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REVIEWS

(READERS RESPOND CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4) Interested in her use of the Augsberger triad….
Highlighted the major stumbling blocks for women as
reminder that attentiveness to joy and contentment is spiritual seekers…. Characterizing women as seekers
essential to spiritual growth and wholeness…. Was a huge and validating their core experiences set a profoundly
“put off” for me because of the characterization of emo- moving context. The author’s challenge to the idea of
tions as “positive” or “negative.” All emotions come from a “self-sacrifice” names a perennial problem and she lays out
deep and real place within and can be wisdom teachers…. positive encounter methods for spiritual directors….
Good, affirmative article….
Male Spirituality
African Worldviews I suggested that my husband read this; thought it
Extremely important. Goes to the heart of meeting would be helpful for his journey…. Reminds me that
people where they are and inviting spiritual directors to God is All to everyone, and gender, being a non-issue
examine their own assumptions and biases…. Reminds for God, should be a non-issue for us as well…. Good
me of how strongly my Western influences flavor my own personal narrative. Applications of Jungian method are
viewpoint. To venture out of my own culture like this is to usually illuminative…. Revealing of one man’s search for
realize that spiritual direction must focus on listening and a meaningful spirituality, and also of the need we all have
compassion…. Full of insight for a Westerner like me who to respect the other’s unique path…. Fitting to have the
meets with African asylum seekers often in faith settings. “Women and Spiritual Direction” article back to back
We in the West need to listen to the African voice…. with the “Male Spirituality” article.… Candor and strug-
gle deeply appreciated…. Seemed to rub me the wrong
Sowing Seeds of Love, Reaping Blossoms of Compassion way. I guess it was in the style of writing…. Several of
Liked the interfaith/interspiritual emphasis…. my male spiritual directees have been looking for ways
Appreciate the perspective of a Muslim spiritual direc- to incorporate symbol, ceremony and initiation processes
tor and interfaith minister. Sowing seeds of love, reaping into their walk with God. This article added a missing
blossoms of compassion—starting with asking, reflecting piece—working with a specifically Christian symbol in a
upon, and answering the seven questions—a wonderful creative mandala/medicine wheel process that moves into
framework for our path as spiritual directors…. I believe the archetypal realm of the male psyche while integrating
it’s mystic and universal that if we honor God in being into the earth....
ourselves, that’s a great worship in any culture…. So awed
by the consistent presence of compassion as foundational Walking Together into the Unknown
in the major faith traditions of every culture. Moving espe- Rich with imagery, very powerful. …. Gave me some
cially in unfolding compassion as applied to self, others, incentive to walk the Camino…. Beautiful bridging of
animals, earth and spiritual directees…. human experience and divine presence—any pilgrimage
is an opportunity to see more clearly how God relates
Women and Spiritual Direction to His creation…. The journey and the body are essen-
A real eye opener concerning many women’s issues…. tial partners in spiritual growth. Buen camino!... Found
How could anyone as hung up on gender issues as this myself skipping large chunks. I’ve never been on this
author be a decent spiritual director? If God truly has pilgrimage, yet this told me nothing new. Too long for
nothing to do with gender, stop beating us over the what it conveyed …. Loved the way Kotchian managed to
head with the spiritual directee’s gender issues. Spiritual reap insights for life from so many small moments of the
directors that protest too much over the human condition journey…. Hospitality and self-care came through loud
don’t display the honest trust in God that does the spiritual and clear. The power of the experience was evident…. ■
directee the most good…. Good survey of various aspects
of women’s experience. Begs for more depth, especially
the section on empathy, sympathy, and interpathy….

Volume 20 No. 3 • September 2014 61