Our guest on the Podcast today is Joan Bowers, is an example of someone and lives her lives both in the heart and in the head. She's an accomplished academic as well a teacher of spiritual directors (and a spiritual director herself). Joan is also the co-founder of the School for Spiritual Direction at Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Center in Byfield, MA. It's a beautiful and secluded center for retreat, prayer, and study.

For those unfamiliar with Adelynrood, it serves as the central retreat and conference center for of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, a diverse group of more than 800 women that has been around since the late 1800's.

From their website: The companions find the dual emphasis on both spiritual growth and action in the world to be an ongoing blessing, and they find themselves upheld in their individual ministries by the corporate life of prayer and support in local chapters.

In our conversation, Joan and I talk about her transition from academia to spiritual direction; the important of finding your own path in spiritual direction; and if you're interested, how you can find a spiritual director, and even find out more about the Companions at Adelynrood.

Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Center (https://www.adelynrood.org/)

Adelynrood School for Spiritual Directors (https://www.adelynrood.org/adelynrood-school-for-spiritual-direction2016-2017/)

More about the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (https://www.adelynrood.org/schc-history/)

Find a Spiritual Director (https://www.sdiworld.org/find-a-spiritual-director/seek-and-find-guide)