onespirit connects newsletter
Each month, we come together to share updates on our offerings, whether it’s our enriching paid courses or the free programmes available on our website. But this newsletter is about more than just what’s coming up… it’s a space where we highlight news from our vibrant community and pass along information, events, and opportunities from those who call OneSpirit home. We want this to be a place for everyone, students, faculty, ministers, and friends of OneSpirit, to share, learn, connect, and stay inspired.
We’re glad to have you here with us, where connection, collaboration, and engagement are at the heart of what we do. Read below to see all the updates and opportunities that bring us closer together!
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
George Eliot
OneSpirit’s Professional & Personal Development Offerings
Our Spiritual Development & Ministry Training: The Cherry Tree Pathway
Enrollment is Now Open!
We’re delighted to invite you to join OneSpirit’s Spiritual Development and Ministry Training programme — a transformative journey rooted in over 25 years of experience. Enrollment is open through September, and we can’t wait to welcome those ready to embrace the call to deepen their connection to self, spirit, and the world.
Our programme is a groundbreaking response to the ever-changing challenges of today, designed for those who feel inspired to nurture the evolution of consciousness, cultivate compassion, and embody love and respect in every aspect of life. Drawing on the wisdom of the world’s spiritual traditions, this training explores deep listening, sacred activism, spiritual accompaniment, and the power of ritual and ceremony in our modern world.
Why Join Us?
Our curriculum is deeply experiential, weaving together the richness of your life experiences with opportunities for profound self-reflection. You’ll explore diverse perspectives, grow in awareness, and nurture your capacity to meet others—and yourself—with love and respect. Together, we’ll learn to make peace with our experiences and harness that insight to become leaders from within. For the Class of 2027, commencing in Autumn 2025, we are presenting you with the Cherry Tree Pathway – a pathway meant to be a guide in your ever-evolving spiritual, personal, and professional journey…
What’s at the Heart of This Training?
- Recognising the sacredness within ourselves and others.
- Cultivating loving and compassionate relationships.
- Embracing nonviolent communication to respond to differences with understanding.
- Engaging in deep empathic listening as the golden thread connecting all aspects of our learning.
This unique pathway follows an inner and outer curriculum, creating a holistic approach to personal and spiritual development:
- The Inner Curriculum focuses on your relationship with yourself and the Divine. Through self-reflective practices, you’ll uncover inner wisdom, foster personal growth, and become attuned to your internal landscape, preparing you for the journey outward.
- The Outer Curriculum explores how inner transformation manifests in the world. You’ll examine your relationships, engage with the wider community, and embody sacred service in your daily life, staying grounded in the realities of the world around you.
This is more than training, it’s a journey of discovery, connection, and sacred service.
Courses will begin on 8th October, so if you’re feeling called to explore what it means to be human, to expand your awareness of Self and Spirit, and to create meaningful change in the world, we welcome you with open arms. Together, let’s discover how we can walk this path with love, compassion, and purpose. Join us and be part of something extraordinary!
Foundations of Belief: A Free Transformative Course
Take the first step into the world of interfaith exploration with our Foundations of Belief course—your gateway to understanding the diverse spiritual traditions that shape our lives. This seven-module course is thoughtfully designed to be engaging, reflective, and completely free!
- Dynamic Learning: Videos, text, links, and reflective questions blend seamlessly to create an accessible and inspiring experience.
- Diverse Perspectives: Explore the predominant religious traditions in the UK while fostering a deep respect for global spiritual diversity.
- Personal Discovery: Reflect on your own beliefs, uncover biases, and expand your worldview in an inclusive, supportive environment.
As a UK-based educational charity, OneSpirit brings its rich legacy to this course, offering it as a meaningful foundation to our two-year Spiritual Development & Ministry Training or as a standalone journey of insight and growth.
- “I’ve enjoyed the whole course and found the materials very accessible and interesting. Each section is presented in a manageable way with a variety of videos, text, links, and reflective questions, making it easy to engage even when concentration is a challenge.” – Caroline
This course is and always will be free, with no obligation to take our training.
Strengthening Our Presence, Amplifying Our Impact
At OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation, our mission is rooted in fostering connection, compassion, and understanding through interfaith ministry.
As we continue to grow, we’ve taken an exciting step forward by creating a Google profile!
This might seem like a simple addition, but it is profoundly significant for our community and the global reach of interfaith work.
A Google presence gives our organisation greater visibility and credibility, allowing people around the world to discover who we are and what we stand for.
It’s more than just a page—it’s a beacon for those seeking the transformative power of love, inclusivity, and spiritual exploration.
It tells the story of interfaith, showing that it is not only spreading but thriving in a world that deeply needs it.
