The Spirited Crone blog is where I tangle with spirituality one word at a time. I do it because words matter. They wound their way into me through the stories from my childhood. First in Jewish and Christian scriptures, and…
Christianity is a complex tradition but often perceived as rigid and irrelevant. Consequently, the riches from thousands of years of wrestling with what God could be are squandered. Atheist Professor Niki Harre had an inkling that something important had been…
Symbols invite contemplation but can be confronting and confusing. I experienced all three reactions when faced with a massive crucifix above the judicial bench in the Nuremberg Palace of Justice, where Nazis were tried for war crimes. The crucifix was…
Nuremberg, the movie, dogs my footsteps. More accurately, Howard Triest, the reliable but almost invisible interpreter at Nuremberg, has begun keeping me company. Triest, known as Howie and played by Leo Woodall in the movie, was crucial in getting the…
James Vanderbilt’s Nuremberg was compelling and disturbing. It drew me back to the darkened theatre three times as I wrestled with an angst that I couldn’t quite identify. The 1945 trial at Nuremberg had been mooted as a just alternative…
Christmas arrives with the story of a divine spark born into humanity as a vulnerable baby. It’s a powerful symbol that can unsettle our assumptions about who belongs, who is acceptable and who is not. Jacinda Ardern, then Prime Minister…
The British Royal Family can always be relied upon to grab headlines. Lately, it’s Prince Andrew’s accelerated descent from grace into obscurity that has captured attention. The family of the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse, say…
It’s tempting to imagine a world without poverty or war, where everyone has equal access to resources. Religions preach it, politicians legislate for it, and crowds demand it. With so much energy devoted to these ideals, you’d think the world…
The world is awash in words. Like a tsunami when the righteous pronounce on X. Lyrical in poetry. Used like rapiers as lawyers slice through evidence. Hammered out in rap. Woven by authors to keep us hooked. Chanted in prayer.…
Presented at Restoring Dignity Building Bridges, the 2025 National Restorative Justice Conference. We’re about to tip toe where angels fear to tread. In my reflections about restorative justice I raise the often-marginalised territory of spirituality and religion, wonder about remorse…