SDI - Home of Spiritual Companionship

09/05/2026

How do we stay grounded when the world feels like too much? Listen to Mirabai Starr & Rev. SeiFu in conversation: https://www.sdicompanions.org/media/podcasts/

In a culture that tells us to either push through exhaustion or retreat entirely, how do we find a middle way?

In this moving, unscripted dialogue, acclaimed author Mirabai Starr and SDI’s Rev. SeiFu sit down for a profound exploration of the spiritual life. Beyond discussing their upcoming 2027 Ghost Ranch retreat and what makes the red-rock high desert such a sacred sanctuary, they dive deep into the real questions facing contemplatives and caregivers today.

In this episode, they explore:
Divine Feminine & Masculine: Balancing structured practice with gentle self-care.

The Striving Trap: Moving from hard effort in spiritual practice to radical self-compassion.

Meeting Life’s Slings & Arrows: How to engage suffering directly without burning out or looking away.

The Magic of Ghost Ranch: Why certain places on Earth allow us to lay down our heavy burdens.

Whether you are feeling spiritually depleted, navigating life's contradictions, or longing for a wiser way to engage the world, may this conversation be a supportive balm for the heart.

👇 Click here to tune in to the full conversation:
https://www.sdicompanions.org/media/podcasts/

The SDI Podcast on spiritual companionship and spiritual direction. We offer stories and perspectives on the healing work of spiritual companionship.

09/01/2026

What if preventing burnout isn't in your head, but in your body? Coke Tani's master session begins TOMORROW: https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/embodied-practice-for-self-and-communal-care/

If you serve as a spiritual director, leader, or caregiver, you know the physical toll of carrying heavy spaces.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2nd, Coke Tani leads an immersive workshop on somatic regulation for self and communal care. Learn how to ground your nervous system and replenish your own spirit while holding space for others.

Last chance to register before we begin!

Reserve your spot here: https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/embodied-practice-for-self-and-communal-care/

08/13/2026

Some journeys change where you've been.

Others change how you see the world...and yourself.

In March 2027, SDI invites you to walk in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola on a contemplative pilgrimage through Spain's breathtaking Ignatian Camino.

More than a walking journey, this immersive experience weaves together sacred sites, guided prayer, spiritual reflection, community, and daily opportunities for deep listening and personal transformation. The pilgrimage follows highlights of the historic route between Bilbao and Barcelona, balancing walking with coach travel to make the experience both meaningful and accessible.

If you're seeking a journey that nourishes both heart and spirit, we invite you to learn more about this extraordinary pilgrimage.

👉 Learn more and contact our staff to discover all the details of this unique spiritual journey: https://bit.ly/4wRKqtw

08/12/2026

In a world often shaped by division, what wisdom might emerge when we choose to listen across faiths, traditions, and lived experiences?

At SDI, we believe spiritual companionship creates space for authentic dialogue, compassionate presence, and a deeper appreciation of the wisdom each tradition brings to our shared human journey.

Multi-Faith Wisdom for a Divided World invites us to explore how deep listening can build bridges, foster belonging, and cultivate communities rooted in respect, curiosity, and hope.

We invite you to explore this important topic and discover how SDI is fostering meaningful multi-faith dialogue. You'll also learn about an exclusive four-part webinar series available to SDI members, offering a deeper exploration of these timely conversations.

👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4i5Ho04

08/06/2026

Spiritual Companionship in Challenging Times

How do we remain grounded when life feels uncertain?

Join Coke Tani for an online gathering exploring embodied practices that nurture resilience, deepen compassionate presence, and support both self and communal care during challenging times.

Watch this insightful glimpse of this timely conversation in the video below, and discover how spiritual companionship can help us meet life's challenges with greater awareness, courage, and care.

📅 September 2, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM PST

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4wCn76S

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08/05/2026

Building Communities of Compassion Through Listening

In a world filled with constant communication, one of the rarest professional skills may be the ability to truly listen.

Whether in healthcare, coaching, counseling, education, ministry, nonprofit leadership, or organizational development, compassionate listening creates space for trust, resilience, and meaningful human connection.

At Spiritual Directors International, we believe that communities become stronger when people learn to accompany one another with presence rather than certainty, curiosity rather than assumptions, and compassion rather than judgment.

What might change in your work, your leadership, or your community, if deep listening became a daily practice instead of an occasional skill?

Explore how SDI is helping cultivate a global community dedicated to the practice of spiritual companionship and compassionate presence.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ygLPuZ

07/29/2026

What Makes Spiritual Companionship Different from Coaching or Counseling?

Coaching, counseling, therapy, and spiritual companionship each offer meaningful ways to support human growth. While their purposes may differ, they share a common commitment to helping people navigate life's complexities with care and intention.

Spiritual companionship is distinctive in its practice of deep listening, not to diagnose, advise, or direct, but to create space for reflection, discernment, and an awareness of the sacred as each person understands it.

For professionals who accompany others, this raises thoughtful questions:
👉 How does presence shape transformation?
👉 What becomes possible when listening itself is an act of care?

We invite you to explore how spiritual companionship complements other helping professions and contributes to a more compassionate way of being with others. We'd love to hear your opinion and perspective - comment below.

Learn more about the practice of spiritual companionship and SDI's professional community. https://bit.ly/4uQcDzf

07/28/2026

Spiritual Companionship in Challenging Times

When the world feels uncertain, our first instinct is often to search for answers. Yet some of life's deepest challenges invite something different: a compassionate presence, deep listening, and the courage to remain grounded amid uncertainty.

Spiritual companionship offers a way of being with ourselves and one another that nurtures resilience, hope, and authentic connection—not by eliminating difficulty, but by helping us meet it with greater awareness and compassion.
How do we care for our own spirits while remaining present for others? What practices help us stay grounded when life feels unsettled?

Continue exploring these questions and discover an upcoming conversation with Coke Tani, who will share embodied practices and insights for navigating challenging times with greater presence and compassion. This will be part of a series of webinars that explores this topic and challenge more deeply.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4wtn4KI

07/21/2026

Preventing Burnout Through Spiritual Presence

Burnout doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it looks like constant exhaustion, emotional numbness, losing your sense of purpose, or feeling disconnected from the work and people you once cared about.

Spiritual presence offers another way forward. Taking a few moments each day to pause, listen deeply, reconnect with your values, and extend compassion to yourself can restore clarity and resilience.

You don't have to have all the answers, you simply need the space to be fully present.
Whether you serve in healthcare, education, ministry, counseling, nonprofit leadership, or business, you're not meant to carry everything alone.

👉🏽 Signs of Burnout:
• Constant exhaustion
• Emotional numbness
• Losing your sense of purpose
• Feeling disconnected from the work and colleagues

❤ Simple Ways to Reconnect:
• Pause daily, even for a few minutes
• Listen deeply to yourself and to what matters most to you
• Reconnect with your values and what brings you meaning
• Offer compassion to yourself as you would to a friend

Explore a community dedicated to deep listening, compassionate presence, and sustainable leadership. Learn more about the Spiritual Directors International professional community: https://bit.ly/45dcnjf

07/20/2026

What if Einstein was your Spiritual Companion?

What if one of history's greatest scientific minds became your companion in exploring life's deepest questions?

⭐ Coming up in August ⭐
Join this thought-provoking SDI webinar where science, faith, and wonder meet through an imaginative conversation evoking Albert Einstein and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, guided by renowned theologian John Haught.

👉 Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3T62K3f