Cultivating Compassion Meditation: A Meditative Practice
Compassion is understood as a divine quality that draws us closer to our true self in God. Wisdom — learning to see ourselves, others, and all of life through God’s eyes — gently guides us into this way of being. As wisdom and compassion deepen, we become a conduit through which divine compassion flows into the world, embodying the mystical truth of the interconnectedness of all being. The meditation that follows arises from this wider understanding of compassion as rooted i
Cultivating Compassion: From Ego to Christ-Centred Love
Compassion lies at the heart of every authentic spiritual path, not as a sentiment but as a way of seeing, being, and acting in the world. Compassion as Walking in God’s Ways Most spiritual paths teach that we come close to God when we 'walk in God's ways' - that is when we embody the divine quality of compassion. In the midrash below, from Jewish mysticism, the attributes of divine mercy revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai form the template for the practice of compassion: ''Wa
Knowing God: Wholeness & Self-Knowledge
The spiritual journey has always been understood as a journey of transformation — not only of belief, but of the whole person. Across the Christian tradition, wisdom teachers have recognised that knowing God and knowing ourselves are inseparable movements of the same deepening process. This article reflects on how self-knowledge and wholeness belong at the heart of an authentic spiritual life. Wholeness, Self-Knowledge, and the Spiritual Life In our contemporary world, we und
Praying with the Imagination: Entering the Sacred Story
Imaginative prayer offers a way of meeting God that engages the whole person — mind, body, senses, emotions, and memory. Rather than standing at a distance from scripture, it invites us to step inside the sacred story and discover how God may be present to us there. For many people, this form of prayer opens a deeper, more personal relationship with God, precisely because it welcomes the inner life rather than setting it aside. Imagination and the Christian Tradition Imagina
Understanding Islam
Hans Küng, the noted Swiss Catholic theologian, once said, 'Until there is peace between religions there can be no peace in the world.' In our current world, where religious tensions seem so fraught, I have sought, as a Christian, to reflect on what Christ's demand to 'love my neighbour ' means in this context. Certainly, for me, loving my neighbour must encompass understanding, respecting and seeking the good of the other. I would hope that others would seek to properly und
Spiritual Life & Our Images of God
If we are a follower of a spiritual path then our images of God (or the sacred) are key. When we try to pray, we must have some idea of God in our minds, and this idea will influence how we pray and whether we pray. It will also influence our behaviour and ethics, often without our conscious awareness. Why Our Images of God Matter But our images of God are not the same as our ideas about God. Inner images are pictures not abstract ideas; they are a powerful combination of tho
Praying with Art: Image, Symbol, and the Inner Life
Many people discover that words alone are not always enough in prayer. There are seasons when images, colour, movement, and symbol speak more truthfully to what is stirring within us. Praying with art offers a way of listening and responding that engages the whole person — body, imagination, and soul — and can open us to God in unexpectedly gentle and revealing ways. Art as a Way of Prayer Art can be a wonderful way of communicating with God beyond words — both listening and
Spiritual Abuse
This article was first written in early 2016, when spiritual abuse was rarely named or understood in the UK. At that time, survivors often lacked language, validation, or frameworks to make sense of what they had experienced. While much excellent work has since emerged, I keep this piece as a foundational overview of the dynamics involved — particularly for those encountering the term for the first time. What Is Spiritual Abuse? Spiritual abuse is a much under discussed subje
Lectio Divina: Listening With the Ear of the Heart
In a culture shaped by speed, information, and analysis, many people long for a way of encountering scripture that is slower, more intimate, and more prayerful. Lectio Divina offers such a way — inviting us not to master the text, but to listen for how God may be addressing us through it, here and now. What Is Lectio Divina? Lectio Divina is an ancient contemplative way to read short passages of sacred text and prayerfully let God speak through them into our lives. Its origin
Spiritual Life and Listening: Learning to Hear With the Heart
Listening to the Holy, listening to others, and listening to ourselves are all vital to the spiritual life. Yet true listening requires courage and vulnerability, for deep listening does not leave us unchanged. To listen attentively is to allow ourselves to be moved, disturbed, and sometimes transformed by what we hear. Silence and the Art of Listening Br David Steindl-Rast — the Benedictine monk and writer — reminds us that 'Without silence there can be no listening.' As I
