No Communion for Me, Thanks, I’m Having Tarot

EDITORIAL | ISSUE TWO | WAIRUATANGA / SPIRITUALITY

Written by Tashi Donnelly she/her | @tashi_rd | Editor

Haere mai, welcome to issue number two. Here we will celebrate the voices, experiences, and perspectives that make our community vibrant and diverse. That’s right, we’re covering Spirituality. The existence of the human spirit, or soul, is a hot topic of debate. While some atheists question the existence of the soul, theologians study its divine nature, and agnostics remain uncertain, embracing the mystery. Wherever you sit on the spectrum of belief, there is something here for you. But I have one humble request…

Keep your mind open to the possibility of something beyond our physical existence that matters. 

While I love science and the clarity it brings, there are realms it can’t fully explore. Realms of spirit, meaning, and mystery. As 19th-century biologist and anthropologist Thomas Huxley wisely noted, “the truth about ultimate realities is unknown and possibly unknowable”. In short, you can’t prove God exists. And you can’t prove He doesn’t. Sometimes we simply have to sit with the unknowable. Scary, I know. 

Now, to be clear, spirituality and religion may be deeply intertwined, but they aren’t the same thing. Spirituality is a personal, subjective experience of meaning, purpose, or connection to something greater than oneself. Religion, on the other hand, is a structured system of beliefs and practices shared by a community. As a neurodivergent, gender-questioning gay, I have gripes with religion and the way it's used. 

For myself, spirituality is something that exists whether we want to admit it or not. It exists in the quiet moments between loved ones eating kai around a table. It seeps into my I Ching coins and my tarot cards. It exists in the shaky leaves of trees and where the dappled sunlight turns the ground into luminous puddles. It manifests as goosebumps on my skin and fire in my bones. Inside every living being, there is something unknowable, something ethereal, something we can’t touch. It’s that ‘something’ that connects us all. 

In this issue, we explore spirituality in all its shapes: from the ways we try to invite luck and positivity into our lives, to the cosmic nudges and guidance of horoscopes; from the struggle of reconciling cultural and religious identities and loss of faith, to asking what it means to live authentically in traditions like Buddhism. We reach the strange and unseen, where ghosts remind us that the world can hold mysteries beyond what we can touch or measure. Each piece invites reflection, challenges assumptions, and celebrates the many ways people seek meaning.

P.S, I have to acknowledge that many religions have not been safe spaces for queer communities, or for anyone who doesn’t fit the mould. It is so often the case that the religious source material has been twisted to suit the wants and desires of those in power, and doesn’t truly reflect what the religion originally stood for. From exclusion to downright violence, the structures meant to guide and comfort can sometimes wound instead. Recognising this doesn’t dismiss spirituality; it just reminds us that belief and practice can be complicated, and that safety and acceptance should always come first. 

If you or someone you know is suffering from religious trauma, I suggest talking with trusted friends or whānau, and below are some services that may be able to help:

AUT Rainbow Student Support – Book through MyAUT / AUT app. Walk-ins available with possible wait times. 

Mental Health Foundation – free call/text 1737 any time to speak with a trained counsellor.

Women’s Refuge National Helpline – 0800 733 843

Lifeline Aotearoa – 24/7 emotional support by call or text (0800 543 354 / text HELP).