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Welcome to OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation’s monthly community newsletter, iConnect. 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. Beyond that, we also love highlighting news from our vibrant community and passing along information, events, and opportunities from those who call OneSpirit home. iConnect is your space to stay connected, inspired, and engaged with all that’s happening within our ever-growing community.
“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”
Dalai Lama
As we welcome the cooler days and longer nights, there’s a sense of anticipation and newness in the air here at OneSpirit. Just like the changing seasons, we’re in a moment of transition—and with that comes exciting growth!
We’re working hard on our 2025 program offerings and cannot wait to unveil them to you all soon. Until then, please scroll through the news below, as we have so many beautiful offerings from our community! Additionally, we’ve included information on our highly recommended, free Foundations of Belief course—a wonderful resource for those looking to deepen their understanding of diverse spiritual traditions.
Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us on this ever-evolving journey. Wishing you all a peaceful and reflective start to the month.
That’s all from me—hope you enjoy the news!
Kailee xo
Sections You May Find in Our Newsletter
- Professional and Personal Development Offerings
- Offerings from our Community
- Minister Spotlight of the Month
- Supervisor Spotlight of the Month
- A Monthly Review of our Socials
- Words for your Heart, Mind, and Soul
- Special Announcements from the Ethics and Standards Committee, Chaplaincy Special Interest Group, Anti-Racism Reading Group, Accredited Supervisors Group, and OneSpirit Tutors
- Awareness, Religious, and Spiritual Days for the month
- OneSpirit’s Contact Information
How to Express Interest in an Offering
For more information about our courses, retreats, workshops, or events, feel free to visit our ‘Courses and Retreats‘ page. On this page, you’ll find all the latest updates, cost details, introductions to facilitators, and inspirational materials related to each offering. If you’re interested in an offering from our community members, their contact information will always be with the posting.
Reach out if you need any assistance!
OneSpirit’s Professional & Personal Development Offerings
Explore the various Foundations of Belief: A Transformative Course
Dive into our Foundations of Belief course—a meaningful first step toward our full interfaith training programme, entirely free of charge! This seven-module course offers thoughtfully crafted lessons designed to broaden your understanding of the diverse beliefs that shape our world. Through a blend of videos, text, links, and reflective questions, each lesson is presented in an accessible, engaging format to support your journey of discovery.
At OneSpirit, we’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive exploration of varied faith paths, guiding you to examine your own perspectives, biases, and beliefs. Focusing on the predominant religious traditions in the United Kingdom, this course reflects our foundation as a UK-based educational charity. It offers a uniquely tailored insight into these core beliefs while encouraging a deep respect for global spiritual diversity.
This course, whether your first step with us or a supplement to our two-year Spiritual Development & Ministry Training, aims to inspire, encourage, and support you on your spiritual journey. Here’s what recent learners have to say:
- “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
- “I thoroughly loved the entire course. It was easy to use, and each module was presented with great care. It’s one of the best ‘journeys’ through spirituality I’ve ever had—the layout was fabulous, and the thinking behind each module was respectful and thoughtful.” – Dianne
- “The materials were excellent. Each module was full of pertinent information, consolidating some of my existing knowledge and providing insights into faith paths we haven’t yet covered.” – Michael
This course is and always will be free, with no obligation. Discover more and register today!
Deepen Your Ministry and Personal Journey with OneSpirit’s Group Supervision Sessions
We are delighted to introduce our refreshed Group Supervision sessions, thoughtfully crafted to support and enhance your ministry while fostering personal growth. These monthly gatherings provide a nurturing environment where ministers can reflect on their unique experiences and engage in insightful dialogue with peers, all under the guidance of our accredited supervisors. Held on the first Monday of each month, each session offers a warm and open space for contemplative reflection on the complexities and joys of ministry.
As one of our supervisors beautifully shares, “This will strengthen connections with inner purpose, with their vow, with the breadth and depth of what it means to me a OneSpirit minister. It will support connection in community, and learning by being with others in their own struggles and inquiry.”
