Twenty years ago I wrote ... 'recovered, the erotic becomes essential to the survival of theology ... it keeps God (aka the Divine) alive'

Tonight I make my final contribution to the academic discipline of Theology: a prerecorded presentation for this year's Society for the Study of Theology Annual Conference @sst_theology #SST25 Flesh and Blood Theologies on my MA dissertation Recovering a Theology of the Erotic, which I wrote in the winter of 2005

#educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #theology #fleshandblood #embodiment #erotic #recovery

I'm presenting at this year's Society for the Study of Theology Annual Conference @sst_theology #SST25 on Recovering a Theology of the Erotic, a flesh and blood theology dissertation I wrote twenty years ago (!)

Cycles are ending - sometimes we have to wait a long time for completion - decades even.

#educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #theology #fleshandblood #embodiment #erotic #recovery

I'm sharing information about the new neurodiversity-positive research informing campuses across the UK, part of York St John University Institute of Social Justice, which I have been and remained involved with as part of the Participatory Advisory Group (PAG).  Below are extracts from Jamie Williams' blog which you can read in full clicking here

From “Admiring the problem” to ‘What works’…

Neurodivergent students often tell us they don’t feel like their struggles are noticed, and we wanted to ensure we heard them.
However, we also wanted to enact achievable changes based on what people told us. We wanted to go beyond “admiring the problem”, not only asking “what’s wrong?” but also “what works?” – by identifying existing good practices and making pragmatic recommendations to inspire change at all levels of HE.
By showing what neurodiversity-affirming practice is already being achieved within the current constraints of the HE landscape, adjustments cannot be dismissed as an abstract but unachievable wish.

We set up the Participatory Advisory Group (PAG) to explore this, and we were hugely lucky to be joined by a fantastic mixed-neurotype group of students, former students, and professionals who had experience with the YSJ campus and wanted to take an active role throughout the project.
The PAG has shaped every aspect of the research by:
⭐️ Providing crucial feedback at every part of the process
⭐️ Telling us they were sick of seeing diagnostic labels and stereotypes, or clinical language and imagery that didn’t speak to their experiences, in research
⭐️ Contributing designs, posters and wording for recruitment material and our online padlet (see pictures!)
⭐️ Contributing questions and collaborating on our interview schedule
For the research team, this has been an absolute joy and a means of genuinely sharing the responsibility for the project. In fact, such was their influence that when we needed to recruit additional Research Associates, we did so from within the group, extending the PAG’s influence further.

We hope that this research will improve the experiences of students and staff at YSJ and, more broadly, at other educational institutions and professional organisations. To this end, we are partnering with other universities to share INC’s methods and key findings.

Project INC has already been cited in training within public-sector, charity, higher education, and private-sector contexts.

The INC themes contributing to active belonging, such as ‘Believe me, talk to me’, ‘Shared responsibility’ and ‘Identity spaces’ are already informing the support that Spectrum First provides for University students and professionals at all levels, whether it is being used in one to one strategy development, or is being shared with Student Support, Academic, or HR Departments.

The core message of ‘what works’ is something people can connect to and be inspired by how individuals who perceive and work differently can thrive in many different contexts.
We are excited to see where it goes and how far it can spread!

Sandra Bargman words ...

Ever since I discovered her, I have been quite taken with Kay’s experience & teachings of #embodimentspirituality

In particular, her understanding of the relationship of the nervous system & the healing of trauma to our experiencing ourselves as divinity DIVINITY that is our BIRTHRIGHT #tangibledivinity

In these challenging times of spiritual disconnect, collapse culture, & climate crisis and the growing mental health issues as a result, I feel there is no more important work than what Kay is teaching, modelling & embodying. This conversation is a masterclass for the times in which we live

Is there anything better on Valentines Day than Making Love with the Divine?

In this episode, Kay shares her journey from her religious upbringing into seminary, discovering shamanistic & energy work, getting booted from Anglican seminary training, to stepping fully into embodied spirituality. We discuss

What is metacognition?

We re-visit the understanding of the word shamanism as a living dynamic

We talk about her powerful book, Making Love with the Divine @girlgodbooks

Kay expands on her understanding of the Nervous System (& the healing of trauma) as our divine sacred centre.