Why This Matters to Our Community
This milestone isn’t just about us as an organisation; it’s about you—the students, ministers, alumni, and supporters who bring the vision of interfaith to life. When someone hears about OneSpirit and searches for us online, they’ll now encounter a profile that reflects the vibrant, diverse, and compassionate community we’ve built together.
Your stories, experiences, and feedback are essential. They can guide someone who’s curious about our training, considering an offering, or simply looking to understand what interfaith ministry is all about. Your voice can be the bridge that helps someone take their first step on this transformative journey.
How You Can Help
We’d love for you to be part of shaping this new chapter by sharing your thoughts and experiences. Whether you’re a student reflecting on your training, an interfaith minister inspired by your path, or a supporter moved by our mission, your words matter.
By leaving a review on our Google profile, you’ll:
- Help establish credibility for OneSpirit as a trusted organisation.
- Offer encouragement and insight to those exploring our offerings.
- Amplify the message of interfaith and the power of love to a global audience.
Let’s Grow Together
This community is at the heart of everything we do, and we can’t create a meaningful online presence without showcasing the incredible people who make up the ‘One’ in OneSpirit. You are the reason this work has a purpose and continues to grow.
It’s easy to share your thoughts, just scan the QR code or follow the link provided. You’ll just need to be logged into a Google account.
Thank you for walking alongside us as we continue to spread the message of interfaith ministry and the power of love in the world. Together, we are creating a brighter, more connected future.
OneSpirit’s Community Offerings + Announcements + Thoughts
A Message of Love for William Jolly
It is with sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of William Jolly, a beloved OneSpirit minister and graduate of the Class of 2007.
William’s generosity, kindness, and dedication to our community will be remembered fondly. His presence touched the lives of many, and his spirit of support and care will continue to inspire us.
Our thoughts are with William’s loved ones and all who were fortunate enough to know him. May his legacy live on in the hearts of our community.
Exciting Announcements for Scotland: Welcoming Our New Wedding Nominator and CPD Coordinator
For many years, Jane Patmore has been a guiding light for ministers in Scotland, supporting and empowering them on their journeys as ministers and celebrants. Building on the pioneering work of her predecessors, Jane has offered invaluable advice, unwavering support, and a generous sharing of her wisdom, kindness, and joy—all with her trademark ease and grace. Now, as Jane steps down from her role as OneSpirit Nominator for legal weddings in Scotland, we wish her every success in the next chapter of her journey. Our gratitude for her years of dedication and care is boundless, and her impact on the Scottish ministers will continue to be felt for years to come.
It is with great joy that we announce Rev. Davina McCluskie as the new Nominator for legal weddings in Scotland!
We’re also delighted to welcome Chris Booth to the OneSpirit team as our new CPD Coordinator. Chris will bring their expertise to our continued professional development offerings, kicking off with the first CPD training of 2025 this April.
We feel deeply privileged to have both Davina and Chris stepping into these roles, bringing their vast knowledge, warmth, and guidance to our community. Please join us in welcoming them and celebrating the next chapter for OneSpirit in Scotland!
A message from Davina:
Hello. I am very excited and honoured to take on the role of nominator. I have been conducting weddings and funerals on the ever-popular Isle of Skye for about 12 years now. During this time I have had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people. Let me tell you a little about me… I have lived here on Skye for nearly 25 years with my four children and now 3 grandchildren my 3 dogs and 3 cats.
I have worked in the wellbeing and fitness industry for a number of years but always had the spiritual element in whatever I offered. And it was this that drove me to search deeper and I found OSIF and my whole spiritual life came together as a whole. I had been offering ceremony for a while before ministry training after a friend asked me to read her husband’s eulogy. I knew then that ceremony was going to be a big part of my life… though personal ceremony was well ingrained, offering it to others was the next step.
So since then weddings took off and living here I have had many experiences of different issues that can arise from outdoor ceremonies, ceremonies that take me miles away and the logistics of that. I have also built up a strong relationship with the registrars some of them friends now and lucky enough to have been able to get last-minute advice and guidance early on.
I know I have big boots to fill now that Jane has passed the baton and I will be forever grateful for her invaluable knowledge, help and friendship throughout the years… I will do my best Jane to carry on the good work you have provided to so many. For those of you wanting to connect please drop me an email and we can arrange a call, it will be a pleasure getting to know you. Blessings, Davina (Dee).
Contact Davina here.
A message from Chris:
Hello, I’m Chris, based in Edinburgh, and I’m excited to take on the role of CPD organiser for the legal wedding trainings in Scotland. I was ordained with OneSpirit in July 2021, and a large part of why I did the training was because I absolutely love holding ceremonies!
I currently do mostly weddings and funerals, and I especially enjoy working outdoors with folk who resonate to a connection with the natural world, and who want to collaborate with me to design something unique and meaningful. But any ceremony that helps people find community and support in the great transitions we encounter in our lives as humans!