Session Highlights:
– Welcome: Each session starts with a warm introduction to foster a sense of connection and belonging.
– Breakout Rooms: Small group settings allow for personalised support and focused supervision.
– Group Size: Limited to six participants per breakout, ensuring an intimate and meaningful experience.
– Duration: Two hours, balancing depth with manageability.
These sessions are an invaluable opportunity to deepen the impact of your ministry and enhance your spiritual journey in a supportive, community-centred setting. We look forward to welcoming you to an upcoming session. In the meantime, learn more about our Group Supervision offerings here…
OneSpirit’s Community Offerings + Announcements + Thoughts
OneSpirit Reflections: Student Andrew
At the time of the full Harvest moon and a few days before the Autumn Equinox, whilst the energies of Lammas still swirled in the air, I stood on a beach near my home and held ceremony.
A solitary raven flew overhead and cronked in an inquisitive song at me.
This was an auspicious moment.
The intention for this ceremony had been brewing for a few weeks, and I’d like to say I had planned the timings but it was all coincidental and the main factor was a nice, sunny morning calling me to the beach and announcing that “now” was the time.
As I stood between tides and times, between sea and land and between earth and sky, I also stood at a transition point in my OneSpirit journey – halfway through my training as an Interfaith Minister. This ceremony was to mark that pivot point – giving thanks for all I had harvested over year 1 and declaring myself ready to cross the threshold into year 2.
It was a time of reflection and gratitude for the amazing, nourishing, soulful journey I had taken so far as part of Aspen class, the lessons I had learnt and skills developed as well as a reflection on the whole of my life’s journey that had brought me to this point.
It’s fitting that one of the major, personal gifts of year 1 that I expressed gratitude for, has been a developing love and gift for creating, crafting and holding ceremony, for others as part of my ministry but also purely for myself.
Ceremony in small ways as a means of recognising and marking the “Sacred ordinary” of my everyday life such as preparing a meal or lighting the fire.
Ceremony as a way of celebrating and honouring milestones in life such as moving from year 1 into year 2 and ceremony as part of the celebration of the turning seasons of our sacred Earth.
Another gift from year 1 has been my deepening relationship with the Earth, but in a particular way – this bit of Earth, this beach by my home. She is an integral part of my ministry and has held me through so much over this past year. She has witnessed and been the site of a lot of my ceremonies, she has heard my prayers, my laughter and my tears. She is the place of pilgrimage, of meditation and contemplation, being both my temple and the face of The Divine.
So, as I sit here sipping my cacao, shaking my ceremonial rattle and whispering prayers to the wind, I wonder what raven thinks!
OneSpirit Reflections: Minister Holly 
Scottish Interfaith Week
Scottish Interfaith Week – Opportunities for Connection
Scottish Interfaith Week celebrates interfaith understanding and collaboration, creating opportunities for those who share the values of interfaith dialogue. Scottish OneSpirit Interfaith Ministers and others interested in connecting with local groups may find a welcoming space for connection and shared purpose.
In support of this, the Moray Interfaith Group will be hosting an event on Saturday, 7th December at Elgin Town Hall. This event, themed “Discovery,” is dedicated to fostering awareness, respect, and unity among diverse faith groups in Moray. Cheryl Harvey, a member of the Moray Interfaith Group and a ROSIM member, will be present to discuss OneSpirit Interfaith Ministry with attendees. Ministers are warmly encouraged to attend and connect!
For more information on events near you, including Aberdeen’s SIFW event on 16th November titled “Discovering Death from Different Faith Perspectives”, visit the Scottish Interfaith Week website.
Universal Worship Services with Rev Malaika 
Rev Malaika invites you all to uplifting services that are held at no cost, though donations to support the monastery’s charitable initiatives are warmly welcomed.
Join in every third Sunday of the month throughout 2024, from 2 pm to 3:30 pm, in a sacred space that embraces everyone, regardless of faith, to celebrate unity and peace.
