Papaya and Spiritual direction
Most of my clients, who come to me for spiritual direction, have no idea what spiritual direction is. We’ve talked about that on the blog a lot and I don’t want to beat a dead horse so I won’t. But I do want to point something out. Even though they don’t know what it is, they know they need it.
Isn’t that something?
When I was pregnant with Audrey, all I wanted was papaya. I had never even had papaya before but goodness sakes, I knew I NEEDED IT. Later, I found out that papaya has been known to help increase platelet count, which I desperately needed. My body knew I needed something it had never even experienced before.
I think our spirits are capable of the same thing. And I think that’s why people show up for spiritual direction, and even for reiki, with their hands up in the air. They always laugh and tell me “I have no idea what I’m doing here.”
It’s at that time I like to be sure not to say something, and instead sit with them in that uncertainty. You sit in that long enough and your spirit will speak up; usually blurting out something that seems embarrassing but is really just beautifully honest. That’s when we can really begin the session. That’s when we can get a good look at what you really need.
This is exactly why I recommend Spiritual Direction, first. When you become a member at Selah Space, you get one individual service a month. Some of you will know exactly what you intend to use that service for. Others will be more uncertain and searching. But you know what a massage is. You know what therapy is. And so you’ll have expectations. You’ll put up walls and barriers. You’ll protect yourself from being cracked open. Because of that, it will take a lot longer to begin the healing and growing process.
I used to search for hours to try to find the best way to explain spiritual direction to those who have never heard of it, or to those who have been taught that we are all called as disciples to be spiritual directors to our brothers and sisters. But you know what? I think the mystery of not fully understanding spiritual direction offers something better. Hopefully, you trust me already, and you are coming into this with some idea that you are, at the very least, in a safe place. But other than that, I hope you have no idea what you’re getting into. I want you to be surprised by the freedom of spiritual direction. With no expectations, and instead, a deep knowing that it’s where you are supposed to be. Then, the Spirit can get in there and do incredible work before you get in the way with your need to control, or be perceived a certain way, or protect yourself from vulnerability.
Gentle and unassuming, Spiritual Direction is a space, we can figure out where you need to begin. Maybe it is to continue spiritual direction, or maybe we will discover a different modality of wellness. But this way, we get to spend a little time figuring it out together, free of expectations.
Like my body knew it needed papaya, maybe your spirit knows that it needs something and is searching. Maybe that’s why you’re here, reading this post. I’d be honored to help you find what your spirit is looking for.
