Wren Studio

Mother, beekeeper, Scot, ex-entrepreneur, sister, financial publisher, lover, confidante, gardener, wife, primary-school teacher, hill walker, home maker, wordsmith, singer... so many roles, so many aspects of my rich life, now and in the past.

Now, in my newly-built house in the Borders, I am stepping back as an officiant for weddings and funeral celebrant – though I will still conduct these for friends. Instead I am offering a beautiful studio here in my home for guests to rest and recharge, and to support my visitors with meditations, sound journeys and spiritual counselling/accompaniment, as they prefer.

But let me tell you more about my life.

It was a quiet dissatisfaction with life which drew me, in my forties, to seek spiritual wisdom and solace. Since my teenage years I had been haunted by a profound existential fear of death. I had ‘parked’ my Christianity of childhood and came instead to Zen Buddhist teachings which spoke to me with utter clarity... then and now. 

For many years I was closely involved with Thich Nhat Hahn’s Community of Interbeing, both in the UK and visiting his centre in France – Plum Village. In meditation, in mindfulness practice, in recognition of my ‘monkey mind’ and negative feelings, I learned to embrace all my experiences with greater acceptance and love.

The publishing business I was running in London failed spectacularly in the ‘90s and I found myself with the rare gift of time... time to travel and be in ‘retreat’. My children by then were grown up and called this my ‘gap year’... indeed it had something of that sense of adventure and discovery that young students seek. It was in that year that I finally travelled to India where my mother was born. I spent one winter studying and practising Kundalini yoga with a Hindu Swami and lineage master who lovingly guided me through a transformative experience, a deep spiritual opening.

It was then, with my spiritual backpack populated largely by Christian, Buddhist and Hindu teachings, that I was drawn to train as an Interfaith Minister. At first I did not know why. At first I did not dare aspire to serve as an Interfaith Minister; that came later. I trained with the Interfaith Seminary – now OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation – and was ordained in 2005.

I was aware that I was no longer ‘controlling’ my life and choices as solo driver. There was a mystery and, at the same time, a certainty about how my life was unfolding... this had become clear for me. I was experiencing a new sense of freedom and trust. I had begun to open my heart and mind to that still small voice within to reveal what I was here to do.

My mission and privilege is to be of service to those who come to Wren Studio, on any spiritual path or none, at any point on their path... to help open to the peace, joy and wholeness that is our true nature.

Marianne Williamson spoke of this and is quoted alongside.  I cannot better her words!