The next service will take place on the 17th of November! For further insights and to plan your visit to the Monastery — a haven of tranquillity right in the heart of Manchester — please visit The Monastery’s official website.
Here, you can discover more about this extraordinary venue’s history, its commitment to the community’s well-being, and the array of events that take place within its serene walls.
We look forward to sharing this spiritual journey with you at Manchester’s modern-day, multi-faith Monastery, where each occasion is infused with energy and grace.
Honouring Transgender Day of Remembrance: A Call for Reflection and Action
As a community that seeks to promote interfaith harmony and compassion, the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20th is a day that calls us to reflect, remember, and act with kindness and hope.
It’s a time to honour those lost to transphobia and ignorance and to stand together in advocating for the dignity and rights of transgender individuals. At OneSpirit, we believe that creating inclusive spaces where everyone is valued is at the heart of true peace-building. Join us in spreading compassion and supporting those who need it most!
Click here to read more and explore how we can contribute to a world filled with understanding and love.
All Saints’ Day: A Time of Honour, Reflection, and Interfaith Resonance
All Saints’ Day, traditionally a Christian celebration, honours those whose lives were marked by love, compassion, and service. However, its themes of kindness and selflessness transcend religious boundaries, resonating with spiritual traditions worldwide. Join us in reflecting on the shared values that unite us, and the countless individuals from all faiths and none who inspire us.
Click here to read more and explore how this day speaks to the interconnectedness of our global community.
Sacred Sister Journal Offering
Rev. Laura Ireland, ordained in 2022, has been dedicated to building Sacred Sister, a thriving women’s community, since her early days in training with OneSpirit. Sacred Sister began as a free Facebook community and has since blossomed into a space that brings women together through gatherings, retreats, and training. Honouring the self, sisterhood and nature, at the heart of this movement lies Laura’s beautifully crafted Sacred Code, designed to support a new paradigm for healing the sister wound many of us carry as women.
A devoted journaler herself, Laura has long valued the power of journaling in her own healing and spiritual journey. This year, inspired by divine timing, she felt called to co-create a special journal for Sacred Sister with the help of 13 remarkable female British artists. This collaboration has given birth to a journal that is much more than a book; it is a sacred space to write, reflect, and weave affirmations, prayer, and ritual into daily life.
The journal’s pre-launch has been a beautiful success, with the first 100 copies sold at a special price of £33. While the regular price will be £37.95, Laura extends a heartfelt offer to the OneSpirit Community to purchase at the same pre-launch price. With each journal, you will receive a personal message from Laura, welcoming you into this sacred space.
To find out more check out this link: https://sacred-sister.co.uk/the-journal
Exploring Life Through Ceremony Women’s Circle – Autumn/Winter 2024
Suppose you could claim ceremony as your own… a powerful tool to help navigate life.
This circle is for you if
… you’re intrigued by ceremony and what it may offer you
… you want a deep connection with a community of women, in a nurturing space, which will help you navigate all that life brings
… you’re facing challenges, transitions, thresholds, endings or new beginnings in life and would welcome some support
… or you’d just love to be part of a women’s full moon circle, meeting together over the winter months
This will be a gathering on Zoom, to learn about ceremony, time in ceremony (perhaps a ceremony we co-create together), and sharing with and witnessing one another in ceremonial and sacred space. Places are limited with an investment of £198.
Full Moon Circle Dates (held via Zoom from 7 – 9.30 pm):
- Friday 15 November
- Sunday 15 December
- Monday 13 January
- Wednesday 12 February
- Friday 14 March
Find more information here: https://www.revjoroyle.co.uk/circle-ceremony.
Sounding the Medicine Wheel – Online Course Offering 
- Part 1: November 3rd 2024
- Part 2: November 17th
- Part 3: December 1st
- Part 4: December 15th
- Part 5: December 29th
- Part 6: January 12th 2025
- Part 7: January 26th
- Part 8: February 2nd Imbolc
Click here for a video Testimonial from the last journey. For more information please visit my website at: https://harawillowhealing.co.uk/coursesandworkshops/.
