Registration will open January 2025!

Stillpoint brings nearly 40 years of experience forming spiritual directors through our highly regarded program to the exhilarating landscapes of historic Ghost Ranch. Northern New Mexico offers a unique setting and an opportunity for spiritual broadening through interaction with local sacred communities including Sanctuario de Chimayo, Christ in the Desert Monastery, Dar al Islam and elders of the Santa Clara Pueblo.

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 ONLINE will be offered over three days, May 1-3, 2025. 

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 The Spiritual Journey Week at Ghost Ranch either May 19-25, 2025 or July 28 - August 3, 2025. In this contemplative Sabbath week, 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 (4 residential weeks at Ghost Ranch) 

In Weeks One and Two, we spend time nearly every day 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.

There are assignments before, during and after each week. Assignments include both readings on spiritual direction and spirituality topics, and writing short papers. After Week One, interns seek out and begin doing spiritual direction with an individual in their community.

In between our weeks together at Ghost Ranch, your cohort is divided into small Wisdom Circles with an assigned staff 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. Wisdom Circles will connect monthly via Zoom video conferencing.

In Weeks Three and Four, participants deepen their self-understanding by doing inner work on archetypes, shadow, dreams and grief. These weeks focus on both the art of spiritual direction and on exploring what happens within the director during the direction session. After Week Three, interns work independently with two individuals in their community in the practice of spiritual companionship.

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Cohort 16 begins in November 2025 and runs through March 2027. Week Residencies at Ghost Ranch are scheduled as follows:

WEEK 1 - November 3-9, 2025

WEEK 2 - April 13-19, 2026

WEEK 3 - October 12-18, 2026

WEEK 4 - TBD

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Registration will open January 2025

1. Please fill out this interest form and you’ll be contacted by a faculty member soon.

2. Complete the online application form with a $30.00 non-refundable application fee no later than September 1st.

3. Arrange for referral letters to be sent to Stillpoint.

4. Have a phone Interview with Stillpoint staff.

Application Deadline is September 13th and decisions will made shortly thereafter.

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On admittance, you will be asked to send in a $500 refundable deposit to hold your space in the next cohort. Payment for each residency session is due in full no later than 3 weeks before the start of that week begins.

The cost per session includes tuition, room and meals at Ghost Ranch. The total cost for each session varies slightly with the room option selected from $2,850-$2,995. Single and double occupancy rooms with shared or private baths are available. If no other students request a shared room, single occupancy rates will apply. Camping and commuter rates are available on request. Rooms are assigned on a first come, first serve basis.

Room with shared bath: $2,850
Room with private bath: $2,995

*Costs are subject to change per Ghost Ranch rates

Camping (RV or tent) and Commuter Rates also available. Please contact Chris Ng if you are interested in those rates.

To talk with someone for information regarding cost and housing, contact our Program Administrator, Chris Ng at stillpointsd@stillpointca.org.

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Click here to meet our Ghost Ranch faculty.

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Hear what other participants have said about the program...