TodayI sat down with community leader and cultural healer Jeff Amatto, founder of More Cultural Rehab Less Jails to talk about the realities men face after release from jail and the vital role of returning to Country, reconnecting with culture, and walking alongside other men. His insights shed new light on the emotional, physical, and spiritual rebuilding many men undertake—and offered profound guidance for my upcoming novel, The River Between Them. Jeff’s honesty and wisdom reminded me that healing isn’t linear; it’s relational, cultural, and deeply human.

I’m thrilled to share that my manuscript Roots of Silence has received an Honourable Mention in the 2025 Hay House US Authorpreneur Contest. This recognition celebrates years of work weaving together themes of trauma, resilience, and spiritual reconnection through storytelling. To be acknowledged by Hay House—a global leader in personal growth and transformation—is a true honour. Congratulations to winner Catherine Andrews and the other Honourable Mention recipients. This milestone strengthens my commitment to bringing Roots of Silence to readers around the world and continuing the SpiritED journey—where health, spirit, and story meet.

From Cambridge to the Nile: A Journey of Learning, History and Spirit

In 2025, author and educator Christine Howard embarked on a ten-week adventure across the United Kingdom and Egypt, weaving together history, creativity, and spiritual reflection. While studying Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge, she spent four transformative weeks refining the final draft of her debut novel Roots of Silence. From the peaceful gardens of Newnham College and the ancient stones of Ely Cathedral to the Cotswolds’ timeless villages, Christine’s journey blended learning with inspiration.
Her travels continued along the Nile River from Luxor to Aswan, exploring the Pyramids of Giza, Karnak Temple, and Valley of the Kings — moments that deepened her appreciation for endurance, storytelling, and the human spirit. She ended her trip in Paris, gazing at the Eiffel Tower from her balcony and reflecting on how travel, art, and faith intertwine.

So here I am, faced with a choice: to protect my energy by surrounding myself with white light and saying no to any spirit—or to remain open to her if she wishes to come through at 2 a.m., as they often do. The selfish part of me thinks, “Stay away and let me sleep in peace.” The compassionate part of me knows it might be something that helps him heal and work through his grief.

I’ve just finished my first week studying Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge — and to say it’s been amazing feels like an understatement.

Written from the single bed in my Newnham College dorm room at the University of Cambridge…

The Universe never ceases to amaze me. How does trauma affect a man who was institutionalised, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and how does it impact the people around him?

In three weeks, I will fly to the University of Cambridge to study Creative Writing as part of their International Summer Program.
This has been on my bucket list for years—not just to study at one of the world’s most prestigious universities but to immerse myself fully in writing, surrounded by centuries-old halls and a rich academic tradition.

‘I now recognise that the sadness I feel is an accumulation of the losses I’ve faced... I get to shape and mould not only the loss and the healing but also the person I’m still becoming.’

This weekend, I’ll be flying to Auckland to attend the Auckland Writers Festival, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most vibrant literary gatherings. Held next week, this festival brings together writers, thinkers, and creatives from around the globe to celebrate the power of storytelling.

Writing isn’t about being a writer — it’s about finding your way back to yourself. Through simple writing practices, you can reconnect with your inner wisdom, process emotions, and rediscover clarity. Begin your journey inward with a pen and a little trust.

True leadership doesn’t begin with authority—it begins with awareness. In this article, we explore the powerful connection between healing and leadership, and why the most impactful leaders are the ones who’ve done their inner work. Through integration and self-connection, they lead not from ego, but from wholeness.

At the centre of everything I do is one clear purpose: to help people heal and to lead in a way that supports others in doing the same.

Today, I take an exciting step in my writing journey.. I’m thrilled to start working with Vicki Bennett as my mentor — an incredible author and creator whose work inspires me.

One of my favourite moments was a simple 10-minute free writing exercise that started with the words “I remember when…”. No pressure, no editing—just letting the words flow. It was surprising what surfaced in such a short time, and how powerful that small prompt could be.

Over the past two weekends, I found myself in two very different creative spaces—AIDC in Melbourne and Words Out West in Chinchilla. One was fast-paced and competitive, filled with documentary makers vying for funding and visibility. The other was quieter, reflective, and full of writers who seemed comfortable in their own stillness. It was at Words Out West that I realised something important: I feel more at home as a writer than a filmmaker. Right now, I’m leaning into that space, where the energy is slower and the stories have time to breathe.

Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2008, marking a 15-16 year period of transformation for those with significant Capricorn placements (like their Sun, Moon, or Ascendant). Pluto's influence is about deep transformation, power dynamics, and facing the shadow aspects of life. This has likely been a period of intense personal and professional growth for Capricorns, sometimes through challenges or power struggles.

Grief is a universal language, yet the manifestations of grief are as diverse as the experiences that precipitate them. After writing about the loss experienced by families and communities in the township of Australia as their sons and daughters went off to war, I thought about the anguish endured by First Nations peoples during the era of the Stolen Generations.

Each time I drive through the Maclagan township at the Bunya Mountains' foothills, I become more intrigued by its history. The township, with a population of approximately 340, has a town hall, corner store and church, and a pub in the neighbouring Quinalow. At the front of the park is a monolith with the words ‘IN MEMORIAM of the Soldiers from this District who made the Supreme Sacrifice’ inscribed with the names of 103 men and women from the neighbouring townships who lost their lives.

Take a moment to think of the individual and collective grief of that loss…