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Spiritual Direction�

FCC Theology Seminar: Spiritual Practices

November 1, 2025

Charmaine Shen

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What is Spiritual Direction?

A process of prayer, listening and discernment that helps a person recognize and respond to God’s presence and action in their daily life, fostering closeness with God, spiritual growth and maturity.

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Why consider spiritual direction?

Discernment, decision making
Life transitions
Questions of meaning, purpose and calling
Spiritual questions, doubts, struggles
Desire to grow, deepen in faith and prayer
Companionship on the spiritual journey

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God desires relationship and communicates personally with us

“Where are you?” (to Adam and Eve, Gen 3:9)
“Go… to the land I will show you.” (to Abram, Gen 12:1)
“Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’”(Acts 8:29)

Spiritual direction rests on the conviction that God continues to communicate and guide through the Holy Spirit in every believer.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)

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- “If he calls you, you shall say, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening”. (Eli and Samuel 1 Sam 3:9)

- “What things?” (Jesus with disciples on the road to Emmaus; Luke 24)

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God is present in all of life

God’s presence and action is not confined to “religious/holy” spaces

in all the aspects of our lives

relationships, family, work, health, grief, confusion, doubts, longings, nature, art, silence

“God comes to us disguised as our life.” Paula D’Arcy

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The Role of the Spiritual Director

“The Holy Spirit is the true director.”�

The spiritual director listens with the directee for the movements of the Spirit, helps “direct” our attention to the Holy Spirit’s presence and action.

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Will I get advice for my problems?

The spiritual director may offer thoughts and suggestions on helpful practices or resources�
Prescribing a fix for specific problems is not the main focus

The focus is discerning how is God present and active and leading you amidst what you are facing

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How does it work?

Frequency: monthly
Duration: an hour
In person or virtual
Sliding scale fee or suggested donation

Session

Practices to slow down and transition into this sacred conversation/prayer

Dialogue: Reflection on life, sharing from the heart, deep listening, good questions. (Silence is ok)

Closing prayer

Typically the spiritual direction sessions take place monthly, for an hour. It can be offered in person or virtually. There may be a fee, which is often on a sliding scale, or there may be a suggested donation.

Sessions may start with practices that help a person to settle and transition into this time of prayerful listening and sharing- there may be a brief time of prayer, silence, or lightening of a candle as a reminder of God’s light and presence.

The director will then offer an open ended invitational question- for example “How has God been present to you lately?” As a side note: “I don’t know” is a valid answer! Or even “I’m not sure how to sum in up or put it into words exactly” Often, it’s in the sharing from the heart about “the things” of life, that starts to uncover how God is moving. Sometimes I may arrive with specific questions or events that I want to share, and, also, hold them loosely, and try to make space for the Spirit to direct that time. Holding space for the soul to emerge, holding silence, is something that a spiritual director is comfortable doing.

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Where do I find a spiritual director?

Trusted referrals
Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors
Retreat centers, seminaries