We’ve sourced these dates from the Interfaith Network, the UN, and other trusted listings. If a day is missing, please know it’s not intentional. We aim to be as inclusive as possible, but sometimes things are missed. Find more dates here.
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!
“All that you touch you change.
All that you change changes you.
The only lasting truth is change.”
Octavia Butler
Table of Contents
In Loving Memory of Nicola
This month, we hold space for a moment of deep remembrance. We invite you to visit our tribute page, In Loving Memory of Nicola Coombe, where we honour her life, her spirit, and the many ways she touched our community. Nicola was a guiding light within OneSpirit, greatly respected and loved as a teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. She brought warmth, clarity, and courage to her work, and inspired so many through her presence and integrity. Those who knew her will remember her compassion, her honesty, and her unwavering belief in the goodness and potential of others.
On her memorial page, you’ll find reflections and stories from across the OneSpirit community. Each one offers a glimpse into Nicola’s influence and the care she shared so generously throughout her years with us.
We hope this page serves as a gentle space for remembrance, gratitude, and connection. May her legacy continue to inspire us all to show up with kindness, presence, and love.
Professional and Personal Development Offerings
Welcoming Our New Cherry Tree Students
Enrolment for the Cherry Tree Pathway has now closed, and we’re overjoyed to welcome 41 inspiring and brave new students into this year’s Spiritual Development & Interfaith Ministry Training! Each one has answered a profound inner calling to serve with compassion, courage, and integrity. Over the next two years, they’ll explore what it means to live in alignment with their values, offer sacred service, and nurture spiritual connection in a changing world.
We couldn’t be prouder to begin this journey with them and can’t wait to see the unique gifts they’ll bring to the OneSpirit community!
If you feel drawn to this path, our next enrolment period will open soon. In the meantime, stay connected by joining our mailing list and attending an upcoming Intro Day in 2026.
🌸 Brand New Offering for Our Community, Optional Modules
Deepen, Connect, Be Nourished
Whether you’re a current student or an ordained minister, our brand new optional module programme is designed to support your deepening, spark new insight, and nourish both your ministry and your personal practice. They are also a rare chance to gather with your OneSpirit community, to connect in spaces that honour both your individuality and shared sacred path.
Across January and May 2026, we are offering four beautiful and soul-nourishing modules to choose from. All modules are open to both students and ministers. These modules build on core elements of our training if you’re a student, and offer a nourishing CPD experience if you’re a minister. Click here to learn more…Â
January 2026 Offerings
In-person residential retreat – Circling the Sun and Moon: Ceremonies of Love and Sacred Mystery
- Venue: The Lodge, Staylittle, Wales
- Dates: 22 to 24 January 2026
- Facilitator: Annie Heppenstall
A winter retreat rooted in Earth-honouring traditions, exploring the rhythms of the sun, moon and sacred directions. Participants will share story, ceremony and reflection to reconnect with nature’s cycles and their inner sense of the sacred.
Investment: ÂŁ360 (Students) | ÂŁ384 (ROSIM) | ÂŁ480 (Non-ROSIM ministers)
Online offering – The Sacred Art of Relating: Relationships and Presence as Spiritual Practice
- Venue: Online via Zoom (evenings)
- Dates: 14, 21, 28 January 2026
- Facilitators: Monica Douglas
An exploration of conscious communication as a spiritual practice. Focuses on listening deeply, responding from presence, and meeting difference with compassion. Designed for anyone wishing to deepen their relational and ministerial skills.
Investment: Free (Students) | ÂŁ120 (ROSIM) | ÂŁ150 (Non-ROSIM ministers)
May 2026 Offerings
In-person residential retreat – Healing Our Relationship with the More-Than-Human World
- Venue: Ham Green House, Bristol
- Dates: 11 to 13 May 2026
- Facilitator: Sarah MacDonald
A Beltane season retreat focused on deepening reciprocal, embodied relationships with the living world. Through nature-based ritual, movement and creative reflection, participants explore ecological grief, gratitude and renewal.
