Giving Away Your Power

Last updated on: June 8, 2015 at 12:55 pm By Teresa Blythe

Spiritual direction is about claiming your own power and God’s power within you. The code of ethics that spiritual directors abide by expressly prohibits us from becoming gurus. To be the person who gives advice, admonishes or fixes your problem is to take your personal power away. Never, ever give your personal power away to another human being! Kumare is a fascinating documentary illustrating this dynamic. Billed “a true film about a false prophet,” Kumare is a social experiment by... Read more

Why I remain a contemplative Christian

Last updated on: June 4, 2015 at 1:02 pm By Teresa Blythe

Although I often work in spiritual direction with people from no religious background, I am no “none.” While I’m open to spiritual practices from a variety of religious traditions and am proud to have close friends who are atheists, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and everything in between, I remain a committed progressive contemplative Christian. I don’t seek to convert anyone because I do not wish to be converted–that “do unto others” rule that Jesus emphasized is paramount for me. I’m comfortable... Read more

Summer Slowdown

Last updated on: June 2, 2015 at 4:16 pm By Teresa Blythe

Warm weather invites us to slow down but how many of us really accept that invitation? Our jobs certainly don’t slow down just because the summer is here. We just slog through at the same high-speed pace even as our bodies cry out for a break. It is hard spiritual work to listen to our bodies and the rhythm of the seasons while also maintaining jobs, clean homes, connections with friends and staying “in the loop.” Something has to give.... Read more

Five Ways to Deepen a Conversation

Last updated on: May 4, 2015 at 1:04 pm By Teresa Blythe

Spiritual directors have five conversational tools we use to help the person we are talking with share more deeply. These aren’t secrets and you don’t have to be a spiritual director to use them. They are especially helpful if the person you are talking with feels safe with you and wants to talk about important aspects of their life. They are “hospitality-in-action.” Silence. Listen in order to understand what the person is saying and not to develop your own witty... Read more

New Life: The Heart of Spiritual Direction

Last updated on: April 3, 2015 at 11:41 am By Teresa Blythe

People sometimes wonder if Christians of the progressive, liberal, contemplative persuasion (like me) believe–really believe—in resurrection. Although I don’t usually share Christological perspectives in this blog, I’m making an exception this week. It doesn’t matter to me how Jesus of Nazareth lived on after the crucifixion. What matters to me is that new life is possible. That is at the heart of spiritual direction, whether you do it from a strictly Christian perspective or if you take a more multi-faith approach... Read more

We hold joy and sorrow together

Last updated on: March 23, 2015 at 5:05 pm By Teresa Blythe

One of the hardest aspects of life is to hold onto joy while the world around us is teeming with violence. Last Wednesday morning I was having a leisurely prayer time after which I clicked on Google News to discover that a man had gone on a shooting spree in Mesa, AZ just 20 miles east of my house at the same time I was meditating. Just a few blocks from my house is a lovely park with a duck pond, historic buildings and... Read more

Superbowl Discernment Lesson

Last updated on: February 3, 2015 at 8:46 am By Teresa Blythe

We’ve all had a Seattle moment. It’s a crucial time, we have the power and the means but instead of using what we know we opt for the risky move and……game over, we lose. In spiritual discernment it is important to not just gather as many facts about the practical situation but to pay attention to them! Many voices in our culture tell us, “take risks, it’s OK to fail—that’s how we learn.” That’s good advice if we are timid... Read more

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Spiritual Practices

Last updated on: January 19, 2015 at 1:24 pm By Teresa Blythe

The MLK holiday is the perfect time to reflect on the spiritual practices that kept one of the most famous civil rights activists connected to God. I encountered this list of practices in seminary when we studied William O. Paulsell’s classic book Rules for Prayer. People of prayer frequently have intentional practices and attitudes that they cultivate. Based on St. Benedict’s famous “Rule” for his order, we call these “Rules for Prayer.” Rule doesn’t mean mandatory or obligatory. It’s an... Read more

Holy Terror! Spiritual Guides and Violence

Last updated on: January 12, 2015 at 1:50 pm By Teresa Blythe

The CNN headline was jarring to anyone in spiritual leadership: “The Paris terrorists were connected to an al-Qaeda spiritual mentor.” As if it could be possible for any spiritual guide from any religion to advise his or her students to commit violence. Of course anyone can claim to be a spiritual mentor. Just like anyone can claim the title of spiritual director or spiritual companion. There are lots of narcissistic people in the world who would love to have the... Read more

Spiritual Direction in the New Year

Last updated on: January 6, 2015 at 7:19 am By Teresa Blythe

Perhaps one of your goals for 2015 is to explore spiritual direction. Here’s what you need to know to get started. Spiritual direction is a confidential monthly one-on-one session devoted to your relationship with the Divine. The spiritual director’s job is to accompany you as you explore life experiences–challenges, questions, blessings, insights and awareness. Your job as directee is to simply come with a willingness to share your experiences with the director. Spiritual direction is not just for clergy or... Read more