Waiting

 As a culture we're not conditioned to be particularly good at waiting. Our technology and busyness makes us want to get everything immediately or preferably sooner! Whilst the technology can often provide this there are other areas of our life where waiting is essential. Waiting through pregnancy for a child to develop before giving birth for example. Waiting for the plants to develop and the harvest to come is another.

And so it is, I feel for our healing and development. When the time is right we're brought the opportunities we need for our healing and unfolding and no amount of doing or fretting about the delay is likely to make any difference . . . hard as that is to accept on occasions!

Freedom

We all have a dream of freedom, of being liberated from all those ties that bind us and our obligations in life. Yet maybe it's not those external constraints that bind us only but also the limitations in our own minds of who we are and who we could be in our lives. We've all been told that we're less than who we truly are and we've bought into that to a large extent. Our western culture has conditioned us to look at ourselves and each other in specific ways which are not necessarily for our greatest good.

So at some point in our lives, a journey of exploration has to start into who we really are, all the bits about us that we like and also those parts which we feel we need to keep hidden from ourselves and others. And often it is a painful process but it can also be extremely empowering as we step forward into more of our true and authentic self . . .and start to become liberated . ..

Showing Up

Strongly related to the idea of commitment is that of showing up for something that is important to us whether this is in a relationship, a cause or a project. When we're feeling good with our life, happy and confident this is easy. But it is less so when aspects of our life are not so good. And yet, by showing up regardless of our own particular problems and issues for what we believe in shows a dedication that goes beyond our own personal egos.

Taking Time Off

Sometimes we get so involved in our routines and to do lists that we can forget to give ourselves some time off to relax and recharge our batteries. Yet this is also a vital part of living - it allows us to come back to our lives with a different perspective and renewed energy and inspiration.

Self-Care

It's very easy, in our modern busy world, for us to be so focused on what needs to be done for others that we can leave ourselves out of the equation. Yet without appropriate care for ourselves, what use are we to others, when we're tired, depleted and unable to give from our most inspired self?

Resistance

As we move forward in our lives, it's quite natural for resistance to show up. All the doubts about our abilities can come to the fore as well as a fear of failure. We've been hard-wired in our brains to fear the unexpected and frightening - often in our primitive past, it came with sharp teeth and claws - and part of our brain is still trying to keep us safe, protecting us from danger. It probably always will.

But if we're to live more fully and joyfully we often need to face up to that resistance, be aware of it but not let it take the driver's seat in our lives. Part of the joy of living is expanding our own understanding and knowledge of ourselves and this can only be done through taking risks and stepping beyond our comfort zone. So if resistance and fear are present in our lives it's important that they're only passengers of whom we are aware but who don't dictate the route we take!

Clarity

Perhaps one of the most important ways of moving forward is to become clear not only with what our situation is at the moment but where our heart is leading us to go. Without clarity and acceptance of where we are and what our next step will be, we can waste a lot of time stumbling around getting lost in our lives. Once we can become clear what our next step will be then we can start to move forward . .

Finding Meaning

Most of us want our lives to have meaning. We often interpret events after they happen in a way which turns them into a story, which in turn brings more meaning into our lives. We create a whole story about our lives and the meaning that it has for us. And then having created that story we believe it. In fact often we believe it so much that it becomes a core part of ourselves. And this story could be based on what happened years ago, in the past. But because we have this story, this belief about ourselves and others, it not only limits us but also our relationships with others. And then we wonder why we feel stuck . . .

The joy of being able to live in the present moment is that we don't have to believe the old story that we've told ourselves for years. There is the opportunity to create anew . . .

Energy work/fun

Everything in our universe is made of energy, including us even though we feel so solid at times. But what I've become aware of recently is the way that the energy dances within me and between me and others in our relationships. It's a never-ending flow, sometimes with different flavours and nuances, changing from moment to moment. Gradually, while I attune to this different way of sensing the world  in this way, what I'm learning about it is to honour all of it in each moment - and enjoy the ride!

Time

This seems to be one of the most complex issues in our everyday life. There never seems to be any time for many of us to do the things that we want to do. We rush everywhere, doing our best to manage our time schedules and our to-do list. We watch our years pass by and as we get older we wonder where all the time went  . . .

Perhaps all this stress about time is mainly about priorities and getting them in the right order. Why do we have to do all those things that we've been told to do? What is really important to us? What brings us joy and fulfillment? Perhaps if we scheduled our time in that kind of order we might find that more sense, meaning and enjoyment would come into our lives.

Awakening

According to many spiritual sources the period from now until 28 September marks a time of immense awakening for every being on this planet, an occurrence which only takes place around every 36,000 years. So I feel that this period marks a great time for reflection in terms of what we would dream possible not only for humanity and it's evolution but also for the care and connection to all beings on the planet.

Music

There is such a strong emergent property when we learn and perform music together, whether in a band, choir or orchestra. So much detail, technique, beauty and harmony can be produced when we all decide to co-operate on a project rather than compete! Collectively we can produce so much more in a group process than we can as individuals which makes the result truly magical!

Stillness

Every possibility comes from stillness. From that small quiet place within us away from the thoughts and concerns of everyday life. A place of refuge and ultimately strength. When we can come to stillness within ourselves we can then sense where the next step is.

Emotional Support

Have you noticed that often when you feel the most alone and unsupported in your life, beautiful, kind and generous friends will come forward to support you in ways that are more amazing than you could have ever imagined?

