Intuition

Intuition is something that I'm learning to listen to much more in my life as I mature. The number of times in the past I've had an intuition about something, but have ignored it because it's not logical and then found subsequently that this inner guidance was correct, are numerous. I've also found that there is a lot of wisdom in intuition but that discernment is also necessary in order to be clear about what I'm feeling/ hearing!

Curiosity

What a blessing a natural sense of curiosity can bring to our lives. It not only keeps us alert in our everyday awareness but also adds that little bit of  'spice' to our lives. It brings the 'why?' into how we live our lives and connect with others in a deep and meaningful way as well as a depth into an understanding of our relationships.

Resilience

Life is often something of a roller coaster with it's ups and downs. It's easy to feel happy when things are going well but often it's much harder to bring that sense of happiness and motivation when circumstances are not working out in the way that we feel they should.

This is why it's so important to develop resilience, the ability to bounce back after the more challenging experiences in our lives. Nothing is for ever and recognizing this is important as well as the ability to be present to what is happening now and accept it for what it is while still following our joy and passion.

Playfulness

There is often a joy of surrender in playfulness which can be quite joyous. When we're willing to let go of our self-image and conditioning it can be delicious to engage in the spontaneity of the moment, of innocence, aliveness and what's occurring in the moment with wholehearted attention.

Stepping into the Future

We aren't the same person as we were as children or even young adults. Everyday we change - in fact our lives are an ongoing process of change if we can let go of our self-image and who we feel that we need to be in our roles and relationships. It is very easy for us to believe that we are the masks that we wear in our daily lives but if we wish to find liberation and meaning we have to step into our future as our larger and more authentic selves and this means letting go of our masks and everyday identities.

Comfort Zone

Often it's easier for us to operate from a place where we feel secure and where everything feels familiar and safe. But perhaps the greater challenge is to be prepared to take risks, to step into possibilities and opportunities that don't feel so safe but where the potential for growth is greater. We learn when we're taking risks as to what we really are able to achieve and that can often be extremely motivating, inspiring us to achieve more and more at a higher level.

Perseverence

Perhaps you all know the saying 'if you don't first succeed, try, try, try and try again'. My mother used to say that to me when I was a small child but it is only as I reach my more mature years that I appreciate the saying more fully. In all our projects there first comes inspiration but often that's not enough to see it all through. And often after we've started something, Life comes along and alters or derails some of the particulars. It's easy to give up then and think that the original project is not reliable but suppose that all is needed is a little tweak? So this is where not only perseverance but appreciation of the feedback Life gives us is so important. To be able to look at what is showing up for me in my life right now - is it what I imagined or created? If not, what is possible in the face of it? Perhaps if I can see it, it can prove to be more wonderful, creative and inspiring than I first envisioned.

Creativity

There's often a challenge initially when we start our creative projects - something intimidating about the blank page or canvas or deciding perhaps what to play musically, unscripted. For me, to be able to create anything, I have to ignore my inner critic and sense into what I feel 'called' to do, however good or bad it might be and then let go and let what wants to emerge to do so, staying in the innocence and wonder of Beginner's Mind. Often what emerges, is quite surprising and unpredictable!

Celebrating the Sacred

In times gone by, if we are to believe what we have been told, there was a celebration of the sacred in all life. This is still found in many non-western traditions and within indigenous tribes. Somehow, in our rush through  the Age of Reason and all that followed,
 including the industrial and scientific revolution, we left this sense of the sacred behind us often believing only what we can sense with our five senses and nothing more.

Yet there is a sweet sacredness which underlies it all if we're only willing to sense into that part of ourselves and our connection with the Divine which connects us all inextricably. What better time than now to feel into and build again this sense of the sacred.

Nature

Nature is my inspiration and source of great healing. I'm so lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world but even when I lived in London, my heart yearned for the open spaces, of parks and woodland, hearing and seeing the wildlife around me.

Now I live in Cornwall about 1 mile from the sea and not overly abundant with trees but beautiful in its wild beauty on the cliffs and moors. Every time I go out and see how the sea reflects the light, sunshine and clouds, feel the different nuances of the seasons and the change in the life around me, I return home renewed and so so  grateful for this blessing of this beautiful place.

Dancing

Navigating our daily lives can be a little like dancing. Often we can feel out of step in our relationships with other people and often in our conversations we can metaphorically wrong-foot ourselves. But when we are resonant with other people in our lives, it can be a beautiful and inspiring dance that we weave together.

