I received spiritual direction at first, because of study. Initially I was fulfilling my counselling studies requirements. What came out of my sessions was both life changing and confidence building. At a time when I was transitioning into a new home, living by myself for the first time, it really helped having my spiritual director to both talk to and garner wisdom from. I have grown in confidence to face the difficult decisions in life and have learned the deeper truths of how much God loves me, consistently and how this impacts my needs for security and safety.
My experience of spiritual direction is multifaceted. I have learned so much and value the insight and questions that my spiritual director asked me, to go deeper into the issues we were discussing. Spiritual direction has felt like a journey, side by side with a supportive and faithful friend. I truly appreciate this experience.
Spiritual Direction inspires me to continue to faithfully and consistently be open to the questions in life and be unafraid to talk with God and be honest about how I am going/feeling. Spiritual direction has enabled me to grow as a Christian through challenging me on unhelpful ideas I didn’t know I believed and through supportive, warm hearted discussions. I never felt judged, rather I felt encouraged and enthused to implement the ideas and discoveries we had found together in our talks.
Overall I have become inspired to share my story with my friends and family to encourage them to explore Spiritual Direction for themselves.

I receive spiritual direction because I want a trusted and experienced person to guide the growth of my prayer life and help me avoid being led astray. My experience of Spiritual Direction has been powerful and reassuring. With a good guide I have the freedom to explore the way to God. Spiritual direction has inspired me to continually orient my daily life toward God through daily prayer, and to do this in an examined and evolving practice.

I received spiritual direction because I was at a time when my childhood beliefs about God were being challenged by the events in my life. I needed a trusted place to explore my doubts about my faith.
My experience of spiritual direction has been a rich and generous response to that search. Spiritual direction taught me to discern God’s movement in my life and it modelled the unconditional love, concern and presence that I have come to understand in God.
Spiritual direction has inspired me to make a commitment to make it an on going part of my life as a way to discern, explore, question and rejoice in my spiritual journey. I am very grateful for the wonderful gift of my spiritual director.

I receive spiritual direction because I felt a little lost and this was exacerbated by the isolation of an extended lockdown during the pandemic in Melbourne. It seems a long time since I had some moments of joy in my life. I have seen psychologists previously, and was looking for something different from standard ‘talking’ therapy. I wanted something that acknowledged my faith, even though I am not particularly traditional in my approach to this.
My experience of spiritual direction is I am listened to with respect, gentleness and I appreciate the wisdom of the Director. At each session, there is a gem – something that encourages me to reframe and think a little differently. I have found the ‘Sleeping off the Scars’ prayer to be very helpful. My director is very skilled and picks up themes in our sessions, gently reflecting these back to me for my consideration.
Spiritual direction inspires me to remember the power of prayer, consider my relation with Spirit, be honest with myself and reach out to others when I need a little help.

I receive spiritual direction because I knew that I had come to a place in my spiritual journey where I needed a companion and guide. Spiritual direction has nurtured me to mature faith. When I began I was quite naive. Even theological study kept me at an academic distance and in my head. Work in spiritual direction brought me into body and heart understanding.
My experience of spiritual direction has been life-giving. I have been challenged at times to see my experience in ways that I would rather ignore or look away from. So, life has sometimes come out of death of old ways of thinking.
Spiritual direction has inspired me to an understanding of a pattern of growth in the Spirit. I have been directed in the path of nourishing reading . It has enabled me to move into a broader understanding of my own Tradition. It has given me the tools for a closer walk with God.

I receive spiritual direction because when I began I was going through a very difficult time in my life.
My experience of spiritual direction has been that it has provided a safe place for me to explore many human and faith related issues, to experience deep friendship ( soul friendship), encouragement and support, to learn to listen to and trust my inner voice, and to live from a deeper and more centred place.
Spiritual direction has inspired me to live with more compassion towards myself and others. Through spiritual direction I have gone on to become a spiritual director myself.