Spiritual Direction
Slow down, listen, be present, and recognize God’s loving presence in the details of your life
Spiritual direction and discernment allow us to cultivate intimacy with God through listening and paying attention to the movements of the Spirit in our lives. It opens us to the loving presence of God and gives us a greater sense of peace and purpose.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Too often, our inner lives are neglected at the expense of our outer service. Spiritual direction is one of the ways that God gets our attention so that He can just be with us.
Spiritual direction is a sacred practice of listening—both to God and to the stirrings within. It’s a nonjudgmental and confidential space where you get to reflect on your journey with God in the presence of a compassionate and skilled witness (the director) who helps you notice God’s presence and activity in your life and how you might respond.
Whether you’re seeking to deepen your faith, find peace in a time of uncertainty, or simply become more attuned to the movements of the Spirit, spiritual direction provides the space to listen, reflect, and grow.
If you’re an individual, we offer this type of companionship in both individual and group settings.
If you’re looking for spiritual direction options for your organization or team, we offer customized spiritual direction packages for your group. Learn more:
Individual Spiritual Direction
1:1 Accompaniment - In person (NYC area only) or online.
This relationship develops through regular, one hour conversations over the course of a committed time frame agreed to by the director and recipient.
During these conversations, silence is a welcome friend and embodied awareness is encouraged.
Creativity, art, and other forms of prayer engagement may be introduced, and Scripture passages and current activities may be offered to encourage a different perspective.
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Whether you’re new to spiritual direction or have been doing it for a long time, we would love to provide a trustworthy and seasoned spiritual companion.
Frequency: We recommend meeting every 4-6 weeks with your director, then checking in about frequency after 3-6 months of meeting.
Duration & Format: Each session is about 45-60 minutes long and can be done over Zoom or in person (NYC only).
Confidentiality: Our conversations are kept in strict and sacred confidence.
Cost: To honor our commitment to accessibility and accompaniment through transitional seasons of life, we offer this ministry on a donation-based sliding scale, between $50-$100 per session. If this is a challenge for you, we will do what we can to work with you. We also offer a $140 trial package for 3 sessions within 6 months.
Wondering if spiritual direction is right for you at this time? Check out our FAQs.
Any other questions, or ready to sign up? Fill out the form on our Contact Us page.
Group Spiritual Direction
Experienced with a small group of 3-6 people that meet together regularly with a trained facilitator. When it’s your turn to be the directee, group members will respond prayerfully to what you share.
This format of intentional group listening provides more awareness of God in your life, for the sake of others. It will help you grow in your faith, love others more fully and participate in the mission of the Church more effectively.
Other Group Direction Options:
-Join a group spiritual direction series that we host throughout the year (more info below)
-Gather a small group of friends or trusted companions for group spiritual direction facilitated by Wonder Aloud for a season. Contact us to learn more.
For Groups + Teams
We can facilitate one or a series of sessions for your group or leadership team. We offer a 4 or 6 session series, 1.5-2 hours/session that introduces various contemplative prayer practices or can offer a more customized approach for your group. Whether you are exploring new territory or this is something familiar, we are happy to work with you around your availability, frequency and budget to offer this type of care.
We can also provide partner rates if you want to offer subsidized individual spiritual direction sessions as a form of soul care for your team.
Periodic Group Spiritual Direction Series
A variety of opportunities to gather in community for spiritual companionship and reflection throughout the year. These gatherings include:
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This Imaginative Prayer cohort dives into the life of Jesus, exploring his spiritual journey with God and with the community who was present to him and his calling. This group meets virtually on the first Wednesday monthly for eight months from November - June.
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These cohorts are formed around shared interests and experiences, specific practices, or audiences throughout the year based on gathered community interest. Each group is limited to six participants and varies in meeting frequency and length of commitment.
If you are interested in being part of group spiritual direction, please share more about what kind of group you’d like to join by filling out this form.
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For those who are curious about the group companionship journey, this 1.5 hour introductory session doesn't require any commitment beyond the one session and focuses on being present to one another by listening to the Spirit of God together, for the sake of the other. Participants experience a different prayer practice and are invited to engage in a simplified group spiritual direction format for each of these sessions. Each session is free to attend and capped at 12 participants.
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An opportunity to gather during meaningful times of the year for shared reflection and spiritual growth.
During Lent, we offer a guided four-session Lectio Divina series, and during Advent, we explore Imaginative Prayer together.
Seasonal Group Spiritual Direction Series
Introduction to Contemplative Practices:
Offered as a stand alone introductory session or a series of 4-6 sessions, a committed group of 4-8 people is introduced to a selection of various contemplative prayer practices (such as Lectio Divina, Examen, Visio Divina, Imaginative Prayer, Visual Journaling, Centering Prayer, and Triple Colloquy) as the basis for exploring group spiritual direction together.
Is spiritual direction right for you at this time?
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God seeks our cooperation in transformation. Spiritual direction promotes spiritual attentiveness.
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It is not always easy for us to recognize how we are responding or resistant to God’s work in our lives, much less understand why we react in certain ways to what God is doing. It can be helpful to have someone encourage us to reflect on our reactions to God’s movements. But it can also be scary. Being able to honestly evaluate our response to God in a safe, nonjudgmental relationship, is a great gift.
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A spiritual direction relationship gives us a place to explore these questions in the presence of the Holy Spirit and another Christian who is committed to helping us find God’s way. As we talk, listen, and notice together in spiritual direction, we trust that God will make Himself clear.
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We often shy away from exploring the deeper questions on our hearts. What if these questions can lead to greater freedom in moving closer to or deepening your relationship with God and others? Spiritual direction is a place where questions are asked, reflected on, processed, refined and brought into God’s presence.
(Adapted from Grafted Life Ministries)
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“I have been recommending spiritual direction to anyone who will listen to me after having just one session. My perspective has already shifted and I’ve been able to accept myself in a way I didn’t even realize I needed to.”
Douglas, Individual Spiritual Direction
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“In my current season, I've regularly experienced doubt in regards to some recent life decisions and wondered at times if I actually heard God correctly. Group spiritual direction helped me know God and in turn His voice deeper and with a tad bit more familiarity. There's a bit of intimacy and friendship that has been such an anchoring comfort.”
Erin, Journeying with Jesus Cohort
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“All of us need guidance and support to discover deeper levels of healing, satisfaction, growth, connection to God and people. Spiritual direction provides just that welcoming space and opportunity to explore the 'more' with a safe, knowledgeable advocate.”
Edward, Individual Spiritual Direction
As life affects us, God affects us, and as we react to life we react to God. Fostering discovery rather than teaching doctrine is [the spiritual director’s] purpose.
-Barry & Connolly