Art of Spiritual Companioning

 Art of Spiritual Companioning Program

Embark on the journey inward and discover the art of spiritual companioning.

Are you seeking to deepen your spirituality?

Do you have passion for accompanying others on their spiritual journeys?

Join an immersion in the ancient Christian path of spiritual direction with a contemporary, inclusive, ecumenical and inter-faith flare.  

Explore your inner life, become aware of thoughts, embodied felt sense, patterns of being and connectivity with the Source of life and learn how to companion others.

 

Program

Three core years:  

• intensives March, July and October.
• 20 on line weekly of group work and supervision.
• practice seeing people for spiritual companioning.
• write reflections, journals, book reviews, verbatim reports and in third year do a major research project on a topic you are passionate about.

Fourth graduate year:

• 8 sessions 1:1 supervision
• 8 sessions peer group supervision
• Membership activities with WellSpring community

 

Location

• Intensive held at the beautiful surrounds of the WellSpring Centre in Ashburton, Melbourne.
• Weekly group work and supervision online or in person if preferred.

 

Discover

Expert Practitioners: Our team are seasoned spiritual companions.

Holistic & Inclusive:  A fusion of skills, knowledge, academic wisdom, art, theological reflection, creativity and contemplative awareness.

 

Grow

Grow in Grace: The curriculum facilitates seven graces: grounded contextual issues, gutsy human dynamics, listening, contemplative heart, practicing presence, discernment and illumination.

Contemplative Practices: Embrace silence, meditation, and mindfulness. Deepen connection with yourself, with others and within the Divine.

Transformative Learning: You’ll read books, engage in discussions, enjoy experiential learning, practice in small groups, write journals, craft essays and reflect through 1:1 supervision. Forge profound connections within a community of like-minded companions.

 

Receive

Recognition:  Choose to engage as a Certificate or Academic student. Both streams are awarded a certificate that recognises you as a spiritual director through the Australian Ecumenical Council of Spiritual Direction. The course can be taken for academic credit through Whitley College, a college of the University of Divinity.

A Flourishing Future: Contribute to a world where people live out their unique part in God’s great dream of the reconciling of all creation. Join the Divine transformative movement toward healing, peace, justice and freedom for all.

 

Applications - Now Open

If you’re curious, sense a prompt or call toward becoming a Spiritual Companion, apply now. Interstate applicants welcome.

 

Prerequisites:

• Be receiving spiritual companioning/direction for at least 6 months.
• Eye for awareness, self-reflective scent, listening ear, compassionate touch and taste for discernment.
• Completion of the Art of Contemplative Listening course highly recommended.
• For academic program, a graduate degree.

Completion of the Art of Contemplative Practice 1 is strongly recommended.

Application Process:

• Discern a sense of call, fill in an application form, 
• provide referees,
• attend interview and if offered a place in the program
• enrol through the University of Divinity.

Closing Date: 30 November 2023.

 

Cost

Cost per year for Academic Credit  $6,344 (FEE help available) (UD code DD8202W)

Cost per year for Certificate enrolments $3,806

Graduate (4th) Year $1,200

 

View a video trailer about the WellSpring formation units on offer through University of Divinity

Featuring Anne Mallaby (Former Academic Dean of Whitley College) and Peter Bentley (Senior Lecturer in Formation, WellSpring Centre)

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Team:  Joan Wright Howie, Tim Mc Cowan, Jennifer Guild, Leslie Hanger, Andrew Woff and Andrea Long.

This ecumenical formation team work with supervisors and other professionals who are experienced spiritual companions. Together they bring a creative and balanced approach to this ministry. Numbers are limited at all levels to allow maximum participation. 

University of Divinity accreditation for these units is available to those doing post-graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction or Masters of Spiritual Direction.

For more information, please email us.