Investment: ÂŁ360 (Students) | ÂŁ384 (ROSIM) | ÂŁ480 (Non-ROSIM ministers)
Online offering –Â Deepening Your Spiritual Practice: Fire and Renewal at Beltane
- Venue: Online via Zoom (evenings)
- Dates: 20 and 27 May 2026
- Facilitators: Monica Douglas
A reflective, heart-centred module to rekindle spiritual practice in the energy of Beltane. Combines meditation, ceremony and peer sharing to inspire creativity, balance and renewal.
Investment: Free (Students) | ÂŁ120 (ROSIM) | ÂŁ150 (Non-ROSIM ministers)
Community Offerings, Announcements, Thoughts
Monthly OneSpirit Prayer Circle
“Come, come, whoever you are: wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving, ours is not a caravan of despair.” – Rumi
In a time of tenderness for our community, gathering matters. This gentle circle offers a space to pause, breathe, and be held. Rev Eva Mary Spevack guides us through prayers, readings, and expressive writing prompts woven with seasonal themes, nature, and wisdom traditions.
- When: Tuesday 21st October, Tuesday 18th November, and Tuesday 16th December 2025
- Time: 7:30–8:30pm (UK time)
- Where: Online via Zoom
- Facilitator: Rev Eva Mary Spevack
- Fee: Free and open to all: students, ministers, friends!
To join, simply complete the short form and you’ll receive everything you need. Let this be a gentle place of presence and prayer, shared in community.
Exploring Whiteness in Ministry: A New Programme Led by One of Our Own
We are honoured to introduce Being White: Working with Internalised Racism, a new OneSpirit programme created and led by OneSpirit tutor and minister Sarah MacDonald. This offering invites white ministers into a committed, reflective journey of exploring bias, internalised racism, and the unseen patterns that shape our lives and ministry.
Sarah brings both depth and compassion to this work, drawing on her experience as a tutor, minister, and facilitator of embodied practice. She offers this programme as a supportive, challenging, and transformative space for those ready to step into anti-racism as an ongoing spiritual practice.
This programme is especially suited for OneSpirit ministers who identify as white and are seeking to deepen their integrity, confidence, and accountability in ministering across cultures, contributing to a more diverse and just community, and embodying the wholeness of life.
- When: Fridays, 31 October 2025 – 5 June 2026 (10:00–11:30am, UK time)
- Format: 16 sessions across 32 weeks (first two and last two back-to-back)
- Group Size: 4–16 participants
- Fee: ÂŁ250 (50% goes directly towards reparations; instalments available)
- Where: Online (Zoom)
We are proud to hold and support this important work, and we warmly invite you to join us. You can find all the details, along with a link to register, here.
Funeral Services 101: A New Offering by One of Our Own
We are so thrilled to introduce Funeral Services 101: The Complete Practical Guide for Ministers, a brand new course created and led by OneSpirit minister Reverend Lizzie Ward. This is one of the very first offerings developed by a graduate of our own training, and we could not be more honoured to support and hold it with her.
Lizzie brings a deep well of experience, compassion, and clarity to this work. Rooted in both professional celebrancy training and OneSpirit ministry, she offers this course as a practical, grounded, and sacred guide for anyone who feels called to support others through death and bereavement.
This course is perfect for ministers and students alike, especially those looking to deepen their knowledge and confidence in holding funeral ceremonies, supporting families, and working with funeral professionals. Whether you are newly ordained or preparing for future ministry, Lizzie’s thoughtful guidance will help you navigate one of the most meaningful roles a minister can hold.
-
When: Saturday 8th & Saturday 15th November 2025
-
Time: 10:00am–1:30pm (UK time)
-
Where: Online (Zoom)
-
Fee: ÂŁ97 (ÂŁ77.60 for OneSpirit students & ROSIM members)
We’re so proud to offer this new space for learning and growth, and we invite you to join us! You can find all the information you need, along with a link to register here.
Coming Home to Love: A OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation Summit
On 21 September 2025, ministers, students, and friends of OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation gathered online for Coming Home to Love, a day of deep connection, reflection, and visioning created in honour of our beloved teacher and mentor, Nicola Coombe. Through ritual, conversation, and shared presence, the Summit invited us to look back to our roots, ground ourselves in the present, and dream together into the future of OneSpirit.
