Spiritual Direction
"Wanderer, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more; wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking. By walking one makes the road, and upon glancing behind one sees the path …"
- Antonio MacLado
Creating a space for:
Connecting
with Self … Soul … God
Listening to ourselves while journeying together
Setting and achieving satisfying goals
Living fully
Listening for a different perspective
Finding clarity
Creating your direction
Walking with integrity
What is spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction is a contemplative practice of accompanying another as a fellow-traveller on their journey in such a way that they become more integrated in body, mind and spirit. In this partnership, an open, sacred space is created, enabling life to be seen in a different perspective. Engaging choices are uncovered that may not have before been perceived; choices that contribute to greater wholeness and potential. These choices are within each one of us, and yet are often not recognized or named.
What does spiritual direction do?
In the process of inquiry, conversation and reflection around one’s personal experience (life’s events), spiritual direction assists you to journey in a way that is balanced, and filled with direction and meaning. Spiritual direction is always attentive to the balance of body, mind and spirit in each person. A spiritual director provides a listening and supportive space in which direction for life can be heard - more clear and whole.
What will spiritual direction not do?
Spiritual direction does not tell people what to believe or how to act.
Spiritual direction is not psychotherapy or counselling. It is different
than the counselling movement that has become heavily psychologized.
The climate for spiritual direction involves:
recognizing the inherent goodness in each one
focused listening, core questions, and reflection on thoughts and feelings
caring acceptance and affirmation
sacred journeying, including your deity or higher power as a third party
the belief that love lives within the hearts of each of us, and in all creation
Tom
Doherty, BA, MDiv
Spiritual Director
416-427-5264
905-640-4839
Send
Tom an Email
5529 Concession 2
RR#3 Stouffville, ON
L4A 7X4
Who is Tom?
My spirituality has been impacted by the life experiences from the various paths I have taken in my life’s work. My journey has taken me to places of significant loss, change and relationship mending. This experience enables me to help others. The art of spiritual direction is a natural outflow of my passion to help people
My partner, Maryann, and I live at Bristol Green - a haven, in the rolling hills of Uxbridge, that we offer to others. I seek to combine the serenity of where I live with the art of offering spiritual direction, contributing to the wholeness of people. Bristol Green is a place to come and experience a healing influence. It is a place of retreat where one can gain perspective, away from the steadiness of life. It is a place of quiet conversation, a place of listening, a place of deep silence.
What is Tom’s focus?
There are three areas that provide the focus for my work. They also often overlap in a variety of ways.
Grief Work
Whether it is the death of a loved one, unemployment, or another significant loss, the work of grief takes time and space.
Life Transition
There are times in life when we feel the tug to change. We seek supportive assistance through the changes, the choices, the decisions.
Relationship Building
We all want our relationships to be great. Sometimes they fail and we find ways to leave them. Sometimes we want to foster better relationships and seek ways to do so. Spiritual direction creates room to make these choices.
What is the process? the fee?
Please call me (905-640-4839) to set up a 30-minute initial meeting time, which is free to you. At this time, spiritual direction is discussed as a process for you, and we covenant towards further monthly 60-minute meetings. After the initial meeting, the fee is $100 per hour.