An Integrated Approach to Spiritual Direction: Converging Spirituality, Creativity, and Cognitive Theories through the Expressive Arts as a Model for Christian Spiritual Formation
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Issue Date
2018-04
Authors
Russea Pihulyk, Ouida Alexandra, 1955-
Advisor
Schuurman, Peter (Advisor)
Artist
Creator
Editor
Photographer
Type
Thesis
Keywords
Arts--Religious aspects--Christianity
Poetry--Religious aspects
Divine Aleatoria
Spiritual formation
Spiritual direction
Psychotherapy
Art--Psychology
Dance
Creativity
Expressive arts
Sacred movement
Clinical soul care practitioners
Biopsychosocial Spiritual Model
Tyndale Spiritual Directors
Lectio Divina
Poetry--Religious aspects
Divine Aleatoria
Spiritual formation
Spiritual direction
Psychotherapy
Art--Psychology
Dance
Creativity
Expressive arts
Sacred movement
Clinical soul care practitioners
Biopsychosocial Spiritual Model
Tyndale Spiritual Directors
Lectio Divina
Citation
Russea Pihulyk, Ouida Alexandra. “An Integrated Approach to Spiritual Direction: Converging Spirituality, Creativity, and Cognitive Theories through the Expressive Arts as a Model for Christian Spiritual Formation.” D. Min., Tyndale University College & Seminary, 2018.
Abstract
Christian spiritual direction today builds on both an ancient and an emerging practice. There remains both in the old and the new, a theological assumption that the “spiritual life and the practice of spiritual direction assume that God acts in the world and can be experienced in the world” (Barry 1992, 12). I focus here on the beneficial integration of creativity within Christian spiritual direction as one way to experience God. I present a complementary model that promotes the adjunct use of the expressive arts (music, visual, literary, and movement arts) within the practice of spiritual direction. I include biblical, cognitive, and theoretical orientations to support creativity as an enhancement to spiritual formation. A qualitative research study involved the active participation of spiritual directors in an expressive arts workshop, and the field application of the tools taught. I posit spiritual formation as a holistic process involving the body, the mind, and the soul and that true transformation occurs where these three distinct areas converge. This model also has application for spiritual clinical care practitioners, and ecumenical spiritual direction. This expressive art inter-modal approach illustrates how God weaves, and connects our ordinary everyday circumstances together with the seemingly dissonant pieces of our lives to spiritually transform, and direct us towards our Kingdom of God purpose.
Table of Contents
Divine Aleatoria: the Spiritual Journey – Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Direction, and the Expressive Arts: an Introduction – Divine Aleatoria: Time and Chance Happens to them all: a Spiritual Autobiography – An Integrated Approach to Spiritual Direction and the Expressive Arts – Divine Call: the role of expressive arts in spiritual direction: an Action-Research Project - Engaging Spiritual Directors in an Experiential Workshop Study: Designing, Facilitating and Evaluating a Teaching Module to Develop Competencies in the Use of the Expressive Arts within Spiritual Direction – Conclusion
Publisher
Tyndale University College & Seminary
Copyright Notice
Copyright. Ouida Alexandra Russea Pihulyk, managed by Tyndale University. All rights reserved.
Rights License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
Rights License Link
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/