Iona Jenkins is a writer and poet with an MA in Education (Guidance and Counseling) from Brunel University, professional diplomas in Person-Centered Counseling (Metanoia Institute, London), Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (Institute of Clinical Hypnosis, London). Iona began working life as a French teacher in her home county of Yorkshire. Working in London several years on, she mentored trainee and newly qualified teachers in the modern languages department of her school, whilst attending evening lectures and seminars to complete an MA. Enthusiasm for mentoring and the therapeutic content of the degree course inspired Iona to retrain at weekends as a counselor/psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist. Employed part-time, with clients in multi-ethnic settings, she was able to freelance as a counseling skills trainer, in addition to developing a private practice, which included employee assistance programs and hypnotherapy. She achieved B.A.C.P. accreditation, which she held until 2013. A major life change involving a house move with her Welsh husband from London to the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales brought Iona opportunities to slow the pace and enjoy a more relaxed, creative life. This is when Iona’s long held dream of sharing a vision of beauty, harmony, peace and wisdom through creative mystical writing blessed into reality with a competition win for her first self-published collection of poetry and reflections followed by a piece of descriptive prose showcased in Kindred Spirit magazine and poems published in various issues of Touchstone. Iona’s passionate interest in spiritual growth spanning many years has inspired an exploration of Eastern and Western spiritual philosophies and practices, the idea of a language of angels as a stream of inspiration, creative wisdom, and beauty flowing through everything, the energy of sacred sites at home and abroad, and labyrinth walking. Practicing meditation with Tibetan Buddhists in London, then mindfulness with Samye Ling Wales and the Mindfulness Association, Iona was finally able to see her own spiritual home with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and the Companions of Chalice Well. Exploring growth and change through her creativity, Iona’s path of art and soul is inspired by angels, wisdom, nature, land, legend, and living by the ocean on the south coast of magical Wales. www.ionajenkins.com