+ What's the difference between spiritual development and spiritual direction?

Spiritual development is a process of learning and gaining awareness that enriches your life. It is based on the assumption that there are spiritual truths and resources that aid us in growing and changing as a person. Everyone can benefit from spiritual development. Sojourners Institute offers a variety of spiritual development events and resources, as well as a spiritual development program for those who seek a more intensive and dynamic learning process.

Spiritual direction is a guided process designed to help people grow spiritually. It involves a trained spiritual director who partners with another to support their spiritual growth. Sojourners Institute offers spiritual direction services, and a spiritual direction program for those who feel called to receive spiritual direction training.

Spiritual directors are people who have gone through a substantial training process involving study in spirituality, psychology, and the dynamics around human transformation and change. This equips spiritual directors to serve as guides for others on their spiritual journey. Sojourners Institute offers a Spiritual Direction Program for those who want to receive training.

+ What's the difference between spirituality and religion?

I have spent many years in the worlds of religion and spirituality, and here is how I have come to understand these terms. First, both share a common sense that there is a life force that is greater than, and supportive of, the life that is within us and on our planet. Reverence for this life force usually is a hallmark of both religion and spirituality. This life force goes by many names such as God, the Divine, Allah, Great Spirit, Higher Power, the One, and the Source. There also are religions and spiritualties that believe in this life force but do not name it.

How are religion and spirituality different? Religion is often centered around clearly defined beliefs and actions. Religions are human creations that often have some form of organization, institution, or structure, as well as a structure for who is in leadership. Religions create communities, and it is this communal experience that makes them so powerful (both in the best and worst sense of power).

Spirituality is centered in one’s personal experience of the higher life force. It’s as unique as the person who is experiencing it, but it has a common purpose of bringing meaning, hope, and peace into a life. Spirituality can take communal forms in which each person’s uniqueness is honored.

Religious people are spiritual, but not all spiritual people are religious. In the best of worlds, each is respectful and supportive of the other. As the song says, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” Religions and spiritualties are to be honored when they help promote this love, sweet love.

+ What's the difference between spiritual direction and spiritual life coaching?

Both processes help people discern crucial aspects of life, but they have different end points that guide them. Though not exclusively true, there is a way in which spiritual direction is about the ability to live more fully in the present moment, and spiritual life coaching is about living into a more expansive future. Spiritual direction often can seem like a journey into the unknown; Spiritual life coaching defines measurable steps that move toward a specific destination.

Spiritual direction is soul work that listens for the movement of the Divine or one’s highest self. It is a process that is guided by deep desires, and by accessing the spiritual dimensions and all the awarenesses that come with it. Spiritual life coaching is more focused on specific issues, and then goals that help remove barriers. The process helps identify specific actions that lead to agreed-upon outcomes.

Many clients find that the deeper they go in spiritual direction, the more they find themselves drawn to a more clear set of goals. So, while the processes are different, they often compliment each other beautifully.

+ Why the name "Sojourners"?

Sojourners are travelers who stay a while in one place, and then keep moving on. Sojourners love the journey, and travel with an expectation that there are important discoveries to be made around the next bend. Sojourners know that the spiritual life is never fixed. There’s always a new place to call home, and we become new people as we journey into new landscapes in our lives.

Inspired by the life of emancipator Sojourner Truth, we believe the journey is about being emancipated from patterns that limit us, to a liberated way of feeling, thinking and living. Join us as we sojourn together in this vital work of awakening, transformation, freedom, and new life.

+ What is spiritual development?

Spiritual development is a process of expanding those aspects of our lives that bring us peace, joy, and fulfillment. It involves an internal shifting of how we think, act, and feel as we move through our daily lives.

Spiritual development is a lot like a muscle in our body. It requires regular exercise and practice. At the same time, growing spiritually doesn’t need to be taxing. It can be an easy process like breathing is an easy process. It amounts to listening deeply to our lives and trusting that we are receiving inner, Divine guidance that will lead us to awakenings, transformation, and greater freedom. And then regularly repeating what is most energizing and life giving.

Common pathways to spiritual development are prayer, meditation, nature, music, poetry, art, caring conversation, and service to others.

