Welcome and entertain the lows as much as the highs
It has been some time since I have written here. Some of you may already know that I have come down with a bout of glandular fever again. Basically I have 'burnt' myself out from all the teaching and energy work I have been doing since I returned to Guernsey in August 2009.
Apparently it is not unusual when you work within the healing world to give a little too much of yourself and to reach this point where your own energy reserves become very low and the adrenal glands are under a huge amount of stress. Needless to say this throws the balance of the whole endocrine system and hence the glands play up again and you feel as if you have no energy.
It is not ideal, obviously, it has been some time since I have been ill and while the mind still wants to be active, the body says otherwise. The body is of course the source of all wisdom...and sometimes it has to take drastic action to get our attention.
Of course this whole process has had an effect on my mood so that I have been up and down, one minute hyper and the other quite depressed. I am familiar with the depression, I used to suffer with this many years ago and this is what led me to Yoga and indeed Reiki in the first place. For me, and for others maybe (I can only talk from my own experience), I believe that depression arises when my soul is unable to express itself, like a yearning, and I feel that the world has closed in and with this comes the darkness and the despair...it is a wake up call that things have to change.
One of my friends set me this wonderful poem by Rumi (see below), which talks a little about this - in terms of welcoming the depression, like any other state, for often it has come to show you a new and potentially more joyous way of being...he is inspired, truly.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-- Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks
I 'get' this poem, for me time is now slowing down and I am starting to once again "smell the roses" as change happens seemingly naturally.
Ewan and I have a kestrel nesting in the quarry at the back of the garden and we are learning a lot from watching him...so graceful and agile, intuitive and patient, waiting for just the right moment...I am also finding the time to help Ewan in the garden, gentle of course, but ever so healing. We have been swimming in the sea too, very cleansing and grounding, and he is teaching me the names of the trees and flowers, which are so abundant at the moment - I am delighted to see that the honey suckle is making an appearance again. I am also able to chat and laugh with my friends and my family again, something I have not had the time to do for months. So you see, everything happens for a reason.
I am completely indebted to Ross and Star for covering my Yoga classes for me - I know as you may know that there is no such thing as a coincidence, and them being here right now was clearly meant to be. I am also indebted to Sheila and Hayley for taking on a lot of my private work, Yoga and Reiki.
And I am thankful to everyone else, the many earthly angels out there, who have helped and continue to help, and for the Divine, the angels, the Mother Goddess and the incredible workings and mystery of this Universe.
xxx
Apparently it is not unusual when you work within the healing world to give a little too much of yourself and to reach this point where your own energy reserves become very low and the adrenal glands are under a huge amount of stress. Needless to say this throws the balance of the whole endocrine system and hence the glands play up again and you feel as if you have no energy.
It is not ideal, obviously, it has been some time since I have been ill and while the mind still wants to be active, the body says otherwise. The body is of course the source of all wisdom...and sometimes it has to take drastic action to get our attention.
Of course this whole process has had an effect on my mood so that I have been up and down, one minute hyper and the other quite depressed. I am familiar with the depression, I used to suffer with this many years ago and this is what led me to Yoga and indeed Reiki in the first place. For me, and for others maybe (I can only talk from my own experience), I believe that depression arises when my soul is unable to express itself, like a yearning, and I feel that the world has closed in and with this comes the darkness and the despair...it is a wake up call that things have to change.
One of my friends set me this wonderful poem by Rumi (see below), which talks a little about this - in terms of welcoming the depression, like any other state, for often it has come to show you a new and potentially more joyous way of being...he is inspired, truly.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-- Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks
I 'get' this poem, for me time is now slowing down and I am starting to once again "smell the roses" as change happens seemingly naturally.
Ewan and I have a kestrel nesting in the quarry at the back of the garden and we are learning a lot from watching him...so graceful and agile, intuitive and patient, waiting for just the right moment...I am also finding the time to help Ewan in the garden, gentle of course, but ever so healing. We have been swimming in the sea too, very cleansing and grounding, and he is teaching me the names of the trees and flowers, which are so abundant at the moment - I am delighted to see that the honey suckle is making an appearance again. I am also able to chat and laugh with my friends and my family again, something I have not had the time to do for months. So you see, everything happens for a reason.
I am completely indebted to Ross and Star for covering my Yoga classes for me - I know as you may know that there is no such thing as a coincidence, and them being here right now was clearly meant to be. I am also indebted to Sheila and Hayley for taking on a lot of my private work, Yoga and Reiki.
