Alumni Spotlight: Rev. Dianne M. Daniels
Rev. Dianne M. Daniels is a 2021 alum of Still Harbor's Spiritual Direction Practicum, an ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister/Preacher, and a course creator who empowers women 50+ to create dynamic, intriguing, vivacious, and authentic lives.
What rituals or practices help ground your spiritual care work?
I would not be able to continue my spiritual care practice without honoring and staying connected to my Ancestors. I have an Ancestor Altar in my home with photos of my mother, father, and maternal and paternal grandmothers.
Unfortunately, they have all crossed over, and it’s important to me that I keep their memories fresh and continue to call their names. Every morning, I light a candle on my altar and talk to them. I tell them what’s going on in my life, anything I’m troubled by or struggling with, and then sit quietly and listen for their responses.
Sometimes, it’s a feeling, sometimes a scent, and other times, I’ll feel a sudden burst of inspiration, and an answer will come to me in the form of a phrase or specific words.
What is currently nourishing and sustaining your spirit?
I am nourished by sacred texts – my primary religious path is Unitarian Universalism (I was ordained in the faith in October 2023, but have been part of the faith for more than 20 years), and I love to read the many helpful books, stories, and poetry available from UU-affiliated clergy and authors.
I’m also greatly sustained by my personal journaling practice. I’ve been journaling since I was 9 years old – it helped me to deal with the untimely death of my father, and I’ve kept a journal ever since.
Writing about my questions, my struggles, my successes, and my blessings helps me understand them more clearly.
Often, when we’re in the middle of “getting through,” we can’t really see our situation clearly. We may respond out of emotion, dragging our past back into the present, or shut down and refuse to deal with hard things.
Facing my problems helps me to think critically about them – I can often find new solutions when I review what has worked for me before and what I’m learning.
How has Still Harbor nurtured your journey as a spiritual care provider?
didn’t have a good idea what spiritual direction consisted of before coming to Still Harbor. The practical application of the skills we were taught was SO very valuable. I felt inspired, nourished, encouraged, and even pushed a little as I completed my studies.
I wanted to do the “right thing” – my former career in Information Technology consisted of many set rules. If you constructed a program according to the “rules” of the programming language, you could be virtually certain that you’d always get the right answer every time.
Spiritual direction helps perfectly imperfect human beings tap into their OWN knowing and their own definition of divinity and spirit.
There are rules, but they are primarily in place to ensure confidentiality and professional conduct.
In spiritual direction, you can have two people with similar situations who need completely different assistance and may end up with completely different outcomes!
I learned to trust myself and my heart more and to hear the “promptings” of my spirit when working with a directee because of my training. Being able to work with a diverse group of students and directees has been instrumental in helping me to “connect the dots” between my training and the actual practice of spiritual direction.
It’s been a wonderful journey so far, and beyond what I learned related to spiritual direction, my education at Still Harbor also encouraged and supported me as I continue to expand and deepen my own spirituality.