SPIRITUAL COMPANIONS GUIDELINES

These guidelines were written after a lengthy consultation process involving feedback, editing and opinions from 200 interested and independent men and women.

Connection

• Regularly connect with and experience the wonder and energy of existence.

Core Skills

• Are grounded and centred in our bodies; embodied and in hara
• Can pause, still at will and become mindfully present
• Awareness of the subtle sensations of connection
• Witness with compassion, in silence when appropriate

Reflection

• Self-reflect and manage our behaviour, health and development with compassion, love and wisdom
• Are emotionally literate and transparent about our own processes
• Are in ongoing relationships and groups of peer support, actively seeking and welcoming feedback from others
• Understand that there are psychological challenges that occur as the everyday self emerges into spiritual consciousness
• Can take responsibility, apologise, forgive and receive forgiveness
• Appreciate that all life is in a continual process of emergence and are comfortable with unknowing
• Possess an appropriate sense of humour

Service

• Enable safe and sacred space
• Provide a non-intrusive, welcoming, healing and holding presence
• Listen with care and enable people to clarify and own their own psycho-spiritual development
• Can assert clear boundaries and intervene, when appropriate, to stop abuse
• Celebrate diversity and welcome the fact that there are many different paths of spiritual development
• Are engaged citizens, actively dedicated to social and ecological health and honouring the spirit in all beings
• Are aware of local resources
• Know our personal and professional limitations and are able to refer appropriately