Holistic Spiritual Direction
What is holisitic spiritual direction?
Holistic spiritual direction is a low-key but highly intentional, contemplative form of companionship in which persons are prayerfully and gently guided and nurtured along their own unique path of discovery and renewal.
I am a Christian pastor who honors God’s Wisdom expressed in the Judaeo-Christian tradition and also in other faith traditions.
My spiritual direction process involves directees learning to listen to the “still small voice” of God within their conscious and unconscious thought processes, creative expressions, spiritual intuitions (dreams, visions, and ki energy) as well as the felt wisdom of their physical bodies.
As in the Celtic Christian tradition, the journey is towards our original wholeness. It is grace in action.
It is opening to new dimensions of relationship with our truest, deepest Self.
It is yielding to the surprising Divine presence within one’s relationships and the life-giving order of the Universe itself.
In partnership with God, I invite persons to gently explore new frontiers of healing transformation for ourselves and for healing and wholeness, peace and justice (shalom) in all the world.
In holistic spiritual formation, the development of spiritual practices are in large measure simply a matter of pausing and noticing:
- constellations of inner images and thought patterns in one’s waking and sleeping awareness,
- noticing physical feelings of delight, pain, numbness, soreness, or tension,
- noticing blocks or disturbances in the free flow of one’s spiritual life force (ki) throughout one’s social relationships, and commitments of time and talent, indeed, the whole of one’s life.
After learning to pause and notice the voice of the Divine in whatever manner is most authentic for them, directees are the invited to consciously open and rembrace the Divine through various traditional contemplative practices such as guided visualization, breath or centering prayer, contemplating on Scripture passages (lectio divina), chanting, movement, journaling or other writing, or dreamwork.
As someone trained in bodywork and Reiki healing touch, I also offer support for persons seeking to intentionally work with and through the the felt senses of the body and its energy flow thorugh Reiki healing touch, body prayer, light massage, and movement.
It is my hope that these creative explorations will call you into a trust-filled, enlivening partnership with God’s love and light, for it is in this Spirit “in whom we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
At its root, holistic spiritual direction affirms the quest for experiencing the essential unity of all life in God. I affirm that this quest is at the heart of all that we do and say in our lives, whether we realize it or not. Therefore, I may, at times, extend my spiritual direction work into something which I call affirmational life accompaniment (or coaching).
I believe that the journey “home” is always much shorter and easier than we imagine, even during times of great struggle and suffering. Although trained as a pastoral psychotherapist, I choose not to speak language of dysfunction and addiction. Instead, I choose to see the hero and heroine within each person and his or her unique path toward relationship with God.
“There is no right way, only that which love is inviting in you at this very moment.
If you seek a way of relating to God, you can do no better than
to let God come into your awareness as God will.
Be open to any possibilities, willing to be surprised.
At one moment there may be a very distinct image;
at another, an imageless presence;
at still another, only the groans of your yearning echoing in emptiness.”
Gerald May, The Awakened Heart
Holistic Spiritual Direction at Triquitra House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
I offer a free sixty minute initial holistic spiritual direction session for all who want to explore whether or not holistic spiritual direction is something they or their group might like to consider.
I periodically offer groups, classes, workshops, and retreats focusing on various holistic practices such as Reiki healing touch, body prayer, and holistic self care for persons with life defining illnesses. (See Upcoming Groups, Classes, Workshops, and Retreats page for upcoming programs).
Please contact me here, or call 717-898-0313. Driving directions to Triquitra House are on the Driving Directions and Contact Information page.