Using her religious vernacular, this becomes her re-telling of Eve & the Genesis story through her own lived experience

Kay weaves together the parasympathetic (feminine energy) with the sympathetic response (masculine)

Kay shares the liberation of her lineage story of her paternal Grandmother, a creative, religious & eccentric force in Kay’s young life through the Theatre of Church

Witnessing funerals & grief was a powerful lesson in her early years

She details her spiritual journey: the foundational role her grandmother played > moving into theological academia > teaching theology > Anglican Ordination training while at the same time training in shamanism > leaving her religious training > her deconstruction of the control of theology over her and stepping fully into her experience of Embodiment Spirituality

“We are searching for an alternative world within this one”. Spiritual/Sexual abuse in the church & other spiritual communities & the need for safeguarding

Listen here on Spotify but it is available on all your favourite platforms​

Out now!

Lady of the Forge: Stories and Art Dedicated to the Goddess Brigid

The latest Girl God Books Anthology is available to purchase at the Girl God website or online stores.

Throughout this book you will see many stunning pieces of art, and read many beautiful works, including essays, stories, histories, poems, chants, prayers, and incantations dedicated to the goddess and Saint, Brigid. She is a goddess who has not just survived the Christianisation of Europe, but thrived since it. No matter what name you know Brigid by, or how you celebrate this loving goddess, you are one of us: a follower of Brigid, and one of her many, many children. So, let us do the most Brigid-thing of all, join hands and begin this journey together, reading and honouring Brigid as a collective, joined together by threads of love and healing energy.

"This germinal book gifts the reader a vast array of heart-warming, soul-stirring expressions of devotion to Brigid. The sense of dedication from each contributor to the force of nature that is this pre-Celtic goddess is so palpable, so tangible you can almost taste its power.

Brigid's relevance today is vital to the future of our beautiful blue-green home Earth. Our modern lives converge with those of her time though now our battles are climate change and social justice.

To walk with Brigid is a brave step, to hear her call is an act of reverence for the balance and harmony of the Divine Feminine and Masculine – equal but different. She will be our guide and guardian as we remember who we truly are and why we have chosen to incarnate in this pivotal shift in human consciousness."

-Dr. Karen Ward

Edited by Isca Johnson, Pat Daly and Trista Hendren

Repost of Neurodiverse Connection blog:

NdC Development Lead Kay Louise Aldred shares nine lessons learned from her past experience working in a non-Neurodivergent-affirming environment.
Working in a non-Neurodivergent-affirming environment can feel like navigating a maze. These workplaces often follow rigid neuronormative expectations that marginalise Neurodivergent individuals, making even day-to-day tasks overwhelming.

Here are some key lessons I learned from navigating such a space: 

01
The importance of proper induction and onboarding
Without a clear induction process, I was left floundering. A proper induction and structured onboarding experience—outlining expectations, workflows, and support systems—is not just a courtesy; it is necessary, especially for Neurodivergent individuals who thrive with clarity and predictability. When this was missing, I realised how critical it is to advocate for myself, even if it meant repeatedly asking for guidance, and escalating when necessary. In future, I would request the induction schedule and onboarding process and procedure in advance of starting a job.

02
Reasonable adjustments are essential, not optional
A lack of reasonable adjustments—whether sensory accommodations, flexible schedules, or tailored communication methods—disables. This experience reinforced the value of understanding my rights and confidently requesting accommodations, even in spaces that resist. I escalated the reasonable adjustment request to the Head of Health and Safety and HR and completed an Adjustment Passport.

03
Neuronormative communication culture feeds misunderstanding
In a workplace where neuronormative communication styles dominate, there is an implicit expectation to “read between the lines”. The absence of directness can lead to frustration, misinterpretation, and burnout. Unfortunately, there was little I could do about this working within a large organisation, so I learned to rely on clarifying questions and written follow-ups, even if they weren’t the norm, to ensure alignment and understanding.

04
Meetings without agendas foster chaos
A meeting without an agenda is like embarking on a journey without directions or a destination. Vague discussions and the absence of structure left me feeling unanchored and unsure of my role in the conversation. I instigated agendas in the meetings I was leading, beforehand, to create structure and verbally clarified action points in other meetings. 

02
Hyperconnectivity disrupts focus
Constant interruptions from Teams messages, often accompanied by sound alerts that triggered startle responses, highlighted the toll of an “always-on” communication culture. This experience taught me the importance of silencing notifications, setting boundaries, and advocating for designated focus times.

