Listening to God, together.
Attendant Direction & Retreats houses my spiritual direction practice and guided retreats.
Spiritual Direction is a practice where someone intentionally serves as a companion on your spiritual journey, helping you pay attention to God. My role is mainly creating space for you to connect with God. Think of it as listening to God, together. See the FAQs below to learn more.
Current Offerings
I am in Christian Spiritual Director training through the Selah program, offered by Leadership Transformations. I am currently seeing a limited number of directees as part of my training. If you are interested in exploring this kind of relationship, or have questions about whether this may be right for you, reach out at rockcreeksanctuary@gmail.com for an initial conversation.
Learn about upcoming retreats on the Events page.
Why Spiritual Direction?
I am becoming a spiritual director because I love helping people grow into who God has made them to be. I aim to create spaces where orphaned believers and skeptical dreamers can be at home, where weary souls can be nourished and breathe a sigh of relief. Spiritual Direction is in service of the same mission common to all Tangible offerings: to cultivate deep roots, wide branches, and a long table with a joyful feast.
I have long worked in combatting injustice in the wider world. While I will always seek to pursue renewal out there, I keep coming back to the truth that the evil “out there” starts in here, in the wounds, pain, insecurity and false beliefs deep inside us. We don’t untangle that and transform into the beloved, free, secure child of God we were made to be primarily by mustering up effort.
No, we receive it as a gift, God’s transforming work in us. We have a role to play, yes, but it is primarily a role of responding, like opening a sail to the wind, so the wind can carry us. This is the work of listening, of paying attention, of opening ourselves to what God is doing in and through us. And it happens best in the company of a companion.
Christian Spiritual Direction – but not only for Christians.
I am a Christian, and will listen and pray with you from my Christian perspective. But you do not have to share that to begin spiritual direction with me. Are you seeking God? Do you desire to know more of who God is and grow in your awareness of God? Spiritual direction may be just the right place for you.
Spiritual Direction FAQs
What happens in spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction is a confidential, safe place where you can bring any uncertainty, question, doubt, or desire before God. It involves a lot of listening: what is stirring in you, what is surfacing through ordinary life, and above all, what God is saying and doing in all of it. You are in charge of what we talk about, in response to God’s leading in you, though I will often invite us to open with a prompt, such as a poem or piece of visual art. Either of us can suggest a pause to sit before God in silent prayer and reflection at any time.
Why begin spiritual direction?
People come to spiritual directors for all sorts of reasons. A non-exhaustive list:
- undergoing change
- processing grief
- former ways of relating to God seem to “not work”
- curiosity about God or spiritual things
- doubt or frustration with God
- a sense that there is something stirring inside
- discernment about a decision
- a desire to grow closer to God
(I first started seeing a spiritual director after a major transition, when my husband wisely and graciously noted he did not have to be the only person to hear about my myriad thoughts on the matter, and in fact I was worth investing in paying a trained professionals to support me. He was right!)
How does it work?
We can meet for an initial consultation or trial session to get a sense of whether we are a good fit for each other. If you would like to proceed, I ask you to commit to a minimum of six further sessions, to allow space for the slow work of God’s transforming presence in you through this process. Sessions are one-on-one and confidential, and are typically monthly, for an hour. Sessions can be conducted virtually or in person. Trainee directee sessions are complimentary. Following this training period, my fee is a sliding scale based on your own income; you should aim to pay about what you would or could charge for an hour of your own time.
How is Spiritual Direction different from counseling?
In spiritual direction, both you and I are seeking to be lead by God and listen to God. I am not the expert with tools and techniques to fix you, and I am not here to give you advice or help you reach a goal. If those things happen, it will be because of what God is doing in you, with me a simply a companion on the journey.