I am a mum of a large brood (7 children) and Oma to 6 grandchildren. (my grandchildren have been my invitation to learn how to play again!) I am married to Philip and we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in 2024. I love reading, podcasts, history, walking/hiking, all things water and laughing. I love to read about the mystics and am attracted to all things mystical. I have enjoyed working in the non-profit space for many years. I started to try to slow down my life in 2015 and have been on a quest for a ‘slowed down spirituality’ ever since. I love that Spiritual Direction offers a place to deeply listen to the whispers of God’s divine presence (or absense) in an unhurried space. My two core values are spirituality and curiosity. I believe a lot of people are looking for Spiritual Direction but they don’t know it exists! I am so grateful that I have been introduced to a network of contemplatives in the last few years. My life is rich and full.
Favourite Scripture: 1 John 4:16: “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them”
Favourite Book: I love reading, so its difficult to choose just one book. I do love Tolstoy & Dosevesky
because of their great insight into humanity. Poetry is also a place a find solace.
Favourite Movie: Difficult to choose just one… but Sophie’s Choice, influenced me greatly in my
early 20’s largely becauseI have always hoped I would be a ‘rescuer’ rather than a perpetrator or onlooker
Favourite Quote: At the moment it is a poem rather than a quote. Rumi – The Guest House –
This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.
Memorable Moment:
In 2024 I walked the Camino. The photo with the light coming down on me was from a photo on an i-phone and both Phil and I didn’t realize until looking over the photos at night that the light beam was on me! The Camino had so many gifts for me, one of them being staying with Benedictine monks in a small village in Rabanal Spain for a week. Joining these monks and other pilgrims in their ministry of hospitality, Gregorian chants and prayers (in Latin) was heaven on earth.
