An only child of my parents (though my father has two much older children from a first marriage). Several childhood diseases including measles. A fairly severe trauma when I tripped/walked through a thick plate glass window aged 7 and received several cuts, including a particularly severe one on my right arm which is still scarred to this day. My father died when I was eleven. I felt I had to be strong for my mother. A largely happy marriage with two children whom I love very deeply. I always hoped to have a family of my own and I am truly blessed by both Rachel and James.
WORK As someone who understands and experiences things through Celtic 'glasses' I believe that all of life is a prayer, an offering to God.
A much-loved father - he showed me how to be still around nature and look and see what it was doing. He was happy to play with me - games like hide and seek for instance. He could move quite fast and very quietly. He was happy to play the fool; I remember impersonations of a monkey at the supper table! My mother (when I was a child) I remember as being mostly severe and controlling, although I know she loved me. Her (my memory) answer to every minor infraction was a painful smacking. I always tried to be moderate and as soon as suitable 'punishments' became available, I used them .
The 'avenue' gang. A group of children ranging from ten years older than me down to about four or five years younger. We played together in our cul-de-sac and in the nearby park for what seemed like days on end. My husband and I were given to each other - that's the only way I can describe it. When I offered the whole relationship sacrificially to God in the early days, I 'felt' God take David from me then gently give him back. My children, Rachel and James. Unless you've had children, it is very difficult to understand the psychic and spiritual umbilical cord which grows from a mother to her offspring. I know I would give my life to protect them. I am proud to see them growing up to be good young adults. Rachel is in Amsterdam learning Dutch and James will be doing a BTEC in Music Performance shortly. I had a word of knowledge from a fellow Christian about the sex of the baby I lost through miscarriage before Rachel and was encouraged to name him, so called him Stephen. That is why James is James!
How to describe the almost indescribable? Often prayer for me is a communion which goes beyond words. I pray specifically for people in need, either with them or at a distance. As an instance, when a group of church people prayed for a fellow member who had been diagnosed with cancer (luckily this was operable and the lady is in recovery) I was given the words of the first two verses of 'Thine Arm, O Lord' to pray for her, which was suitable for both her and the occasion. I attend services at church weekly which are usually Eucharistic. I attend more informal prayers as part of the Quest Community and lead those services on a semi-regular basis.
Baptised in the Church of England. Grew up in Llandaff experiencing the Church of Wales. Despite the fact that the churchmanship was high, there was an inclusive feel to the parish - everyone knew everyone else and all were included having their space or role to play. Also caught what the Welsh describe as hoel - spirit, the Celtic atmosphere. Moved to Bath and became confirmed shortly after my father died. I always believed in God (head knowledge) but He only became a reality around the time I was 17. I went to a crusade and prayed a prayer of recommitment. shortly after that I was sent to a local Anglican Evangelical church where the atonement was preached and the penny dropped. I was 'born again' and Jesus became a living reality in my life. Not long after that I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I have the gift of tongues from that stage in my life and have interpreted tongues a few times. After my marriage my husband and I moved to Glastonbury where I rediscovered the Celtic Christian 'ambience' I had almost forgotten from my childhood. After an emotionally traumatic early miscarriage, I was given a word of knowledge that everything would be okay the next time. I received prayer for my children whilst they were in utero and happily they arrived safe and well. I had them both baptised and Rachel has been confirmed. I have been an active member of the ecumenical Quest community since its inception and have moved into leading prayers, laying on of hands and listening to pilgrims of many faiths and none. I also found Celtic Christian writings which inspired me.
After the death of the Quest community 'godfather', I had a message which appeared to come from him that was calling me to be a 'bridge-builder' - meaning I was meant to specialise in inter-faith dialogue, especially with Pagans and New Age followers. I'm still working out exactly what this means. In a listening course, I received another unexpected message from someone who had not long passed over (he was a committed Christian and I loved him as a brother, having grown up with him); he told me that everything was all right, meaning he was safe in the Beyond. My mother passed nearly two years ago, leaving me numb, even though it was a merciful release at the end and she went ready to meet her Maker. As part of my 'bridge-building' I've been given Reiki stage one, which is a nondenominational healing tool (helping others find the healing they need). I'm hoping to take this further, since my experience is that this healing comes from the same Source as Christian healing. When I took a wrong turn as part of my searching and became involved in something that was too much for me personally, God was gracious and provided me with an escape via a priest who ritually cut all psychic, spiritual and other links between me and that particular way and I am free of it, thank God. I am currently training to be an INTERFAITH MINISTER and should be ordained in August 2006.