What Heaven Means to Me
by Just Ben When I think about Heaven, I don’t see it as some distant realm we escape to after death, but as something deeply interwoven with life itself. For me, Heaven is not only a destination but a reality that begins here and now—whenever we open ourselves fully to God’s presence, love, and truth. […]
The natural world is enough
By Jordon Horn When faced with the task to describe heaven – my brain instinctively goes straight back to the psalms, the hymns, and the many masses I experienced in all those cold draughty hours spent in the various churches I attended in my childhood. All those hours of not fully paying attention, each hour […]
Notes on the afterlife
By Star Zahra The afterlife is a topic that hangs over our heads, heavy with speculation and controversy. But really, it is an extension of our fears. We desperately want to believe that there is meaning to our lives. Transition is an essential element of human nature, everything always leads to another stage. From pregnancy, […]
“Will it go to God?” asks poet Star Zahra
By Star Zahra The closest I ever felt to heaven as a child was wandering through the shrubs for hours, chasing butterflies, grasshoppers and the shy touch-me-not flowers. Those flowers fascinated me most. They were probably my first window into questions about nature and its ways. How could such a small, delicate plant react to […]
Heavenly: a short story by author Brian Beard
HEAVENLY By Brian Beard `Different strokes for different folks` might well be a universal take on what `Heaven` means to people. A sweetshop, wherein to help yourself, might be heaven for a child, mountains of cash might be an adult`s take on what it means to be in heaven. In between there would be myriad […]
Your First Christmas in Heaven
by Amanda Nicholson If there’s a heaven Tailor made to each of us You’ll be in yours Winding all the angels up With just one more Christmas decoration A light up Santa, or an inflatable snowman Until your house up there Begins to look like Lapland In your own personal heaven You’ll never leave the […]
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL: A walking tour around Newcastle upon Tyne
By Erica Crompton Newcastle’s walking tours, hosted by knowledgeable volunteers, are a superb way to take in a city before really digging into it. Our tour guide on this drizzly morning is Laurence, a sprightly figure full of energy and facts about Newcastle. We begin atop the city centre streets, at the Earl Grey monument, […]
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL: THE TOON
By Paul Nicholls Our visit to Newcastle upon Tyne was nothing short of celestial: a city that blends history, hospitality, and hearty indulgence with ease. Accessibility was seamless throughout, making it a joy to explore without barriers in my electric power chair. We checked into the Maldron Hotel, where the rooms were impressively spacious and […]
Welcome to summer Hopezine 2025
Editor’s letter Summer is here and with it comes the latest edition of Hopezine. For this special edition, writers have come together from Nigeria to Brunei to make their dreams come true – quite literally! We’ve written up our dreams to share with you and to see them in 3D. A new edition to our […]
The Subconscious
By Star Zahra A few years ago, I had surgery. The details are traumatic, and the wounds linger—not just on my body but deep within my heart. I remember the cold, sterile room: a bed in the centre, tools neatly arranged on a tray. The dream opened to a big garden. They were many happy […]