A Year of Gratitude: 25 Years Walking With Spirit

As this year gently draws to a close, I find myself pausing more often. Not rushing on to the next thing, not planning the next tour, workshop or commitment just yet, but allowing myself to truly reflect. To breathe. To take stock. And when I do, what comes forward more strongly than anything else is gratitude.

This year marks 25 years of working for spirit, and that feels both humbling and deeply emotional to write. A quarter of a century of listening, learning, trusting, questioning, growing, and continuing anyway. Twenty-five years of walking between both sides of life, holding space for those here and those who now work from the other side of life. It has never been a job to me — it has always been a calling, one that has shaped every part of who I am.

So this blog is simply a thank you. A heartfelt one.

Thank you to every person I have worked with this year — whether we met briefly or shared something far deeper. Thank you to those who came seeking comfort, clarity, reassurance, healing, or simply curiosity. Thank you to those who trusted me with their grief, their memories, their stories, their tears, and their hope. It is never lost on me how much courage it takes to sit in that space.

I also want to thank the spiritual churches across the country who invited me to serve their communities this year. Each invitation is an honour I never take lightly. Spiritual churches hold such a special place in my heart — they are spaces of service, continuity, and care. To be welcomed into them, to work alongside committees, volunteers, and congregations, and to stand in service for spirit within those walls is something I remain deeply grateful for.

I began this year quietly, with a sense that something had shifted. There was a knowing that this wouldn’t be a year of noise or proving — but a year of alignment. A year of truth. A year of returning to the heart of why I do this work in the first place. Spirit guided every step, as it always does, often gently, sometimes firmly, but always with purpose.

One of the powerful experiences this year was investigating the vaults in Edinburgh. Those moments were grounding, thought-provoking, and deeply humbling. Places like that remind me how layered energy can be, how history lingers, and how spirit meets us not only in light-filled rooms, but also in quiet, shadowed spaces. They reinforce why integrity, respect, and grounding are so essential in this work. We don’t sensationalise — we listen, we honour, and we hold space.

August also held a very special moment for me. Being invited to Flackstock on 08/08 was a true honour. To offer a workshop at such a meaningful event, dedicated to mental health awareness and support, felt incredibly important. Meeting Caroline’s family and witnessing the love, care, and purpose behind Flackstock reminded me how powerful community can be when it comes together with compassion at its core. It was a privilege to contribute, and a moment I will always hold with respect and gratitude.

The Love Never Dies tour was another deeply meaningful part of this year. That title carries such profound significance for me and for so many of you who attended. Each evening was a reminder that love continues, that communication continues, and that bonds are not broken by physical absence. I witnessed courage, vulnerability, healing, laughter, and moments of deep recognition. To everyone who came, thank you for trusting the process and allowing yourselves to feel.

TJ Higgs & Friends was another moment that sat very close to my heart this year. Community has always mattered deeply to me — not just bringing people together, but creating shared experiences where connection feels genuine, safe, and lasting. As a residential weekend, TJ Higgs & Friends offers something truly special: time. Time to slow down, to talk, to laugh, to reflect, and to really get to know one another beyond the surface.

Our motto, “enter as strangers, leave as friends,” is not just words — it is something I witness every single time. People arrive unsure, perhaps carrying nerves, life stories, and personal challenges. And then, over the course of the weekend, something shifts. Conversations deepen, walls soften, laughter becomes easier, and friendships are formed that often continue long after everyone returns home.

Sharing that space with trusted friends and colleagues, alongside participants who quickly feel like extended family, is something I never take for granted. There is something uniquely powerful about living, learning, eating, and growing together under one roof. Those weekends remind me why collaboration, kindness, and shared purpose sit at the very heart of everything I do.

As we look ahead to next year, which marks the 10th anniversary of TJ Higgs & Friends, I feel incredibly proud and deeply grateful. Ten years of connections, confidence building, tears shared, laughter late into the night, and people leaving changed in ways they didn’t expect. What began as an idea rooted in friendship has grown into something truly meaningful — without ever losing its heart.

This year also took me across the water to Seattle, in both March and November, working with students who continue to inspire me deeply. Teaching internationally is always humbling, but returning to Seattle and witnessing the growth, commitment, and openness of those students across the year was incredibly special. Watching confidence build, awareness deepen, and trust in spirit strengthen is one of the great joys of this work.

Another milestone this year was releasing my children’s books. That felt like opening an entirely new doorway. Writing for children — for curious minds and open hearts — carries such a gentle, hopeful energy. It felt important to create something that supports emotional awareness, kindness, imagination, and spirituality in a way that feels safe and accessible. Seeing those books out in the world has been a joy I will always treasure.

To my students, mentees, and workshop attendees — thank you for showing up for yourselves. Mediumship and spiritual development are not about perfection; they are about honesty, humility, and trust. Watching you grow in confidence, deepen your awareness, and find your own voice has been one of the greatest privileges of this year.

To the venues, organisers, crews, volunteers, and all those working quietly behind the scenes — thank you. This work never happens alone. It takes care, patience, humour, logistics, and teamwork. You are seen, valued, and deeply appreciated.

And to spirit — to those I have worked with on the other side of life — thank you. Thank you for your presence, your guidance, your love, and your consistency. Thank you for stepping forward when needed, for bringing comfort where there is pain, and for reminding us time and again that love never ends.

As Christmas approaches, I want to gently say this: however you celebrate, however this season looks for you, I wish you peace. Not forced joy. Not expectation. Just peace. Time to rest. Time to reflect. Time to be kind to yourself.

Christmas can be beautiful, but it can also be tender. It can hold memories, absence, and longing alongside warmth and tradition. So please — take care of yourself. Honour what you feel. Step back when you need to. Reach out when it feels right. And remember, you don’t have to do this season perfectly.

As I close this year celebrating 25 years of working for spirit, my heart is full. Full of gratitude. Full of respect for this work. Full of love for the people — on both sides of life — who continue to walk alongside me.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Thank you for trusting me.

Thank you for sharing your lives, your stories, and your love.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas, however you celebrate it.

May the coming year bring you gentleness, clarity, and moments of quiet magic.

With love and gratitude,

TJ Higgs 🩷