Author: editor18

Stephen Russell-Lacy is a retired clinical psychologist. He acts as a tutor at the Swedenborg Open Learning Centre. He is interested in the links between various branches of psychology and spirituality.

Good & bad of lockdown & facemasks

What have we learned, during the lockdown period? What have we valued and what have we hated? Restrictions are now gradually easing, but it is still necessary for us to be very careful as the virus is still active. We have been thinking about what has changed during the pandemic both for the good and … Continue reading Good & bad of lockdown & facemasks

Private prayer – Can it really reduce fear?

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Listen to the sound recording track of this episode Or read the script below Read the shorter version In 2007, in the UK, the Tearfund surveyed 1,000 randomly-selected adults. Prayer seemed an important thing, with one in six of all those surveyed, praying daily and one in four, at least once a week. … Continue reading Private prayer – Can it really reduce fear?

Private prayer – Can it reduce fear?

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. The worldly minded suppose private prayer is no different from any other personal practice that induces relaxation. They ask ‘Don’t we relax by sitting in a comfortable position, in a quiet setting, having something calming to focus our attention, and adopting a passive attitude?’   Yet most people would agree that private prayer … Continue reading Private prayer – Can it reduce fear?

Difficult people – How to get on

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Difficult people include those who think they are right all the time and always want to have the last word. Others are nosey and are quick to gossip or invade our privacy leaving us feeling uncomfortable.  There are some who want to provoke an emotional reaction in us and so wind us up … Continue reading Difficult people – How to get on

Difficult people – How to get on podcast

By Stephen Russell-Lacy.   Listen to this episode   Or read the script below. A shorter version is here. Being stuck at home during the pandemic, and not meeting folk, we can get to feel a bit isolated – maybe feeling a little lonely. Are you missing those people you normally see at the places you … Continue reading Difficult people – How to get on podcast

Disease Origins

  By Stephen Russell-Lacy. This post is a shorter version of the podcast Disease – Why is covid-19 plaguing us? Coronavirus can result in covid-19 disease. Let us consider disease origins. Do individual differences and  industrialisation play a role? And is disease indirectly anything to do with the ethical quality of humanity as a whole? Medical explanation … Continue reading Disease Origins

Disease – Why covid-19 podcast

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Listen to this episode   See the post Disease origins for a shorter version. We all know that natural things like viruses cause disease. Coronavirus results in symptoms of covid-19. However, it’s worth exploring whether there are extra reasons for why we suffer illness. So, I’ll be asking whether disease is due to … Continue reading Disease – Why covid-19 podcast

Reflecting on the pandemic podcast

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Listen to this episode   We are all living in uncertain times. I read somewhere that coronavirus could flare up again. Alternatively, it could burn out like a firework. Who knows? For many of us the lockdown means stress from being cooped up at home, worry about income, more frustration: not to mention … Continue reading Reflecting on the pandemic podcast