We’re delighted to share that the recordings from the day are now available to watch. May these offerings nourish you, inspire you, and call you home to love!
Part One, The Past: Our Roots and Lineage:
Hosted by Rev. Monica Douglas, with contributions from Revs. Grace Jevons, Lizzie Ward, and a special message from Miranda Macpherson. This session honours the ancestors and teachers who shaped OneSpirit’s journey.
Click here to watch the recording!
Part Two, The Present: To Be Who We Are Now:
Hosted by Revs. Laura Ireland, Jax Bull, and Ben Lucent, this conversation explores what it means to be “spiritual enough” in today’s world, inviting us to live our ministry with presence, authenticity, and compassion.
Click here to watch the recording!
Part Three, The Future: Visioning What’s Next:
Hosted by Revs. Una Devine, Adele Napier, and Sarah MacDonald, this closing gathering looks towards OneSpirit’s evolving future through the lenses of Spiritual Counselling, Supervision, and Sacred Activism, with reflections from Executive Director Alan Briscoe.
Click here to watch the recording!
You are warmly invited to watch the recordings, connect with the hosts, and join us in continuing this shared journey, rooted in love, service, and sacred action.
Join Our Board of Trustees
At OneSpirit, our Board of Trustees plays a vital role in guiding the vision and future of our work. We’re always looking for new voices, fresh perspectives, and committed hearts to join this circle of leadership. In this season of growth, we are especially keen to hear from those with fundraising experience, whether that’s through development work, donor relations, events, or simply a creative flair for helping organisations thrive. Your insight could make a real difference in ensuring our community remains strong and sustainable for years to come.
Trusteeship isn’t only about ticking boxes or having certain qualifications, it’s about heart, commitment, and alignment with OneSpirit’s mission. Our current trustees bring a rich mix of professional expertise, interspiritual wisdom, and dedication to community care.
If you’ve ever wondered whether this might be for you, here are some of the ways trusteeship can enrich your journey:
-
Deepen your sense of service by engaging with an organisation rooted in compassion and inclusion.
-
Grow professionally with skills in governance, fundraising, leadership, and strategy.
-
Expand your network through meaningful connections and collaboration.
-
Shape the future of OneSpirit with integrity, inclusivity, and vision.
-
Nourish yourself personally by contributing to a cause bigger than yourself.
If your heart is stirred by this, we’d love you to reach out for a conversation. You don’t need to “tick every box,” what matters most is the heart and commitment you bring. You can find out more and apply via CharityJobs here.
Opening and Closing: Words to Begin and End Reflection
This is lovingly curated collection of nearly 300 quotations, blessings, and prayers drawn from many faiths, cultures, and times, each one carefully gathered by Josephine Seccombe. Josephine has generously gifted this collection to OneSpirit, with all proceeds supporting our Student Bursary Fund, helping those who feel called to ministry but may need financial assistance to begin their training.
For just £6 (PDF download), you’ll receive a rich treasury of words to open or close gatherings, ceremonies, one-to-one sessions, or moments of quiet reflection. Each page offers a reminder of the shared wisdom that connects us across traditions. With heartfelt gratitude to Josephine for her generosity, and to you, our community, for helping future ministers find their way to this work.
The Ring of Truth
We are delighted to share that The Ring of Truth: A Philosophical Journey by our very own Rev. Martin Nathanael is now available as an e-book.
This thoughtful work invites readers into a journey of questioning, exploring, and discovering what it means to live with authenticity and integrity. With clarity and depth, Martin draws on philosophy, spirituality, and lived experience to guide us toward the heart of truth and the freedom it offers.
-
Now available as an e-book
-
Cost: ÂŁ4.99
-
Where: Amazon Kindle Store
We celebrate Martin’s continued contributions to the interfaith and philosophical landscape, and we warmly encourage you to explore his latest offering. Click here to view or order Martin’s book.
