Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit

Led by the writing of beloved, bestselling author Henri Nouwen (With Open Hands, Reaching Out, The Wounded Healer, Making All Things New), the authors of Spiritual Direction, return with the second work in this popular series—a guide to Christian spirituality on how to live out the five classical stages of spiritual development.

This book is not about steps or stages on the way to perfection. It is about the seven movements of the Spirit that reunite us with God, each other, and our truest selves.

• The Way of the Heart: Learn to descend with the mind into the heart, the place where God dwells, to find a life of authentic spiritual formation.
• Movements of the Spirit: Discover how to move from sorrow to joy, from resentment to gratitude, and from fear to love through intentional, transformative practices.
• Contemplative Prayer: Unmask the illusions of the world and see things as they truly are, allowing nature, time, and people to become transparent windows to God.
• Pastoral Psychology: Integrate psychological insights with spiritual wisdom to understand the inner polarities that prompt a deeper, more honest journey of faith.
• Befriending Death: Move from denial to acceptance by viewing mortality not as an enemy, but as the final, gentle passage into the full embrace of a loving God.