Stillpoint brings nearly 40 years of experience forming spiritual directors through our highly regarded program to the exhilarating landscapes of historic Ghost Ranch. Our programs are rooted in the contemplative tradition, while drawing from the sacred practices of other traditions.

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 ONLINE is offered June 24, 25, and 26, 2021. 

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, July 26 - August 2, 2021. 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.

Add yourself to the Cohort 12 (2021) interest list if you’d like to speak with someone about this program.

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Topics in the Four Weeks include:

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, 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 on one Spiritual Direction practice and retreat leadership while others will apply it in their work in aspects of their pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, work, 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 living and working together at Ghost Ranch that they value just as much.

Those who are called to our program:

• Are sought out by others who wish to talk about their spiritual life

• Are comfortable discussing spiritual experience and theological ideas

• Have good listening skills

• Are non-judgmental and non-labeling

• Are comfortable with a variety of Christian and other spiritual traditions

• Are sensitive to social justice issues

• Have time to commit to study and growth

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Cohort 12 begins in November 2021 and runs through March 2023. Week Residencies at Ghost Ranch are scheduled as follows:

Week 1 November 1-7, 2021

Week 2 April 25 - May 1, 2022

Week 3 October 10-16 2022

Week 4 March 13-19, 2023

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Fill out the contact form on our website

Complete the online application form with a $25.00 non-refundable application fee no later than September 1.

Arrange for referral letters to be sent to Stillpoint.

Have a phone Interview with Stillpoint staff.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis as soon as they are complete.

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On admittance, you will be asked to send in a $250 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 $2207-$2960. 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.

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

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FACULTY

Click here to meet our Ghost Ranch faculty.

Stillpoint in California offers nearly 40 years of experience in a formation program for spiritual companionship. Our mission is to support spiritual seekers in the ancient tradition of spiritual direction. Today we continue to form people people in this sacred art of deep listening in an ever-changing spiritual landscape of the 21 Century, so the experience of God being present and working in our daily lives is witnessed.

Ten years ago our mission expanded to offer a residential version of our program in the magnificent landscape of Ghost Ranch in the unique spiritual community that is the high desert of northern New Mexico. Here the land becomes a teacher for the soul’s knowing’s and longings.

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

Are you interested & want to learn more?

Use this form to add your contact info to our interest list. Someone from our team will reach out to help you discern whether our program is a good fit for you and where you are on your journey.