We are glad to have you and warmly welcome you to this space.
SDI Mission and Vision Statement
“Cultivating the Practices of Deep Listening and Spiritual Presence Across All Faith Traditions and Spiritual Orientations.”
We always strive to ensure that our actions align with our intentions, purpose, and community. Perhaps you are a practicing spiritual director or companion, offering the deep listening and spiritual presence that you have been well-trained in. If you are new to spiritual companionship, learning or in training, or do not identify as a spiritual companion, however, these Community Guidelines are intended to help us all understand how to behave within the community, as well as what to expect from others in this space. We hope these guidelines help us all to bring our best to the community.
SDI Public Square To-Dos:
- Say hello!
Whether in a Zoom Breakout Group or at a Conference table, saying hello and introducing yourself to a new friend is always an option!
- Ask questions!
The essence of our work as spiritual directors and companions is to discern fundamental questions around our spirituality. “How did we come to be?” “What happens when we die?” “What makes you feel alive?” Inquire about the practice of spiritual direction and companionship. “What are ways you practice deep listening with others?” “Is it OK to offer spiritual direction to someone from a different religion or spiritual background than my own?”
- Find a community!
We have many overlapping communities within The Public Square. Join one, or two, or several! If you’d like to start a Group, let us know and we’ll set it up for you.
- Be yourself!
We are all travelers on our own spiritual journeys. We celebrate the diversity of our identities and our spiritual journeys, while rooting and growing in our shared contemplative values.
Tools for engaging in contemplative community:
- Practice good listening
Don’t interrupt. Don’t correct. Don’t plan on what to say in response while someone is still sharing. Try to really receive what is being shared with your whole self, bringing all your attention.
- Practice compassion
If someone is grieving or in pain, you may simply offer, “I’m sorry you are going through that.” If someone is joyful, you may say, “I’m glad to hear that!” If someone has a burning question on their heart, “I hear you” or, “could you please say more about that?” are appropriate responses.
- Practice curiosity
If a presenter or session poses a question to ponder, ponder it. When we are open, every moment offers the opportunity and potential to learn something new.
- Practice contemplation
We don’t need to ‘fix’ anything or give advice to anyone. When we deeply listen to someone, we allow the deeper wisdom that is within them to be heard and to flourish.
- Practice mindfulness
Breakout groups are oftentimes limited, and you may only have a few minutes to share from your own personal journey. Be mindful not to take up too much time in your own sharing that others won’t have the opportunity.
Rules of SDI Public Square Interaction:
- No harassment
Healthy disagreements happen and are normal, but continuous, repetitive, or severe negative comments may cross the line into harassment and will not be tolerated. This includes encouraging, participating in, or organizing. Additionally, do not send repeated requests or messages to anyone. Do not “spam” users for any reason.
- No hate speech
It’s unacceptable to attack a person or a community based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, spiritual orientation, or disabilities, among others.
- No threatening
This includes indirect threats, as well as sharing or threatening to share someone’s private personal information (also known as doxxing). Be respectful and courteous at all times.
- No explicit content
Refrain from sharing anything explicit, including, but not limited to, sexually explicit images or content, violent images, or anything that could be perceived as dehumanizing.
- No commercial sales or solicitations
Your SDI Profile and your page on the Find a Spiritual Director or Companion Guide are the places to directly promote your work and practice. SDI sells Advertising to those who want to further promote their work and practice. Do not sell or otherwise commercially solicit SDI Members in this space.
- Only talk about your work if it’s relevant
Be a thoughtful, wise, kind, and compassionate contributor in conversations. Demonstrate your expertise naturally through the ways you are in dialog with others. It’s OK to reference or even link to something you sell, when there is an invitation to go deeper into something you are sharing in a conversation. Just don’t let it turn into a sales pitch.
A Safe and Welcoming Place for All Spiritual Explorers
- SDI Staff will Moderate content.
If SDI Staff deem your content or engagement in the Public Square to be inappropriate or out of alignment with the purpose, we reserve the right to remove the content, potentially prevent access to the site, remove a participant from a webinar, or to cancel a membership.
- Report offending activity.
If you see any activity that violates these guidelines, please report it to us by contacting [email protected] directly.
