A common symbol of the spiritual direction session is three chairs. A chair for the directee, a chair for the director, and a chair for God, our real director.
Another symbol of the spiritual direction session is a lit candle. The woman or man you’ve come to, the director whom you thought you’d like to check out, might light a candle when you meet to say hello to each other and let the Holy Spirit in.
That first meeting is really a welcome by the director, and it’s a try-it-on-for-size session for the person thinking of coming for direction. The place where you meet should feel very peaceful and comfortable. The meeting might be in the director’s office in a building or an office in the director’s home. My home office is where I meet with people, and I do light a candle to begin our sessions, reminding us that God is here with us now. It’s God’s voice we want to hear.
Whenever you come back for direction, if you do, we start wherever you want to start. It might relate to something you’ve spoken of before, or it might be something brand new. Wherever you feel God tickling you to speak is where you begin. We are delighted to hear it!
The direction session is usually an hour long, and its purpose is to grow and deepen the directee’s relationship to God. People often come monthly, and we book the next appointment right then, much like you’d book your next haircut. Some people come one or two times for something urgently on their heart. Some people come for years. It’s whatever timing that God and the directee are weaving together.
Some directors request a small fee and some do not. Some deacons in a parish also minister as spiritual directors, and most often these deacons offer their services at no charge. All directors welcome any questions you might want to ask, including how much the fee is or could be. We hope you feel a deep sense of welcome when you come, so that you can ask whatever you’d like to ask.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.