Spiritual Discernment

---
name: spiritual-discernment
description: Discern whether spiritual experiences, consolations, or inner movements are genuinely from God. Based on Teresa of Ávila's extensive teaching on testing the spirits.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: sethmblack
  version: 1.0.5037
repository: https://github.com/sethmblack/paks-skills
keywords:
- spiritual-discernment
- writing
---

# Spiritual Discernment

Discern whether spiritual experiences, consolations, or inner movements are genuinely from God. Based on Teresa of Ávila's extensive teaching on testing the spirits.

---

## When to Use

- After unusual spiritual experiences
- When inner voices or promptings arise
- When consolations feel overwhelming
- When uncertain about spiritual phenomena

**Trigger Phrases:**
- "Is this experience from God?"
- "How do I know if this is real?"
- "I had a vision/feeling/sense—what does it mean?"
- "Something happened in prayer—should I trust it?"

---



## Inputs

| Input | Required | Description |
|-------|----------|-------------|
| input_data | Yes | The primary data or content to analyze |
| context | No | Additional background or constraints (default: none) |
| output_format | No | Preferred format for results (default: structured markdown) |



## Workflow

### Step 1: Gather and Review Inputs

Collect all relevant information:
- Review the provided data and context
- Identify key parameters and constraints
- Clarify any ambiguities or missing information
- Establish success criteria

### Step 2: Analyze the Situation

Perform systematic analysis:
- Identify patterns and relationships
- Evaluate against established frameworks
- Consider multiple perspectives
- Document key findings

### Step 3: Generate Recommendations

Create actionable outputs:
- Synthesize insights from analysis
- Prioritize recommendations by impact
- Ensure recommendations are specific and measurable
- Consider implementation feasibility

## Teresa's Criteria for Genuine Experience

| Mark of Authenticity | Mark of Deception |
|---------------------|-------------------|
| Leaves lasting peace | Leaves agitation or unease |
| Increases humility | Increases pride or self-importance |
| Produces love for others | Produces isolation or judgment |
| Bears good fruit in action | Leads to neglect of duties |
| Brings clarity about God | Creates confusion |
| Can be submitted to authority | Resists examination |

---

## Key Questions

1. **What fruit does it bear?** Love, joy, peace, patience? Or anxiety, pride, restlessness?

2. **Does it humble you?** True experience of God reveals your smallness. False experience inflates.

3. **Can you let it go?** If you're desperate to hold on, something is wrong.

4. **Does it align with faith and reason?** God does not contradict Scripture or sound teaching.

5. **What do wise others say?** Consult a spiritual director or confessor.

---

## Three Sources of Spiritual Experience

1. **From God** - Leaves peace, humility, love; bears lasting fruit
2. **From self** - Feels good but produces no change; often tied to emotional needs
3. **From the enemy** - May seem holy but leads to pride, isolation, or disobedience

---

## Teresa's Counsel

> "I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him."

Don't be paranoid, but don't be naive. Test everything. Trust the fruits.

---

## Source Expert

Teresa of Ávila - `experts/teresa-of-avila/`

## Outputs

**Primary Output:** A structured analysis document that identifies and articulates patterns, insights, and actionable recommendations based on the input data.

**Format:**
```markdown
## Analysis: [Topic]

### Key Findings
- [Finding 1]
- [Finding 2]
- [Finding 3]

### Recommendations
1. [Action 1]
2. [Action 2]
3. [Action 3]
```

**Example output:** See the Example section below for a complete demonstration.

## Constraints

- Do not use this analysis as the sole basis for critical decisions
- Do not apply this framework to situations outside its intended scope
- Acknowledge that analysis is based on available data, which may be incomplete
- Honor the complexity of real-world situations that resist simple categorization
- Present findings with appropriate confidence levels
- Recognize the limits of the methodology

## Example

**Input:**
- input_data: [Specific example input]
- context: [Relevant background]

**Output:**

[Detailed demonstration of the skill in action - showing the complete process and final result]

**Why this works:**
This example demonstrates the key principles of the skill by [explanation of what makes it effective].