Are you seeking a closer relationship with God? Are you interested in deepening your spiritual journey? SDI invites you to explore with spiritual direction.

Spiritual direction is a process of accompanying people on a spiritual journey and helping them grow closer to God (or the sacred, the holy, or a higher power). Spiritual direction helps people learn how to live in peace, with compassion, promoting justice, and as humble servants of that which lies beyond all names.

Discern God’s Presence

In spiritual direction, you reflect deeply on the experiences of your daily life. Gradually, as you contemplate, you may begin to recognize God’s presence and grace in your life. You may come to realize how God’s spirit is truly with you every day and everywhere. You discover that God has been waiting for you to seek this closer relationship. 

Spiritual direction is really not about being directed. Rather, it is very much about being

encouraged to draw closer to God. Spiritual direction invites you into this relationship whether you attend a church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or none of these. God seeks you where you are. Spiritual directors come in all faiths.

Gifts of Spiritual Direction

You might come to spiritual direction for a variety of reasons, including to

• • Identify and trust your own experiences of God
• • Integrate spirituality into your daily life
• • Discern and make difficult choices
• • Share your hopes, struggles, and losses
• • Develop a sensitivity for justice and concern for the poor
• • Live the essence of your spiritual affiliation with integrity

Meet with a Spiritual Director

The privilege and responsibility of a spiritual director is to journey with you as you deepen your relationship with God. The journey takes place in the context of confidential one-on-one or group sessions with your spiritual director.

Most spiritual directors have extensive training and formation and are seasoned in the art of spiritual direction.  Spiritual directors continue tending the spiritual life by engaging in ongoing education, confidential supervision, and also meeting regularly with a spiritual director. You and your spiritual director will agree on a convenient location and time for meeting, usually once a month for an hour. Many spiritual directors request a fee, some receive your freewill donation, and others offer their time with no expectation of anything in return.

After three or four sessions, you will have the opportunity to evaluate the relationship. Whether your relationship with the spiritual director continues for many years or for only a short period of time, it is very important to be comfortable with the spiritual director you choose. What is shared between you is held in confidence.