Kavanah Spiritual Direction, Counselling and Wisdom School

There are  times on our life journey where we feel compelled to ask some big questions: What is my purpose? How can I know if I’m on the right path? How do I find the true meaning of my life?

Kavanah is a Hebrew word that means intention. To me, that means you can wake up and have life happen to you or you can bring a conscious and meaningful approach the challenges you face on a daily basis.  My intention is to help you be proactive in that endeavour;  connect to who you are and how you live your life with meaning and purpose.

My goal, as your spiritual counselor, guide or director, is to provide a safe and non-judgmental environment that is spiritual as opposed to religious. For me spirituality is about relationship — to yourself, to others and to the greater forces at play in your life however you define those forces.  As something of a spiritual fitness centre, my direction, counseling and workshops help give your spiritual muscles a workout in a way that aligns with your spiritual yearnings.

I am an Ordained Spiritual Director and a member of Spiritual Directors International.  In addition to my direction, counseling, facilitation, teaching and group work throughout the GTHA, I have an additional 30 years of experience connecting, and listening closely to people’s stories from all walks of life.

I look forward to hearing from you and working with you.

(If you’re interested in booking a session, click here.)

Kavanah is a Hebrew word that means intention. To me, that means you can wake up and have life happen to you or you can bring a conscious and meaningful approach the challenges you face on a daily basis.  My intention  as your Spiritual Guide is to help you be proactive in that endeavour;  connect to who you are and how you live your life with meaning and purpose.

How does spiritual guidance work?

Spiritual Guidance is a process for exploring our connection with what we experience as Spirit, Truth, Ultimate Values, God, however we express and understand the sacred in our lives.

Unlike Psychotherapy, which may focus on a problem needing a solution, Spiritual Guidance attends to the experiences of connection to or distance from our core values and sense of spirituality. Often during our journey we encounter profound challenges and yearn for meaning and connection.

As Rabbi Shawn Zevit says:”While hearing the concerns of their directees, spiritual directors, facilitate spiritual development, as they take note of the way in which what is expressed reveals alignment or distance from the sacred and balanced life as each person, community or organization experiences this Force or Energy in the world.”

Spiritual Guidance Sessions may take place one-to-one, in a group relationship, faith community or organization as a whole.

Spiritual Directors create a safe and sacred space for directees to explore their unique path to meaning and connection to all that is available. In the swirl of life we can create a point of stillness and cultivate the tools that help facilitate spiritual growth.

 

 

 

Ralph was ordained as a Spiritual Director through the Aleph Ordination Program, at the Aleph Institute both in Boulder, CO and Philadelphia, PA.  Ralph has provided individual and group spiritual direction, counseling, guidance, and companionship. He has performed Chaplaincy service for the elderly and facilitated workshops on spiritual direction more generally, Ageing and Sageing, and more specific groups for me.  He has also trained in Creative Problem Solving through Buffalo State University and has led CPS workshops for both smaller and larger organizations.

Ralph Benmergui is perhaps best known however as an award winning broadcast journalist. He has been heard on radio and television for over 30 years.  He is thrilled to have produced and hosted several television series — included one called “5 Seekers” on Vision TV that led 5 participants on a North American, spiritual quest for meaning.  He is currently writing a book on spirituality and ageing.

Ralph is married and is the father of four boys.  He is always looking to renew and ignite a soul-centered learning for fellow travelers on this brief, miraculous journey that is our gift: our lives.