Guidance for your Inner Journey
Life is full of challenges. In the second half of our lives, we often begin to ask ourselves important questions. Who am I? What do I believe? Who/what is God? What gives my life meaning? Where do I belong? Does this religion work for me? What helps me feel more alive? Perhaps the things that used to give a sense of meaning no longer draw you in the same way. You are looking for a bigger sense of purpose, a place to belong. It’s hard to be alone when you are facing some of life’s biggest questions.
Do any of these sound familiar to you?
You are facing a major change at home or at work that will affect the rest of your life. Several options are open to you but you are finding it hard to discern a way forward. You sense a more spiritual perspective might help.
‘There must be more to life than this’, you say to yourself. You certainly have lots of questions but you don’t want someone else to tell you their answers. You long for space and some kind of structure to uncover your own answers.
You feel stuck physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Life feels like one long conveyor belt. You long to get off it and find a different way of life that includes all aspects of you.
Somehow you have lost a sense of meaning, direction and purpose. What used to inspire you no longer does. All you feel is a mixture of numbness and longing for you’re not sure what.
Life has not turned out to be ‘like they said in the brochure.’ Unexpected losses and disappointments have knocked you off balance and made you question things you previously took for granted.
You’ve read all the books that recommend having a regular spiritual practice but you’ve yet to find one that works for you. You want to explore what’s out there and have support to deepen your practice with an experienced guide.
You do believe in ‘something other’ and are looking for some framework for spiritual guidance without being told what to believe or being obliged to agree that there is only ‘one right way’.
You see yourself as a seeker but you would not call yourself religious. You would like a place to turn to for spiritual guidance and support but don’t want to be sent to church.
So what exactly is Spiritual Accompaniment?
You do not have to part of a church or have any particular faith background to benefit from spiritual accompaniment. Indeed, recent research suggests that significant numbers of people are seeking spiritual support without any inherited church or faith background.
The art of spiritual guidance goes by many names including Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Counselling, Spiritual Companionship and the Celtic concept of ‘Anam Cara’ or soul friend.
Some ways I like to think of this form of spiritual facilitation are:
Spiritual Midwifery - bearing witness and being a patient and loving support to a natural (and sometimes painful) process. Supporting the birth in you of what is innate and most true.
Gardener to the Human Soul – creating the conditions for the sustainable and natural unfoldment of another’s spiritual growth in your own time and in your own unique way.
A Tour Guide for the Inner Journey – holding a larger map and a wider direction whilst supporting you to navigate life’s complex byways. We are all fellow travellers on this journey without end.
A Sacred Bridge - between the everyday and the Divine. The opportunity to remember your True Nature and to learn how to integrate that understanding into your daily life.
How is this different from other types of counselling and therapy?
The spiritual journey is about remembering and integrating of our deepest truth as a lived experience. It is about learning to be present to all aspects of ourselves in every moment of our lives. It is about recognising and remembering who we are beyond our personality and personal history.
Although issues such as marital conflict, depression or family crisis may arise during the sessions, spiritual accompaniment is not psychotherapy or counselling. Working with you spiritually is about helping you to discern the movement and voice of God/Divine/Truth in your life and how you can nurture and deepen this boundless source of Inner Wisdom.
I began working with Janette because I desperately needed to make sense of my life, not just in terms of the physical but also the spiritual dimensions and I just knew I wasn’t able to do this on my own.
I now know, from direct experience, that when I stop and go inward, there is God. She showed me how to do this for myself and I have been able to continue to deepen that connection way beyond the sessions.
She taught me how, instead of thinking about the Divine, I can stop and enter into stillness. A beautiful stillness where so much becomes clear. The effects of this profound realisation are reverberating still.
As a consequence of being accompanied through a difficult journey, I was left with a sense of completeness which inevitably led to a deeper sense of wholeness. I also experienced an increased groundedness that continues to grow as well as an ability to observe my mind without judgement.
Cath Holywell
What happens in a session?
Many different approaches are possible. What happens will be unique to that session and depend totally on what is most helpful to you at the time. Usually, however, we would begin our meeting with some kind of prayer/centring practice. Together we would explore whatever theme you bring supported perhaps by readings, guided meditation, quotes, music, deep enquiry and other spiritual practices.
Each session is completely confidential and usually lasts 1-1.5 hours. I am happy to work either face to face or on the telephone. Although one-off sessions are possible, I would recommend a series of at least four sessions with approx. 2-3 weeks in between.
I came to spiritual accompaniment when I was facing a big life change that was not only about what to do next but was also about my sense of identity. I also recognised that my spiritual practice was a bit hit and miss. I wanted to know why this was and get some help to do something about it.
I really appreciated how Janette always gave me enough space and time to settle deeply into myself. This provided a powerful foundation for our exploration.
I discovered how the power of the sessions really built on each other; there was a real cumulative effect.
The main benefits for me were deepening my connection to God/Spirit. I learnt how to stop some of the endless buzzing around in my head, to relax and wake up, in this moment, to the Presence of God. Our work together reassured and reminded me that we are never alone.
Nigel Lees
Seeing through the Eyes of the Heart
As a highly experienced leadership coach and group facilitator, I have spent decades working with people on their deep personal issues. I bring an accepting, calm, relaxed and creative approach to this work. I have no set agenda or religious outcome in mind so I can be open to what is right for you.
As a lifelong spiritual seeker myself, I bring resources that are both deeply practical and highly supportive from a wide range of psychological and spiritual disciplines. As an Interfaith Minister, I am not restricted to the teachings of just one faith tradition but can draw on a more Universal Spiritual approach that acknowledges both the challenges and the opportunities of today’s world.
Group Spiritual Development
If one-to-one support does not appeal or if you would like to join with others of like mind, I am also able to facilitate spiritual development in a group setting. Together we can share our stories, discuss, question, pray, heal, meditate, dance, sing and be silent as we rediscover a sense of soul and what it means to live a conscious spiritual life.
If you are interested in the deepening your Inner Journey to create a life that is grounded, heartfelt and connected, contact Janette
To receive regular spiritual guidance and inspiration from some of the world’s leading teachers, click here to subscribe to our FREE monthly Seeds of Wisdom email newsletter.
