Following the leadings of love and truth, to joyful action in the world
I offer and facilitate unique, co-created, personal, and participatory ceremonies for namings, changings, joinings, and leavings. I also offer support for climate activists, and all who seek active hope to face our climate emergency. I am a OneSpirit Interfaith Minister, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and I look forward to working with you whatever your spiritual beliefs — if any — or background.
I believe in the power of community and the earth to support and nourish us with love on our journeys through life. I aspire to follow the leadings of love and truth to joyful action in the world.
Chris was so supportive guiding us through creating a personal ceremony that reflected us and the wedding we wanted. He brought ideas for the ceremony and supported us writing our vows. On the day, he helped to create a perfect, relaxed, loving and inclusive ceremony.
Last summer I had a call from my friend Brian, to ask if I would help to plan his funeral. He had been living with cancer for several years, but now no more treatment was possible, and he was facing death with his typical courage and resilience. Brian and I had first met in November … Read more
Another powerful song that feels fitting for the times. This is Bertolt Brecht’s “Easter Day” set to music by Hans Eisler. Brecht wrote this in 1938 on a small island in Denmark, having fled Germany after Hitler came to power. This is the version sung by Robyn Archer (I’m not sure who made this translation). … Read more
A song for today, by African-American singer/songwriter and activist Melanie DeMore. We sometimes sing this uplifting song in Protest in Harmony. I think it’s going to be needed in the time to come. Lead With Love – Melanie DeMoreYou gotta put one foot in front of the otherAnd lead with lovePut one foot in front … Read more
The title ‘Reverend’ sits easily/reluctantly with me because… #MonthOfMinistry Day 16: When I and my Onespirit Interfaith Minister colleagues completed our training, we were ‘ordained’ (another odd word), and told that we were now entitled to use the title ‘Reverend’. I really found this quite problematic! Firstly, it’s a title mainly used by Christian clerics. … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 10 There are quite a few different things that I’d consider to be “spiritual practice”. What does that even mean? For me it covers all those things that I do, with intention, to help me stop, rest in the present moment, connect with The first is Quaker Meeting for Worship, our equivalent, perhaps, … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 13 Our supper is plain, but we are very wonderful. It’s a line from the poem 23rd Street Runs into Heaven by Kenneth Patchen, and it speaks to me of the joys that can be found in simplicity. (The photo is a rather fancy supper: the lovely thali my housemates cooked for my … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 7 I love ceremony and ritual! I often feel at my most alive and connected in the sacred space of a ceremony. I love the structure of ceremony, and I love creating that special time and space, set aside from the mundane everyday parts of life, a space where some deep magic of … Read more
#MonthOfMinistry Day 6 Outside, in the fragile beauty of our natural world: among trees, by water, in the mountains. This was at New Year, a quiet day by Loch Morlich.
#MonthOfMinistry Day 5 Great, an easier question today! Interfaith ministers do lots of other things besides conducting ceremonies for big life events like baby namings, weddings, funerals and so on. I’ve colleagues who work in hospices, lead shamanic retreats, offer spiritual counselling and support, run mediation groups and women’s circles, offer spiritual and emotional support … Read more
