Ethics & Good Practice in Spiritual Direction
An ethical framework for spiritual direction, accompaniment, mentoring and guidance. This framework emerged from a particular moment of discernment within the spiritual direction community in the UK, when questions of accountability, responsibility, and safeguarding were becoming increasingly pressing, yet formal structures remained underdeveloped. While the original project that commissioned this work did not continue, the questions it sought to address have only grown in re
'The Treasures of Darkness'*: Working with the Shadow in Spiritual Direction
In spiritual direction, moments of crisis often bring people face to face with aspects of themselves they would rather not see. This reflection explores the place of the Shadow in the spiritual life, and why engaging honestly with what we repress or deny can become a vital part of spiritual growth and transformation. Drawing on Jungian psychology and long experience in spiritual direction, I reflect on how working with the Shadow can become a source not of shame, but of heali
Accreditation for Spiritual Directors?
At the moment, in England, Wales and Scotland, there is no form of accreditation for spiritual directors. Other countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Ireland do have accrediting bodies that can set standards and offer some form of public accountability. In Canada spiritual directors have a path of certification by a state regulating body. In England, however, anyone can call themselves a spiritual director, whether they have received some form of training or not. Altho
Working with Our Dreams in the Spiritual Life Part II
When we begin to attend to our dreams, we often sense that they are carrying more than we can grasp at first glance. Their meaning unfolds slowly, inviting imagination, reflection, and prayerful engagement rather than quick interpretation. In this second article, I explore ways of being with a dream more deeply, allowing its symbolic language to open and speak in its own time. In the previous article, Working with Our Dreams in the Spiritual Life – Part I , I explored some in
Symbolic Life & the Spiritual Path
Much of the spiritual life unfolds through symbol rather than explanation. Images, dreams, metaphors, and stories carry meanings that cannot be reduced to concepts alone, yet they shape how we encounter God, ourselves, and the world. This short reflection explores why symbolic life matters so deeply for spiritual maturity — and why reconnecting with it is essential for inner work on the spiritual path. Modern society may have lost something of the power of symbolic life, but
Working with our Dreams in the Spiritual Life Part I
Dreams have long been recognised as one of the ways the deeper life of the soul comes to expression. They arise unbidden, speak in images rather than concepts, and often linger with us in ways that invite reflection. In this first article, I explore why dreams matter in the spiritual life, and how we might begin to listen to them with attentiveness and care. Why Dreams Matter in the Spiritual Life In the Christian tradition, many people are becoming more interested again in w
Spiritual Life & Our Dreams: Dreams in the Christian Tradition
“Spiritual directors and gurus have always been listeners, but the language to which they listen is the ‘forgotten language’ of myths and dreams and symbols, the language of fundamental human experience.” — Kenneth Leech, Soul Friend Within the Christian tradition, dreams have long been regarded as one of the ways the inner life speaks — not in the language of doctrine or argument, but in symbol, image, and story. Dreams do not arrive as theological propositions. They arise f
Telling our Stories...
I was recently at a wonderful workshop for spiritual directors run by Pádraig Ó Tuama leader of the Corrymeela Community , Northern Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation organisation. As a poet and theologian, Pádraig is interested in storytelling, in how we tell our stories to ourselves and others: What are the deep narratives of our life's story trying to work their way out? Our particular stories of life circle round us, as themes weaving their way in and out of who
Soul, Spirituality & Psychology
Soul is the most common translation of the Hebrew word nephesh and the Greek word psyche . The biblical meanings of these concepts are richly varied. In the Old Testament, for example, the meanings of nephesh range from life, the inner person (particularly thoughts, feelings and passions), to the whole person, including the body. Similarly, in the New Testament, psyche carries such meaning as the totality of the person, physical life, mind and heart. Here, soul is presente
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
