Welcome to A Pilgrimage for the Soul, created by author & elder in training, Donna Lancaster.
About me:
My name is Donna and I am a writer, coach, therapist and group facilitator with over 35 years experience. I also describe myself as an ‘Elder in training’ because I am leaning towards that stage of my life as a 57 year old woman who has worked hard to transform her wounds into wisdom. (More on that later).
I love reading, writing, watching films, listening to podcasts, exercise, drinking coffee, walking, talking to trees and non religious prayer. I view nature as my church because it’s where I go to worship Life. I would describe myself as an introvert (although for a long time I pretended not to be). I am a mother of 2 daughters and the grandmother of 3 young boys, and I absolutely love my role in helping to raise ‘gentle-men’.
I have written and published 2 books – ‘The Bridge - a 9 step crossing into authentic and wholehearted living’ (Penguin Life, 2022) and ‘Wise Words for Women’ (Happy Place Books/Ebury 2023). I have also written extensively for various magazines along the way.
I was one of the Co-founders and facilitators of The Bridge Retreat and have been working with individuals, couples and groups for over 30 years. I originally trained as a social worker, specialising in child protection and worked extensively within this and related fields. I am a highly experienced group facilitator and intuitive Coach and have worked internationally in a wide variety of environments including women’s refuges, schools and prisons.
A documentary called Love(d) was made about the work of The Bridge Retreat in 2018, sharing the stories of 12 people as they took the leap to heal the grief and loss in their lives. You can now watch the documentary for free via Loved Documentary
Way back in 2007 I qualified as a Hoffman Teacher with the Hoffman Institute UK and went on to become their Head of Teaching in 2011. I then completed the Imago Relationship Clinical Training Programme and ran a busy couples practice in London for many years, going on to train with the Centre for Systemic Constellations to support my work in honouring family and ancestral influences.
My work has been featured in numerous publications including The Telegraph, Psychologies, Evening Standard, Huffington Post, Balance, Conde Nast, Poosh and Tatler and I have been a guest on many podcasts including Happy Place, Mad world with Bryony Gordon, Motherkind, Saturn Returns with Caggie Dunlop, Ctrl. Alt. Delete with Emma Gannon, Love Itself with Cressida Bonas and Not Perfect with Poppy Jamie.
Why Subscribe?
My intention for this newsletter is to provide a twice monthly offering directly into your inbox, that explores Elder wisdom (and how we all have access to it), Spirituality, Healing and Awakening. As well as writing about different elements of these four core topics, I plan to also offer you videos, simple rituals, reflection questions, Dates with Wonder, spiritual practices and book/film and podcast recommendations, that will support you to return to the truth of who you are.
There will also be the opportunity to connect with other like hearted Souls as part of the online community. Asking and answering questions that matter, to all those entering or in ‘phase two’ of life. I like to imagine us taking a break from the trail to gather together around a fire, whilst we share our collective wisdom with each other.
I view this whole space and offering on Substack as an adventure that we will embark upon, and just like with any pilgrimage, we will walk the path together.
Side by side.
I really hope you will join me along the trail, as we all walk back to meet ourselves.
All Love
Donna xx
“…if you travel far enough, one day you will recognise yourself coming down the road. And you will say - YES.” Marion Woodman
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter, join a community of like hearted Souls and gain access to publication archives.
