Pathways to Divine Connection for the Everyday Seeker

There are several different approaches to accompanying individuals on their spiritual journeys and each approach has its own unique emphasis and technique. Here I will present some key differences between Ignatian spiritual direction and other well-known forms of direction.

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Ignatian Spiritual Direction

Developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, Ignatian spiritual direction practice emphasizes the use of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius aimed at deepening one's relationship with God. This form of direction focuses on discernment and decision-making, using methods like the Ignatian prayer of Examen to reflect on daily life and notice God's presence. This practice encourages direct engagement with scripture, imaginative prayer, and the uses of your 5 senses in prayer. It places strong importance on self-awareness, consolation/desolation as indicators of a directee's spiritual state.

Benedictine Spiritual Direction

This practice is rooted in the Benedictine monastic tradition, primarily associated with the Rule of St. Benedict. It emphasizes the importance of stability, obedience, and the daily rhythm of prayer (Liturgy of the Hours) and work within a monastic community as well as prayer, lectio divina (sacred reading), and mindfulness in your daily tasks. High values of this tradition include silence, solitude, and a life of simplicity, humility, and stability. Directors that practice this form of direction primarily come from within the monastic community.

Franciscan Spiritual Direction

Inspired by the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi, this form of spiritual direction focuses on a deep connection with nature and the natural world, reflecting St. Francis' love for creation. A lifestyle of simplicity, poverty and service to the marginalized are key to this practice as well as the importance of the imitation of Christ with a strong focus on love, compassion and empathy. A directee might be guided in this practice to experience the presence of God through simple acts of kindness and service.

In summary, there are many traditions that spiritual direction practice can be modeled after and in many cases they seem to have some overlapping qualities. There are other common forms that I have not touched on in this post, such as: Dominican, Caramelite, Lutheran, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox.

My formal training has been in the tradition of Ignatian spiritual direction. I'm aware that finding a fit that works best for you can be a confusing task, but I hope these explanations of de-mystified some of your options and encourage you in a starting point.