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Spiritual Direction is one of those practices that is hard to describe. Though we try. I've lost count of the metaphors I've heard, and all of them fit, to a point, yet none of them are fully adequate. It's kind of like the way we try to use metaphors to describe mystical relationships like the Trinity, the Church, or parenting teenagers.

Unlike the nature of the Trinity, we can remove much of the mystery we use to describe spiritual direction. This is especially important because not all Spiritual Directors are trained in the same way and what we offer varies in some small and some more significant ways.

Sometimes it feels easier to say what a Spiritual Director doesn't do.

As a spiritual director, I don't offer counseling, therapy, pastoral care, mentorship, discipleship, solutions, or even direction! (This is a logical, but unfortunate misnomer.)

So what does a Spiritual Director do?

Here are a few phrases I've learned to describe what I do as a Spiritual Director:

I HOLD SPACE

When a directee makes an appointment, I commit to holding that hour of my month apart to focus on their spiritual questions, doubts, and desires. I offer a quiet, open-ended space for them to discern God's voice in their lives.

I LISTEN

We often say that a spiritual director listens "in stereo". By listening at every level at once --the voices of the Holy Spirit, the directee, and their own soul, a spiritual director offers holistic hearing.

I INVITE

A Spiritual Director models the invitation of the Trinity who are present to each other and to us at all times. A Spiritual Director invites curiosity through evocative questions, restful silence, and contemplative companionship.

I CO-DISCERN

Spiritual direction is a ministry of holy listening. It is a space to co-discern the movements of God in our lives. Meeting once a month, month after month reveals patterns of God's active presence in a directee's life.

I BEAR WITNESS

Many metaphors are used to describe what exactly a spiritual director does, but I describe my calling as bearing witness to the movements of God in another person's life. I offer a second set of eyes and ears to the work and voice of God.

Want to know more?

Use the contact form at the bottom of the page if you don’t find what you need in this list of frequently asked questions. I’m all ears!

  • Spiritual Direction is a "one-to-one" ministry of coming alongside others to help them pay attention, become curious, and move toward the ongoing invitations of God to experience freedom, and enjoy life to the fullest as beloved sons and daughters in the Kingdom.

    You can read a longer description here: https://www.leadershiptransformations.org/selah_spiritual_direction.htm

  • Christian tradition has consistently defined the practice of Spiritual Direction as an art that recognizes the Holy Spirit as the true Director.

  • The direction model I’ve been trained in is Trinitarian in theology, Contemplative in style, and Biblical in grounding. I am a Spiritual Director trained by Leadership Transformation's SELAH Spiritual Direction Certificate Program. I abide by the code of ethics of the ESDA.

    I share more about my journey to become a Spiritual Director in this post: The Call That Rose Up Like A Road To Meet Me

  • If you already have a relationship with God through Jesus but wish to grow in prayer and in discerning the Holy Spirit's voice in your life, I'd be honored to talk with you about the potential benefit of a Spiritual Direction relationship. I'm never offended if, after talking with me, someone chooses a different option, and I completely trust Jesus to make this clear to us.

    In general, I'd be a better fit to serve as a Spiritual Director with someone I know only a little or not at all. This allows me to enter our conversations with no pre-conceived agenda.

  • If any of the following statements seem true in your life , now might be an excellent time to consider spiritual direction:

    • I love God and believe God loves me, but sometimes it’s really hard to live like I believe it’s true.

    • I feel like I’m in a "dry place" spiritually and I’m struggling to hear God's voice in my life.

    • I’m coming up on a major life transition or feeling disoriented by changes in my life.

    • Alternatively, I’m in a place in my life where nothing seems to be happening, and I’m curious about that.

    • My friends and I would love to meet monthly to pray and help each other discern God's direction for each other.

  • We'll meet approximately once a month for an hour, in person, over the phone, or by Zoom or Skype. During the hour, our time is spent talking, praying, and sitting in silence. I will ask open-ended questions about how you've been noticing God's presence in your life since the last time we met, pray with you and for you, and sit with you in silence as we wait on God's direction. I may make observations, but will not judge or offer advice. Everything we talk about will be held confidential. 

    The first time we meet will be more conversational so that we can get to know each other a little bit, you can ask questions, and together we can decide if this will be a good fit. 

  • For those who are able, contributions allow me to offer this ministry to anyone who needs it. My typical fee is $50 - $75 per session, depending on your ability. If that amount is prohibitive, please feel free to talk with me about an amount that best fits your budget. 

    You can send contributions through this link (or click the button below).

  • If you think you may be interested in pursuing spiritual direction, please contact me to set up a time to talk. You can submit the form or schedule an appointment directly from the calendar below.

Contact me for more information or to set up an initial appointment.

Schedule Your Appointments Here

Pay For Your Appointments Here

Tamara is Selah fellow with Leadership Transformations’ Selah Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction.