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When Joan Walton wast just 16 years old, she walked out of church confirmation classes, upon learning the ceremony meant that she believed every single word in the Bible to be true. This started a lifelong, experiential, journey for Joan that set her on a path to discover universal spiritual truths for herself. From discovering the works and practices of Carl Jung, to the sudden and tragic death of her loving husband, to becoming the chair of the board for the Scientific and Medical Network, Joan has an incredible and inspiring story to share with all of us, and she makes it clear that the story is indeed where true awakening lies. Her message? She’s not here to debate the theory of consciousness. She’s here to make change.
Joan’s Bio: Joan is an Honorary Research Fellow with the Alef Trust. She is also a Principal Research Supervisor on the PhD Applied Transpersonal Psychology programme, and a research mentor for the Conscious Community Initiative. Joan gained her PhD from the University of Bath. Her thesis tells the story of her spiritual journey and draws on the social sciences, philosophy, depth and transpersonal psychology, eastern and western religions, quantum physics, and a science of consciousness. Her first degree was in the social sciences, and her Masters in Race & Education. She is also a professionally qualified social worker. Following a career in social work and education, Joan moved into the academic world. She is now in the School of Education, Language and Psychology at York St John University (YSJ), where she teaches and supervises postgraduate researchers registered for a PhD or a professional doctorate.
Joan has an interest in, and teaches, Research Methodologies, especially those that challenge the separation inherent in positivist paradigms. She has a particular interest in participative dialogue, co-operative inquiry, and other forms of integrating theory and action. She co-leads the cross-university research group Participatory Enquiry, Action Research & Democratic Methodologies in the Institute for Social Justice at YSJ. Joan is a member of the Board of Directors of the Scientific and Medical Network, a member of the Galileo Commission Steering Group, and is the Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Network for the Study of Spirituality.
Natalie’s Links:
Solas - 1:1 Mystical Self-Discovery Program
Tales from the Truth Seekers Podcast
available on Spotify, Apple, & Substack
Joan’s Links:
Key publications
Walton, J., & Darkes-Sutcliffe, J. (2023). Re-imagining education: Cultivating a Triangle of Trust and Relational Pedagogy within a Participatory Paradigm. Education 3-13: International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2023.2186978
Walton, J. (2021). Social justice and action research: can we collaboratively create a new social movement with social justice at the centre? Educational Action Research, 29(4), 510-525. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650792.2021.1939083
Walton, J. (2018) The significance of consciousness studies and quantum physics for creating a spiritual research paradigm. Journal for the Study of Spirituality, 7(1), 21-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/20440243.2017.1290029
Walton, J. (2014) What can the ‘Transpersonal’ Contribute to Transformative Research? International Journal for Transformative Research, 1(1), 25-44. https://doi.org/10.2478/ijtr-2014-0002
Books mentioned:
Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung
An Experiment in Depth: A Study of the Work of Jung, Eliot, and Toynbee by P.W. Martin
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield