Profile: Eden Spiritual Care is a non-profit organization that believes Christ-centered spiritual formation and growth opportunities are not a luxury for a small segment of society, but are essential for everyone. We offer free online growth classes, and spiritual direction and retreats on a pay-what-you-can basis. Current spiritual directors are Sierra Neiman Westbrook, MDiv, and Samantha Gilbertson, MA. Visit us online at www.edenspiritualcare.og.

Profile: On the Third Day (OTTD) - Renewal and Formation Center is an ecumenical ministry that provides spiritual accompaniment for those who want to seek God and desire to respond to His call. For almost a decade, OTTD has been offering spiritual direction and spiritual formation that have helped seekers in developing an intimate relationship with God. Our retreats are held at the Cherimoya Eco-Spirituality & Retreat Center in Calamba, Laguna. For more information about us and our programs, please visit www.spiritualformation.center

Profile: Welcome to the Spiritual Direction Certification Program (SDCP) at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) page! We are glad the Holy Spirit brought you here! Here, you can learn about spiritual direction, and our training program. WHAT IS SPIRITUAL DIRECTION? Holy Listening - This is at the core of spiritual direction. Spiritual direction is listening to the nudging of the Holy Spirit in someone’s life, in companionship with another human being. The real and most genuine spiritual director is always the Holy Spirit. Discernment - This is the practice of prayerfully seeking how God is guiding us in life. As Saint Benedict states, it’s “listening with the ear of the heart to God’s purpose for our lives.” It is a practice that is cultivated through spiritual direction. Spiritual Direction lets us know if we are walking in the way that leads us more deeply into God’s love. In a world of so much suffering, along with so many possibilities, discernment is ever more important. It is knowing what is the next right step to take, that leads a person to God. To have a sense of clarity around “What is God calling in my life in this situation/question?” Community - This relationship takes place between the Holy Spirit, the directee, and director. It fosters an experience of holy community. Those receiving direction (directees) receive the grace of being held by another’s listening presence, and the presence of God. HOW DOES ONE BECOME A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR? Contemplative Life - In one sense, a person can become a Spiritual Director by nurturing a contemplative life. It is a practice of contemplation, in which one cultivates comfort with sitting in silence with God, and listening. Certification - In another sense, a person can complete a certification program like the one offered at LTSS. WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM IS OFFERED AT LTSS? Spiritual direction training in the Christian tradition is based in the work of the Holy Spirit. It has been practiced throughout church history, from the time of Jesus with his disciples until now. Our program offers an experience grounded in the Trinitarian faith. However, we recognize that there is deep spiritual wisdom in other faith traditions. We draw upon those traditions, and integrate them into a Christian perspective. WHAT DOES LTSS’S PROGRAM ENTAIL? Participating in four residential intensives, each January and June, for two years. The intensives always begin on a Wednesday at noon, and end on the following Saturday at noon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the January 2021 intensive will be held completely online. We hope to return to residential intensives in June 2021, but that decision has not been made official. Each cycle consists of a cohort of 16 persons. Each cohort is split into two groups, and each group has its own mentor. WHAT IS REQUIRED OF PARTICIPANTS BETWEEN INTENSIVES? Discerning and meeting regularly with a spiritual director, if you do not already have one Discerning a willing person to be your spiritual directee Worshipping experiences during the four intensives Learning from expert instructors in the spiritual life Reading key books and short reaction papers CYCLE 5 (2021-2022) INTENSIVE DATES: January 13-16, 2021 June TBD, 2021 January 5-8, 2022 June TBD, 2022 CYCLE 5 GROUP MENTORS: Angela Ford Nelson Herman Yoos CYCLE 5 INSTRUCTORS TBD CYCLE 5 COSTS: The total cost for the two-year cycle is $3,000, which includes tuition and meals during residential intensives. Most participants in the past have made four payments of $750. They would typically bring their payment to campus when they arrived for each residential intensive. Since the January 2021 intensive will be held completely online, we are unable to include meals. As a result, we are reducing the tuition cost by $88, which would bring the January ’21 payment down to just $662, and the total tuition cost would be $2,911. PROGRAM LOCATION The Spiritual Direction Certification Program is housed at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, which is located near downtown Columbia, South Carolina. INTENSIVE LODGING: Participants typically find their own lodging. A limited number of accommodations are available on the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary campus for $25/night. As January 2021’s intensive will be held online, housing arrangements are not necessary. SHOULD I APPLY TO THE PROGRAM AT LTSS? Everyone is Welcome to Apply - The primary purpose of this certification program is to train people who feel called to be a spiritual companion; however, those who have already been on the contemplative journey and who wish to deepen their own spiritual practices are also welcome. With spiritual discernment questions, contact the Spiritual Direction Certification Program Director, Dr. Melanie Dobson, at melanie.dobson@lr.edu or (919) 724-3557. With administrative/application completion questions, or to email application materials, contact the Academy for Faith and Leadership Registrar, Mrs. Ellen Girardeau, at (803) 461-3237 or ellen.girardeau@lr.edu.

Profile: Located in Indianapolis, IN, each learning cohort (8 to 12 participants) is trained in a classical approach to spiritual direction. Participants gather at the Abbey for five (two-day) intensives per year for two years. Year One provides a strong introduction to spiritual direction and is a year of discerning one’s calling to spiritual direction. Year Two is for those who feel called to offer spiritual direction (formally or informally) and provides more in-depth knowledge and skill-based training in the art of spiritual direction. Every intensive in Year One and Two is a combination of process and praxis. In addition, throughout this program strong focus is given to the deepening of each participant’s spiritual life and contemplative practice. A bonus are the lifelong friendships often forged through this small cohort experience! For more information or to request a syllabus, please contact Beth Booram at beth.booram@fallcreekabbey.org or visit our website at fallcreekabbey.org.

Profile: Spiritual Companion/Director, MorningStar Renewal Center – Retreat and Conference facilitator. Director of Spiritual Companionship Program, St. Thomas University – 3 year certificate program.

Profile: My definition of spiritual direction is to take a long, loving look at what is real (Presence), to seek freedom from bondage (tangles and knots), to savor and celebrate with the Holy, to discover a deeper meaning and purpose in life. Together we will listen, explore, and tend your relationship with the Holy. This spiritual work emerges from your image of God/Source/Breath as we encourage a developing language that is a natural expression of your relationship. Tending body, mind, and spirit, we will discover new life together. I work with individuals and groups in spiritual direction and in supervision of spiritual directors. Inviting the whole self to these sessions, I invite imagination and creativity with art, music, and written expression. My passion: accompanying individuals and groups in the spiritual walk. My training: MDIV and DMIN from SMU Perkins School of Theology, Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary, Supervision Training with Together in the Mystery. I am a co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson (Dallas), TX. I meet with individuals and small groups here. I also meet via telephone and video conference. You may visit my website for fees and booking information: https://prayingthelectionary.life/ With a grateful heart, Lil

Profile: We welcome you to explore the Self-care Institute at Golden Apple Healing Arts! In keeping with a 400-year-old nursing tradition of Gentle Medicine and caring companionship, the Self-Care Institute Ivy League was formed, those who would utilize the Elements of Care program to promote Self-care, caregiving, and nursing as a spiritual path of deep love and truth inspired by people and plants! The Self-care Institute provides sustainable programs, personalized consultation services, webinars, retreats, and resources that are always meaningful, mindful, and memorable! The Elements of Care training program incorporates healing traditions that have stood the test of time and innovations in pattern science to promote informed choices about Gentle Medicine Self-care with plants as partners that result in greater balance in body and peace of mind. Dr. Martha Libster, educator, psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, Herbal Diplomat, award-winning healthcare historian, and improvisational poet, is leading teams dedicated to the transformation of American, global healthcare, and climate change that begins with the elements of Self (with a capital S). To learn more visit us online www.Self-careInstitute.org

Profile: Julie O’Connor is a spiritual director providing individual and group spiritual direction, a retreat facilitator and a Certified Enneagram instructor and coach. She also develops programs and processes to prepare facilitators to lead formation and formative experiences. Julie joined Ascension in February of 2012 to lead the Foundations of Ministry Leadership Formation Program. Prior to joining Ascension, she served for 32 years at Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, TN including roles as Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Director of Mission, Ethics and Pastoral Care, Director of Transformational Leadership and Change Management and Vice President of Mission and Leadership Formation. Julie also served as Director of Adult Formation at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. Her mission is to continue her own spiritual journey to wholeness in union with God and to assist others to grow into the fullness of who they were created to be as they awaken and respond to the unfolding path of their vocation. Julie is a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Alabama. She received her MA in Pastoral Theology from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana. When not cheering for the Crimson Tide, Julie enjoys golf, kayaking, and walking in nature along with spiritual reading and porch pondering with a cup of tea.

Profile: In addition to Pittsburgh, I am available through the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality in Charleston, West Virginia, where we offer training and ongoing supervision. www.wvInstituteforSpirituality.org

Profile: Sandra is the founder of Bread of Life Center in Sacramento and a Spiritual Director and supervisor. Her passion is creating processes and pathways for awakening to the depth dimension of life in the everyday moments where we are each met by the Holy. There are many doorways into the depths and a particular one many of her directees share is through trauma where "vulnerability is the portal and grief is the work." She works with people of diverse backgrounds from those formed by particular faith traditions to those of no particular affiliation. Since 1996, she has been involved in the formation of Spiritual Directors and leaders of religious and public organizations. Sandra also serves as a retreat leader, dialogue facilitator, and mentor. She has published several articles about Spiritual Direction in Presence and in books for spiritual directors. She served on the Council of Spiritual Directors International from 1999-2005.

Profile: As a Spiritual Friend/Companion/Director, I partner with you to help you identify and overcome those obstacles that are holding you back from being the person you really long to be, and from connecting with your Higher Power (however you might define it) as you might want to. By using a combination of techniques including deep listening, careful dialogue and analysis, intuitive insight based on your own experiences, and, as appropriate, meditative discernment, among others, you'll be able to progress on your own spiritual path, and get closer to your own sense of union with the Universe, God, the divine, or however you might refer to the ground of all being. With this new perspective, you will likely also find renewed purpose if you are feeling stuck in quick sand, or bogged down by stale routines, an unhappy work situation, challenging relationships, or fair weather friends. You will lead the process; my job is to assist you. A little more about my background: I'm an ordained Zen Buddhist Monk, with a fourty year meditation practice, but deeply steeped, and fluent, across multiple religious and spiritual modalities. Born to a mother from Spain and a father from India, I was raised Roman Catholic, but with a Buddhist father. My international upbringing also allowed me extensive exposure, and immersion, in differing cultures and spiritual perspectives. I believe all paths lead to essence. I do not proselytize, and I'm very mindful that my job is to respectfully support you as you discern your own spiritual path forward. I have academic degrees in Philosophy, Theology, Literature, and a Master's from Harvard in Comparative Religions. I'm also well versed in shamanic approaches. I'm an immigrant, and speak fluent Spanish and French, in addition to English. Finally, I'm a lifelong learner, and committed to ongoing exploration and learning. I look forward to hearing from you, so we might ascertain whether we are well matched. May you all experience peace, hope and fulfilment.

Profile: Kairos Spiritual Direction Training (SDT) is designed not only for spiritual directors, but for all those who offer spiritual care and companionship. Training in spiritual direction and deep listening provides effective tools for interpersonal relationships, especially when working with those different than yourself. Develop your personal and professional skills of deep listening and learn to incorporate spirituality to create a more holistic understanding of yourself and those around you. SDT is rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus and informed by Ignatian spirituality and the wisdom tradition. Contemplative spirituality is compatible with a spectrum of denominational and theological positions including those who claim no tradition. Kairos Spiritual Direction Training at PRC features: –Spiritual Kinship: Broaden the application of spiritual direction by meeting with and offering spiritual kinship to someone on the margins, through PRC’s work in the Community Meal Program in Lancaster City and/or with immigrants held at York Detention Center. –Certificate Program: Students receive a certificate at completion of their two-year program to certify their advanced training in Spiritual Direction and accompanying skills. SDT includes desirable professional and skill development for many career paths. –Cohort Training: Participants come from a wide variety of backgrounds and bring a range of expertise to contribute to your unique cohort. Each cohort of students remains together through both years, encouraging deep connections to form between peers on this shared journey. –Supervised Direction: Ample time is given to real-world practice in being a spiritual companion. Students reflect on these direction sessions and receive feedback and guidance by the faculty. This intensive, hands-on learning process increases each student’s skills and confidence. Through this course, students will learn and develop skills in deep listening and noticing the presence of God as they practice being spiritual companions. Ample practicums and supervision give students the best chance to implement their learning, receive feedback, and hone their skills. Students have the opportunity to practice spiritual kinship with those on the margins who may not normally have the chance to participate. Students will nurture a contemplative life through times of reflection and as they work with their own Spiritual Director.