Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction
Original price was: $14.95.$13.67Current price is: $13.67.
Price: $14.95 - $13.67
(as of Oct 06, 2024 19:37:33 UTC – Details)
Guenther uses the images of the spiritual director as host, teacher, and midwife to describe the ministry of spiritual direction today. She pays particular attention to spiritual direction for women, and addresses such down-to-earth questions as setting, time, and privacy. The stories of real people bring the practice of spiritual direction alive.
“In the pages that follow, I will attempt to describe the shape that spiritual direction might take for people of our time, aware that the subject is an elusive one. I am speaking to the beginner, those persons lay or ordained, with or without formal theological training, who find themselves drawn to this ministry. Perhaps they feel the stirring of their own unacknowledged gifts. Or perhaps they wonder about receiving direction, whether it is a ministry available to ‘ordinary people’ or reserved for the especially holy. I hope some dark corners will be illuminated and some questions answered.”
ASIN : 1561010561
Publisher : Cowley Publications (January 25, 1992)
Language : English
Paperback : 160 pages
ISBN-10 : 9781561010561
ISBN-13 : 978-1561010561
Item Weight : 8 ounces
Dimensions : 5.69 x 0.5 x 8.51 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book very informative, insightful, and practical. They describe it as well-written, down-to-earth, and a great read. Readers also mention it’s a good reference book.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
10 reviews for Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction
Add a review
Related Products
Original price was: $14.95.$13.67Current price is: $13.67.
jdb –
More than a book…it’s a treasure
Over the past year I have read several books covering the topic and practice of spiritual direction. Counting my present experience, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction ranks among the very best that I have read to date. This guide, written by Margaret Guenther, is unlike some of the other books on this subject that I have read.First, let me say that spiritual direction is not a discipline or art that can be necessarily taught. There are certain tools that can be shared and there is experiential wisdom that might be communicated to help perspective “guides” and directors, but spiritual direction cannot be taught from a clinical perspective. When speaking of “soul” therapy there remains much mystery, especially when considering that the vast majority of the work done in spiritual direction is done by the Holy Spirit of God.Disclaimer aside, Holy Listening does not attempt to “teach” spiritual direction, but instead, Margaret Guenther humbly shares a lifetime of her experience as a “holy listener” and soul friend. The book is just under one hundred fifty pages long and divided into only four chapters. The first chapter reminds the reader that each soul is to be welcomed as Christ; Welcoming the Stranger, refers to the Rule of St. Benedict (Chapter 53: Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, “I came as a guest, and you received Me”). This is a delightful chapter full of real-life insight that offers bountiful wisdom gleaned from years of holy listening. Each page of this chapter drips humility from Guenther and points to God as the true guide in the work of spiritual direction.Chapter two is the longest chapter in the book and my favorite. I think it offers the most practical wisdom and instruction in Holy Listening. I just checked my copy of the book and I think every page but three or four have some type of highlighting or note written on them. Let me reemphasize that the style of the book is not teaching method, but sharing experience and because of this style of sharing there is an invaluable amount of wisdom and insight gleaned. The personal stories, both successes and errors, are related with honesty and care. I found reading the stories themselves a holy experience for me.Chapters three and four provided unique challenges to me as a male. Chapter three is written using the metaphor of a midwife to describe the work of the spiritual director. I had to take my time and open my mind to the metaphor, but the effort was worth it. Once I reached the half-way point of the “midwife” chapter, this wonderful metaphor began to yield bountiful fruit. Chapter four addressed specific challenges and distinctive to ministry and direction to women (chapter titled: Women and Spiritual Direction). I’m sure this will be a valuable chapter for me at some point and I will probably refer to again and again in the future, but I must admit that I was a bit lost for the majority of this chapter. I write this confession as a man who has been married almost twenty-four years and a man who was raised with two sisters. I have experience with the nature of the female, but much of what was shared in this final chapter was a bit outside of my experience.This really was a wonderful book. It is one of the best I have read on the art of spiritual direction. There is nothing systematic or technical about it, but I don’t think there is a more complete approach to the subject of being a soul friend than any other book I have read to date. I’m confident to recommend this work to anyone who might be considering this type of counseling. It is a gem and a gift to the person called to spiritual guidance and direction.
Debbi Bullington –
Awesome book !
It was well written and down to earth! I loved it
phil –
great SD resource
This book was a part of my course work during my SD training. In Holy Listening, Guenther offers some brilliant insight into the world of spiritual direction. Her thoughts on the “host/guest” paradigm was key to my formational ideas around offering direction. The section on director as a midwife to the soul truly helped shape my thinking and understanding of this very beautiful, slow and transforming work that is spiritual direction. I would highly recommend this book. In particular, the 1st and 3rd sections.