Letter From An Activist
By Sarah MacDonald, OneSpirit Tutor & Interfaith Minister
x
Today is the 7th of October. Two years ago, some people living in a place called Gaza broke out from behind their walls and attacked and killed over a thousand people living outside those walls, and they stole away two hundred and fifty more. And then the people outside the walls attacked the people inside the walls. And attacked and attacked and attacked. It seems that the people outside and inside the walls have each attacked the other with all the strength they have. They have been attacking each other with all the strength they each have for the past two years, and they don’t look like stopping until one or the other, and we all know who it will be, runs out of strength at last.
x
Many words have been used for this: terrorism, genocide, war crimes, militants, Jews, Palestinians, Hamas. The words have frozen me into inaction. Each time I move a little in one direction, I am pushed back in the other. The horror of young people surprised and killed at a festival. But the horror of children bombed and starved. But the horror of the Holocaust. But the horror of the Nakba. But my extended family in Israel. But my human family in Gaza. I am caught like a fly in the horror.
x
And I’m three thousand miles from the front line. I held vigil a few times with the Women in Black. I went to a benefit concert for Medical Aid for Palestine and bought a cookbook. I learnt to cook Palestinian food and shared it with my friends, but I watched the demonstrations on the news and didn’t join in.
x
And then Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation, and my freeze ended. Suddenly the question is about me and my rights, and what happens in my homeland, and I can act again. What does that say about me as a minister — that I can only act when it is about me? I went out in July, and again last weekend, and sat silently holding a cardboard sign, trying to stay prayerful. Some of those words apply to me now. Along with some two thousand others, I have been charged under the Terrorism Act because of the words on my sign.
x
Still the arguments rage, and I wonder in my heart if there is justice in the action I have taken, or if in taking it I am adding to the confusion and dissension. Am I acting as a minister, in Service of Life, in accordance with my ordination vow? Or am I acting as an agitator, just making everything worse? You will have your own views.
x
I will go out again and sit silently on a pavement somewhere, trying to pray, holding a cardboard sign until the police carry me away. I will do it because I believe in the Rule of Law. Anyone who knows me will laugh at that, knowing that, like many in OneSpirit, I’m not much of a one for following rules. I know very little about the legal system, but I know that the Rule of Law is a rule of Equity — everyone is equal under the law. I know that the Rule of Law is a rule of Proportionality — the punishment must fit the crime. I know that the Rule of Law is a rule of Impartiality — it does not matter what has gone before or what comes after; each act stands alone under the law. I know that the Rule of Law is a rule of Truth — founded on demonstrable evidence. I know that the Rule of Law is a rule of Personal Responsibility — the innocent should not be punished for the crimes of another.
x
Together these rules form what we call Justice, and they lie at the heart of so many religious rules and practices. They come together for me as articles of faith, fundamental to how I must be and behave in the world if I wish to live my ministerial vows. I’ll be breaking the law to uphold the Law. Again.
x
I think of Micah Chapter 6, Verse 8, taking courage from the ancient words that so many through the ages have aspired to:
x
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Global Peace Within
Earlier this month, OneSpirit minister April led a workshop titled Global Peace Within, exploring what it truly means to be a peacebuilder in today’s world. Together, participants reflected on how peace begins with small, personal shifts: cultivating deep listening, practising forgiveness, finding mindfulness in daily life, and transforming how we respond to conflict. From these inner foundations, the ripple effect of peace can move outward, into families, communities, and even global movements.
Workshops like this remind us what we mean when we say there is no single “right” way to minister. Our ministers express their calling in countless ways, through teaching, activism, spiritual accompaniment, creative expression, or, as in this case, peacebuilding. Each path contributes to a more compassionate and connected world!
If anyone would like to view the recording, along with the delicate and rich conversation that occurred along the way with consenting participants, you can make a suggested donation of €22 to have the video made available at this link: https://donate.stripe.
Keep an eye on our upcoming events and offerings to take part in future sessions like this one, and to witness the many ways OneSpirit ministers are helping peace take root, within and beyond.
GreenSpirit Annual Gathering 2025
Being the Ancestors we can be, asking the future what it needs…
- When: Friday 31st October – Sunday 2nd November 2025
- Where: The Ammerdown Centre, Ammerdown Park, Radstock, Somerset. BA3 5SW
We live in a time of profound transition. The choices we make, the way we live, and where we place our attention all matter deeply. Old systems are breaking down, and in the cracks, new light and possibility emerge.