How will you know if you are growing spiritually? This growth is characterized by virtues that have been named by our spiritual and religious traditions for centuries. Some of these virtues are:

• The growth of compassion for ourselves, others, and our world
• A lessening of judgment toward others
• Increased experiences of synchronicity and grace
• A sense of inner peace and harmony
• A lessening of fear and an increase of love

Spiritual development thrives in a context of freedom and acceptance. It is hindered by strict rules, moral mandates, dogma, stress, and striving. I have found that this single factor that enhance spiritual growth is self-cherishing. When we make peace with ourselves, who and how we are, it is a small step to making peace with others and the world. And in this peace we are transformed and made free.

+ How do I know if a spiritual development process is right for me?

If you are interested in living a life with more peace, purpose, and possibility, a spiritual development process is for you. You may find yourself drawn to spiritual development by a deep yearning for more in your life or spirituality. Sometimes a crisis or transition can set you on a path that seeks out new learning in spirituality.

Often, there are misconceptions that I have to be religious, or I have to have reached a certain level of spirituality to benefit from a spiritual class or process. Neither could be further from the truth.

The main things that are needed for you if you are wanting to take the next step spiritually are curiosity, a belief that you can change in meaningful ways, and an openness to explore your life with the help of others.

+ The Spiritual Journey and Spiritual Direction?

So many faiths. So many perspectives. So many opinions. So many choices.

Sojourners Institute is grounded in a multifaith spirituality that honors religious traditions and promotes spiritual freedom.

We believe that the Divine is in all, and that prayer is deep appreciation for any given moment.

Your most profound spiritual work will lead you to a natural simplicity and honesty. It will lead you to your most real and relaxed self.

As you become more real, you live and love more freely. You give birth to your highest and deepest potential as a human being.

Through your spiritual journey, we will guide you to stretch the boundaries of possibility for your life, and, in doing so, you will unleash peace, power, and healing in the world.

+ What is spiritual direction?

Spiritual direction (also called spiritual guidance) is a guided process in which you listen to the deep currents in your life. Having ancient roots, its goal is to help you connect with your spiritual resources in a way that make it easier to live a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment.

Spiritual Direction seeks to:

• awaken new possibilities for your life
• transform old and self-limiting beliefs and patterns, and
• experience a new-found freedom as you become more authentically you

The gifts of spiritual direction can take many surprising forms in your life. Often, the process feels like a journey without a fixed destination that is, at the same time, full of learning and deeply compelling. Through listening to your life, your struggles, your desires and your dreams, you will be guided to map out what you want for your life and your spiritual journey.

+ How does spiritual direction work?

Spiritual direction is a time personal, spiritual exploration in which you set the agenda and I provide guidance. It is a time of conversation, sharing, wondering, and dreaming. The purpose of our sessions is for you to awaken to greater spiritual awareness, to be transformed into more of who you want to be, and to be free to live authentically.

I encourage you on this journey by offering support, questions, thoughts, observations, resources, and spiritual practices.

Spiritual direction can take place in one-on-one sessions and in groups. It can happen on Skype, the phone, or through email.

I will partner with you to create an experience that is unique to your hopes and needs. I intend for us to work deeply together and to have some fun along the way.

+ How do I know if spiritual direction is right for me?

If you are interested in living a life with more peace, purpose, and possibility, spiritual direction is for you. You may find yourself drawn to spiritual direction by a deep yearning for more in your life or spirituality. Sometimes a crisis or transition can set you on a path that seeks out spiritual guidance.

Often, there are misconceptions that I have to be religious, or I have to have reached a certain level of spirituality to benefit from spiritual direction. Neither could be further from the truth.

The main things that are needed for you to enter spiritual direction are curiosity, a belief that you can change in meaningful ways, and an openness to explore your life with the help of a trained guide.

+ What is the difference between spiritual direction and therapy?

People seek out both spiritual direction and psychotherapy because they want to improve their lives. People tend to enter therapy due to a specific problem that they want to have addressed and hopefully removed (e.g., a relationship struggle, addiction, depression, or anxiety). Usually, the aim for therapy is to get back to a sense of being normal.

Spiritual direction also involves personal struggles and challenges, yet the primary focus is on growing your life spiritually. There is guidance for moving beyond your “normal” and into higher forms of awareness, peace, and possibility for your life.

Spiritual direction is intended to be an expansive journey that invites awakening, transformation, and a new sense of freedom in your life and work.