December - 2015

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Anne Solomon
BA MA CPsychol AFBPsS

Welcome to Reflections on the Spiritual Life

Here you will find articles on spiritual direction, psychology and spirituality, contemplative practice, and the deeper movements of the spiritual life. Drawing on decades of experience in psychospiritual work and spiritual accompaniment, these reflections explore themes such as shadow material, struggles in spiritual practice, images of God, dreamwork, and the emotional dynamics that shape the spiritual journey.

Whether you are seeking support in your own inner life or resources for spiritual direction practice,

I hope these writings offer clarity, depth, and encouragement.

Falling snow, a vintage lamp post, and a serene Christmassy atmosphere evoking the play on the carol 'Silent mind, Holy Mind.'.

Falling snow, a vintage lamp post, and a serene Christmassy atmosphere evoking the play on the carol 'Silent mind, Holy Mind.'.

Silent Mind, Holy Mind: A Christmas Reflection Across Traditions

Looking through the eyes of another can bring into fresh focus those things familiarity can too easily obscure. So, at this Christmas time I share some reflections on the birth and teachings of Jesus Christ as offered by the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Yeshe (1935–1984) from talks he gave in the Christmases of 1971-74 when first encountering Western students in Kathmandu.* Although disenchanted with the Christianity of their homelands, and seeking alternative answers in Bud

Featured Posts

A contemplative image of gentle hands tending a small inner garden or luminous vessel, with roots extending downward into shadow and light rising softly above, symbolising depth spiritual direction, inner transformation, and attentive care of soul and spirit.

A contemplative image of gentle hands tending a small inner garden or luminous vessel, with roots extending downward into shadow and light rising softly above, symbolising depth spiritual direction, inner transformation, and attentive care of soul and spirit.

Depth Spiritual Direction: Tending Soul and Spirit

Silhouette of a reflective woman with an inner landscape of trees, a path, sun, and cross appear in soft green and yellow tones, creating a serene mood of someone engaging their inner world through guided imagery.

Silhouette of a reflective woman with an inner landscape of trees, a path, sun, and cross appear in soft green and yellow tones, creating a serene mood of someone engaging their inner world through guided imagery.

Guided Imagery in Spiritual Direction: Recovering a Creative, Ancient Practice

Jungian Psychology and Spiritual Direction

Jungian Psychology and Spiritual Direction

Jungian Psychology and Spiritual Direction

Watercolor painting of a garden with a central fountain, surrounded by colorful flowers and palm trees, representing the temenos of the inner garden. A enclosing wall and door in are in the foreground

Watercolor painting of a garden with a central fountain, surrounded by colorful flowers and palm trees, representing the temenos of the inner garden. A enclosing wall and door in are in the foreground

Temenos: The Sacred Space of Spiritual Direction

A god-like figure with white hair and beard wears a red robe, standing frighteningly among clouds with light beams, conveying a powerful presence depicting the scary image we often have deep inside from childhood of God as the distant sky-god.

A god-like figure with white hair and beard wears a red robe, standing frighteningly among clouds with light beams, conveying a powerful presence depicting the scary image we often have deep inside from childhood of God as the distant sky-god.

Letting Go of Toxic God-Images

Silhouette of bamboo leaves against a white sky, creating a dramatic and black-and-white contrast depicting the darkness and uncomfortable parts we can encounter on our spiritual journey.

Silhouette of bamboo leaves against a white sky, creating a dramatic and black-and-white contrast depicting the darkness and uncomfortable parts we can encounter on our spiritual journey.

The Spiritual Journey of Descent

Yellow full moon illuminating a dark forest with silhouetted trees. Deep blue night sky creates a serene and mysterious ambiance suggesting the light and dark of the shadow in the spiritual journey.

Yellow full moon illuminating a dark forest with silhouetted trees. Deep blue night sky creates a serene and mysterious ambiance suggesting the light and dark of the shadow in the spiritual journey.

Working with Our Shadow

Ornate spiral staircase with intricate yellow and pink patterns, viewed from below. Black wrought iron railing enhances elegance. It is a visual paradox in that it is unclear if it is turning upwards or downwards.

Ornate spiral staircase with intricate yellow and pink patterns, viewed from below. Black wrought iron railing enhances elegance. It is a visual paradox in that it is unclear if it is turning upwards or downwards.

Living With Paradox

Abstract art of two overlapping profiles in swirling warm hues, featuring blue and orange tones, creating a swirling, flowing mood suggesting the emotional currents we can find ourselves caught up in.

Abstract art of two overlapping profiles in swirling warm hues, featuring blue and orange tones, creating a swirling, flowing mood suggesting the emotional currents we can find ourselves caught up in.

Spiritual Life and Our Emotions: Toward Wholeness and Integration

Rublev’s Trinity icon, an image of sacred companionship and contemplative presence, expressing the relational heart of spiritual direction.

Rublev’s Trinity icon, an image of sacred companionship and contemplative presence, expressing the relational heart of spiritual direction.

Describing Spiritual Direction : Voices from a Living Tradition

Recent Posts

When the Guide Steps Back: Maturity, Authority, and Letting the Work Go

Depth Spiritual Direction: Listening for God Beneath the Story

Spiritual Direction and the Psychology of the Soul

The Shadow in the Spiritual Direction Room

God-Images and the Healing of the Inner World

Forgiveness and the Inner Life: A Psychospiritual Journey

Spiritual Maturity Is Not Emotional Niceness

From Role to Soul: Ageing as a Spiritual Threshold

Discernment Beyond Decision-Making: A Jungian Perspective

When the Spiritual Life Becomes Unsafe

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