What is Spiritual Accompaniment?

Spiritual Accompaniment is when one person companions and provides support to another on their spiritual journey. It is a service of deep listening that honours the individual in their search for their deepest longings for God / Divine as named by that person.  In this process a trusting relationship is built up that allows for compassionate listening.   It is a journey to discover spiritual authenticity. Spiritual Direction/ Guidance is also used to describe this practice. I choose to use Spiritual Accompaniment as it sits better with me.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing there is a field.

I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about.”

Rumi

Spiritual accompaniment is distinct from therapy and counselling. Spiritual accompaniment is about listening, being present, supporting the search for God/ the Divine in a person’s life, while therapy is mostly aimed at relieving emotional distress and mental health problems.

The essence of spirituality is as I see it, is that it is a longing for transcendence, for understanding and a deeper meaning and purpose, variously termed as God/Brahman/Tao/Allah/The Universe, or “The Ground of all Being,” among others.

Spiritual accompaniment can be described as a process of becoming a soul friend / spiritual mentor. The focus is on how the Divine or God is working in your life and what you desire from life. It is a process that includes every dimension of life, personal, social, and relational. It is a discovery of finding God in all parts of life- the difficult, the joys, the beautiful and the challenges.

Spiritual Accompaniment as a Spiritual Practice:

Spiritual Accompaniment is the sacred act of deep listening, of welcoming the fullness of the person seeking it.

‘Know this: God has imprinted God’s image within you, and nothing you do and nothing that happens to you can erase this beauty, which is with you even when you ignore or betray it. … Within each of us is a divine treasure, and if we hope to discover it, we need to go deep into the heart of who we are.’

Meister Eckhart (14th Century)

How can spiritual accompaniment help and support you?

Outcomes:

As your Spiritual Companion I will ensure confidentiality, support, and help you experience a taste of the Divine.

• An opportunity to talk with a trusted person about your spiritual life
• You will be led to a deeper sense of how God/the Divine is working in your life
• Support and compassionate listening that helps with discernment and making choices in life
• Spiritual Companionship will help facilitate and support an honest self-examination required for your personal development and growth in your spiritual journey

“Bernadette has given me the space to reflect and share what is often difficult to do alone. I have found her to be a gentle listening presence and a totally supportive as I explore my inner world and search for God in my life.”

Lorna

Who can benefit from spiritual accompaniment?

People who want to develop their own spirituality and who are intentional about their inner life.

Chaplains at all levels- Schools, University, Hospital, Prison etc. Teachers, Pastors, Faith Development workers, Voluntary Group workers. Those in professional and non-professional work, in the medical, educational professions as well as ordinary people seeking soul support.

How do we work together?

A 30-minute complementary introductory meeting / zoom or in person allows for both of us to determine if we are a are a good fit.

A session usually lasts for 50 to 60 minutes and takes place once a month or as agreed in the initial session.

The person who seeks Spiritual accompaniment sets up the agenda by bringing to the session something they want to explore in their life. We use the time to discern God’s presence (or absence) in the events being narrated. Spiritual accompaniment sometimes talks of looking for “God-seeds” in the stories shared. The session may contain moments of prayer and reflective spaces. It is like a good conversation that has depth and that aims to seek meaning in the person’s life and story. The term “Anam Cara” is often used to describe spiritual accompaniment as it reflects soul care, soul journey and soul friendship. I like to see the process in this way.

I will reflect to you what you are experiencing and discovering to enable you to see how the Divine/God is nudging you.  You will find that I am a person with whom you are safe to talk about your inner life – with all its complexity, potential and beauty.  As your spiritual companion you will be led to a deeper sense of how life is unfolding within and how God/the Divine is working in your life.

You can expect that I will be there to listen and be present in a compassionate way.

As your spiritual companion I will support you with compassion and creativity.

I am an accredited member of AISGA – All Ireland Spiritual Guides Association and adhere to their code of ethics.  I am a member of SDI – Spiritual Directors International.

Costs and Pricing:

Discussed at the introductory session. Spiritual Accompaniment Sessions are available in person, by phone, or via video conferencing.

Please contact me for available date and time.