06
The absence of coregulation and emotional safety
Without coregulation—empathetic interaction that soothes, supports, and creates emotional and psychological safety—it is easy to feel isolated, ungrounded and anxious. A workplace where everyone is in survival mode leads to a perpetually dysregulated nervous system. I leaned into the power of my well-being and self-regulation practices and nervous system strategies, to maintain my equilibrium. However, due to the need to heavily mask and be constantly ‘on’ during the working day, I did experience two evening ‘meltdowns’, as the survival fight/flight energies that escalated and were held in my nervous system during office hours couldn’t discharge until then. There was no decompression time or coregulation during the day. 

07
Depth in conversations and processes matters
Shallow conversations and vague instructions prevent meaningful collaboration. The lack of explicit processes or opportunities to explore the “why” and purpose behind tasks left me feeling detached and unsure how my job role contributed to the bigger picture. I began documenting my own processes and seeking out informal mentors to fill these gaps.

08
Creativity flourishes in safe spaces
Creativity cannot thrive in an environment devoid of psychological safety. I realised how much the suppression of questions, exploration, and innovation stifles not just individual potential and well-being but also the whole team’s as well. This reaffirmed my desire to seek out or build spaces that celebrate diverse thinking and contributions and is one of the reasons I am delighted to be working at Neurodiverse Connection!

09
Ignoring sensory needs creates burnout
Unacknowledged sensory needs—whether it’s harsh lighting, lack of movement breaks, or constant sound notifications—quickly lead to overstimulation and exhaustion. I do have my sensory toolkit: noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, and timers for movement breaks but as I saw no one else with these within the organisation (and I interacted with hundreds of people) I found it hard to visibly ‘out’ my Neurodivergence. I realised I had more work to do around internalised ableism, unshaming my Neurodivergence and the ongoing value and need of advocating for systemic change.ndconnection.co.uk/resources/employment

Final thoughts
Surviving in a non-neurodiversity-affirming environment requires constant self-advocacy and adaptation. However, these lessons from my recent experience reinforced the importance of seeking or supporting the creation of workplaces that embrace Neurodivergent differences and strengths.

Every person deserves an environment where their unique needs and strengths are accommodated, recognised, and celebrated. This experience was a poignant reminder of why neurodiversity-affirming cultures are essential and that although change is happening, we still have a long way to go.

Find our more about NdC training here and resources here 

This month, at Neurodiverse Connection we’ve been thinking about jobs (we're also recruiting so check out our website here)

We know that when it comes to employment, the Neurodivergent experience can be far from straight-forward and as NdC Development Lead, I've shared 9 lessons learned from working in a non-Neurodivergent-affirming environment

Over the next 9 days I'll be sharing more about each lesson individually but if you don't want to wait you can read the full blog now here

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood in the workplace, we hope this article brings you some validation and reassurance.

#educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #neurodiverseconnection #recruitment #workplace #equality #diversity #inclusion #belonging #employeesuccess #employmentsuccess #neurodivergent #neurodiversityaffirming

Back for 2025 👍

Neurodiverse Connection Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach (NDWA) Training has three cohorts running this spring/summer.

Cohort A INDIVIDUALS
8 x 90-minute evening sessions
Tuesdays, 6pm
18th March—13th May

Cohort B PROFESSIONALS
4 x half-day sessions
Tuesdays, 9.30am—1pm
13th May—10th June

Cohort C PROFESSIONALS
4 x half-day sessions
Thursdays, 12.30pm—4pm
12th June—10th July

Interested in learning more? Click here

#educateevolveembody #inandthrough #embodimentspirituality #embodiededucation #fleshyknowing #neurodiverseconnection #neurodivergentwellbeingapproach #neurodivergent #wellbeing

I've just completed the first month in my new FT job : Development Lead at Neurodiverse Connection

Who is Neurodiverse Connection?
✅ We are a neurodivergent-led Community Interest Company (CIC) created to improve support and outcomes for neurodivergent people.

Find out more here : https://ndconnection.co.uk/

And what do I do as a Development Lead?
✅ focus on designing and delivering projects, training and resources that benefit the Neurodivergent community
✅ support organisations in creating Neurodivergent-affirming changes
✅ represent Neurodiverse Connection on multiple levels
✅ collaborate with staff and associates to ensure high-quality outcomes
✅ build and maintain connections across various sectors working to secure revenue for Neurodiverse Connection and and look for other opportunities for funding
✅ deliver on commissioned work to achieve change and growth with those we work with

Let's go 2025 and beyond ...

#educateevolveembody #neurodivergent #autism #adhd #audhd #communityinterestcompany #ndconnection #neurodiverseconnection