I also offer support for climate activists through the Work That Reconnects process developed by Joanna Macy, building resilience and active hope in the face of the dire emergency our world is facing. 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.
I know that we’re very privileged here in Scotland to be able to perform legally-binding wedding ceremonies, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the training that makes that possible. If you’ve thoughts on how we could develop the sessions and make them accessible to all the Scottish ministers, or if you’d like to chat about weddings and ceremonies, get in touch via email or via my website.
#TheMonthofMinistry is back!
You are invited! #MonthOfMinistry is a month-long campaign/online event, originally initiated by Rev Jo Royle and Rev Sass Adams in 2023 and intended to be an annual event. The intention is to promote Interfaith Ministers and our work to the public; as well as to network with one another. Humanists have #HuMayNist, which they post with in May, this is an equivalent for Interfaith Ministers.
What is a #MonthOfMinistry?
- It’s a month when all OneSpirit Interfaith Ministers are invited to post on social media (whatever platforms you use) against a series of prompts, one for each day, using the hashtag #MonthOfMinistry. It will be running from 1 – 29 February 2025. It’s a chance for us to share and explain more about ourselves, our beliefs, and our ministry with our followers. To promote Interfaith Ministers and our work to the public.
- It gives us a chance to network with one another, making it easier to find & and follow one another and is a chance to find out more about what we each do & and how we each describe our work. It might be helpful to think of it as a fun way to engage with social media, rather than a sales campaign. Taking part in a #MonthOfMinistry… It would be amazing if you could post on social media each day against the prompts, but if you can only manage a few days in the month, that’s cool too!
By telling all the OneSpirit interfaith ministers you know about #MonthOfMinistry – the more of us taking part, the greater the impact. By considering the prompts… maybe there are some you’d prefer not to respond to, and some you can’t wait to get started on. Decide how you might want to respond to the prompts and whether you might prepare some responses in advance.
Suggested post format…
DAY 1 (text)
#MonthOfMinistry
You are more than welcome to respond to the prompts in any way which suits you… a written response; a photograph; a piece of artwork; a video; a poem; etc. You can search the hashtag #MonthOfMinistry on any social media platform to see posts from last year as examples.
Below, on the left, you’ll find the prompts that will guide us through this year’s #MonthofMinistry — a time for reflection, sharing, and celebrating the unique journeys of interfaith ministry. On the right, we’ve included a still from a video featuring Rev Jo. In the recording, she offers a heartfelt explanation of the month’s purpose, along with inspiration and insights to enrich your engagement. Simply click the image and the video will open in a new tab for you. Stay tuned, and let’s make this #MonthofMinistry a time of connection and celebration!
Creatively Writing Through Loss
Sometimes I write to find out how I feel about things.
Sometimes I feel deeply and need to write to express it.
Either way, I have found writing to be a brilliant tool for working with loss and grief.
If you think it might be good for you too, please join me for another Creatively Writing Through Loss online course.
The course lasts for 4 sessions, Monday evenings through February and March.
More information on the website: www.nickieaven.com/events/ or write to me.
The Power of Your Thoughts
The Baha’i Faith
“THE reality of man is his thought, not his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. Although man is part of the animal creation, he possesses a power of thought superior to all other created beings.” – The Baha’i Writings
Buddhism
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage. …If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.” – The Dhammapada
Christianity
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” – The Bible
Hinduism
“That which a man pursueth in word, deed, and thought, winneth him for its own; therefore, one should always seek that which is for his good.” – The Mahabharata
“So have they happiness and peace, with pious thought and speech…” – The Bhagavad Gita
Jainism
“Guarding his thoughts, guarding his words, guarding his acts, guarding his senses, guarding his chastity; without wrath, without pride, without deceit, without greed; calm, tranquil, composed, liberated, free from temptations without egoism, without property; he had cut off all earthly ties, and was not stained by any worldliness…” – Kalpa Sūtra
This was submitted by our dear friend, George, of the Baha’i Faith. A note: The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha’i Faith. The official website of the Baha’i Faith is: Bahai.org.
Prayer Collaboration by London Ministers
The prayer was created by Rev Bridget Lee, Rev Sheila Tully, Rev Emma Mitchell, Rev Jude Watson, Rev Natacha Ledwidge, and Rev Suzanne Cohen in March during a gathering focusing on forgiveness.
Exciting News from Rev. Alison Whittall: JOY in CRISIS Now Available for Order
Swarupa’s Website & Instagram.