And I am thankful to everyone else, the many earthly angels out there, who have helped and continue to help, and for the Divine, the angels, the Mother Goddess and the incredible workings and mystery of this Universe.
xxx
Dancing fun
' Life is movement. The more life there is, the more flexibility there is.
The more fluid you are, the more you are alive. '
~ Arnaud Desjardins
We went dancing last night, it was so much fun, the body loves to move and the spirit loves to express itself through movement.
Thank you girls, great start to the weekend.
x
The more fluid you are, the more you are alive. '
~ Arnaud Desjardins
We went dancing last night, it was so much fun, the body loves to move and the spirit loves to express itself through movement.
Thank you girls, great start to the weekend.
x
An insight into farm living and the kestrel
We have just had a fantastic time in France with Tessa, Carl, Evie, Ollie and a plethora of animals on their farm in Normandy.
I absolutely love it, the 'back to basics, back to land, opt out of the norm', approach to life, spending time in nature, on the land, from the land and in touch with the land. Sometimes nothing else matters. Food, clothing and shelter. Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
We walked lots, we talked lots, we drank wine and had those lovely late night deep and meaningful about life, we laughed lots (those children are so funny), we visited this fabulous Cathedral in a neighbouring town and wandered around a school fete, we ate some lovely food, we helped out on the farm and we even found a kestrel with a broken wing and intervened, a combination of Reiki, fresh steak, bandages and some advice from the local bird sanctuary...I'm praying he will be okay, he is so beautiful, I am honoured to have gotten so close to the little thing.
I learned lots about running a farm, about the animals, about the challenges and joys of subsistence living, about the personalities of the animals, about sitting and watching and simply being, about living one's dream and being open to the obstacles and trusting in the Universe - faith and hope are up there again.
I also learned lots about the Second World War, not only was it Liberation weekend but of course Normandy has quite a history for some pretty fierce fighting...Carl and Tessa still find bits of tank and bullet cases on their farm, and there are some pretty eery areas where lots of men lost their lives.
The thoughts of war aside, the weekend was simply fab, the healing power of nature is quite incredible.
Thank you the Masons.
xxx
Just start
I have become acutely aware the last few days how our sense of well being and health can be seriously challenged by the stressful and frantically busy lives we lead so that we can often lose sight of what makes us tick and leaves us with that feeling of wholeness, lightness and inner fulfillment.
You see optimum well being is not simply about a looking after your body (although this is fairly important) and breathing and eating properly but also about where you live, having caring relationships, finding fulfilment in our work and everyday activities, spending time relaxing and having fun, having an opportunity for creative expression and having a sense of purpose.
So that is a good reminder for me. Just as well, therefore, that the moon is waning for the next 8 days or so creating a chance to reassess what is going well and not so well in life. This is therefore an ideal time to weed out things that are not helping and resolve minor problems and issues before the new moon on May 14th.
Personally, while I may have tried really hard to battle with it, there is no denying the fact that I am still not expressing myself creatively. If the left side of your body has problems, little aches and pains then maybe this is the same for you too - the body is incredible at trying to talk to us, if only we listen. So I am - in this blog - making a commitment to myself to do the one thing I love to do but rarely give myself the time to do(is that fear perhaps?) and get writing.
Crazy isn't it, but there are so many things in life, new experiences and opportunities, that we turn down, or resist, or are blinded to from the start, simply through fear of change or because we don't believe or have faith in ourselves and the support of the Universe, or because we want some certainty that it will all turn out good in the end.
I heard myself in class last night, talking about life being about the journey and not the destination. And I realised that I get as caught up in the destination as anyone else and forget to enjoy the journey in the process. Or forget to take the risks to make the journey more exciting and fulfilling. No need to berate the self however, I am as human as the next - please don't think that us Yoga teachers and holistic practitioners have figured it all out yet!
I am reminded of that quote from Goethe, "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it".
Hmm, so there we go, if there is something you want to do, or dream you can do, then start, just start. No more excuses and no more running around in circles avoiding our own truth. I'll let you know how it goes. Enjoy the moon cycle!
xxx
You see optimum well being is not simply about a looking after your body (although this is fairly important) and breathing and eating properly but also about where you live, having caring relationships, finding fulfilment in our work and everyday activities, spending time relaxing and having fun, having an opportunity for creative expression and having a sense of purpose.
So that is a good reminder for me. Just as well, therefore, that the moon is waning for the next 8 days or so creating a chance to reassess what is going well and not so well in life. This is therefore an ideal time to weed out things that are not helping and resolve minor problems and issues before the new moon on May 14th.
