FAQ

Spiritual Direction FAQ

What is spiritual direction?

Find out here.

Is Fratres Dei Spiritual Direction affiliated with a religious institution?

No. Spiritual direction is the practice of serving as a spiritual companion to another as they discern their own personal journey. It is not tied to a specific faith tradition, and the goal is not to push a specific dogma onto the directee. Rachel has a thorough understanding of many world religions and spiritual practices, and she is ready to explore with you on your terms.

What does "Fratres Dei" mean?

"Fratres Dei" is Latin for "siblings of god." Rachel chose this name to evoke a sense of divine companionship, rather than a top-down, hierarchical understanding of divinity. "God" here is interpreted as a higher power, ultimate reality, higher consciousness, inherent unity, or spiritual center. "God" is a cultural term that an individual may use as a shorthand for each of these things, whether or not they believe in a deity from a specific faith tradition.

How much does it cost?

Your first session is always free so we can see if we're a good fit. For subsequent sessions, Fratres Dei accepts compensation on a sliding scale of $95-250/hour, $75/hour for full-time students, and $90/hour for part-time students. The standard rate is $155/hour. The lower end of the sliding scale serves to accommodate individuals with more restrictive financial situations, and the higher end provides an opportunity for those who are able to contribute more in order that these offerings may be accessible to more people. Because Fratres Dei is Rachel's vocation, she is able to give each directee her undivided attention. While spiritual direction is her full-time work, she does maintain that Fratres Dei is first and foremost a community resource. Therefore, she is willing to negotiate a rate lower than $95/hour based on need. Directees will also receive a 20% discount for a session for successful referrals.

How often would we meet for spiritual direction?

This is best left to your discretion. It depends on what your goals/rhythms are. You may prefer to meet frequently and get lots of good work in, or you may prefer to have more time between sessions to slowly reflect upon the content of our sessions. Rachel has met with directees on weekly, bimonthly, monthly, and quarterly bases. If you're unsure, part of our discernment in the free initial session can be determining what rhythms will work best for you.

How long do sessions last?

Spiritual direction sessions typically last for one hour. However, sessions can be longer at the discretion of the director and directee. If we reach the end of an hour session but feel that it would be best to extend the session, we can agree to do so.

Couldn't I just meet with my pastor/spiritual community leader?

While some spiritual community leaders are trained spiritual directors, not all are. Spiritual community leaders excel at ministering to congregations through teaching, vision-casting, and leadership. Spiritual direction is an overwhelmingly more intimate, one-on-one interaction that deeply ministers to the individual. Each spiritual direction relationship requires a significant amount of time in reflection and discernment on the behalf of the director, and many spiritual community leaders simply do not have the time, bandwidth, or training to meet with each member of the community on that level.

Embodiment Workshops FAQ

What happens in a Fratres Dei Spiritual Direction embodiment workshop?

A whole mess of things! As each workshop focuses on the physical component of a spiritual topic, most workshops start with some kind of body warm up. From there you can expect interactive and hands-on teaching, tactile and experiential exploration of the topic, and time for personal reflection and group discussion.

What topics are covered in Fratres Dei Spiritual Direction embodiment workshops?

Fratres Dei offers a wide variety of topics for your group to explore. These include but are not limited to movement, digestion, interspiritual theology of the body, body-spirit integration, and ecstatic dance. We are also happy to design a customized workshop about your desired topic.

How much does it cost?

Fratres Dei accepts compensation on a sliding scale of $95-250/hour, plus any location rental costs (usually $40-60). The standard rate is $155/hour. The lower end of the sliding scale serves to accommodate individuals with more restrictive financial situations, and the higher end provides an opportunity for those who are able to contribute more in order that these offerings may be accessible to more people. Because Fratres Dei is Rachel's vocation, she is able to give each participant her undivided attention. While Fratres Dei is her full-time work, she does maintain that Fratres Dei is first and foremost a community resource. Therefore, she is willing to negotiate a rate lower than $95/hour based on need. Participants will also receive a 20% discount off a workshop for successful referrals.

Ecstatic Dance FAQ

What is ecstatic dance?

Find out here.

I don't think I'd be comfortable dancing in front of other people...

We feel you. Fortunately, the beauty of ecstatic dance is that it removes a lot of the factors that would make you nervous to freely dance. The room we in which we meet is completely private, so you won't have to worry about people peering into the room while you dance. Also, in the same way that it's less nerve-racking to sing in a choir than to sing a solo, the fact that everyone else around you will be focusing on their own movement makes the entire experience feel less conspicuous.

I don't really like dancing. Would I get anything out of it?

Yes! At the end of the day, ecstatic dance is about getting in touch with your body. While you'll be encouraged to not hold back from any movement you feel inspired to make, the final product does not have to be proper dance per se. To quote a Fratres Dei Ecstatic Dance attendee: "Ecstatic dance does not necessarily require dancing. During my session, I sat, stretched, and took a short nap. Leaving my session, I felt refreshed and that I had reconnected with my spirituality in a physical way."

How much does it cost?

Fratres Dei accepts compensation on a sliding scale of $95-250/hour, plus any dance studio rental costs (usually $30-60). The standard rate is $155/hour. For one-on-one sessions, we offer $75/hour for full-time students, and $90/hour for part-time students plus studio rental costs. The lower end of the sliding scale serves to accommodate individuals with more restrictive financial situations, and the higher end provides an opportunity for those who are able to contribute more in order that these offerings may be accessible to more people. Because Fratres Dei is Rachel's vocation, she is able to give each participant her undivided attention. While Fratres Dei is her full-time work, she does maintain that Fratres Dei is first and foremost a community resource. Therefore, she is willing to negotiate a rate lower than $95/hour based on need. Participants will also receive a 20% discount off a session for successful referrals.

FAQ

Spiritual Direction FAQ

Embodiment Workshops FAQ

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What happens in a Fratres Dei Spiritual Direction embodiment workshop?

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What topics are covered in Fratres Dei Spiritual Direction embodiment workshops?

Fratres Dei offers a wide variety of topics for your group to explore. These include but are not limited to movement, digestion, interspiritual theology of the body, body-spirit integration, and ecstatic dance. We are also happy to design a customized workshop about your desired topic.

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How much does it cost?

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Ecstatic Dance FAQ