What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction is the practice of listening deeply to another person as they explore some of life’s essential mysteries. The director does not offer answers, rather they come alongside the directee and perhaps shine a light on certain areas of inquiry or offer instruction in practices many have found helpful along the way. Ideally, the director becomes a conduit for the work of the Spirit in the life of the directee.
The Ancient Celts have a useful word for the role of spiritual director. The word is anamchara. It means soul friend.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Someone once said, If you find yourself in the wilderness, and you want to find your way out, get a therapist.
If you find yourself in the wilderness, and you want to explore the wilderness, get a spiritual director.
Counseling or therapy is designed to address mental health issues, life crises, and overall personal growth. Most often it is covered by insurance. For insurance to cover therapy with a mental health professional, you will be given a diagnosis based on criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (DSM-V).
The focus of Spiritual Direction is solely on your relationship with the Divine and practices that have been used through the centuries by others on the path to help develop and deepen that relationship. Certainly, other relationships in your life and life events have an impact on your understanding of who Spirit is and what your relationship with Them is like. We bring our whole selves into Spiritual Direction-mind, body, and spirit.
Spiritual Direction does not address mental health issues.
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Description In a word, no. Anyone is welcome in this practice. No specific religious or spiritual tradition is necessary to receive spiritual direction. This practice is a safe space and is LGBTQ+ affirming.
In fact, this is a safe space for those who have experienced church trauma. While part of that trauma may be treated in therapy, some folks find that they still long for a healthy spirituality, and that can be explored in spiritual direction.
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There are many reasons a person might seek spiritual direction. Often people who are deconstructing the religion they grew up with will come in order to have a companion as they try to discover for themselves what it is that they do believe. This practice is a safe space to explore with honesty and vulnerability all that is questioned and investigated along the journey to a new sense of spirituality.
Often when people are faced with a big decision, a new job, a move, a call to ministry, or simply longing for deeper connection to their own spirit and to the Divine, they will seek out a spiritual director.
The word most often used for those who simply seek continued growth in the spiritual aspect of their lives is-formation. For some folks, spiritual direction is part of their formation in the faith. It offers an anamchara or soul friend to travel the Way with them and guide them gently in their pursuit of deeper connection to self, God, and others.
Spiritual Direction Services
Spiritual Direction is available by appointment. I have designated spaces at two locations:
Church of the Nativity — 1201 Cross St, Fort Oglethorpe, GA. To reach this space, it is necessary to walk up a flight of stairs, so if mobility is an issue at the Nativity location, we can arrange to meet at the Lift Youth Center or at a private location elsewhere. (The outdoor labyrinth and walking path on the church property are also available for our use.)
Inside Britta’s Happy Place, behind LIFT Youth Center — 7195 Nashville St, Ringgold, GA 30736
Individual Session
(60 minutes)
A private session provides dedicated time to explore your faith journey and listen for God's presence and invitation in your day-to-day life.
$60 per one hour session
Private Group Session
(60 minutes)
I am available to lead retreats and speak at church gatherings including Sunday School, evening events, and special occasions by request.
Rates provided upon inquiry
Retreat and Speaking Engagements
Structured communal sessions offer a small, intimate setting for shared reflection and listening for God's movement together.
$20 per person (up to 12 participants) for one hour session
Throughout the year, I'll also offer scheduled group sessions and workshops. Please check the website for upcoming dates and registration information.
About Melody
Melody Moore trained as a Spiritual Director at the Metagem Institute, which is steeped in the Episcopal Church tradition and draws heavily on Carl Jung's teachings on dreamwork and archetypes.
She holds a BS in Middle Grades Education from LaGrange College (LaGrange, GA), an M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA), and an MACC (Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling) from Moravian Theological Seminary (Bethlehem, PA).
Melody spent most of her career in education, retiring in spring 2026. Her counseling background helps her recognize when to refer a directee to a therapist. She has experience in both one-on-one and small-group spiritual direction, and follows the Spiritual Directors International Code of Ethics (available at sdicompanions.org).
Melody has two adult children — a daughter and her wife in Chicago, and a son in Charlotte. She follows a simple Rule of Life, a short expansion of the Rule of the Northumbria Community in northern England:
Availability. Vulnerability. Presence.
Get in touch
Whether you're new to spiritual direction or looking for a new companion on the journey, I'd be glad to talk with you about what that might look like. Reach out with any questions or to schedule a first session.
Baptismal font at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnson City, TN