As a Māori who grew up rurally,I consider the natural environment my greatest teacher. The changing tides determine when to search for kūtai and pipi, the moon cycle tells you when kaimoana is fat, and a sudden cold gust of wind can tell you how long you have to get home before it rains! Lately, I have learned some great lessons from trees.

When Matariki appeared low on the horizon, I was taken aback by the emotion that welled up within me. It seemed so fragile, a silken cocoon, host to tiny seeds that signified new life. Finally, I understood why the appearance of this constellation is such a significant event in the spirituality of diverse cultures around the globe. And here it was again, celebrated as a new public holiday in Aotearoa.

 Keith Newman is a journalist, poet and author of five New Zealand history books including Ratana the Prophet (Reed 2009 reprint Oratia Books May 2024), Bible & Treaty and Beyond Betrayal (Penguin 2009, 2013). For the past 12-years he has hosted the Bible & Treaty Facebook group.. He lives in Haumoana, Hawke’s Bay with his wife Paula.

This ‘anthology of spiritually-minded poems’ has emerged from a writing group that had its inception in the first decade of the 2000s and still meets on a semi-regular basis. ‘Our spiritual roots are varied… But we share a common sense of a bigger reality. We write about lots of things, but underneath it somewhere is that strong, or faint, sense of mystery.’

Kathryn Fernando and Helen Gray are spiritual directors and pilgrims who are facilitating contemplative pilgrimage opportunities in Wellington. In this blogpost, Kathryn Overall-Cass has a conversation with them about the gifts and fruit of pilgrimage as a spiritual practice and their upcoming pilgrimage retreat from Wairarapa to Island Bay in October 2025.

Iain Gow is a spiritual director, a retired Anglican priest and an author of books that explore the nexus of faith and life - in all of its glorious messiness! He lives in Warkworth with his wife Linda and Nutella, a chocolate brown labradoodle. There he pursues his new vocation as a writer and continues in contemplative postures and practices. In this blogpost, Kathryn Overall-Cass has a conversation with Iain about his third book, and first novel ‘The Priest Who Limped’.

A reflection on my journey to sobriety. “In damming off vast swathes of my inner life through repressive self-preservation, I forced myself to live a tiny, hobbled life that only allowed for a tiny, hobbled God.”

Adrienne Thompson offers spiritual direction and supervision from Wellington. A lifelong contemplative, and a late and reluctant activist, she is learning to be Tangata Tiriti, learning to weave, and becoming immersed in Ignatian spirituality through Te Mahi Wairua.

A poem on humility featured in the Dec 2024 issue of Refresh. Jo Anastasiadis is a spiritual director in Wellington who loves God’s creation, and seeing others grow in their relationship with God. She has recently rediscovered the delight of play with her young grandchildren, and the joy of simple moments.

During 1990, Eamon Butler arrived in Calcutta, India, found his way to the Mother House of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity, knocked on the door, and offered himself as a volunteer to serve the poor. In this article, Eamon shares about a life- changing encounter he experienced soon after his arrival.

The Benedictine Rule describes a 12-rung ladder of humility. The Monastic Heart, Joan Chittister, a Benedictine monastic, explains how these steps (or degrees) of humility can apply in our modern context.

A poem on humility featured in the Dec 2024 issue of Refresh. Sue Pickering is a spiritual director, author and retired Anglican priest. She lives in Kirikiriroa Hamilton with her husband and dog. Settling into retirement village life is in itself a lesson in humility!

“I cheerfully support the SDFP Alumni Fund because I would like to see everyone who senses a sincere call to practice spiritual direction able to train without financial hindrance.” ~ Jim McInnes

In this issue, devoted to reflection on the Sacred Feminine, it is fitting that the abundant spiritual legacy of this extraordinary woman be acknowledged. The reflections offered here are personal – just one window on that legacy. Sheila has always been a way finder. Again and again – and this has come home to me powerfully in the last few months – her footprints have marked out the paths we find ourselves following.

This June/July, we invite you to invest in our shared future by giving to SGM’s Innovation and Development Fund. Workgroup is committed to discerning and developing SGM’s growing edge. We feel called to three strategic initiatives at this time.

“Pay attention to what you notice” was advice given to me in my first session with a spiritual director many years ago. This simple invitation to notice is wonderfully extended and deepened by author Lucy Tierney in her book “Inner Invitations” (co-authored with Kathryn Overall-Cass) in which she describes ‘a spirituality system…. which draws on universal dynamics of spiritual growth’.

Anna Barker is a Porirua-based contemplative, accountant, reader, maker and traveller. In this blogpost, Kathryn Overall Cass has a conversation with Anna about her experience of completing the Spiritual Directors Formation Programme in 2022/2023 and why she is so glad she did so, even though she is not currently practising as a spiritual director.

Andrew Killick lives in Tahawai, just north of Katikati, in the Bay of Plenty. Creatively, he works in the areas of photography, poetry and prose, as well as various multimedia forms. In this blogpost, Kathryn Overall-Cass has a conversation with Andrew about his most recent book, ‘Rain Walk’, sacramental encounter with the elements and contemplative art-making.

Jules Badger is a spiritual director and maturing extrovert who discovered the gifts of the contemplative tradition in mid-life following a period of clinical depression. In this blogpost, Kathryn Overall-Cass has a conversation with Jules about the book she co-wrote with her husband, Mat, ‘When the Lights Go Out’ and what wisdom she can offer the spiritual direction community in Aotearoa about companioning those with mental health challenges.

Alex Carter is a 42 year old father of three, and with his wife Lisa, are members of Rewa South, an intentional community in Manurewa. In this blogpost, Kathryn Cass has a conversation with Alex about his first experience of a silent retreat and what that has meant for his life and relationship with God.