Exploring reality

The secret was never hidden; it simply waited for me to see it

For many people, science and spirituality appear to sit at opposite ends of a spectrum. One is often viewed as logical and evidence-based, while the other is seen as intuitive, emotional, and unseen. But are they truly separate? Or are they simply two different ways of understanding the same human experience?

Throughout my life and career, I have come to believe they are deeply interconnected. Both science and spirituality seek understanding, healing, meaning, and connection. Both influence our health, wellbeing, and the way we experience life.

The Oxford Languages definition of science describes it as:

“The systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.”

Spirituality is defined as:

“The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.”

And health? The World Health Organization defines health as:

“A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

To me, true wellbeing cannot exist without acknowledging both the physical and the spiritual aspects of ourselves.

As Carl Sagan once said:

“Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.”

This is my personal journey — from scientist to spiritualist — and how I discovered they were never truly separate.

The Early Years

I grew up in a family where health, education, and curiosity were highly valued. My father was an academic — a Professor of Sport, Education, and Philosophy at an Edinburgh university — and my mother was a special needs physical education teacher. Looking back now, I realise that many of the foundations of both science and spirituality were already being woven into my childhood.

By the age of two, I had started ballet lessons. At four, I learned the violin through the Suzuki method before I could even read or write. Music became my first experience of rhythm, vibration, focus, and frequency — concepts rooted both in physics and in spiritual practice.

As the years went on, I studied piano, flute, gymnastics, and dance, eventually travelling internationally through music and performance. Those experiences exposed me to different cultures, beliefs, sacred spaces, and ways of understanding life.

I was also fascinated by nature, cooking, and experimentation from a young age. At three years old, I was found cooking fried eggs on the stove after simply observing how it was done. I loved growing herbs and potatoes in the garden and caring for animals. These experiences taught me grounding, responsibility, compassion, and connection with living things.

Although my family did not follow a specific religion, my parents encouraged independent thought and personal exploration. Faith and spirituality were never imposed on me — I was encouraged to seek my own truth.

Choosing Science

At school, I loved science, mathematics, and music. Eventually, science won academically, and I pursued a professional healthcare career within the NHS.

Yet spirituality quietly remained in the background.

As a teenager, I became interested in Tarot. In my twenties, I began visiting local spiritualist churches while working clinically on hospital wards. It was during this time that I started experiencing things I could not logically explain — intuitive knowing, heightened sensitivity, and recognising certain smells around end-of-life care situations before understanding concepts such as the “Clairs.”

At the same time, I trained in Reflexology and became increasingly interested in complementary therapies and holistic approaches to healing. I wanted to understand the body beyond purely clinical models.

One of the first female scientists who deeply inspired me was Elsie Widdowson, whose groundbreaking work in nutrition and dietetics helped shape public health policy in the United Kingdom. Nutrition fascinated me because it sits at the crossroads between science, lifestyle, prevention, and holistic wellbeing.

Over the years, I began questioning why modern society was seeing rising levels of stress-related illnesses such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anxiety, and burnout. Despite medical advancement, many people seemed increasingly disconnected from balance, rest, and self-awareness.

I began wondering whether something essential was missing.

Motherhood, Meditation, and Healing

In my thirties, life became increasingly demanding. I continued progressing professionally while navigating motherhood, commuting long distances, and managing the pressures of family life.

During pregnancy, I attended active birthing classes led by a yoga and physiotherapy teacher. Through yoga, breathwork, and meditation, I learned how powerful the mind-body connection truly is. Managing pain naturally through breath, positioning, relaxation, and deep focus transformed my understanding of healing and resilience.

Years later, meditation returned to my life again — this time as a tool for stress and anxiety management.

Balancing career progression, raising two children, being the primary earner, and supporting my husband through nurse training eventually took its toll. Then came profound grief, as both our fathers passed away within a year of each other.

Grief became a turning point.

I sought spiritual readings for comfort and connection. I experienced vivid dreams involving my father, including one before his funeral that brought an overwhelming sense of peace and closure. Another occurred years later before I had to give evidence under oath, when I silently asked for his support.

These experiences deepened my belief that connection does not simply end with physical death.

The “Tower” Moment

By the age of forty, everything came crashing down emotionally, mentally, and physically — what Tarot would describe as a “Tower” moment.

Years of overworking, suppressing emotions, prioritising everyone else, and ignoring my own needs had finally caught up with me.

For a short time, I tried antidepressants, but they did not resonate with me personally. What truly helped was speaking openly, journalling, learning, meditation, and reconnecting with myself.

I left my NHS career and returned to academia while working within the third sector and volunteering in hospice care. I trained in Theta Healing, deepened my meditation practice, and began focusing more intentionally on nutrition, exercise, emotional wellbeing, and energy work.

Yet there was still something deeper I needed to understand: how to reconnect emotionally and spiritually after years of emotional protection and survival mode.

That journey led me toward spiritual development circles, Law of Attraction teachings, deeper meditation, and learning about energy awareness, grounding, protection, and higher consciousness.

Meditation was no longer simply stress management — it became spiritual connection.

Full Circle

Now in my fifties, I continue to learn, evolve, and integrate both worlds together.

Today I am:

• A Master of Science in Public Health and Nutrition
• A Usui Reiki Master Teacher
• Tuning Fork and Biofield practitioner
• A working spiritual medium
• A practitioner of various divination methods
• A student of shamanic practices and energy healing traditions
• I lead and  train in  spiritual development, health and wellbeing,  and Reiki workshops myself

I have studied healthcare across clinical hospitals, community services, palliative and hospice care, public health, third-sector organisations, academia, and person-centred practice. I have returned to postgraduate and Master’s level study multiple times throughout my life because learning has always been part of who I am.

Shamanic practice, in particular, taught me the importance of reconnecting with nature, energy, ceremony, and ancient healing wisdom. One transformative experience involved joining an international shamanic gathering in Estonia with people from 18 different countries to witness initiation and fire ceremonies.

Through all of these experiences, I have come to understand that healing is rarely just physical.

It is emotional. Energetic. Mental. Spiritual.

When we begin listening to the body, calming the nervous system, honouring intuition, understanding energy, and reconnecting with ourselves, true transformation becomes possible.

Ironically, it was science itself that led me back to spirituality.

Today, I live a simpler, healthier, and more balanced life than ever before. I no longer suffer frequent migraines or overwhelming anxiety. I understand my stress triggers, maintain healthier boundaries, and approach life with greater awareness, compassion, and trust.

I believe the future of health and wellbeing lies not in choosing science or spirituality — but in allowing both to coexist respectfully within holistic, person-centred practice.

As Leonardo da Vinci wisely said:

“Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation… even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind.”

And perhaps Albert Einstein summarised it best of all:

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

My journey from scientist to spiritualist was never about abandoning one world for another.

It was about finally realising they had always belonged together.