About Astra, Spiritual Writer & Creator

Astra's Story | Credentials

Astra is an accomplished writer, artist and speaker. They write about God, faith, and unconditional love through a trauma-informed lens, encompassing the practices of compassion, the purpose of suffering and the role of emotional intelligence.

Astra believes we live in a time where we need faith more than ever, yet ‘spirituality’ has been co-opted by capitalist ideals and made inaccessible through jargon, gatekeeping and conspicuous consumption. They believe God is freely available to anyone, at any time, and it is only by moving closer to our unique interpretations of God that we can discover peace, purpose and true success.

Through writing, art and speaking, Astra transmits their spiritual insight with clarity, gentleness and humour so you can begin to live a rich and contented life - no matter what pain or suffering you may have experienced before.

Astra's Story

Born Eleanor Snare, Astra (they/them) received their first spiritual experience in 2004 after being dragged to a Christian youth festival by a close friend. Raised with a disdain of organised religion and the idolisation of rationality and logic, Astra responded with fear to the sensations of divine presence that emerged during the worship, feeling so overwhelmed and confused they were compelled to leave the festival immediately.

It wouldn't be until more than a decade later that Astra was ready to receive their spiritual awakening, after grieving the death of their fervently Protestant grandmother and the breakdown of Astra's relationship, health and career. Sitting on Glastonbury Tor after participating in a heart-opening shamanic sound bath, Astra finally recognised that there was something beyond this material plane; something that had been calling them for a long, long time.

Over the following years, Astra stayed true to their cosmic blueprint, experimenting with spiritual practice in an attempt to develop a faith without dogma, which stood up to critical analysis, and which could hold the weight of their childhood neglect, sexual trauma, late-diagnosed neurodiversity, and periods of deep depression.

In doing so, Astra explored methods from Celtic and Ancient British spirituality, Hindu kirtan, Quaker silent worship, shamanic journeying, tropical astrology, divination with Tarot and the I Ching, Human Design, crystal healing, Christology and Bible studies, plant medicine, Law of Attraction, and ecstatic dance forms.

In 2024, after travelling in Europe, Astra spent time living in a Hare Krishna monastery, where they had a moving audience with Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Swami and a profoundly healing vision while practising japa. Following this, Astra became part of an intentional living community in rural Wales for six months, tending to the vegetable garden each day, raising chickens and caring for the community's children.

These grounded experiences were the final necessary pieces in Astra's expansive exploration of faith. With them came the realisation that the spiritual life is of most meaning when it is offered in service. Through divine communication, Astra was given their new name, and the unequivocal understanding that they are here to be a spiritual messenger; an author and creator with the single aim of bringing you closer to God, whatever or whoever you define that as.

Credentials

Workshop facilitator and consultant with Amazon, AXA, Bradford Producing Hub, NXT 45, Indeed, Lean In, Guild HE, EAUC Scotland, Pebble Magazine, multiple small businesses, women’s events and networking groups
Trauma-Informed Coach with Dr Susanna Petche’s Trauma-Sense
Neo-Tantra Practitioner with Academy of Modern Tantra
Sensual Embodiment® Facilitator
Foundation Level Nonviolent Communication
Diploma in Shadow Work
Diploma in Life Coaching
Diploma in Journal Therapy
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
10 years as a university lecturer in marketing & communications
Published researcher
Eight years as a copywriter and marketing consultant for clients including Marks and Spencer, BT, Unilever, TSB, Aviva, TalkTalk, ASDA and NatWest, plus SMEs like photographers, personal stylists, PR agencies, textile designers, fine artists, and graphic designers
MA Social History of Art
BA Design and Applied Arts