The first time I heard the term “Spiritual Direction” was in two books I read back-to back, from authors that I deeply respect. They both offhandedly mentioned their practice of meeting with a wise counselor in the form of a Spiritual Director. Immediately, without even understanding the full definition, my heart and soul leapt at the idea in ways that I have been exploring for 10 years.

As I see it in this season, Spiritual Direction is similar to the work of a midwife – coming alongside the expectant, explaining elements of the phases and the journey, and providing continuous care across the seasons of life. Spiritual Direction involves understanding Jesus’ practices and teachings, the phases of the spiritual journey, and co-listening for themes within an individual’s spiritual development. As midwives are trained in multiple areas, Spiritual Directors are educated in soul care, theology, listening practices, discernment, psychology, church history, and more.

Spiritual Directors are trained through specific University programs, they are licensed, they meet with their own personal Spiritual Director, and they receive supervision for their Spiritual Direction work (in a similar way that counselors receive supervision). Interestingly, in David Benner’s book Care of Souls he clarifies that Spiritual Direction is a mixture of many ancient practices that were first adopted by the early Church, and are often outsourced to modern psychology within our current cultural moment (p. 41). As many expectant mothers are now returning to the long-held tradition of midwifery practices, many Christ-followers are longing for the multifaceted spiritual care that once existed within early faith communities.