Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. Divinity and divine (sometimes 'the Divinity' or 'the Divine' are broadly applied but loosely defined terms used variously within different faiths and belief systems — Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing spiritual issues. The director listens and asks questions to assist the directee in his or her process of reflection and spiritual growth. Spiritual direction develops a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. It is not psychotherapy, counseling, or financial planning. Psychotherapy is an Interpersonal, relational intervention used by trained psychotherapists to aid clients in problems of living
While there is some degree of variability, there are primarily two forms of spiritual direction: retreat direction and regular direction. The term retreat has several related meanings all of which have in common the notion of safety or temporarily removing oneself from one's usual environment in order to become immersed They differ largely in the frequency of meeting and in the intensity of reflection. If the directee is on a retreat (lasting a weekend, a week or even 40 days), he or she will generally meet with their director on a daily basis for one hour. During these daily meetings, exercises or new spiritual disciplines such as lectio divina are given to the directee as fodder to continue his or her spiritual growth. Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading or "holy reading" and represents a traditional Christian practice of Prayer and Regular direction involves a one to two hour meeting every six to eight weeks, and thus is slightly less intense than retreat direction, although spiritual exercises and disciplines are often given for the directee to attempt between meetings.
Within Christianity, spiritual direction has its roots in the Early Christianity. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c The gospels describe Jesus serving as a mentor to his disciples. This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Additionally, Acts of the Apostles Chapter 9 describes Ananias helping Paul of Tarsus to grow in his newfound experience of Christianity. Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and Likewise, several of Pauline Epistles describe Paul mentoring both Timothy and Titus among others. Tradition tells that John the Evangelist tutored Polycarp, the second-century bishop of Smyrna. Saint John the Evangelist (d ca 110 יוחנן " The LORD is merciful" Standard Hebrew Yoḥanan, Tiberian Hebrew Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (ca 69 – ca 155 was a second century Bishop of Smyrna. This article is on the Ancient Greek city of Smyrna principally in connection with the ruins remaining to this day
John Cassian who lived in the fourth century provided some of the earliest recorded guidelines on the practice of spiritual direction. Saint John Cassian (ca 360 – 435 ( Latin: Jo(hannes Eremita Cassianus, Joannus Cassianus, or Joannes Massiliensis) John the He introduced mentoring in the monasteries. Each novice was put under the care of an older monk. Benedict of Nursia integrated Cassian's guidelines into what is now known as the Rule of Saint Benedict. "Saint Benedict" redirects here This article is about the founder of Western monasticism for other saints named Benedict see Benedict. The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola are guidelines for spiritual direction during a retreat. Saint Ignatius redirects here for other Saints see Ignatius. Ignatius of Loyola, also known as Íñigo Oñaz López de Loyola
With Judaism, the traditional term for a relationship with a spiritual director is hashpa'ah, and the spiritual director is called a mashpi'a. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut The purpose of hashpa'ah is to support the directee in her or his personal relationship with God, and to deepen that person's ability to find God's presence in ordinary life. Often this practice draws on the literature and praxis of Hasidism and the Jewish mystical tradition. Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc from the Hebrew: he '''''חסידות''''', Chassidus, meaning "piety" from the Hebrew This kind of spiritual mentorship is customary in the Hasidic world.
References
External links
- Spiritual Directors International
- Still Waters retreat center and spiritual direction
- ALEPH Hashpa'ah Program
- Catholic Spiritual Direction
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