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How to Prepare For A Spiritual Direction Session: 5 Ways to Get the Most From Spiritual Direction
- Amy Hoppock
- Jun 19, 2023
- 3 min read
“The art of spiritual direction lies in our uncovering the obvious in our lives and in realizing that everyday events are the means by which God tries to reach us.”
-Alan Jones
Feeling nervous or anxious before a spiritual direction session is common.
I’m a spiritual director, and more than once, I’ve thought, “I'm going to cancel my session with my spiritual director.” Sometimes it’s because I feel like I have nothing to talk about. Other times I feel way too vulnerable because I have too much or something too tender; I know I need to talk about. I've found that taking a few minutes to prepare my heart, mind, body and soul before a spiritual direction session always helps.
On the one hand, spiritual direction sessions require no preparation; you can show up as you are, and God, the divine, Love will show up. I see it happen in every spiritual direction session I do. Like most things in life, a little preparation can be helpful and make your spiritual direction session more meaningful and useful.
Here are 5 ways to prepare for your first or seventeenth spiritual direction session.
1. Write a short list. A few days (or hours, minutes even!) before your scheduled session, jot down a quick list of things you might want to discuss.
What patterns have I noticed in my life recently? Does the same idea, challenge, or opportunity keep coming up?
What has been tripping me up recently? Are you finding yourself annoyed by the mention of a certain topic, person, or idea? Do you find yourself constantly stuck by something?
What questions have I been pondering recently?
Have I seen any patterns in my reading, listening, and general noticing?
2. Review your journals, notes, reading lists, etc. If you keep a journal or have a daily reading practice (devotional or otherwise!), review what you’ve written or read. Sometimes those things can be seeds for further exploration with your director and God.
3. Sit down 5 or 10 minutes before your session begins and let your soul catch up with your body. Life is busy, and we all move at a fast pace. You choose to invest in spiritual direction for growth, self-care, and/or to deepen your relationship with the sacred. Give a few extra minutes to sit still, pray, and breathe before your session.
4. Consider doing a spiritual location exercise. This simple set of questions helps “locate” what has been happening physically, spiritually, and mentally in your life. (download a Spiritual Location exercise below)
5. Pray. Whatever prayer looks like to you, ask God, Love, to guide your session, what you share, and how you share. Prepare your heart and soul to be present. I really like the prayer of Teilhard de Chardin called Patient Trust. (You can find it here)
Bonus: Make sure your space is ready! If you meet in person or online with your spiritual director, it’s always a good idea to have something to drink, paper, a pen, and maybe even tissues; it’s not uncommon for tears to flow in spiritual direction.
Spiritual Direction is about growth, comfort, relationship, and presence. It’s exactly what Alan Jones suggests; at its best in spiritual direction, we are reminded that Love is in the everyday, ordinary events of our lives.
It’s when we pause, look carefully, and listen. With the help of a trained spiritual and deep listener, we discover all the ways God speaks.
I write every Sunday evening at Smaller & Deeper. Join me there for more on Spiritual Direction and noticing the small moments.
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