In preparation for our new theme starting next week – What Does Your Soul Long To Do? I have updated our reading list on spiritual direction, an essential part of preparing our souls for the journey ahead. A big thank you to my Facebook friends who helped revise this list, adding new suggestions to the list that we first published in 2014.
Once again I am indebted to Terry Clees who provided me with the bibliography for her dissertation and to so many others who contributed. I asked for out of the box suggestions and appreciate the rich variety of these – from books and websites on the traditional spiritual direction to children’s books, liberation theologians and postmodern thinkers. As you can imagine this is not a comprehensive list but hopefully it gives all of us a place to start, no matter what our faith perspective.
I have not personally read all these books, but may go broke acquiring the new books it has added to my reading list. Where possible I have also included a review of the book especially if it is not one that I am familiar with. If you know have reviewed one of these books or have others to add to the list please leave a comment below. Enjoy – we are always working to improve these lists!
Books
Addison, Howard A., and Barbara Eve. Breitman. Jewish Spiritual Direction: An Innovative Guide from Traditional and Contemporary Sources. And check out the publisher’s website: Jewish Lights Publishers
Bakke, Jeannette A. Holy Invitations: Exploring Spiritual Direction. Check out this article, “Making Space for God” on Christianity Today.
Barry, William Francis, and William J. Connolly. The Practice of Spiritual Direction.
Brenner David G. Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship and Direction .
Bowen, Sarah Spiritual Rebel
Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God.
Demacopoulos, George E., Five Models of Spiritual Direction in the Early Church. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2007.
Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth.
Geunther, Margaret, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction.
Hart Thomas N., The Art of Christian Listening.
Keating, Thomas. Foundations for Centering Prayer and the Christian Contemplative Life: Open Mind, Open Heart ; Invitation to Love ; The Mystery of Christ. This is an anthology of three of Keating’s most inspirational works.
Kurtz, Ernest and Katherine Ketcham, The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning or check out this review.
Leech, Kenneth. Soul Friend: Spiritual Direction in the Modern World.
Linn Dennis, Sheila Fabricant Linn, Matthew Linn. Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life.
May, Gerald G. The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection between Darkness and Spiritual Growth. And check out this review.
McLaren, Brian D. Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words. Check out this book review.
Merton, Thomas. The Seven Storey Mountain
Nouwen, Henri J. M., Michael J. Christensen, and Rebecca Laird. Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith.
Palmer, Parker, A Hidden Wholeness, Check out my review.
Peterson, Eugene H. The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction. Check out this review
Phillips Susan S, Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction.
Rohr, Richard. Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011. Read this review.
Thompson, Marjorie J. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005. Check out my review.
Trina Paulus, Hope for the Flowers.
Valters Paintner, Christine. Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction. Read this review.
Websites
Spiritual Direction – Ignatian Spirituality
Spiritual Directors International.
The National Association for Christian Recovery
Shalem Institute – Spiritual Guidance Program
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