Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction
Kathryn Porten 651-470-0364
A spiritual companion for the journey
Kathryn Porten 651-470-0364
A spiritual companion for the journey
I love winter! The stillness and quiet of a cold crisp winter day creates in me a mysterious peace that calms my soul. Summer, not so much. I have been known to get cabin fever in the summer hiding from the humid 90 degree Minnesota heat our mosquitos and wasps love so much.
In 2015, after a long discernment process, I left a successful technical consulting career. My heart, mind and soul were being drawn deeper and deeper into contemplative practices and spiritual direction disciplines.
I have been in Spiritual Direction and practicing the techniques of prayerful listening with my own community for over 20 years. Contemplative practices have been a central part of my journey for much of my adult life. I have studied Thomas Keating, Henri Nouwen, Gerald May, Tilden Edwards, John Vanier, Jennette Bakke and Joann Nessor to name a few. I am a graduate of Christos Spiritual Direction program as well as a member of the Covenant Spiritual Directors network, and Spiritual Directors International. I am an Ennegram 8, Meyers-Briggs INTJ, and if you are interested I can share my top 5 StrengthsFinders with you at our first meeting.
My experience with people who have cognitive disabilities started when I was 14 as a weekly volunteer at Lake Owasso Home here in Minnesota. I worked there for 4 years. Then went to work at Miriam Park Day Activity Center for Intellectually Disabled Adults for 2 years. From here I went to Augsburg College. While working on my Economics and Statistics degree at Augsburg I developed a program to support the physically disabled students and worked with the college to assure their compliance to 504 accessibility regulations. Currently I volunteer for Covenant Enabling Residents (CER) working with residents on their spiritual journey. God has been inviting me to learn and explore how we can become spiritual partners with people who have cognitive challenges. People with Autism, Dementia, and other issues that challenge ones ability to communicate and share spiritual journeys. You can read more about this on the "To Know and Be Known" ministry page.
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
To be willing and able to accept the invitation to enter into another's spiritual journey as a skilled and compassionate companion.