Judy Holyer

Modern living can make us very unaccustomed to silence and stillness. Often people feel threatened by the thought of silence even for a short time. It can be hard to find either the space or the time to think.  Yet it is in silence that we find our deepest desires and where we can connect to God.  I work as a spiritual director and retreat leader.  It is my aim to work with people to help them find their own quiet places where they can move on in their life's journey.

If you are looking for spiritual direction or think you might be interested then get in touch with me by email at judy@cs.bris.ac.uk .  We can arrange an initial meeting. The first meeting will be exploratory - a chance for us to get to know one another and to compare what you hope for with what I can offer. It may be useful to meet a few times and then review how things are going.. It is important that you feel able to say honestly what you think and feel about our meetings.  Charges are negotiable and agreed at the first meeting.

I can lead short retreats and quiet days.  Again, if you are interested in what I can offer then get in touch with me at judy@cs.bris.ac.uk  I have been involved in this work since 1991 when I attended the Llysfasi Spirituality workshop, a 16 day workshop offering the experience of both taking a retreat and then accompanying another person on retreat.  Since then I have undertaken training both in counselling and in working with groups.  I am a member of the South west spiritual directors network

My own spiritual journey, so far, has been quite varied.  I have worked in University, Church, commercial and voluntary settings.  I lectured mathematics at the University of Bristol for seven years and followed this by becoming a chaplain to the University, after being ordained as a Baptist minister.  I spent some time doing research in computer network technology which led to the formation of a business, now named U4EA, which I ran for three years, leaving at the end of 2002.  It is my belief that our faith impinges on all aspects of our lives, including all the daily activities we engage in. I now engage in voluntary work,as well as working in spiritual direction.  I have recently joined the quakers where my journey continues.

When I want a true break and want to remember what life is really like I go off on my own to a retreat house in mid-Wales.  It is isolated and the weather is quite variable.  The main road to the house  has grass growing up the middle when it is not under snow or sheet ice.  While there may not be many people to talk to there are many sheep and a lot of other wild life.  It is a very special place to me.

If you want to learn more about retreats and spiritual direction in general then The Retreat Association has twenty or so very useful pamphlets which may be downloaded free of charge.

 I am married to Ian Holyer who is a lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Bristol.

        The most reliable way to contact me is by e-mail at judy@cs.bris.ac.uk