What is Spiritual Direction or Guidance? |
![]() Ann Marie SantoraExecutive Director |
| View all articles by Ann Marie Santora |
Have you ever felt that something was “missing” from your life or that you were on some kind of journey through life? Do you struggle with decisions and are beginning to feel pressures of today’s world and wonder if answers will ever be coming? Maybe you feel something is “missing” in your life.
Spiritual direction is not advising, nor coaching, but helping one to discern with her heart. It is an ancient practice that spans cultures. It’s not based in church dogma nor is it psychotherapy. While knowledge of many wisdom traditions is integrated in the practice, the focus is on the individual seeking to understand herself and her place on her individual path through life.
The practice includes contemplative listening, listening while focused on the direcatee. While focused, the director is actively thinking about what is said and how it pertains to the individual’s life experiences. She simply directs the orchestra that is playing in front of her. She pulls together all the sounds that are played into a full and resonant reflection of that which the directee can then hear herself.
Spiritual direction may be for you.

- By Ann Marie Santora
- Published 09/5/2009
- Education


