spiritual direction. So amazing and a testament to the wonderful work you to do in deep listening. So blessed to call you a friend and colleague, Christine.
I meant to give you a head's up ahead of time, but you know, life gets busy! Let me know if there are others I forgot to name that you might know of on here.
And yes, I probably could have listed a lot more descriptions from directess, they were so creative with their words.
It’s a beautiful essay and it needs no edits or apologies!