I’ve been thinking some lately about “spiritual direction” as a career path. Here are some scattered thoughts:
1. Anyone know of a good spiritual direction blog, preferably from a liberal/ecumenical/interfaith perspective? I haven’t gotten to blog searches yet, but the websites I’ve found so far tend to be ugly, incomplete, and outdated. (Or perhaps I’m not being spiritual enough?)
2. The dominant metaphor for spiritual direction seems to be anamchara, a Celtic term for “soul friend.” There is an intimacy of friendship to spiritual direction that you don’t see in therapy or pastoral counseling, for example. And a vulnerability in the spiritual director that would be too revealing for the therapist or pastoral counselor.
I’m probably being entirely too Aristotelian about this, but one definition of friendship requires a certain equality between the two friends, without which there would be power dynamics which would interfere. But a spiritual “director” would seem by definition to be on a more expert level than the spiritual “directed.” In a for-pay situation, this only more so.
Perhaps a more fitting understanding would be soul mentor? Or, more pedestrian, soul coach?
3. Why would the spiritual direction community be so intent on the metaphor of “soul friend” and its egalitarian nature (if I’m not getting out of hand here) when it is more clearly a relationship between a greater-than and less-than? What does this say about that community?
4. Spiritual direction seems a predominantly Catholic and Episcopalian practice, although all traditions participate. These are both denominations that are historically comfortable with tradition, ritual, and greater-than-less-than relationships. What does this say about the possibilities for UU spiritual direction? Would that be so much herding of cats?
5. Is it even true that spiritual directors are more into spiritual rituals and spiritual retreats than other persons, or is this no more meaningful a measurement than saying that dentists are more into brushing and flossing than other persons? In other words, is this a predominant personality trait of spiritual directors or simply a sign of the trade?
6. Why are there no certification or licensure protocols for spiritual directors? Would this also be like so much herding of cats? Or is that something that’s on its way but hasn’t got here yet?
That’s probably enough for now. Please answer if you have thoughts.
One blog that may help is that of my former boss, Duane Bidwell. He directs the Pastoral Care Center at Texas Christian University’s Brite Divinity School, and specializes in the study of spiritual direction as a pastoral discipline:
http://www.spondizo.net/
Also, theres a book on interfaith spiritual direction called Show Me Your Way.
Thanks. Looks pretty good. I’ve added it my blogroll and my kinja digest.
What is “herding of cats” anyway?
Getting a cat to do what you want is near impossible (unless we’re talking about Buddy here). Herding a whole bunch of them would thus be the ultimate in futility. They can’t help it—it’s just their nature.
There was a Superbowl commercial a couple years back that showed a cowboy herding cats through the prairie. Very funny.
I just stumbled across your blog and thought I’d attempt to answer a few of your questions. I am a spiritual director and Director of the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction and yes we’ve had a few UU people go through our school and they are doing wonderful work in their venues.
I agree the anamchara or “soul friend” model is NOT entirely accurate–especially when most spiritual directors get some training and charge fees. We also keep boundaries that peers do not usually observe
There is no standard certification for several reasons. First, who would do the certifying? Spiritual directors International, the peer group for directors won’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Mostly because they don’t want to over professionalize the work since many priests and nuns (especially in countries other than the U.S.) do not get training. They feel their ministry is a call from God and not a trade. Also, countries other than the U.S. are not that keen on certification. In this country, many of the psychologists who became spiritual directors say don’t go the certification route because invariably the state will get involved and then you have a secular group trying to oversee a religious practice. I personally would be up for certification but I don’t see it happening in my lifetime.
As for the ritual question, not all of us are big into rituals. Some light candles and use silence before and at the end of a session and some do not. Some directors are over the top for rituals and want to mark every stop along the spiritual journey. I think it has to do with one’s religious tradition. The Catholic and Episcopal directors are into smells and bells. The Protestant “iconoclasts” not so much. I’m UCC and I can take or leave rituals. I let the directee take the lead on that.
Also, I work with a UU person. Language is the crucial issue with UU and other traditions that are not Jesus-centered. But at the Hesychia School, we teach a type of spiritual direction that is not heavily dependent on religious language anyway.
I hope some part of this was helpful. Enjoy the quest!
Teresa Blythe
P.S. I have 4 cats so I know something about the futility of herding them.