About Lena
My spiritual journey began in childhood. Since then I’ve explored a number of religious traditions and spiritual paths, theoretically and experientially. These have included both 'Western' and 'Eastern' traditions, dual and non-dual ones, as well as other traditions which aren't easy to classify. Each one has added to my clarity about what I value and to my understanding of the truth, so all of them have played some part in shaping who I am today.
In recent years my spiritual practice unfolded in a direction I hadn’t expected. I felt impelled to spend more time sitting in silence and opening my awareness to the source of everything. My relationship as a finite individual with this infinite source came into focus, deepened, and changed radically how I saw life and how I lived. Through researching, I found that the path unfolding in front of me was not new but one which mystics from a number of traditions had walked before me. What they described was seen through the lens of their particular tradition, most often that of contemplative Christianity; but it became clear to me that this journey, with its terrain, its landmarks, and what it develops in the traveller, is open to people of every tradition and none.
Over the years I’ve worked as a paralegal advice worker and manager of advice workers, a life coach, as a counsellor accredited with BACP and registered with NZAC, as an eating disorders therapist, as a registered psychotherapist, and as a trainer of talk therapists. Now I see my work as that of a contemplative, which means I spend most of my time engaged in the adventure of the inner journey. I’ve found this to be a rich, profound and transformative experience. In other ways I have a fairly regular life: I live with my partner, keep active through walking and running, make garlicky meals, and enjoy seeing friends and meeting new people.
I love supporting others on their own journeys, and so I also offer one-on-one sessions and retreats. You’re welcome to come and meet with me.