What is Spirit Care?

“Spirit Care” is also known as spiritual direction, spiritual companionship, spiritual tending, or spiritual guidance, depending on the tradition.  It is the practice of having a spiritual director or companion walk alongside you in your path, helping you to listen to the “still, small voice within.”

A Spiritual Companion or Director can mirror you to help you reflect on the questions and concerns of your spirit. They can mentor you as you explore new spiritual practices. Or they can simply hold your hand as you re-birth a new you, acting as a spiritual midwife.

All traditions recognize the benefit of a spiritual companion providing spirit care.  Even those without a creed or deity need to fan the spark that gets them out of bed every morning. Read more on How Spirit Care works, or check out how different spiritual traditions view Spirit Care below:

Spirit Care as Spiritual Direction in Christianity

“The spiritual director is a man who helps the soul to realize that God is always with it, that God will never leave it, that God will never fail it.”

~ Thomas Merton, The Silent Life

“It is of great help to the soul to have someone to whom it can open its heart, for it is by this means that the soul finds peace and receives strength.”

~ St. Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle



“In spiritual direction, we learn that we do not have to lead lives of isolation and self-reliance but can embrace the support and wisdom of others who walk with us in faith.”

~ Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart

Spirit Care & Companionship from the murshid in Islam

"The companionship of the righteous is a key to success and a means of salvation. Just as a sick person needs a doctor, a person in search of spiritual well-being requires a murshid to guide them toward their ultimate goal."

~ Imam Al-Ghazali, The Alchemy of Happiness

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in new form. The murshid teaches the way to see the lost in the new, to find the Divine even in the chaos.”

~ Rumi, The Essential Rumi

“The murshid is the one who helps you see beyond the veil of the world’s distractions, guiding you to the clarity of God’s presence in every moment.”

~ Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, Al-Fath al-Rabbani

Spiritual Companionship in Buddhism

“One is a friend to oneself, another is a friend to the other, and together, they make the journey of spiritual life easier. A good friend is one who helps to walk the path of liberation, not as an authority, but as a guide who lights the way.”

~ The Buddha, Dhammapada, v.45

“A spiritual companion or friend is someone who inspires you to develop a clearer vision of your own potential and your deeper connection to all beings. They encourage you, they guide you, but they do not impose their path on you.”

~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness

“We are all companions on the path, walking together towards awakening. The presence of a spiritual friend encourages us to be mindful, compassionate, and true to our own nature.”

~Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching


Spirit Care through Hashpa’ah in Judaism

“A good companion in spiritual life is one who listens, one who walks beside you in the darkness, holding your hand and offering gentle words of encouragement to help you rise to the light of your true self.”

~Rabbi Yosef Karo, The Maggid of Mezritch

“A rebbe or spiritual companion is someone who holds your hand when you’re uncertain, and encourages you to be your true self. Their love and care help you feel safe to explore your own heart and find the Divine in your life.”

~ Rabbi Shlomo

Spirit Care from the sadhu & guru in Hinduism

“Acquire this knowledge from a self-realized soul, one who has realized the truth. Do not hesitate to ask questions, and submit yourself to the spiritual teacher with humility. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge to you because they have seen the truth.”                

~ The Bhagavad Gita, chapter 4, verse 34

“The sadhu (spiritual companion) is one who is a friend to all beings, a guide to the seeker, and a mirror for the disciple. He walks with you and helps you discover the truth within yourself, pointing the way but never walking in front of you.”

~ Swami Sivananda, The Path of Divine Life

"The guru is not someone who gives you something; the guru shows you what is already within you. The guru is a companion who helps you to see what is already present in your own heart."

~Sri Ramakrishna, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Spirit Care & Companionship in Taoism

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. A good guide walks the path with you, but lets you experience each step as your own."

~ Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

"The great way is easy, but people love the byways. A spiritual friend will point the way, but you must find the journey yourself."

~ Chuang Tzu, Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings

Spirit Care & Companionship in Wicca

"A witch is never alone on their path, for we are surrounded by the spirits of the elements, our ancestors, and the Divine. A good spiritual companion helps you connect more deeply with the world around you, showing you the magic in every breath and every step."

~ Doreen Valiente, The Witches’ Bible

"The Goddess is our guide, but we walk together. We learn from each other and share what we know. A spiritual companion is someone who helps you see yourself, not as you wish to be, but as you truly are, and together, we grow into our power."

~ Starhawk, The Spiral Dance

"In the circle, all are equal. There is no one above, and no one below. We are all companions, working together with the forces of nature to find our way to deeper wisdom and understanding."

~ Gerald Gardner


Spirit Care & Companionship in Heathenry

"A man is his own friend, and his own enemy, and his own guide. But one who has a true companion will walk with a steady heart."

~ Elder Edda, Havamal, Stanza 47

"You are never alone when you walk the sacred path; the gods walk with you, and your companions share the same journey. Together, you hold the power of the runes and the wisdom of the old ways."

~ Helm of Awe

Spirit Care & Companionship in Druidry

"A Druidic path is one of companionship with the world, and with each other. We do not walk alone; we walk with nature, with the ancestors, and with those who share our journey. A true companion is one who helps you see the beauty in every step."

~ Philip Carr-Gomm, The Druidry Handbook

"A true Druidic companion helps you to see through the veil of illusion, to understand that everything is connected, and that your journey is one of profound communion with the world around you."

~ John Michael Greer, The Druidry Handbook

Spirit Care & Companionship in Neopaganism

"In the Craft, we are taught that spiritual growth is never a solitary pursuit. We are part of a web of relationships—human, divine, and elemental—and our companions are our teachers and our mirrors, showing us the path we must walk."

~ Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon

"A spiritual companion in the Craft is one who holds space for your growth, who helps you see beyond your limitations, and who walks beside you as you explore the mysteries of life, death, and the magic in between."

~ Judika Illes, The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft