Spiritual Journeying

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.

Silhouette of bamboo leaves against a white sky, creating a dramatic and black-and-white contrast depicting the darkness and uncomfortable parts we can encounter on our spiritual journey.

The Spiritual Journey of Descent

The journey of descent often begins being triggered by an event in life - an inner event or process of the outside world such as job loss, the loss of a relationship, grief or trauma; a crisis that shakes the familiar ground of our ego's reality. As this ground of our ego's sense of self and reality is shaken, we find things begin to fall apart, challenging what we thought of as our sense of reality about ourselves.

Telling our Stories...

I was recently at a wonderful workshop for spiritual directors run by Pádraig Ó Tuama leader of the Corrymeela Community , Northern Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation organisation. As a poet and theologian, Pádraig is interested in storytelling, in how we tell our stories to ourselves and others: What are the deep narratives of our life's story trying to work their way out? Our particular stories of life circle round us, as themes weaving their way in and out of who

Stone labyrinth with flower design at center, surrounded by light brown textured tiles. The pattern gives a sense of calm and symmetry.

Praying with the Labyrinth: Journeying to the Centre and Back

The labyrinth has re-emerged in recent years as a quiet but powerful aid to prayer and reflection. Used across cultures and spiritual traditions, it offers a way of engaging the body, imagination, and inner life together. For many, it becomes not simply a practice, but a living symbol of the spiritual journey itself. The Labyrinth as Symbol A labyrinth is an ancient symbol of wholeness . It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful pa

Falling snow, a vintage lamp post, and a serene Christmassy atmosphere evoking the play on the carol 'Silent mind, Holy Mind.'.

Silent Mind, Holy Mind: A Christmas Reflection Across Traditions

Looking through the eyes of another can bring into fresh focus those things familiarity can too easily obscure. So, at this Christmas time I share some reflections on the birth and teachings of Jesus Christ as offered by the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Yeshe (1935–1984) from talks he gave in the Christmases of 1971-74 when first encountering Western students in Kathmandu.* Although disenchanted with the Christianity of their homelands, and seeking alternative answers in Bud

Sculptures by Barbara Hepworth with circular holes in her sunny garden reflecting the Jungian interplay of inner light and spaciousness, surrounded by lush greenery and flowers.

Barbara Hepworth's Spiritual Vitality

A Garden of Presence: Encountering Barbara Hepworth in St Ives I've been staying a stone's throw from Barbara Hepworth's studio and museum in St Ives. So, before the crowds arrive each morning, I slip alone into her extraordinary garden - a captivating blend of sculpture and exotic planting. Her working spaces lie undisturbed as if she has just popped out for a moment to fetch milk for morning tea, or perhaps in her case a packet of cigarettes. The early morning light in St I

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 Cairns: Markers Along the Inner Path

There are images that quietly accompany us through life, gathering meaning as we change. The image of a cairn — simple, weathered, and humanly made — is one such symbol , holding memory, passage, loss, and orientation in a single form. Cairns as Markers 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 or burial sites, to mark trails, or to remember sacred and important moments.

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: Places of Journey and Transformation

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