Personally, while I may have tried really hard to battle with it, there is no denying the fact that I am still not expressing myself creatively. If the left side of your body has problems, little aches and pains then maybe this is the same for you too - the body is incredible at trying to talk to us, if only we listen. So I am - in this blog - making a commitment to myself to do the one thing I love to do but rarely give myself the time to do(is that fear perhaps?) and get writing.
Crazy isn't it, but there are so many things in life, new experiences and opportunities, that we turn down, or resist, or are blinded to from the start, simply through fear of change or because we don't believe or have faith in ourselves and the support of the Universe, or because we want some certainty that it will all turn out good in the end.
I heard myself in class last night, talking about life being about the journey and not the destination. And I realised that I get as caught up in the destination as anyone else and forget to enjoy the journey in the process. Or forget to take the risks to make the journey more exciting and fulfilling. No need to berate the self however, I am as human as the next - please don't think that us Yoga teachers and holistic practitioners have figured it all out yet!
I am reminded of that quote from Goethe, "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it".
Hmm, so there we go, if there is something you want to do, or dream you can do, then start, just start. No more excuses and no more running around in circles avoiding our own truth. I'll let you know how it goes. Enjoy the moon cycle!
xxx
Reiki and pregnancy
Reiki works well in helping with all stages of pregnancy including conception and child birth providing emotional, mental, spiritual and physical support.
The Japanese word Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) means ‘Universal energy’ and is based on the free flow of this energy in a person. Eastern medicine has always recognised and worked with this energy, which flows through all living things and is vital to well-being.
Reiki is completely safe and the deep relaxation and peacefulness many people experience during and after a Reiki treatment can be of benefit to both pregnant ladies and those trying to conceive. Reiki may help to reduce stress, heal physical issues, deal with (old) problems and the accompanying emotions; deepen the relationship between mother and child (even in spirit) and increase the confidence in motherhood.
Juliet, who received Reiki during the latter stages of her pregnancy, commented, "I found the session very restful, it helped me focus on the baby and I felt calm for the rest of the day”.
Furthermore the mother’s body changes significantly during pregnancy and her energy balance – mentally, physically and emotionally – is constantly under pressure. Holly comments, “I had numerous sessions of Reiki with Emma during my pregnancy which I found incredibly beneficial. It was my first pregnancy and I have always used Reiki for grounding and general well being which I found I required even more when I was pregnant. The last session I had was the day before my due date and Emma commented that I was very grounded and balanced and sure enough Finley was born the next day on his due date”.
Reiki may also be very effective in helping to restore balance on all levels following the birth. Caring for an infant can be draining for both partners and Reiki can help to restore balance and energy levels as well as providing some much-needed serenity and nurturing (for both parent and infant) during this time.
The magical world of bluebells, tree nymphs and fairies
I had the distinct feeling that the tree nymphs were watching us as we walked through bluebell woods today. How incredible, a carpet of this beautiful bluey purple colour, a wonderful compliment to the green and brown of the tall and skinny trees and vines growing throughout the small valley. I kept expecting to see deer running behind the trees, or monkeys swinging through the wines, reminiscent of the Annapurna Range.
We saw more bluebells yesterday too on our walk out at Pleinmont and this time it was the fairies watching our ambles and tree climbing - okay so the tree had fallen down and Ewan managed to get a lot further along and up it than either Charles or I (we weren't wearing the right shoes - well that was my excuse)...but all the same we were wood-spirited and back to nature, cold and grounded...and we made the obligatory kora around the fairy ring and of course made a wish...I'll let you know when it comes true.
Enjoy the week, enjoy the bluebells and enjoy the fact that everything is exactly as it is meant to be...
xxx
Caro and Chris get married
Congratulations to friends Caro and Chris for getting married in wonderful style on Saturday.
It was an incredibly easy going, enjoyable and uplifting day - a small wedding party, great company, a lovely meal in the greenhouse of Chris' parents, fantastic saxophone music played by Colin Falla, sunshine, beautiful gardens and many smiles.
Caro looked incredible in her 1950s dress.
Good luck to you both - with all the challenges in the last couple of weeks I am sure you will enjoy a loving, fulfilling and blessed marriage together.
Thank you for such a lovely day.
xx
APRIL FULL MOON
Some images of the moon tonight...can you feel its hyper and uplifting energy....now is a powerful time to let go and focus on the new...positive intention, thoughts create and all that.
Enjoy the sunset and moon rise tomorrow.
xx