SOUL TENDER, LLC
Spiritual Direction & Formation with Brenda Satrum
To be seen, heard, known, deeply understood and faithfully loved is a priceless and transforming experience.
image credit: Heidi Kestrel
“To listen another’s soul into a condition of disclosure and discovery may be almost the greatest service that any human being ever performs for another.”
Soul Tender
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I know and trust that at the heart of each person is a quiet center that is strong and good and beautiful, given by the Divine from creation. When we settle down, sometimes with a trusted companion, we can hear from that center, our soul, and from the One who speaks within it.
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“The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient and yet exceedingly shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is to go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out. But if we are willing to walk quietly into the woods and sit silently for an hour or two at the base of a tree, the creature we are waiting for may well emerge, and out of the corner of an eye we will catch a glimpse of the precious wildness we seek.” ― Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life
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My intention as a spiritual director is to listen deeply to others with compassion, humility, and curiosity, to be a trustworthy companion as each person speaks from their joys, heartaches and hopes, to offer a safe and sacred opportunity for self-disclosure and self-discovery.
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Before I speak with my counselor or spiritual director, I pause to reflect: What stands out this week? Why does it matter? The practice of sharing my story with skilled listeners lets me tend my own life with thoughtful awareness. Their attention invites my attention. Their questions shape my questions. Their comments, which align with my own desires for greater freedom, focus, confidence, and joy, inform my thinking and action.