“I did the OneSpirit training 2016- 2018 and thoroughly enjoyed it! I was particularly drawn to the course because of the ’spiritual awakening’ aspect and I resonated strongly with Miranda Macpherson’s love of the non-dual wisdom. She had a powerful awakening experience in the cave of Ramana Maharshi. There is a wisdom and grace that flowed through from that experience, in my view, that permeated into the depth and universality of the OneSpirit family.
Our world is crying out for unity and peace at the moment and I have a sense that a great awakening really is upon us! This book is my contribution to ushering in this new dawn. Against a background of immutable, ineffable infinite silence that is already available and alive!
Full love to all my wonderful class of 2018 and to the wider family of OneSpirit. Please do support this work with likes and comments on the YouTube book trailer – that would mean a lot! Thank you everyone as this is helping to get this message out to the world
Happy festive season of light and love.
In gratitude and love, Swarupa
(Rev Alison Whittall)”
2025 Reflection Challenge
Welcome to our year-long journey of self-discovery and connection! This challenge invites you to set aside a few moments each month to reflect on prompts designed to deepen your personal and spiritual exploration. Whether you’re a minister, a student, or simply curious, these reflections are for everyone.
How It Works:
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Each month, we’ll share a unique prompt.
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Take 10–15 minutes (or longer if you wish) to journal, meditate, or simply ponder the question.
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If inspired, consider sharing insights with the community to foster connection.
January Prompt:
What does “new beginning” mean to you?
Reflect on a time when you experienced a new beginning — big or small — and what it taught you about yourself. Suggestion: Write for 10 minutes without stopping, even if your thoughts feel scattered. Let your reflections flow naturally. For example, “A new beginning for me was when I started my training at OneSpirit. At first, I felt… but now I realise…”
Want to share your reflections with us?
If you’d like to share your reflection for us to include in the newsletter, or you simply want to share it with someone who would be proud or interested, send it our way. We’d love to hear your thoughts and honour your journey!
A Monthly Review of our Socials
Your learning, your way.
At OneSpirit, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Our two-year programme is designed to evolve with you, adapting to the unique needs, experiences, and interests of each group. You are an integral part of the process, and your journey is shaped by what you bring to the table. Every student’s path is different, and that’s something we celebrate.
This isn’t just about absorbing information; it’s about creating a deep, personal experience that’s truly yours. Whether you’re exploring new perspectives, deepening your spiritual practices, or honing your ministerial skills, our flexible curriculum ensures that your growth is rooted in what matters most to you.
Transform your spiritual path into something deeply personal, meaningful, and authentic. At OneSpirit, we create space for each of our students, because we know that you are the heart of our community.
Image: Duong Ngan, Unsplash
The vibrant green leaves of the forest are a beautiful reminder of nature’s endless energy and vitality.
From the soft rustle of the trees to the rich colours that surround us, the forest is full of life, always growing and thriving…
Image: Rodion Kutsaiev, Unsplash
One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you kept shouting
their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles.
“Mend my life!” each voice cried. But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy was terrible.
It was already late enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen branches and stones.
But little by little, as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn through the sheets of cloud,
and there was a new voice which you slowly
recognized as your own, that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper into the world,
determined to do the only thing you could do—
determined to save the only life you could save.
– “The Journey” by Mary Oliver
Image: Jerome, Unsplash
Awareness, Spiritual, and Religious Days
Reflections from an Awareness Day
Each year, 27th January marks the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. On this day, we remember the millions of lives lost during one of humanity’s darkest chapters and reaffirm our commitment to fostering compassion, tolerance, and peace in a world still grappling with division and suffering.
The origins of OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation are deeply intertwined with this need for compassion and unity. Our work draws inspiration from movements that arose in the aftermath of the Holocaust, when diverse religious leaders, including Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, came together to ask how their collective leadership could heal a wounded world. This shared vision eventually led to the founding of The New Seminary in 1981, which gave rise to OneSpirit in the UK in the mid-1990s.
At its core, OneSpirit’s mission echoes the values of this day: to honour diversity, promote interfaith understanding, and work together to alleviate suffering. As we commemorate this day, we are reminded that our role as spiritual leaders and community members is to live the peace and love we wish to see in the world.
Former OneSpirit Director of Education Jackie Amos Wilkinson expressed this beautifully:
“Peace has no point if it’s not lived. Love is fruitless unless given. So live your peace. Give your love. And as Mahatma Gandhi said: be the change you wish to see in the world.”
In recognition of this day, we invite you to explore resources that deepen understanding and compassion:
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United Nations Holocaust Remembrance – A resource hub from the UN, including testimonies and educational materials.
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Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Centre offers invaluable insights, stories, and teaching materials.
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Holocaust Memorial Day Trust – A UK-based organisation guiding communities and individuals to commemorate this day.
As we honour the memory of those who perished, let us also commit to the work of building a world where peace and understanding prevail. Together, we can embody the change that such remembrance calls us to pursue.
