Spiritual Direction by Carol James

The early Celts had a word for it: anam cara. Soul friend.

In many times and places, across many traditions, spiritual directors have walked, slowly and quietly, beside searchers of all kinds as they seek a deeper sense of the holy moving through their lives. Times of transition, experiences of joy or confusion, even a nagging itch inside that can't be named, can lead you to look for a trustworthy companion that can offer sacred time and space for exploring your inner life.

Typically, director and directee meet monthly for a private one-on-one session of about an hour. As director, I'll be your doula -- holding your hand as you labor to bring forth your fullest self. We'll work together with the assumption that spirit can make itself known anywhere, and you are being invited to tend what is most holy and most whole in you through many paths. There's no part of your life -- work, relationships, health, play -- that doesn't contain the seeds of the sacred, and our conversations can range widely and deeply!

I was a mentor in the Education for Ministry program for five years, and currently serve in mutual discernment and jail ministries at Grace Cathedral, as well as officiating at Taize services at Trinity St. Peter's. While my own faith community is the Episcopal Church, I would welcome working with people from any spiritual tradition -- or no spiritual tradition at all.

If you'd like to ask me questions, learn more, or set up an initial meeting, please email me at bluesox@sbcglobal.net. You also may want to explore some of the links on the right of this page, to learn more about spiritual direction and its practitioners. (Note that the "What happens in spiritual direction" article is particularly addressed to those seeking ordination -- most folks in spiritual direction are not!)