UU Spiritual Direction Network

Why Explore your Spiritual Direction?

Perhaps you notice an awakening of the Spirit and want to explore this mystery.
Perhaps prayer and meditation have been enduring practices, and a deepening is desired.
Perhaps you face a growing edge.
Perhaps you have questions about life's purpose.

The members of the Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Direction Network are professionals in spiritual direction. We are ordained and lay ministers who have earned credentials through formal spiritual direction training programs. We expect our members to adhere to the ethical guidelines for Spiritual Direction and to be a member of (at least one of) UUMA/UUSCM/LREDA/AUUMM.

Our spiritual wellsprings are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Pagan, Theist, Humanist and more. Guided by the practices of spiritual direction from a variety of religious traditions, we work with others, companioning and witnessing to their sacred stories and grace-filled moments. Spiritual direction guides and companions customarily meet with others one-on-one or in small groups on a regular basis.

For more information on individual or group spiritual direction, to locate a UUSDN member, and to begin the process, please see the page of questions to consider when choosing a spiritual guide or companion, then browse our Directory of Members sorted geographically or alphabetically.

Articles and Web sites of interest.

For centuries and across religious traditions spiritual directors have helped people along the way.Spiritual Direction is a way of leading us to see and follow the real Director — the Holy Spirit hidden in the depths of our soul.— Thomas Merton

HONORARIA:

Spiritual Direction seeks to serve persons of all economic situations. Because spiritual guides and companions make their living from this work, an honorarium is requested. Many guides/companions offer pay-from-the-heart or sliding scales. ALWAYS ASK! Amounts ranging from $50-$150 for individual meetings, depending on geo-region, training, and need, are typical. We urge you to find an arrangement that feels ethical and encourages reciprocity in right relationship.

SUPERVISION:

We require UUSDN members to participate in formal supervision. We list the type of supervision on each listing: peer group or individual.

Members: If you do not have access to a local supervisor, click HERE for supervisors.

Artwork by Peg Green The object of spiritual direction is to cultivate one's ability to discern God's presence in one's life: to notice and appreciate moments of holiness, to maintain an awareness of the interconnectedness of all things, to explore ways to be open to the Blessed Holy One in challenging and difficult moments as well as in joyful ones.— Rabbi Jacob Staub

We require our UUSDN spiritual companions to have completed training and engaged in a formation process to establish a baseline of ethical and skillful professionalism. The profession does not yet have an accrediting body so UUSDN has established these criteria. (revised February 18, 2021)

Training: (RECOMMENDED SCHOOLS)

- At least 180 classroom hours (in program or with program plus continuing education)
- Some in-person didactic (e.g., not entirely online/asynchronous.)

- Training includes two or more leaders/teachers, who have several years of experience as professionals in spiritual direction and/or supervision training.
- Program is accountable to a religious organization or academic institution and/or has ongoing oversight from a board of directors (where that board contains professional spiritual directors.)

Formation:

- Training in a spiritual direction program and/or continuing education over a period of at least 18 months
- At least 2 years participation in individual spiritual direction
- Commitment to continue receiving spiritual direction

Supervised Praxis:

- At least 18 supervised seeker-hours working with at least 2 different seekers over at least 6 months
- Commitment to continue in supervision

To apply for membership in UUSDN, or to update your listing, click HERE.