At this year’s Gathering, we ask: how do we become the best ancestors we can be? How can we listen to the wisdom of generations yet to come? Led by Manda Scott, we will explore practices that connect us across timeline, past, present, and future, drawing on the collective wisdom of humanity to guide us toward lives of integrity, balance, and belonging within the web of life.
This is more than a retreat. It is a chance to come together, to reimagine, and to root ourselves in the work of transformation that future generations will inherit.
Full details at:Â https://www.greenspirit.org.uk/annual-gathering-2025/.
Month of Ministry 2026
The team behind our 4th annual “Month of Ministry,” our month-long social media hashtag challenge every February, is hard at work putting together a meaningful plan with 28-days of prompts to not just encourage thought and words but also actions in 2026. We will have more news and announcements in November, yet for now, please have a look at this video made by Rev. Jo Royle to explain more about “Month of Ministry” for those of you who are new, are curious, or are eager to take part again…
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:
- Each month, we’ll share a unique prompt.
- Take 10–15 minutes (or longer if you wish) to journal, meditate, or simply ponder the question.
- If inspired, consider sharing insights with the community to foster connection.
October Prompt:
What does connection mean in your life?
Think about your connections with people, nature, or something greater than yourself. How do these connections sustain you?
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!
August Reflection, from Rev. Caroline Sinfield
What are you grateful for right now?
Right now, and for the last week or so I feel gentle and peaceful. My reflections are loving and that harsh, spikey internal voice that plagues me at times is sleeping. I am loved and can rest easy. I am grateful for my vow that is mine and I can rely on it to comfort and reassure me – it keeps me close to my God.
List 3 things I am grateful for and why.
I am grateful for:
1. My new connection with my sisters and their families
2. My home and surroundings
3. My work
My new connection with my sisters and their families:
I didn’t grow up with my 3 sisters. There’s a substantial age difference (12, 16 & 18 yrs) and the older I got the less contact I had with our dad so I missed all the childhood bonding opportunities and shared experiences. I made a conscious decision at the age of 14 that I would no longer be visiting for a variety of reasons but mainly I was never made welcome and was treated harshly. That decision felt right at the time, although I remember thinking to myself, as the babies kept arriving – “I’m never going to know these siblings and that’s the price I’ll have to pay if I’m going to keep myself safe.”
We are all grown up now and living our lives. There has been very limited contact over the years, a bit of emailing here and there, a bit of Facebook and liking of photos but nothing that brought us together. I always felt it was very much them and me, they had each other and I wasn’t relevant to them, as they weren’t to me. I deliberately hardened my heart and told myself it was better this way. The years passed, they had their weddings and babies were born (my nieces and nephews). I searched for family resemblances in photos and wondered if any of them were anything like me. The years rolled by as did the decades and I watched it all from afar.
And then, in January 2025, Auntie Rosie died (our grandfather’s 98 yr old sister). I was tasked with informing my sisters and so reached out. They were cool at first, surprised to hear from me I think – the mysterious older sister they never see or hear from who keeps her distance and doesn’t seem interested in them. I was in my 2nd year as an Aspen at that point and something in me had shifted and softened. The walls around my heart had begun to crack. I took the plunge and told them I’d love to see them, even if they weren’t able to attend Auntie Rosie’s funeral. That’s all it took, one step from me opened the door and they rushed through it to meet me and welcome me into their lives.
I now have 3 sisters, 2 brothers-in-law and 5 nieces & nephews. We have a sisters WhatsApp group, we chat most days and we meet for Sunday lunches and never stop talking. I’m amazed at how we’ve just clicked into a beautiful, sisterly, loving little group. There’s so much to talk about and catch up on and share and compare. The love and closeness just keeps on growing and my heart is overflowing with gratitude for the little whisper that urged me to be brave and take a step towards them. I feel loved and part of a sisterly kinship that I never knew existed but now I have it I’ll never let it go.
I think the eldest of them, 12 years my junior, said everything I ever need to hear when she told me; “I was never happy being the eldest sister because I knew it wasn’t true. I wanted my big sister and now I have you.” How could I ever walk away from that and how could I not be grateful for the power that brought us together. Thank you Spirit!
