Spiritual Direction School
Liberated Together Spiritual Direction School trains and empowers women of color, queer women of color, and non-binary folks to facilitate one-on-one and group spiritual accompaniment
The World Needs Healers
We created Liberated Together Spiritual Direction School for two reasons. Firstly, because the world needs people who will hold expansive, spiritually nourishing space for others. Particularly for Women of Color, Queer WOC, non-binary folks and other marginalized communities
And secondly, the hope of creating a community where getting trained to be a healer, would also be a healing and liberative experience.
Applications for Fall 2025 will open in the Spring of 2025.
What We Do
Liberated Together School of Spiritual Direction trains and empowers WoC/QWoC and non-binary folks to facilitate one-on-one and group spiritual accompaniment through a 9-month training program. The program is open to all women of color and non-binary folks of color who are comfortable in a space that centers the lived experience of women of color.
At the end of the 9-month training, students receive a certificate of spiritual direction and are equipped to serve as spiritual directors or spiritual care practitioners.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual direction is a practice in which we meet with a trained spiritual care practitioner in order to intentionally connect with our sacred selves and open our awareness to divine movements in us, around us, and in our communities. The rhythm of spiritual direction/guidance acknowledges the slow, contemplative pace of divine movements. Traditionally, this practice is facilitated through one-on-one conversations that meet once a month, for one hour each session, in order to give ample space and time for our sacred movements. Our approach expands to include communal spiritual practice and group facilitation. We train spiritual care practitioners that center the experiences of WoC/QWoC and non-binary folks.
How the Program Works
Program Details
Dates
The program is 9 months and runs from September 2024 through May 2025.
Frequency
We gather twice monthly, and once in person
Starting in September 2024, we meet on the first Saturday of each month from 9am-2:30pm PT/ Noon to 5:30pm Eastern. This gathering is online and with the entire cohort.
Once a month you will meet with your practice and supervision team. This is a group led by one of our facilitators with two to three other students. This two hour meeting focuses on practicing spiritual direction skills, debriefing spiritual direction sessions, and learning about group supervision. Those meetings times will be set by the group and facilitator.
Year End Retreat: The program concludes with an in person retreat where we will have our final session and graduation ceremony.
ASSIGNMENTS
There are spiritual practices, readings, and other assignments required for each month.
VIRTUAL PLATFORM
We will use a virtual platform to connect with each other throughout the month. Our monthly gatherings happen over zoom, and our discussions and assignments are posted to a closed online community.
IN-PERSON RETREAT
The final session and graduation will happen at our in person retreat May 15-18, 2025. This will be a wonderful opportunity for students who have journeyed together online to finally meet in person. The cost of the retreat is included in the tuition. Students will be expected to cover their own travel.
Hear from our students
Program Requirements
attendance
Attendance at all monthly sessions and monthly practice/supervision groups is required to complete the program.
spiritual direction
Students are required to meet monthly with a spiritual director through the duration of the program. Costs for one-on-one spiritual direction is at the student’s own expense.
practice sessions
After the first 4 months, students are required to meet monthly with 2 individuals one-on-one to practice spiritual direction under the supervision of one of the program mentors. (These sessions will be free to the directees while the student spiritual director is still in the training program.)
Program Curriculum
Self-Encounter and Ancestral Traditions
Contemplative Listening, Witnessing, and Honoring Trust
Embodied Sacred Awareness
Starting a Spiritual Direction Practice
Imagination and Sacred Encounter
Spirituality for Collective Liberation
Decolonizing Spiritual Practices
Holding our Intersecting Identities
Trauma and Healing
TUITION & PAYMENT
Tuition: $5,000 (Scholarships are available)
Deposit: There is a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot in the school. This is included in the $5,000 total. After the deposit, the balance can be paid in one, three, or nine payments.
Payment Options
One-time: $500 deposit + $4,300 payment - there is a $200 discount if you make one payment.
Quarterly: $500 deposit + 3 payments of $1,500 in September, December, and March
Monthly: $500 deposit + $500/month for nine months, September 2023-May 2024
Here are some of the values that we hold when it comes to setting the cost of the program and offering scholarships.
We believe that WOC/folks should be paid fairly for their labor and expertise, so that the work is just and sustainable.
We are committed to working collaboratively and as a team. That means that we have more instructors who participate in our program. Learning from multiple voices is an important part of our approach to liberative spiritual practice, but it does mean we are paying more people.
We also want this program to be accessible to as many people as possible and understand how systems of race, gender, and capitalism give us different access to resources. And so we work to offer scholarships as needed.
FAQ
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In this way, Spiritual Direction, as I understand it, is an intentional touchpoint to both honor and grow our collective capacity to hold space for all of life.
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I can’t describe in words what it feels like to align my natural gifts and lived experience with a practice I love - for myself and for the communities the Spirit calls me to accompany.
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We are reclaiming a spirituality that is rooted in the wisdom of our elders, queer ancestors, movement leaders, organizers, mothers, aunties, and grandmothers who modeled an inner life rooted in communal care, indigenous wisdom, activism, and healing.
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Seven questions to help you discern.
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We believe that spirituality and the practice of spiritual direction can be a liberating experience when our own embodied experiences are centered.
How to Apply
Application Form
Fill out the application form
References
Submit Two References from
Your Spiritual Director (preferable) or a spiritual mentor if you have not yet started meeting with a spiritual director
A soul friend (someone that you share your inner life with).
Send this link to your two references to fill out for you: reference form
Scheduled Call
After we have received your application and two references, we will schedule a call with you for a conversation to continue discernment together.
Decision
Receive an email letting you know if you have been accepted to the program. Pay $500 deposit to secure your spot in the cohort.
Our Practitioners
Meet our spiritual care practitioners. This team co-leads the cohort and run the supervision groups.
Our Spirituality
Women of Color
We Draw from WOC Theology
Liberative
WE ARE COMMITTED TO LIBERATION
Queer
WE CENTER QUEER WISDOM
Ancestral
WE HONOR OUR ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS
Collective
WE HOLD A COLLECTIVE SPIRITUALITY
Embodied
WE PRACTICE EMBODIMENT