Lindsay L. O'Connor

Over and over, people I meet with in spiritual direction have said how much they love the readings I share in our sessions. The words of these gifted writers and prophets help us begin with a centering moment as we transition to a more contemplative space. They give me words of blessing to speak over directees at the conclusion of our sessions. I’m grateful to all the poets, writers, and visionaries who unknowingly accompany us in this holy place.

Someone recently sent me a gift card specifically to use for resources that would be a blessing to my directees, so I was excited to pick out some new poetry books (image above). This second image shows other books/poets/authors I’ve returned to again and again to usher in a greater awareness of the holy in spiritual direction.

I’d love to hear from you! Do you see any you love or have any to recommend?

You can find these and others linked on an Amazon list here. The books pictured in the two images are:

• Hearts on Fire: Praying with Jesuits by Michael Harter
• Reduced to Joy by Mark Nepo
• To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue
• A Rhythm of Prayer edited by Sarah Bessey
• All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols
• Embers by Richard Wagamese
• Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill
• The Selected Poems of Wendell Berry
• The Spiritual Poems of Rumi
• Meditations of the Heart by Howard Thurman
• Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley
• God Speaks Through Wombs by Drew Jackson
• New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver
• My Heart in My Mouth by Ted Loder
• God has No Religion: Blending Traditions for Prayer by Frances Sheridan Goulart
• Love Holds You: Poems and Devotions for Times of Uncertainty by Christine Valters Paintner
• A Portable Paradise by Roger Robinson
• The Wilderness That Bears Your Name by James A. Pearson