My home and surroundings
I am so grateful for where I live. It took a period of a few years of turmoil and uncertainty and moving around before I landed here in August 2022. I rent a little cottage on a campsite and it’s the most wonderful place to heal the heart and nourish the soul. I’m surrounded by nature and wildlife. I ramble around in the woods every day which seems to both inspire and delight as well as ground and settle me. I am comfortable, safe, cosy and, most importantly, feel close to God. I don’t suppose this is my last home in this life but it is certainly one that I will look back on as one of the most peaceful and settled periods of my life.
When I reflect on the series of events that brought me here, I can’t help but ponder the fact that it had nothing to do with me – I was guided here. All I did was follow the path that was presented to me and have faith that all was well and I was in good hands. Isn’t that a reflection of life – the path is given to us, all we need do is keep taking the next step with an open heart and acceptance that guidance is always at work for our higher good.
Here, I feel part of the whole, the trees and the birds are my friends, the wind whispers to me as it rustles through the leaves and reminds me that the I am as much a part of the constant turning of the wheel as everything else. I am not separate from it looking in, I am it and it is me – Oh, the philosophical musings that come out of that realization!
My home and environment give me the space and peace to feel and explore my own internal space and peace. I give thanks and feel grateful every single day for the loving presence that guided me here. Thank you, Spirit!
My work
I am so grateful for the work I do, and I thank God every day for leading me into a job that gives me a daily structure and purpose that involves helping the vulnerable and making their lives a little easier. My job gives me the opportunity to hold space and listen deeply which is sometimes all they need to lighten their mood and I am also able to offer practical help in a variety of ways. My favourite part of these interactions is the feeling that is created as they share their stories with me. We set off on a journey together and we never end up in the same place as we started. There’s a sacredness in that – even if they don’t realise it, I certainly do.
I am so grateful that I am able to spend my days helping people who feel weary and beaten down by their circumstances. I give them space to cry and rage and let it all out if that’s what they need, or I hold them in their dark place where they might be too worn out to verbalise it. I think, I hope, I feel I help these people. Part of my vow is “to be of service wherever I am guided.” I am grateful every day and I thank God for placing me in these work situations where I am able make my vow part of my lived experience on a daily basis. Thank you Spirit!
Notice how gratitude shifts my energy.
Gratitude, A PoemÂ
I have noticed that gratitude has friends and never travels alone.
Her friends all gather around and follow wherever she leads.
When I open my heart she steps in – and so do her friends, as unexpected, but most welcome guests.
Gratitude softens and comforts and reminds me I am loved – what beautiful friends indeed!
She brings along playful curiosity and self-enquiry – I especially love those friends and welcome them in with a smile.
Gratitude, and all her friends, are comforting company and a pleasure to sit with.
I feel so happy when they’re with me I wish they would stay.
So, I encourage myself – Be thankful! Be thankful! For the birdsong, for the sunrise, for neighbours who smile and say hello, for loved ones, for hot showers and toilets that flush, for morning coffee and crumpets, for silly dogs and their waggy tails, for flowers and acorns and bees and trees.
Be thankful! Be thankful! For the small and the every-day – the things that pass unnoticed.
Gratitude, and her friends, remind me that I am a part of the wonderous mystery of life. That I AM the wonderous mystery of life.
The saying may go “seeing is believing” but for me I’ve had to believe it to see it.
So, my days begin and end with gratitude. And I believe!
I believe and I see – the Universe feels what I feel, it feels my gratitude and dances with joy.
So, I invite gratitude, I pray gratitude, I notice the small and I feel gratitude
And as she begins to take up residence within me, so does the peace that follows her in – such a special and mighty friend to cherish.
And I am still, my heart is calm, and I am grateful.
August 2025.
Awareness, Spiritual, and Religious Days
- 01 – International Day of Older PersonsÂ
- 02 – International Day of Non-Violence; Jewish: Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to atonement and repentance.Â
- 03 – Navratri: Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in honour of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights, first in the month of Chaitra, and again in the month of Ashvin.
