Consider who among your family or friends has the potential of becoming your soul friend. Pray over this, and ask for guidance from God. Then present the idea to the person, saying that you respect his or her wisdom and would like to meet periodically to talk about spiritual matters that are important to you. If the person agrees, set up times to get together, and begin this practice. Remember that the soul friendship does not have to be reciprocal, although it is stronger if it is. What matters is that you seek advice from your soul friend, and let that person decide whether or not you will function as a soul friend for him or her.
— Tom Cowan in The Way of the Saints