Individual spiritual GUIDANCE
How Spiritual Direction Works
A spiritual life is not about escaping the world and its daily requirements; it’s about infusing the world with a vision of the holy.
Gertrude Mueller Nelson
I view spiritual growth to unfold as you deeply listen to and observe your life. It includes the essential and disorienting work of noticing the many ways of thinking, feeling and acting that are habitual and unhelpful. From there, it requires dedicated awareness work. If we want greater spiritual vitality we must be intentional about physical, emotional and mental practices that are life-giving.
In other words, this spiritual work is about becoming intimate with the ways we get small and how we move to a more expansive and free self.
The guided spiritual direction process that I use with clients seeks to helps you identify your ruts and move out of them. I use models and tools to help you discover and map out a new way of being in the world. My intention is that our work together serves as a catalyst, activating greater ease, purpose, and fulfillment for your life.
At the same time, and paradoxically, I don’t believe spiritual growth is about getting better.
That can be such a tiresome climb! I believe it’s about learning to be present to, and to love, ourselves. This spiritual work helps us surrender into a Presence from which we engage the messy, beautiful minutia of our lives.
What you receive through this guided spiritual process
I join you in a discovery process to first explore the patterns that limit you.
We start with my three-stage model of awareness (the Awareness V Continuum) to help you observe yourself more clearly.
We work with your Enneagram type as a key tool to identify core your habitual personality style that is a subtle form of sleepwalking. We explore a number of deep dimensions withing the Enneagram, and use it as a map to help you move out of habits and into freer ways of being in the world.
We pay special attention to gaining awareness of your sensations, emotions and thoughts, and use meditative practices to bring these three centers into a coherence that is the state of Presence. From this coherence emerges will power and a opening to Divine guidance.
I view growth in the spiritual life to unfold through a 7-Phase Sacred Journey Process. The spiritual life can seem tangled and confusing, but through this process I lay out a map that removes complexities and provide clear sign-posts and steps for each phase of the journey.
Along with these methods, I partner with you in this process by using a variety tools that best meet your needs and interests. You choose from tools such as conversation, prayer, dreams, art, readings, ritual, soul cards, and journaling.
How I will work with you
My style is inquisitive, direct, non-judgmental, and compassionate. I invite you to explore the questions, concerns, hopes, and wonderings about your life.
I view my work as being a companion on your journey. I believe your body, emotions and mind are the pathways to your evolving self, and that the Divine is constantly speaking to you through these channels.
My training
I have extensive training in spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, chaplaincy, coaching, leadership and the Enneagram. I’ve been seeing spiritual direction clients for over 20 year. I have walked with people spiritually for over 35 years in churches, campus ministry, hospitals, and in individual and group spiritual work.
Time, Frequency and Termination
Sessions lasts 55 minutes, though longer sessions can be scheduled when warranted
Typically we meet every three to four weeks, though you have the freedom to meet whenever you want. Some clients want to meet just once; others meet for a number of years.
How do you know when to end? You end the process when you feel the time is right. I always respect your choice to end our relationship, and I appreciate direct conversation with you so we can have closure and honor our time together.
How/Where do we meet? Choose from 3 options
Face-to-face: I see clients in my South Minneapolis home
Zoom or Phone are also welcome and effective for spiritual direction!
Email: Some clients find the process of writing to be deeply spiritual an prefer the exchange of emails as the form for spiritual direction.
How much does it cost?
$135 per 55 minute session
Fees are due prior to or at the time of the spiritual direction session
I request payment for last-minute cancellations
Payment forms: Credit cards, checks or Venmo (my business account is @SojInst)