- 04 – World Space Week, 4-10 OctoberÂ
- 05 – World Teachers’ Day Â
- 07 – World Habitat Day; World Cotton DayÂ
- 07/13 – Jewish: Sukkot, a week-long festival celebrating the fall harvest.Â
- 09 – World Post DayÂ
- 10 – World Mental Health Day; World Inclusion Day
- 11 – International Day of the Girl Child
- 12 – World Migratory Bird Day; Yom Kippur – Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism and Samaritanism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, corresponding to a date in late September or early October. For traditional Jewish people, it is primarily centred on atonement and repentance.
- 13 – International Day for Disaster Risk ReductionÂ
- 15 – International Day of Rural Women; LGBTQ+ International Pronouns Day
- 16 – World Food Day [FAO]Â
- 17 – International Day for the Eradication of PovertyÂ
- 17/23 – Oct Sukkot: A Torah-commanded holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelites were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.
- 20 – Hindu: Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions. It symbolises the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.
- 22 – Baha’i: Birthday of the Bab, celebrating the birth of the Baha’i co-founder.
- 24 – Global Media and Information Literacy Week, 24-31 OctoberÂ
- 24 – World Development Information Day; Oct Disarmament Week, 24-30 October ; Oct United Nations DayÂ
- 27 – World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Â
- 29 – International Day of Care and Support
- 31 – World Cities Day; Pagan and Wiccan: Samhain, or Sauin, is a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter, or the darker half of the year.
Reflections from an Awareness Day
Listening for Wellbeing: A Reflection for World Mental Health Day
This 10 October, as we honour World Mental Health Day, we are invited to remember that mental health is not a privilege, but a universal human right. This year’s theme reminds us of the shared responsibility we hold in creating spaces where honesty, struggle, and vulnerability can be met with compassion rather than judgement.
So many people still carry silence when it comes to their inner struggles. Stigma often tells us to hide, to keep going quietly, or to feel shame for needing support. As ministers, carers, and companions on the spiritual path, our role is not to offer quick solutions, but to stand alongside others with patience and presence. Sometimes the most healing words we can offer are the simplest: “You are not alone. I am here with you.”
Language, too, holds power. Phrases that affirm dignity, “thank you for trusting me,” or “I hear you,” can open a door, while careless words can deepen isolation. When we speak with kindness and listen with depth, we help create communities where people feel safe enough to reach out for help.
Mental health is also deeply connected to the spiritual life. Across traditions, practices like stillness, prayer, meditation, and song remind us that we are more than our pain, that we are always connected to something greater. They remind us that even in the darkest moments, light can still be kindled, however softly.
On this World Mental Health Day, may we commit to tending both our own inner lives and those of the people we serve. May our communities be places of refuge and renewal, where listening is an act of love and presence itself becomes a form of healing.
Further Reading & Resources
-
UK: Samaritans – 116 123 (free, 24/7 helpline)
-
Emergency: 999 or local emergency services
-
Crisis Text Line: Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7 support by text)
-
Mind (UK): www.mind.org.uk – resources, information, and advocacy for mental health
-
Rethink Mental Illness: www.rethink.org – peer support, advice, and mental health services
-
LivingWorks or Mental Health First Aid: Training programs offering evidence-based suicide prevention and intervention skills
-
For organisations: Develop clear protocols for responding to mental health crises and ensure staff receive appropriate training and supervision
Connect With Us
If you have a question, a suggestion, or simply want to get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. We’re a small and dedicated team, each here to support different aspects of your journey. Alan, our Executive Director, holds the vision and direction of OneSpirit. Danielle looks after all things finance, and Kailee leads on communications and marketing (she also curates this newsletter!). Kim helps keep our events running smoothly behind the scenes, while Lavinia focuses on community development and connection. Maddy brings her care and creativity to shaping meaningful learning experiences. We’re here to help you feel at home in this community, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. If it takes us a little time to reply, thank you for your patience. We’ll always get back to you as soon as we can!
Our Mailing Address:
OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation
The Gateway, 85–101 Sankey Street
Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1SR
United Kingdom
Copyright © 2025 OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation. All rights reserved.
