The Art of Spiritual Direction

Now Accepting Interest for 2024-25 Program Year

Southern California Track 2024 interest list
Online Track 2024 interest list

The Art of Spiritual Direction now has two tracks, in-person and online. This program allows us greater flexibility moving into the future.

The in-person track will meet primarily in-person in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, one Saturday a month. The online track will meet only on Zoom, most often joining the in-person class remotely one Saturday a month, but occasionally meeting separately.

Both tracks will meet in small groups on Zoom once in between the regular Saturday sessions and will occasionally meet together as a full cohort online.

Spaces are limited in both the in-person and online tracks, with preference for the online track given to those who cannot meet in person in California.

Applicants must declare which track they are applying for and changes will not be permitted once the program year begins.

We are excited about this natural evolution of our program, which will allow us to take full advantage of the gifts of both in-person and online learning environments, while also being more accessible to wider group of people.

Spiritual Direction – is an ancient ministry, a unique one-to-one relationship in which a trained person assists another person in the search for an ever-closer union of love with God.

Spiritual Direction – explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human, helping people tell their sacred stories every day.

Spiritual Direction – takes into account that people experience and respond to God/Spirit (Higher Power) in different ways, influenced in part by their life experience, personality, temperament, and religious or cultural background; and that spiritual awareness and growth involves the whole person body, mind, and spirit.

Spiritual Direction – has a long, rich history within the contemplative traditions. Today, spiritual direction is more "holy listening," than providing "direction" in the sense of offering guidance or direct advice. The focus is on the relationship between the individual and God rather than on the relationship between the individual and the director.

Spiritual Direction – opens us to discerning what is “ours to do” to bring about justice and equality in our world.

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Preparing to become a spiritual companion for another is its own sacred journey. It requires a willingness to explore our own depths while learning the art of sacred listening. Because of the seriousness of this vocational path a period of discernment in community is required by Stillpoint. 

For those who already have training and practice in spiritual leadership, such as ordained clergy, chaplains and lay leaders, this Introductory Orientation serves as a prerequisite to Stillpoint's two-year intensive formation program in The Art of Spiritual Direction.

An interview is required as part of the application process to determine whether or not this program is appropriate for you. Our 3-Day Orientation is offered in June 2024. 

This program is designed as a small group, experience-based approach for you to explore your own call to become a spiritual director. Your participation will help you discover how your spiritual life can develop, how spiritual direction work can be a powerful resource for you and others, and how you can discern the next steps in your own spiritual journey.

Those who do not participate in the 3-Day Orientation are required to participate in our 8-month The Spiritual Journey program, beginning in September 2024. In this contemplative program, participants listen to their call and their gifts for this work.

Upon completion of one of these prerequisites, an application process advances interns into our 2-year program.

In year one of the program, we spend time every month practicing the art of spiritual direction and companionship with the guidance of seasoned spiritual directors. This experiential approach is a signature part of our curriculum and every year graduates tell us that this is where they truly claimed their gift of presence to others.

Assignments include both readings on spiritual direction and spirituality topics, and writing short papers. Half way through year one, interns seek out and begin doing spiritual direction with an individual in their community.

Each intern is assigned a mentor. Mentors are staff spiritual directors who will offer guidance, feedback, prayers and support as well as a means of staying in community with all Stillpoint faculty and fellow interns.

In year two of the program, participants deepen their self-understanding by doing inner work on archetypes, shadow, dreams and grief. The focus of this year is on both the art of spiritual direction and on exploring what happens within the director during the direction session. During this year, interns work independently with two individuals in their community.

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WHO ARE OUR INTERNS?

Stillpoint’s program welcomes those from many spiritual traditions, while being rooted in contemplative spirituality. Those who choose Stillpoint’s program are lay or clergy, hospital, prison, hospice and school chaplains, formation directors, therapists, activists and other soul care workers. We are an inclusive community. We welcome all ages, genders, spiritual traditions, sexualities and ethnicities. We celebrate the gifts of this diversity.

For many Stillpoint graduates this formation leads to a one-to-one Spiritual Direction practice and retreat leadership while others will apply it in their work in aspects of their pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, teaching, family, and in service to the homeless, immigrant and refugee communities. Our interns come to learn from a seasoned program and the sacred desert land, but soon find that it is the cohort community created by the intimacy of working together that they value just as much.

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STILLPOINT APPROACH

+ Practical experience: Our program provides a safe and supportive setting for interns to gain knowledge and experience guided by seasoned spiritual directors. Interns then practice what they have learned in their community. Students are also expected to be in spiritual direction for themselves during the program.

+ Strong community: You will be in a small group of 12-20 interns to learn and grow together. When not gathered together for required program dates, interns are encourage to stay connected through intercessory prayer and via email or phone, and will also work with a mentor and a supervisor.

+ A contemplative approach: Through deep listening we acknowledge that we have the wisdom within us.

+ Integration: Our program incorporates best practices in psychology, body wisdom, journaling and varied spiritual practices from different spiritual traditions.

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TOPICS

Southern California Track Location: Westwood Neighborhood, Los Angeles, CA.

Online Track Location: ZOOM

The 2024-25 program year begins August 2024 and runs through May 2025:

• August 17

• September 7

• October 5

• November 9

• December 14

• January 18

• February 15

• March 8

• April 12

• May 10

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Year 1 Application Process

Fill out an interest form for your location:
Southern California Track Interest Form
Online Track Interest Form

Complete our online application no later than June 1.

Pay your $25.00 non-refundable application fee when you submit your online form, no later than June 1.

Arrange for 1-2 references to be filled out (send the reference link to those who will be providing a reference for you). Your reference(s) should be from your spiritual director and/or your Spiritual Journey facilitator.

Have a phone Interview with Stillpoint staff.

Year 2 Application Process

If you have completed year 1 and are going on to year 2, please fill out the required application that will be sent to you.

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On admittance, you will be asked to pay a $250 non-refundable deposit to hold your space. The remainder of your tuition can be made in-full or in installments, due in full no later than December 31, 2024.

Total tuition is $2,400 per year (plus a $25 application fee for year one). The cost per year includes all instruction, personal mentoring, and all materials except books.

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Click here to meet our California faculty.

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Questions?

Contact Stillpoint Administrator, Krystle Hart: khart@stillpointca.org