Author: Jacqueline Stinton
Published in the Spiritual Directors International journal Presence, June 2024
The Art and Practice of Spiritual Direction:
Wandering in the Gallery
The metaphor of the ‘art’ of spiritual direction is a rich conceptualization as it signifies a creative process reflective of the Creator and the created. The Creator for me is the Divine whom I call God, the Trinity of Judeo-Christian spirituality. This Creator is my chosen Master Artist among many other spiritual Art Masters. And although there are many nuanced designations for spiritual directors and directees, for the purpose of this paper I will refer to them both as artists, the directee being the original artist, the director being the supporting artist. Together they are Co-creators, who with the Master Artist co-create a unique, beautiful, changing and inspiriting piece of artwork.
Out of the many forms of artistic expression, I will choose painting as the metaphor for the art of spiritual direction. The lived life and ways of being in the world of the Co-creators is the waiting canvas, each brings their personhood – divine and human, wounds and wholeness – into their artwork. Their experiences, meaning-makings, seekings, perspectives, emotions, and beliefs are expressions of their unique selves and creativity which can be laid on the canvas. In addition, each Co-creator responds to and draws out different parts of each other, which begins the creation of the artwork. The artwork emerging from and between the Co-creators and the Master Artist cannot be duplicated or replicated by any others, it is unique to the particular trinity of Co-creators and Master Artist.
The artwork cannot be evaluated, it must only be valued for the simple or complex art it is and reverenced for the sacred space within the original artist from which it is emerging. Skill in artwork is not the expected endpoint – freeing, expanding and evolving expression in ways belonging to the original artist is. The gift of the supporting artist is to see and honor the sacred mystery of the art in the soul of another, to have the capacity and willingness to behold the Master Artist in it, to perceive deep spiritual longings expressed in it, and to reflect those back in compassion and spaciousness, as an offering that respects and accepts the original artist’s choice of receptivity to the reflections.
The space encompassing the Co-creators is sacred and is created through holy listening and bearing witness, attunement and presence, engaging and space-giving, silence and dialogue, pondering and questioning, humility and self-worth, openness and authenticity, tentativeness and truth, and holding and conveying celebration with light and courage with darkness.
The depth and sanctity of that space is necessarily shaped by the supporting artist’s own motivation and intent in viewing themselves as a Co-creator. This manifests in an honest awareness of their own limitations and subtle ego needs, in recognizing and valuing the original artist’s distinctive experience of God if different to their own, in resting in their own giftings, and in dedication to their own evolving spiritual growth through commitment to their own inner work and spiritual learnings and experiences. The inner work necessarily involving attentiveness to their own woundings and the outcomes of those (attachment, triggers, possessiveness, countertransference, etc.), while also delighting in the synchronicities, glimpses and gifts of the Divine they receive, and taking them forward into their own creative artistry.
The painting materials are many and diverse and need to be sensitively calibrated to the original artist. They are ways of uncovering or discovering the deep things of soul and spirit. The materials are drawn from ancient wisdoms (Ignatian exercises, the examen, labyrinth walking, contemplative practices, prayer forms, dreamwork, etc.) and more contemporary expressions (creative illustrations, embodied spirituality, social activism, etc.). At times, the materials in this artistic space are solely those of waiting in uncertainty, enduring suffering, finding treasures in the darkness, resting in the unknown, letting go of the fiercely desired.
I believe the practice or enactment of spiritual direction arises out of and is guided by the artistry which emerges in the sacred connection between the Master Artist and the Co-creators.
Though not original to me, these thoughts resonate with me as underlying the co-creating of the artwork in spiritual direction, forming a container for the artistry and practice of spiritual direction. These questions are spoken by the Divine to the human, and draw the created one to the Creator:
Where are you? (garden of Eden)
What are you doing here? (Elijah)
Who do you say I am? (disciples)
What do you want? (followers)
I believe these sacred questions – spoken or silent – underly the living of both our inner and outer lives. They can bridge the two in exploring, stretching, enlightening and transformative ways, in whatever form or season we are in – humanly and spiritually. Finding the courage to engage with our selves and invite another into that engagement is the beginning of creating and co-creating a holy artwork of our lives.
I envision a Gallery of spiritual artwork, a vast and open to the air space, with many connecting rooms, full of well displayed works of art. These works of art represent the spiritual artwork of present and past spiritual seekers, they are ancient and new. They reflect both the beginning and evolving artistry of the original artists, the co-creations with their supporting artists. Many rooms contain the artwork of Art Masters and artists from all spiritual traditions and movements. One can wander throughout this gallery over a lifetime, viewing and absorbing the beauty and truth of other’s journeys, as they follow their own. Knowing and celebrating the significance of their own artwork, as enriching and completing the Wholeness of the Master Artist.
Jacqueline Stinton, 2024