Life-Force Coaching

As the practice of Spiritual Direction is being reintroduced into protestant denominations, including Unitarian Universalism it has been very interesting for me the past couple of weeks in trying to introduce the idea of "energy" into conversations about "spirituality" in my church. I feel like one who has been accused of drunken swearing from the pulpit, or who is trying to reintroduce the idea of a flat earth before The Royal Academy of Science.

Here is a quote from a highly respected contemporary Spiritual Director, author and contemplative concerning the meaning of "spirit."

"Spirit means to me the vital, dynamic force of being, that which is given by God and brings the soul into living reality. This understanding is for me compatible with the ancient terms ruach, pneuma, spiritus, and the Sanskrit prāna. Spirit implies energy and power."
May, Gerald G. (2009-03-25). Care of Mind/Care of Spirit

The Connection of Spirit with energy is quite clear in the quote and throughout history. The idea of energy has advanced human ingenuity far beyond the constraints of mechanics to devices with no moving parts and which allow us to see into the smallest and farthest reaches of the cosmos. In the field of medicine the understanding of energy and a Life-force has allowed us see inside the body and treat disease without invading it with scalpel or dangerous chemicals. In the field of Psychology we now have processes that facilitate restoration of mental health without dredging up endless painful details of the past over periods of months and years - thanks to pioneers like John Thie, John Diamond and Roger Callahan. So the resistance to looking at energy as being not only appropriate and finding useful applications in the area of Spiritual guidance astounds me... especially since it has been an integral aspect of spiritual paths for thousands of years.

But it seems that after the practice of Spiritual Direction fell into long disuse, a very few decades ago some group of "experts" decided to codify what it was and should be for the modern age. The idea of spirit as an energy - not being then understood - was omitted and the new adherents are quite locked into this restricted model.

Perhaps it should not surprise me as the idea of energy has been stripped from the teachings of even yoga in most of the centers I find locally. I seem to recall a Chi Kung class in the Religious Education catalog of my local church but that doesn't mean endorsement. It also perhaps shouldn't surprise me as acceptance of a life energy underlining spiritual teachings would have repercussions about how the worlds scriptures would need to be presented.

Our modern world view is based in the understanding that energy is really all there is, and this knowledge has only improved our ability to comprehend the mysteries of life. Surely this must also apply the greatest Mystery that religions seek to explore.