I feel so blessed and supported by my wonderful friends today and have deep appreciation and gratitude for them!

Risk-Taking

The comfortable and familiar often feels so safe! And then it's harder to decide to take risks. So a certain amount of trepidation is not unexpected when we move away from our comfort zone by deciding to take a risk on something new or different in our lives. Yet at the same time I find that remaining in that comfort zone for too long makes me feel restless as if some part of me is urging me to move forward. So I do feel that risk-taking is absolutely vital in so many aspects of our lives (although probably not a good idea to do too many at once) as that helps us to redefine ourselves and grow into more of who we are as a spiritual being living in a human body.

Patience

Not personally one of my strong suits but I'm aware of what an important ingredient it is to our growth and development. Patience is such an important quality to develop, particularly in our overly busy world where everyone wants everything yesterday.

But we see patience in nature. Patience and working with the seasons. Just like trees, we need to take time to grow tall, to develop into more of who we truly are, feeling into our own personal changes and seasons. All of this takes time - and a gradual unfolding!

Courage

Often, to go forward in our lives requires immense courage, courage to have faith in ourselves, courage to take the next steps and often courage to persevere when everything seems difficult or we have no energy or vision.

And sometimes we need others to help us to see that courage in ourselves and to inspire and encourage us to take the next step . . . What a joyful sense of purpose it could be as we all empower each other to take the next step!

Quiet Reflection

After a busy week, it's time for a day of quiet reflection, allowing the stillness and the deep sense of presence that is at the core of all of us.

Joy

Being aware of a deep joy in nature as I take a walk on a beautiful September afternoon in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. What a rich, profound and wonderful experience to share! Feeling the depth of that joy and a deep connection as I sit and write this post. I feel deeply blessed for this experience!

Integrity

My mind and heart have been considering the whole issue of integrity quite a bit recently. We all have our ideals for who we want to be in this life and at the same time we still have to survive on this planet. This, for me, is where integrity comes in. Can I be who I truly am while also surviving in a world which is all about power and money? Is it possible for me or indeed all of us to be true to ourselves in a profound and heartfelt way while still having a reasonable standard of living? And maybe one of the hardest questions of all is: would I compromise some part of my integrity to survive? I truly don't know the answer to this and hope that this question will ever be put to the test!

Abundance

Our beliefs about resources on this planet and how they're managed have a very practical effect on how we live our lives. Our belief that we have to live in competition with each other means that as one person wins in the competition, another one loses. Our culture loves winners - not so much losers!

Yet how much more meaningful and pragmatic it would be to decide to co-operate in the way we share our resources so that there's no tiny minority who own so much while so many others go without. I truly believe that we have the ability to share the resources and abundance of this planet equally if we all have the will and courage to do so!

Individuality

We are all individuals with our own unique gifts and perspectives on life - yet in a mass-market consumer-oriented world it can feel like we need to fit into a mould to live our lives. We can look to others for our inspiration and guidance and even be willing to give some of our power away to outside authorities because they apparently 'know' more than we do. And so a tension can be created between what we feel is true for ourselves as opposed to what consensus reality says. And this is a difficult place to live.

Yet we are  individuals with our own intuition and knowing which is there to serve us, tailored for us. So the skill here is to be able to tune in to that intuition and guidance, to follow that to the best of our ability. And this takes courage and integrity often in the face of the conditioning we've received in our lives and in our culture. Yet how else are we to deliver the unique gifts that we possess to a complex and ever-changing world - gifts and perspectives that maybe only we possess?

Autumn

I'm aware of the shifting emotions as the seasons change and we move into autumn. The days are drawing in (in the northern hemisphere) but yet at the same time there's also a feeling of a dance that has started and is moving forward into this second part of the year, something directed and yet also lyrical!

Dedication

Often in our lives, to make a difference, we need to dedicate time and effort into seeing what is working for us and what is not. But dedication often means more than this, for instance leaving behind those distractions which keep us from moving forward whilst putting more commitment into situations and activities that will support and inspire us in our progress; as well as sensing into what else is possible beyond our limiting beliefs -  and having the faith to go for it while trusting the Universe to provide us with the opportunities to evolve!

Gratitude

As I sit at my desk on this beautiful September morning, I feel such immense gratitude for all the blessings in my life, for the beauty of the area where I live, for my wonderful friends and for the amazing opportunities that are opening for me right now.

And I feel very blessed!

Beliefs

What we believe in our lives has a profound effect on our thoughts and behaviour. But how often have we just absorbed these without checking them for whether they really serve us or if, instead, they're part of the conditioning we received from our family and society as we grow up? What beliefs do we need now to help us to become more authentically who we are?

Future Possibilites

As I write this late at night, I'm struck by what a kaleidoscope our world is with different images and realities competing for our attention. We have been taught to see our consensus reality in a particular manner which often limits what else could be. We expect our future to be similar to the past but as I look on the changes that I've been through this year I'm aware that more has occurred than I could have ever expected and I've changed considerably in how I see both the world and myself. So what else is possible now?

Generosity of Spirit

Sometimes I'm inspired by the simple actions and generosity of spirit or so-called 'ordinary' people, who reach out from their hearts to help others who are in need whether these are fellow humans or animals or nature!

Seasons

I'm very aware of the change of the seasons this year and the inner reflection of the outer reality. Being open to every part of myself and what's waiting to emerge, how I'm going to step forward, what is opening up for me in this second half of the year.