March - 2015

Welcome to Reflections on the Spiritual Life

Here you will find articles on spiritual direction, psychology and spirituality, contemplative practice, and the deeper movements of the spiritual life. Drawing on decades of experience in psychospiritual work and spiritual accompaniment, these reflections explore common themes such as shadow material, prayer struggles, images of God, dreamwork, and the emotional dynamics that shape our spiritual journey.

Whether you are seeking support in your own inner life or resources for spiritual direction practice,

I hope these writings offer clarity, depth, and encouragement.

Stack of smooth stones - a cairn -balanced on a pebble beach, with a calm sea and cloudy sky in the background, creating a serene mood.

Sacred Cains

On the home page of my website is a picture of a cairn. Cairns are piles of stone placed one on top of the other to mark key events such as battles, burial sites, mark trails, or remember sacred or important events. They have an impermanence as they fall apart with the onslaught of the elements of life, inviting us to touch and interact with them, to rebuild them anew. In a similar way we build inner cairns to mark key moments in our lives - recalling important people, plac

'The Butterfly Circus' - great video to watch

Have you seen this extraordinary short film (just 20 mins) - winner of over 35 film festival awards? Set in the landscape of the American...

Circular stone labyrinth on brown tiled floor, intricate white pathways forming a maze. Calm, decorative setting of an ancient spiritual practice like spiritual direction work.

Describing Spiritual Direction

What is spiritual direction? The first thing to say about spiritual direction is that it's not about telling people what to do, but rather about helping people find and follow their spiritual direction in life. Sometimes it is called spiritual accompaniment or spiritual companioning, or even spiritual mentoring. Sometimes people refer to themselves as 'soul friends' of another - 'anam cara' in the Christian Celtic tradition. Below, I have gathered together a wide range of p

Red autumn leaves on grass, softly blurred green background. The vivid colors evoke a serene, peaceful mood we seek on our spiritual path.

Awakening Love

Just back from attending a refreshing and inspiring interfaith retreat day led by Maura Sills. She spoke of the numinous quality of love and wisdom that is at the centre of us all. And how awakening to, and resting prayerfully and consciously in this depth within us, not only helps us but all those to whom we relate in life. I was very struck by how easily we can live our life separate in our own skin, sometimes never really experiencing a sense of deep connection to others

Lush garden with vibrant plants and flowers surrounds a brick archway. Warm glowing lights create a serene evening atmosphere showing the richness of the spiritual landscapes we can encounter.

Spiritual Landscapes...

There are so many landscapes we pass through, internally and externally, as we journey in life. I find the outer and inner are so often brought together in reflecting on the landscapes of geographical, and spiritual, journeying of God's people in the Old Testament, and how these places relate to our lives and experience now. There are lush gardens such as the Garden of Eden and the garden that is the backdrop to the lovers in the Song of Songs - an almost restored paradise;