Spiritual Direction is an ancient Christian spiritual tradition wherein an individual seeks to know where and how God desires to form and shape them through the events and tasks of their day. This is accomplished by seeking someone trained in the art of spiritual listening who helps the seeker discern God’s presence and moving in their lives. To put it simply, Spiritual Direction is healing the wounds of the soul.

St. John Climacus, in his Ladder of Divine Ascent, described spiritual direction as needing a spiritual Moses to lead the individual from the land of bondage to the land of freedom and promise.

Spiritual Direction is a therapeutic practice with a sacred trust. Unlike other therapies which seek to provide a means to overcome or circumspect obstacles and difficulties when they arise, spiritual direction seeks to spiritually move forward and shape the individual using the difficulty in the individual’s life.

What is a Spiritual Director?

As mentioned by St. John Climacus, a spiritual director is someone, trained in the art of spiritual listening and listening well, who listens to the seeker and helps discern the movement of God and the Divine in the life of the individual, the areas of the seeker’s life which are being formed, and the guidance and direction God desires in the seeker’s life.

A spiritual director is not someone who is more spiritual or more holy than the seeker. The spiritual director is someone who understands the sacred trust placed within them by the seeker, honours that trust, and journeys with them in discerning where God desires to form, direct, and shape them through the events happening in their life. A spiritual director is someone, who, because of the sacred trust placed in them, does not attempt to determine the outcome of God’s formation in the life of the seeker, for God is the true director in all lives.

What Does Spiritual Direction Look like?

Spiritual Direction meetings occur once a month, with the director and seeker meeting for a period of one hour. Occasionally, there may be the need to meet every two weeks depending upon the situation and need. Spiritual direction takes many different forms and each meeting will be different than the last. It may be a period of silent listening to the Spirit, or a time of sharing and listening, or meditative reading, stillness, or the use of sacred images. Each time, spiritual direction will be different than previous times and yet, similar as well.

The time between meetings is of equal, if not greater importance, than the time when the director and seeker meet. In this time, the directee begins to establish and develop their own practices of spiritual care and being attentive to God.

Josiah Barton is a trained spiritual director from the Emmaus Formation Center since June 2023.

Josiah works as a chaplain within the criminal justice system. He has spent the past nine years working with hurting and at-risk individuals.

Josiah has training and experience in grief, emotional support, suicide intervention, and meeting mental health needs. He is also trained and experienced in caring for the spiritual needs of those he supports, as it is in meeting spiritual needs that people find hope.

Who is my Spiritual Director?

What Can I Expect In Spiritual Direction?

You can expect your spiritual director to keep and hold everything said and shared confidential. Those trained in spiritual direction are required to abide by a high code of ethics. The level of confidentiality and ethics is on par with that of a priest who receives confession. The only time your spiritual director may break confidentiality is if they are concerned for the safety and well-being of yourself, or others and if harm is about to happen or has happened.

You can expect your spiritual director to be prompt, professional, and holding what is shared in sacred trust and confidentiality. You can expect your spiritual director to notify you well in advance should a scheduling conflict occur.

You can expect your spiritual director to value your time, and value their time as well. You can expect your spiritual director to be respectful of all spiritual beliefs and not attempt to impose or convert you to a different set of spiritual beliefs than what you hold.

You can expect your spiritual director to continue to seek professional development of their trained skills through: supervision, self-development meetings, training events, and good standing in a society of spiritual directors. To achieve this, they may bring parts of your meetings for supervision to ensure professional development while keeping your name and identity confidential.

You can expect a charge of $75.00 per meeting to be paid before the next meeting with the first meeting free of charge to help you determine if you wish to continue spiritual direction. You can expect your spiritual director to warmly refer you to another trained spiritual director should you wish to see a different spiritual director.

“I came to Josiah unsure of what spiritual direction is. But after 4 months, my experience has been that under Josiah’s guidance, I have begun to hear and see God in a new way.

It can be difficult to allow someone any degree of trust and guidance in your life and your spiritual walk. But Josiah has made it something I look forward to.

I can tell that he is truly deep in prayer throughout our sessions, and is eagerly interceding on my behalf when we go to God, seeking his heart for us!

There was a moment when he gave me some "homework" that I was skeptical of, and I said as much to his face.

But relying upon the trust I gave him in helping guide me, I tried to complete it faithfully. I can say it was very insightful and the lesson I was taught is something I won't easily forget.

This is the first time I have seen a spiritual director, but I'd highly recommend everyone find someone to help develop their walk with God with someone as trustworthy and prayerful as Josiah.”

"We had asked Josiah to come to speak and lead a group spiritual direction session for our university student retreat.

It was repeated a number of times by the students how much they appreciated how Josiah had made the place a safe environment to encounter Christ with honesty.

The session itself was described as "tender", "empathetic", "challenging", and "impactful" by the students. After Josiah's session, many students had conversations about their experience with Christ as they realized their need for the Gospel in their day-to-day lives.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship would invite Josiah to come and speak again because of his impact at our retreat as well as recommend him to others seeking help in dealing with roadblocks in one's faith through spiritual direction."

“Josiah Barton has been my Spiritual Director for over 6 months. Working with him as been a really profound experience for me. His meditations have really helped me connect to spirit and emotionally release all kinds of wounds.

I am not Christian, more Pagan Witch, and Josiah has always remained open to my spiritual meaning and life. He is always gracious and cautious when sharing anything with me; always asks for permission. He has never demonstrated any bias or judgement towards my thoughts and feelings of spiritual connection. I have felt honestly cared for and safe at all times with Josiah.

He has helped me more than general counselors I have had in the past. I feel more grounded in myself and connection with spirit. I feel truly blessed to have Josiah Barton as my Spiritual Guide. I have nothing negative to say about my experiences, only complete appreciation.”

The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way

The Ladder of Divine Ascent

by St. John Climacus

Streams of Living Water

by Richard Foster

Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life

by Marjorie J. Thomson

Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation

by M. Robert Mulholland

Suggested Readings

The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times: New Perspectives on the Transformative Wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola

by Dean Brackley

Life with God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation

by Richard Foster

Discovering Lectio Divina: Bringing Scripture into Ordinary Life

by James C. Wilhoit & Evan B. Howard

*All payments are payable to Ancient Paths Spiritual Direction, unless services are provided through YFC PG

"If one goes into silence and solitude seeking God, but then is filled with joy when that silence and solitude is interrupted, then it was not God one sought."

"Stand at the crossroads and consider your ways. Seek the old paths, the old, godly paths and walk in them. Then you will have rest for your soul."

St. Moses the Black, Patron Saint of Nonviolence and Mercy

Jeremiah 6:16

Contact Information for

Ancient Paths Spiritual Direction:

ancientpathwayssd@gmail.com