The heart of the matter: using theological reflective method in spiritual direction

Abstract

ABSTRACT Training of new spiritual directors must consider templates for structuring practice. For though direction is relational art rather than method-bound science, the structuring of practice is not of no import at all. Just as the freedom of improvisation in jazz music presupposes an existing motif – perhaps a specific chord progression, a time signature and an agreed key – so also the new director needs defined starting points and patterns in relation to which improvisation may later become possible. Nevertheless, such templates are rare. As both a spiritual director and a practical theologian, I lament this lack yet am also well-placed to notice potential synergies between spiritual direction and practical theology. This paper claims that theological reflective method can serve to structure the movements within individual direction sessions, developing a proposal that uses Patricia O'Connell Killen and John de Beer’s theological reflective method to frame spiritual direction practice.