Hara Willow ૐ MSc, MCoSH, Cert. Couns, MYAI
Ministry of Sacred Sound, Transpersonal Psychologist
www.harawillowhealing.co.uk & hara@amazinglyfe.com
The OSMIC Buddy Programme is Now Available to All Ministers
Up until now, OSMIC has offered its Buddy Programme service only to new ministers. This has been very successful and has been well received by those who have had a Buddy for their first year of ministry. We have now decided to extend the Buddy Programme to all ministers, as we know that having someone to offer support and a listening ear can be invaluable whatever stage you may be in your ministry.
If you feel you would like to have another minister as your Buddy for a year, please do get in touch at: onespiritministersinconnection@gmail.com
Let us know which areas of ministry you are most interested, in or already involved, in and then we can assign the best Buddy for you. We would be absolutely delighted to hear from you!
Share Your Thoughts & Testimonials With Us!
To further establish our organisation and amplify the positive impact of interfaith ministry globally, we’ve set up a Google page! While this is beneficial for us as a charity, it’s even more valuable for those who join our training and walk alongside us. It gives our organisation greater credibility and shows the world who we are—that interfaith and the power of love are spreading and strong.
Now, when you tell someone about OneSpirit and they search for us, they’ll find our profile. It would mean the world to us if you shared your thoughts! Your feedback can guide someone considering our training or any of our offerings. This community is vibrant and essential, and we can’t have an ‘online profile’ without showcasing you—you are what makes up the ‘One’ in ‘OneSpirit’!
Scan the QR code, or simply follow the link here.
Have you seen our recent posts over the last month?
Awareness, Spiritual, and Religious Days
Please note that these dates are sourced from the Interfaith Network and other resources, such as UN Awareness Days. If a day is missing, please don’t take offence—it’s not intentional! Our research is comprehensive, but it’s easy to miss a day. We always strive to be inclusive—as interfaith is at the heart of everything we do—but occasionally something may be overlooked. You can find more information by clicking here.
November 2024
- 01 All Saints’ Day – All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the Church, whether they are known or unknown.
- 02 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and The Day of the Dead is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage.
- 03 Birth of Baha’u’llah – This holy day for the Baha’i faith honours its founder’s birthdays. He challenges people to fight back against racial prejudice and to be one human family.
- 05 World Tsunami Awareness Day
- 06 International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
- 09 International Week of Science and Peace, 9-15 November
- 10 World Science Day for Peace and Development
- 14 World Diabetes Day
- 15 International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
- 16 International Day for Tolerance [UNESCO]
- 17 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
- 18 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, 18-24 November [WHO]
- 18 World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
- 19 World Toilet Day
- 20 Africa Industrialization Day and World Children’s Day
- 20 The Transgender Day of Remembrance, also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, has been observed annually from its inception on November 20 to memorialise those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia.
- 21 World Philosophy Day [UNESCO] and World Television Day
- 21 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- 25 Day of the Covenant – The Day of the Covenant is the day when Baháʼís celebrate the appointment of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá as the Centre of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant. It occurs yearly on the 4th day of Speech which coincides with either November 25 or 26 depending on when Naw Ruz falls on that year.
- 26 World Sustainable Transport Day
- 27 Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha – This day honours the day that Abdu’l-Baha, the Servant of Baha, died. His funeral was attended by over 10,000 people of different religious backgrounds. He is believed to be an exemplary example of living Baha’i principles to their fullest for his followers.
- 29 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
- 30 Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare and St. Andrew’s Feast Day – Saint Andrew’s Day, also called the Feast of Saint Andrew or Andermas, is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle. It is celebrated on 30 November. Saint Andrew is the disciple in the New Testament who introduced his brother, the Apostle Peter, to Jesus, the Messiah.