spir·it·u·al
relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things
di·rec·tion
a course along which someone or something moves
What is the direction of your spirit?
What might you be moving toward?
Where are you feeling stuck?
Spiritual direction is a practice of listening … to yourself, to the universe, to the divine spark within. A traditionally contemplative practice, spiritual direction invites us to be still with ourselves long enough to notice, appreciate and wonder where we are today.
In spiritual direction we will sit quietly together and just drink in the stillness, be in conversation about what is alive in your life in this moment, wrestle with challenges you are encountering, co-create rituals or explore practices that will support you in your daily life.
Like therapy or coaching, spiritual direction invites you to connect with yourself more deeply and shape the life you want to be living with intention. Unlike those practices spiritual direction uses a lens informed by spiritual frameworks which may or may not include God, traditional religious practices, ethical and existential explorations, and an exploration of holiness/wholeness.
People bring a wide of variety of questions to spiritual direction. They might be in a life transition like marriage or divorce, family creation, illness, a new career or move toward retirement, and are looking for an anchor or a spiritual lens through which to make meaning of this season in their life. They might be exploring a new religious tradition or practice, questioning the tradition they were raised in, or returning to get to know that tradition better. They might have had a profound experience of holiness that they are trying to make sense of. They might be trying to bring more texture and richness into the flow of each day for themselves or their family.
While the depth of my learning and experience is informed by Jewish life and community, I am honored to walk with people from any faith background or none. Spiritual direction can support all of us on our journeys.
How Do I Start?
Email me at smbojdak@gmail.com to arrange a 30 minute get-to-know-you session free of charge. We’ll get a feel for each other, talk about what you might want from spiritual direction, and decide whether this is the right practice and I am the right person to support you at this time.
How Often Do We Meet?
Traditionally spiritual direction is a once a month, hour-long practice, often enough to stay attentive to how life is unfolding and infrequent enough to allow for the unfolding in between. At times of deep need, intensive decision making, or profound transition, we might meet twice a month for a while.
What Do Spiritual Direction Sessions Include?
Spiritual direction sessions will always include some time to center yourself through silence, meditation, prayer, poetry, a few deep breaths. The heart of a session is usually a conversation, reflection and careful listening. Spiritual direction might also include text study or other learning, song or art, creative ritual or just being together with what is. We generally close with a blessing or intention-setting for the month ahead.
How Long Do I Stay in Spiritual Direction?
Some people enter spiritual direction drawn by a question, a transition or a challenge and stay through the months or year(s) that it takes to move through that process. Others find that spiritual direction serves as a touchstone for their on-going development, a monthly check-in to notice where they are on their path and (re)connect with their essential selves; they may build a years-long relationship with their spiritual director as a companion on that journey. And others fall in between, finding spiritual direction a meaningful support for a particular season in their lives. There is no one way.
Where Do We Meet?
I meet with people on Zoom or in-person in my home office or garden in the East Bay (SF Bay Area).
Fees
My fee is $125 for a one-hour session. My fee supports mine and my family’s well-being, and I am committed to making the practice of spiritual direction accessible. If $125 is beyond your budget, be in touch and let’s talk about what is possible.