May - 2017

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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 common themes such as shadow material, prayer struggles, images of God, dreamwork, and the emotional dynamics that shape our 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.

A green leaf with a droplet falls into rippling water against a blurred blue-green background, creating a serene and refreshing mood suggesting how we fall like a drop into the ocean of the divine in meditation.

A green leaf with a droplet falls into rippling water against a blurred blue-green background, creating a serene and refreshing mood suggesting how we fall like a drop into the ocean of the divine in meditation.

Christian Meditation: Consent to the Presence of God

Christian meditation invites us into a way of prayer that is less about effort and more about consent — consenting to the presence of God already at work within us. Rather than striving to reach God, meditation gently disposes us to awaken to the divine life that is our very ground and source. Meditation as Receptivity In its broadest terms, we can think of Christian meditation as a way of calming our minds and hearts to offer the least resistance to the graced event of reali

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

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

Frost-covered branches with orange leaves against a blurred, pastel background. Snowflakes falling softly, creating a peaceful winter scene suggesting the softness and vulnerability of heart we need in our spiritual life.

Frost-covered branches with orange leaves against a blurred, pastel background. Snowflakes falling softly, creating a peaceful winter scene suggesting the softness and vulnerability of heart we need in our spiritual life.

A Soft Heart: Vulnerability and the 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.

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 Spiritual Life Becomes Unsafe

Depth as a Place of Listening

The Director’s Inner Work: Why It Matters

Dreams, the Unconscious, and Spiritual Maturity

Shame and the Spiritual Journey: Healing the Inner World with Compassion

Listening to the Heart: Spiritual Direction as Contemplative Presence

Depth Spiritual Direction: Tending Soul and Spirit

Images of God: How Theology Shapes Our Experience of the Divine

Working with our Dreams in the Spiritual Life Part III

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

Themes

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