Evolving Consciousness

There is more and more information becoming available about how the next great step in our evolutionary history is to evolve our consciousness. We've evolved physically through so many stages and with each one our consciousness also expands and evolves. Now it is time to evolve from the fear-based primitive or lizard brain to a stronger sense of oneness - to be able to operate from the basis of love and not from fear. And as we evolve, we reach out to each other to support the many changes that are taking place both internally and externally in consensus reality. This support is so necessary for each of us as the road ahead is uncharted territory so we are truly going where no man/woman has gone before! I feel that it is no coincidence that it has never been easier for us to be able to meet up in groups, either locally or often online to find those with whom we resonate and in order to support each other, than it is now.

We are definitely living in interesting times!

Collaboration

If we're willing to let go of the part of us which is competitive and choose again how we wish to relate in society in a co-operative manner, the next stage that happens is collaboration. This where two or more people choose to work together on a project that excites them both. This can also bring up interesting challenges and opportunities. Often we need to leave our ego at the door and take on a wider perspective, one which encompasses a sense of what is good for the project and those who're working on it whilst not excluding our own needs but not making them more dominant than those of others. Also, sooner or later the subject of an agenda can come up and once again it's also a great idea to become aware of our own secret agendas and where they might come into conflict with what is required in the project. We have to be aware of our own needs, agendas and ego and, whilst accepting all of that within us, remaining balanced so that what can result will be something which can benefit the group as a whole - sometimes known as enlightened self-interest! All of life is a work in process!

Co-operation

How much of our lives are based on the fear of loss and that there is not enough in the world? How does this sense of scarcity manifest in our lives and how we relate to other people? We have been made to believe through our conditioning that the only way we can become a success in our lives is by competing with others,  And we can see how this is working out in western society with huge corporations who feel that their profit line is more important than either the environment or the health of people and society. This is where the doctrine of scarcity and competition has led us - with a huge difference between the rich and poor within each nations and also between nations. Is it ethically right that 1 per cent of the population should profit at the expense of the remaining 99 per cent? This is increasingly what we need to ask ourselves as both economic and planetary resources are being utilized.

Then there is the possibility of co-operation between us. This is often the way that indigenous people live, where all resources are shared equally between all members of the tribe and everyone is taken care of. Isn't this what our hearts truly long for? To be part of a community where we feel a sense of belonging, of safety and of being home? This is certainly what I seek for myself in this world and would wish to help to build with others. What about you?

Inspiration

On the one hand we have the media and politicians telling us what we should think and do. But more and more I see that their reality is not mine. I don't want to live in the world that they are so eager to preserve where there is greed, corruption and meanness of spirit, where the power of money and influence rule.

Then I see another side of humanity, people who gather in groups to meditate together, to share connection and empowerment together, who care about our planet and our humanity. These are people who are willing to get together to change things, maybe on a small scale, but with their hearts and minds as they know that the story we're being sold by the media, politics and big business is not the whole truth but a small distorted part of it, which only serves those people in power.

And I'm inspired by these people who are committed to change our reality for the better, who campaign for fairness, equality, kindness and generosity of spirit. These are the people who I want to share my dreams and reality with, to believe, that small groups of people can change the world and help us to evolve to a new potential. I'm inspired by the courage and willingness of so many groups around the world who at grass root level are willing to stand up and be counted and to say 'this is enough - there is another better way for us to evolve as humanity and in harmony with the Earth!'

Acceptance

As I feel in to the 'weather' of my internal moods, the ups and downs of it, I can choose either to criticise the unacceptable parts of myself and make myself 'bad' or I can choose to come into full acceptance of who I am, warts and all!

Living from a place of Love

What would it be like to live from a place of love, to make decisions from love and not fear. For so much of our lives and evolution we've needed to survive and live from the emotional place of fear and this had been hard-wired into us.

But now it's time for us to really consider where we choose to live from in all parts of our lives, love or fear

Contentment

After a beautiful walk on the moors, connecting with nature at the deepest level, feeling revitalised and alive!

Vulnerability

I notice, as I step back a little from my everyday busyness, that I have a feeling of being less structured in my life, feeling more freedom but also less certainty and more vulnerability. It's interesting to track the emotions and judgments that come up as I explore this part of my life and what else could be possible in my life.

I can't remember where I saw this mural and photographed it but would like to honour the talent of the artist who created it!

Feeling stuck

Today, I felt stuck about what to write about my day. Initially, I pushed that feeling away and it didn't help. It was in accepting that it was there and by being OK with it that I was able to acknowledge my feelings and have a topic to post!