“No matter how much light I carry within me, there will always be times of feeling lost, being confused, seeking direction. It is the way of the human heart.” - Joyce Rupp
No one is an island and everyone from time to time need a companion or a guide to share the load of life. Spiritual direction is also known as “soul friendship”.
This is a relationship designed to support you as you pay attention to your inner life, discern God’s presence and action and encourage you as you listen to the movements of your soul.
The director doesn't actually do much "directing", but rather, helps you direct your attention.
The spiritual direction relationship is often compared to the relationship a midwife has with a pregnant mother giving birth. The director is a companion, an encourager, and a gentle listening guide, working with you and bearing witness to what is being “birthed” in this season of your life.
A spiritual director is a person who has experience in the spiritual journey and is willing to be in service to a person’s desire to open to and discern the presence of the Divine (God/Spirit/Source) in their life.
People often seek out a spiritual director when they are wanting to deepen their relationship with God, want to discern God’s presence and action in a given situation, or when God seems confusing, distant, or absent.
Whether you have been a person of faith for a long time, are in a season of doubt and disorientation, or coming into a brand new awareness of God in your life, regardless of tradition or creed, spiritual direction can be valuable support on a person’s spiritual path.
Christa Hesselink has been guiding individuals and groups as they dig deeper into their spiritual life
for her entire twenty-year career working in church ministry, education and not-for-profit settings.
Christa is a certified coach, certified yoga instructor, and certified spiritual director with the Haden Institute which is rooted in the Christian tradition.
She is also a certified enneagram coach with the premiere program of the Narrative Enneagram.
In pastoral ministry for over ten years, she also holds a Master’s of Leadership and a Master’s of Theology degree,
and is a well-respected speaker, workshop facilitator, and retreat leader.
Christa is a member of ‘Spiritual Director’s International’.
"Spiritual direction is, in reality, nothing more than a way of leading us to see and obey the real Director — the Holy Spirit hidden in the depths of our soul. -Thomas Merton
*Connection Agreement
1. Spiritual direction is not therapy, counseling, mental health care, or treatment for substance abuse. The director is not functioning as a licensed mental health professional and spiritual direction is not intended as a replacement for counseling, psychiatric interventions, treatment for mental illness, recovery from past abuse, professional medical advice, financial assistance, legal counsel, or other professional services.
2. Spiritual Direction is for people who are basically well adjusted, emotionally healthy, functioning effectively, and wanting to pay attention to their spiritual life in a consistent and regular way.
3. Spiritual Direction will be an on-going relationship for many months and often years, although either person can bring the relationship to an end at any time. This is a spiritual practice, and not simply one or two meetings when someone is experiencing a spiritual crisis.
4. Spiritual Direction can and may involve periods of extended silence, prayer, listening, values clarification, identifying plans of action, accountability, examining lifestyle, and questioning currently held beliefs.
5. Spiritual Direction is most effective when both parties are honest and straightforward in their communication.
6. Spiritual Direction is a confidential relationship and the director agrees to keep all information strictly confidential, except in those situations in which such confidentiality would violate the law or could jeopardize the safety of the client or others. Christa is required to report suspected cases of child or elder abuse. Also, professional ethics regarding confidentiality require spiritual directors to report imminent self-endangerment (suicide) or harm to others.
7. There will be no predetermined length of commitment. While the director-directee relationship between you and Christa may last many months and years, there is no binding obligation to continue sessions if either person doesn't believe it is a correct fit. We both agree to have one final meeting together to honour and bring the formal relationship to a close.
8. Each meeting will last approximately 50-60 minutes. Each meeting will be scheduled approximately 4-6 weeks apart. All efforts will be made to accommodate each other’s schedules. Each person agrees to inform the other of the need to cancel an appointment. Except in unusual circumstances, this cancellation will be given no less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment.
9. The session fee is payable in advance of each session by e-transfer, cheque, or credit card (for people living outside of Canada)
What to expect in a typical session:
We engage in silence, centering & grounding, active listening, and a prayerful posture throughout the session, facilitated by Christa
The directee will be prepared to share what they want to bring to the session - it may be a thought, a question, a concern, a prayer, a pain, as it relates to their life and in particular, their spiritual life.
Christa will be attentive, listen deeply, mirror & echo back to the directee, ask questions, and provide support in service to the person’s soul journey.
A session may include engaging in contemplative practice to support the directee in his/her journey.
Christa will often provide a resource that can be used in between sessions.
