Spiritual Direction is an ancient practice of supporting another in listening to the movement of the Spirit within and finding expression for that Spirit in the world. You can find out more about this process in various religious traditions by visiting the website of Spiritual Directors International. Since my own calling has been to explore the practice of dance as doorway to the sacred, I engage the art of movement as a tool in spiritual direction. I call this practice: Dancing Spiritual Direction. In the process of meeting with individuals, I weave together wisdom from dance-prayer, movement therapy, InterPlay, liturgical dance and gesture prayer, and invite directees into a journey of self-discovery and listening to Spirit through the practices of embodiment.
I meet with individuals for an hour a month and have a sliding scale fee for our time together. Appointments are held at a dance or yoga studio in the Seattle area. No previous movement experience is necessary, only a willingness to explore the body as instrument of Spirit. The character of each session is shaped by the individuals who come, honoring their life experiences, longings, religious traditions, body limitations and creative expressions in the world. My practice is currently full, but I would be happy to have a conversation with you if you are exploring the territory of dance and spirituality.
Many individuals feel more comfortable beginning to explore the process of movement and embodied practices in a group setting. My once-a-month class entitled SpiritPlay is an excellent place for beginning steps in exploration.
To learn more about the integration of the arts in the spiritual direction practice, refer to the book I co-authored with my colleague, Christine Valters Paintner entitled: Awakening the Creative Spirit: Brining the Arts to Spiritual Direction. Feel free to explore various retreats and programs that Christine and I offer at the Abbey of the Arts page and the Abbey of the Arts calendar.
Also, enjoy this interview with me conducted by Spiritual Directors International.
Other resources on dance and prayer include books by authors and friends of mind:
- Dance – the Sacred Art: The Joy of Movement as a Spiritual Practice by Cynthia Winton-Henry
- Embodied Prayer: Towards Wholeness of Body, Mind, Soul by Celeste Snowber
If you need some encouragement to explore the art of movement as prayer, be inspired by this quote from modern dance pioneer, Martha Graham:
Dance is the hidden language of the soul. Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion. – Martha Graham
If you are interested in exploring any of aspect of Spiritual Direction, please contact me.