Rev Jo Royle
1) What are your ‘learner’ experiences?
It’s hard to divide my learner experiences from my life! I’m not sure how I got from a degree in computing to being an Interfaith Minister, but there were several different careers and a whole lot of learning in between. I have post grad qualifications and have held professional accreditions in business, IT and in coaching.
Before I moved to Skye, I did an 18 month spiritual development programme based on the Kabbalah and after I moved to Skye a 1 year art course at the college in Auchtertyre.
I’ve been on many short courses and had so many varied learning experiences in the decade since moving to Skye… I’ve learnt to sew clothes, turn pottery on a wheel, enjoyed exploring creative writing, life drawing and printing, learnt survival skills, had a go at archery, paper crafts and needlefelting, reconnected with crochet, weaving and knitting, learnt about foraging from the land and the sea, done yoga, pilates and capacitar and a whole host of other learning experiences which have nourished my creative and spiritual life. There are so many people with so many wonderful skills… we can all learn from one another!
2) How did it benefit you?
Learning has enabled me to follow my interests in life… to have different careers (including IT consultant, project manager, business performance coach, meditation teacher, restaurant owner, leadership development facilitator, women’s support worker and interfaith minister). Learning has enabled me not to get stuck too long or bored in one place (I love to learn and get bored quickly!)… to travel and work across the UK, in Europe and Australia… to meet new people, have interesting conversations, make new friends… to have interesting experiences and adventures… to flex and adapt to different ways of living… and to maintain my zest for life!
3) what would you like to learn next?
My last major learning was:
i) an intense 2 year Interfaith Ministry training which included learning about ceremony, spiritual counselling, religions and faith paths and a lot of learning about myself! It opened me to an even deeper love of nature and the earth path
ii) training and accreditation in Havening Techniques – a powerful healing therapy which delinks emotion from traumatic memories
So what feels like my next calling is to train to be a Shamanic Practitioner… which will take me deeper into the earth path and give me more healing tools to be more of service in the world.4) ‘top tips’ for others
Don’t limit yourself… if you’re interested in learning something, even if it seems ‘out there’ or crazy… go for it!
Follow your interests… your passions… what you love or as Rumi says “let the beauty of what you love be what you do”.
Find ways to learn which match your intelligences and your learning styles… it might be reading books and going on courses, but it maybe watching videos or listening to podcasts, it might be creating and crafting or moving your body. Explore every way of learning… finding what works for you! (When training to be an Interfaith Minister I immersed myself in the practices and prayers, the places of worship and the art forms, the music and meditations of different religions. I find this experiential way of learning brings new knowledge to life for me).
Don’t just learn because others want you to… learn because you want to! And make the most of your learning opportunities (as someone who is self employed, I can only dream of the training budgets I once had in employment! If I had 3 wishes, one of them would definitely be ‘I wish for an unlimited learning budget’!)
And… keep the love of learning alive! In you and in those around you. I truly believe learning makes for a happy and fulfilled life!
Happy learning…
Rev Jo Royle
Interfaith Minister
Ceremony… Spiritual Counselling… Women’s Circles… Meditation… Havening Techniques…
email: jo@joroyle.co.uk
Lifelong Learning Hub (Skye and Lochalsh) 