Mimsd –
An artist with words.. profound yet simple, heavenly yet earthbound at the same time
I had to read this book as a part of the curriculum for the Charlotte Spirituality Center in Charlotte, NC and then write a reflective paper on it… this is that… If you are even thinking of reading this book you simply must!!!Like a masterful artist who is knowledgeable about how to mix and tint all sorts of colors and then paint a portrait that would cause the onlooker to get lost in it’s beauty, so is Margaret Guenther with her words within the pages of Holy Listening. Whether it is weaving together practical insights such as how to prepare director-self and room, or touching upon the sensitivities of the role as midwife, and the comparison of stages of physical birth to spiritual rebirthing; Guenther skillfully places story within teaching concept to make for a most delightful read.Bringing together characters from real life, biblical text, and historic Christendom she very practically elaborates on topics such as silence, knowing when to share from personal experience, the art of listening, asking good questions, the role of the feminine in spirituality and how it both differs and compliments it’s male counterpart.While the topics she touches and illuminates are holy and meant to empower transformation of the soul, she brings the reader back to earth time after time, least we forget that it is the whole person we sit and interact with. Serving and reminding us often that it is the small tasks of the earth alongside the meditations of heavenly truths that bring forth true and lasting change.I liken reading Holy Listening to sitting at the feet of the old Appalachian granny that she talks about within the book’s pages. Guenther has done as she describes of them, she has traveled over the rough terrain of a ministry taught and dominated by men and come to the remote places so that another perspective can be gleaned for us all. She brings to us a balanced and intuitive approach touching sensitive topics of masculine perspective and feminine touch. Sharing that the concept of midwife while historically feminine is not necessarily always female and brings forth clarification, âIt is important to remember, though,â writes Guenther, âthat the midwife is not necessarily a wife, or even a woman. The literal meaning of the word is âwith-woman,â that is, the person who is with the birthgiver.âThere are the phrases that my heart felt so drawn towards such as, âbirthgiver,â âholy listener,â âguest-giver,â âguest-friendship,â and âthe slow work of God.â Each image she painted birthed within my heart the hunger to be an âamateurâ like her one day. And there were the quotes. From the words of Aelred on page 15, â Here we are, you and I, and I hope a third, Christ, is in our midst,â to the words of Madonna Kolbenschlag towards the end of the book. âMadonna Kolbenschlag speaks of the ‘moment of atheism,’ when the woman lets go of her outgrown faith, ceasing to rely on ‘authorities’ and trusting herself. I was so personally moved by the fourth chapter on women and spiritual direction that I not only gleaned wisdom from her instruction but felt my own inner transformation as she ânamedâ my very own experience and gave me language to name it for myself.It was in reading her text that I made a page in my notebook entitled, âquestions.â In the simple ways she suggests opening up with a new directee to also providing those questions one would more skillfully wrought towards the movement further down the road, I felt empowered and gently both taught and led upon a path that I must follow. Far from a cold and classical look at Spiritual Direction this woman brought me a cold compress for my head and the shoes of peace which can shod my feet and lead me in the ways of Christ and this ministry. She empowered me to hold in tension those things that can not be fixed as well as strengthened my own heart to search out, name and discover even more for myself and my own growth.This book is a masterful tool box full of simple and profound suggestions, heavenly and earthly components, and stories of my Lord and those that make up the great cloud of witnesses that will now undergird me as I walk forward on this path.
Rebecca Schubert –
it is an easy read and full of word pictures and stories to …
Margaret Guenther is an Episcopal priest and writes as well as she preaches. Guenther’s book is a must read for anyone thinking of being a pastor, chaplain, or being a visitor to those in need of someone to listen. I read this book the first time very soon after it was published. It was immediately obvious that this book was from the heart and based on a history as a “listener.” This book is deeply spiritual and written by a theology professor. However, it is an easy read and full of word pictures and stories to make the author’s point. The reader is introduced to journaling and how journaling can help get feelings out and how “writing candidly” can be reflective. In her book Margaret Guenther uses a very descriptive term that best describes those who sit with the dying and those who listen to those in spiritual pain. Guenther calls those special people “midwives to the soul” because they are doing “Holy Listening.”
Rosemary Morley –
This book is delightfully easy to read and so engaging. The author describes the art of holy listening in the form of spiritual direction. The author is warm and human and very relatable.
Mrs H L Sherriffs –
Absolutely loved this book. Clearly written, engaging and full of practical tips. The importance of being heard and sharing your story with someone is an essential part of having an identity – everyone should read this book to learn how to really hear and listen to people they encounter. The world would be a much happier place. Thank you, Margaret.
Owen Mast –
This guide is down to earth, vulnerably written, and directed toward helping others find their true voice and vocation. Worth the read or listen.
Ethicos –
I was encouraged to buy this book by the reveiw from FR Messick as I find his reviews detailed and thoughtful. As someone who is interested in exploring the field of Spiritual Direction, both for my own development and in the hope of offering same to others, eventually, this book is superb.Guenther covers the topic under three main headings: Hospitality, Teaching and Midwife, with a final section on Women and spiritual direction. Each of these is beautifully written with knowledge and wisdom and experience in equal measure. The final section, although written from a ‘feminist’ perspective is equally relevant to men as she discusses various perspective, such as to when men may serve as spiritual directors to women.It would be diffucult to see how this book could be improved and I recommned it whole-heartly – read it through and then return and read it as Lectio Divina…
A. York –
The book was required reading for Spiritual Director program. I came away with new found appreciation for the role of director, especially with the analogy as a spiritual mid-wife.In particular, I found chapters 1 & 3 very useful.I was particularly taken aback by the lack of the mention of Jesus – a spiritual journey leads not only to God but specifically Jesus. All the work of the Spirit is to testify about Jesus.Spiritual direction is practiced much more in the context of Catholicism and orthodox expressions of faith, but as a charismatic evangelical, I feel it would serve the body of Christ well if it became more prevalent as a spiritual practice.