Looking For the Light
in Dark Times?
Calgary Spiritual Companions Can Support
You on Your Journey.
Calgary Spiritual Companions is an association of people who have received formal training and certification in Spiritual Direction. They are qualified to provide spiritual direction/companioning to those who seek a deeper connection with the Divine Presence, known by many names — Spirit, the Sacred, the Holy, Yahweh, Adonai, God, Creator, Allah and others.
Spiritual companioning is an honoured encounter with the heart and soul of another. It is sometimes referred to as soul journeying or spiritual direction. John O’Donohue calls a spiritual companion anam cara or soul friend.
In this prayerful connection with the Spirit, Divine Presence speaks in and through the hearts of both the companion and the person who is being accompanied, so that oneness can occur. Spiritual companionship calls upon the sacred tools of “holy listening” — a listening to the deeper waters within and between two souls in communion with the Divine or Beloved.
This deep listening is characterized by an inner posture of profound connectedness and modesty, a capacity to hold in tension the dynamics of knowing and yet, not knowing. The encounter is standing on Holy Ground, held in awe by the power and responsibility of accompanying another in the presence of the Spirit. This is the highest form of relationship, a privilege beyond all expectation. There is an openness to the possibilities that might occur in this divine communion.
For thousands of years, in many traditions, individuals have sought out a trusted spiritual guide to accompany them on their life journey. Soul-friend, anam cara, spiritual director, elder, guru and spiritual guide are a few of the alternate names for spiritual companion.
Marian Cowan says “The names we use don’t make any real difference. The reality remains conversations about life in the light of faith…. Although spiritual direction has had a burst of new life, it is really quite ancient…. In the early church, people flocked to hermits in the desert for spiritual counsel…. Today, spiritual directors come from many traditions, including Judaism, Sufism, Buddhism …,” Hinduism, Islam, and Indigenous cultures. Our companions understand that people use many different names for the Holy Presence. All perspectives are honoured.
Spiritual seekers of all ages, from all walks of life and spiritual traditions, engage in spiritual companioning work, either regularly, in times of crisis, or when they want a “spiritual tune up.” Often, the primary motivation is a strong desire to recognize signs of Divine presence and to know what Spirit is asking of us.
Our spiritual companions are honoured to accompany seekers of all religions, races, economic status, sexual orientation and gender expression, providing time and opportunity to share in confidence and trust about your spiritual life. Please visit our Directory page to learn more about our spiritual companions/directors and book an appointment.
Spiritual Support and Educational Opportunities
Calgary Spiritual Companions is an association and local chapter of Spiritual Directors International. We are a learning, mentoring and support system for spiritual companions, as well as a referral source for clients seeking spiritual direction. We believe in the value of spiritual relationships, within which we can support and learn from each other.
Our monthly meetings provide social, as well as supportive and educational opportunities. Usually someone from our group presents, but we may also bring in speakers to share their experience on specific issues. We are hoping in the near future to begin providing peer supervision opportunities as well.
To become a member of our association please contact Barbara Grant at info@
“We acknowledge that we live, work and play on Treaty 7 territory, the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Kainai, Piikani and Siksika) the Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, as well as the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. We are privileged to live on this land, and share responsibility for the well being of the land and all its occupants.”