A few months ago, I was delighted to be invited to give a short talk to the current students studying for the Diploma in Spiritual Coaching and Caregiving at the Spiritual Companions Trust. I was asked to share some reflections on my spiritual approach, practices, and perspective.
What follows is a distillation of my notes with the key themes I shared during that talk. Although this wasn’t specifically about Huna but about more general principles of spiritual practices, it was, of course, just natural for me to use the Huna principles as a foundation.
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This is just my personal take. I don’t believe there’s one right way to do spirituality and I believe that the joy of the spiritual adventure lies in discovering what works for you and adjusting as required along the way.
As brief background, ever since I was young, I felt driven by the feeling that there was something more to life and perhaps I’ve long been what one might consider a ‘seeker’, exploring everything from Western esoteric traditions and modern continental philosophy to therapy and changework. A chance encounter with the Hawaiian-influenced philosophy of Huna in the early 2000’s proved especially resonant, and it continues to shape much of how I live and connect spiritually.
Huna offers seven guiding principles that I find helpful both spiritually and practically and I believe have universal applicability and I’ve framed my reflections around them below, alongside some thoughts about spiritual practice.
For me, spirituality begins with awareness. Not only awareness of something larger, something beyond the day-to-day, but also of ourselves. Honest self-awareness is, I believe, a vital part of any spiritual path. That means being willing to notice both the light and the shadow within us and being willing to work with it.
Daily practices can help to further deepen that self-awareness, especially practices of reflection and listening. I consider it also important to remain open to the diverse beliefs and practices of others, and to reflect on my own assumptions and perspectives. This provides a means of becoming more awake to myself and others.
One of the most liberating ideas I’ve embraced is that many of our limitations are, at least in part, self-imposed. A belief I now hold, despite having come from a very evidence-based, academic background, is that everything is alive, aware, and responsive. That belief wasn’t easy to integrate at first, but it’s become central to my spiritual experience.
Nature is one of my favourite ways to connect. Simply walking outside and paying attention to birdsong or the way the light touches a leaf can feel awe-inspiring. Useful daily practices can involve remembering that these small moments are not just pleasant, they are legitimate spiritual practices in their own right.
I don’t believe in a binary “on/off” spiritual connection. I think we’re always connected to spirit (insert your preferred term here!), but our awareness of that connection varies. When I feel disconnected, it’s usually because my focus has shifted elsewhere, perhaps towards stress or distraction, or inner noise.
One simple practice I use to bring myself back to awareness of my connection to spirit is to focus on something beautiful, for example, a tree, a flower, a landscape, and notice the feelings it evokes. It’s a simple but powerful way to re-centre. The practice of regular reflection and the ‘soft discipline’ of tuning in and listening to my inner experience is invaluable.
I’ve come to realise that presence is not optional if you want to feel truly connected. The present moment is where life, and spirit, actually happens. When I drift into the past or future too much, I notice a drop in my energy or “vibration.”
Becoming present doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be as simple as pausing, taking a breath, and tuning in to what’s happening right now, focusing on what you can see, hear, or feel. That moment of presence is often the doorway back to connection.
Practices such as meditation and being truly present with other people and holding space are important ways of being present.
The principle of Aloha – love, compassion, appreciation, is one of the things I love most about Huna. For me, gratitude is my go-to “first aid” for spiritual disconnection. If I’m feeling low or off-kilter, I start by noticing something, anything I can be thankful for, even something as small as a hot drink or a kind word. That tiny shift in focus can begin to change everything.
I’ve also learned that criticism, especially self-criticism, blocks connection. Kindness, towards ourselves and others, is far more powerful. I don’t beat myself up if I’ve skipped a meditation or fallen into an old pattern. Instead, I aim to respond with gentleness and curiosity about what might be learned from the experience.
And yes, I believe pleasure and playfulness have a place in spirituality. Laughing with friends, enjoying good food, being silly, these can all be spiritual practices if they help us feel connected, alive, and open-hearted.
A practice that focusses on connection is valuable and as is remembering that connection can take many forms and something as light-hearted as joy or humour can have spiritual value.
Taking responsibility for our own path is essential. It’s not always easy, life brings challenges, but inner strength and courage help us navigate them. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s taking the next step anyway, especially when you’re not sure how things will turn out.
That courage also applies to looking at ourselves honestly. A spiritual path can sometimes make you stand out or feel different, but the support of kindred spirits – can be extremely valuable.
This principle is a good reminder to keep things practical. If something works for you, use it. If it doesn’t, let it go. My own practices include everything from walking in nature, meditating, appreciation and gratitude, to shamanic journeying, self enquiry and sharing time with friends. Key for me is curiosity and simplicity and ultimately effectiveness.
A practice that encourages practical experimentation and reflecting on what works or not is valuable as is giving myself the freedom to explore.
Spirituality is an ongoing adventure, not a straight path or a checklist. I apply these principles across my life, whether I’m teaching, coaching, researching, running events, or simply being with others or being alone. They show up in how I listen, how I show up, and how I respond to challenges.
I hope some of these reflections have been helpful. As always, I remain a work in progress and my adventure continues….
Find out more about our forthcoming live Huna and related workshops, starting with Healing With Focussed Imagination starting in January 2026: https://www.urbanhuna.org/events/
