The Swallows have returned for summer!

...with their wings as graceful as butterflies,

the swallows twist and turn;

 riding the wind like pegasus,

soaring through the skies...

Earth Day #Meditation

Today is Earth Day, so I wrote a little meditation that I thought I'd share via my various blogs.

If I had time I'd record it so that you can listen to it, but I'm a bit busy at the moment. Hopefully I'll have a bit of spare time sometime soon so that I can make a recording, but in the meantime you'll have to try it out for yourself. Maybe read it through first, then close your eyes and visualise it all. If you have any feedback, please share  it! Namaste. 

Take some nice deep breaths; in and out...
Let go... Relax... Breathe... In... Out... Breathe... Let go... Breathe...
If any thoughts come into your mind, let them go; let them drift by like clouds in the sky.
Breathe... Let go...
Enjoy the feeling of your body relaxing as your muscles relax and any tension slips away....
It feels good...

You are walking towards an old wooden gate...
You are feeling very calm and peaceful...
You can feel the warm earth beneath your bare feet...
You are part of the earth; connected to each other like threads of a beautiful tapestry... Feel the connection... Feel the earth grounding you... Feel the earth's energy flowing through you like a beautiful river of love and peace...
Pause at the gate for a moment... Feel the smooth wood underneath your fingertips...
Breathe... Smile...
Open the gate now and look around you... What can you see?
Breathe in the scent of the pine trees...
Notice the earthy smell of the forest floor...
Listen to the beautiful birds singing; so happy and carefree...
Taste the crystal clear air brushing against your lips...
Feel the gentle breeze caressing your hair...
Look up at the tall pine trees reaching so high into the sky... Sunlight is streaming through the branches, sending warmth and energy round you and through you and into every cell of your body...
How does it feel?
Enjoy the new energy flowing through you...
Breathe... Smile...
Walking along the winding path between the trees you feel such a deep sense of connection with mother earth... Gratitude flows through you... It is so good to be part of this beautiful world...
The birds are singing, the sun is shining and life is good...
Sit down for a moment or two, and lean your back against a tree... Feel the strength and wisdom flowing into you as you lean back into the trunk... Let the tree support you for a moment... Breathe... You and the tree are one... You are the tree...
How do you feel?
Your roots reach deep down into the earth, drawing up the energy from the earth's core, spreading up through the trunk and flowing along every branch, every leaf, and out into the air we breathe...
Breathe... Smile...
Place your hands flat on the ground now and feel the connection...
Thank you mother earth for all you give us, so generously...
You are always there for us, providing us with the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water of life... Thank you...
We are all one... Connected with every breath we take...
Stand up now and place your hands against the bark...
Feel the energy flow...
Thank the tree for being there for you. For supporting you. For sharing the energy and the gift of life... Wiggle your toes and feel the soft mossy green grass under your feet... Walk back towards the gate now, enjoying the birds singing and breathing in the scent of the pine trees...
How do you feel?
Look around you for a moment before you go back through the gate...
Smile...Breathe...
Close the gate behind you as you say goodbye... You'll come back again soon...
Take a few more breaths in and out... Notice your body...
Notice each breath...
Gently wiggle your toes...
Wiggle your fingers...
Smile...
Stretch...
How do you feel now?
When you're ready, open your eyes...
Take your time...
Have a drink of water and return to the here and now...

Granola Bars...

I made some rather chunky, tasty granola bars last night... here's the recipe, as requested via Twitter...

This recipe is a rough guide - use whatever fruit and nuts you like, but keep the quantities roughly the same.  
 

Ingredients
50g vegan margarine
200g maple syrup ( I use a mix of maple syrup & golden syrup and a generous splash of soya milk, to make up a total of 200ml)
225g oats
50g sunflower seeds
50g pumpkin seeds
50g almonds
50g hazelnuts
200g Dried fruit - your choice (raisins, sultanas, chopped apricots, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, pineapple, apple, papaya,etc. I sometimes add some vegan choc chips too, or poppy seeds, and sometimes a bit of cinnamon)
Vegan chocolate to cover, if required.

Method
Preheat oven to 180C / 350F / gas mark 4
Grease / line 20 x 30cm baking tray / ovenproof dish 
Melt margarine and syrup in a large saucepan.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix together well.
Pour into the baking tray / dish and bake in oven for 20mins or until golden brown.
Leave to cool.
If coating with chocolate, melt the chocolate and spread over the top. (5-6 oz, approx)
Leave to cool, then cut into squares or oblongs.
Enjoy!



apologies!...

So sorry for the lack of posts recently! I have been taking a photo (or usually more!) per day, but I just haven't had time to put them on the blog... Maybe one day I'll have time to get caught up with it all, but I'm not going to stress about it! Here's a photo from today though - my first ladybird sighting so far this year!

Project366, day35, a bit of bird watching :)

35-366

#Project366, Day35, #febphotoaday challenge: A Stranger

35-366

Today's challenge: A Stranger

#Project366, Day34, #febphotoaday challenge: Hands

34-366

Thanks to Iona for the use of her hands in this photo and video!

  

Lost and Found...

The words for the spoken word bit on the previous blog...

Lost and Found…

The blank page reflects my

Blankness…

“Hello stranger; where have you been?”

Where have I been?

Where am I?
Where was I?
How did I

Slide

                                So far
                                                Away?

Without even
Realising?

Pretending I was too busy, I

Disconnected.
I switched off my inner voice…
Tried to ignore the whisper, the wise words
Crying out to be heard…
But I knew it was there all along;
The gentle voice,
Wise and strong.
I just needed to create
A bit of

Distance.

Press ‘pause’ for a while.

Because sometimes
Ignorance

Is bliss.

Or that’s what I tried to tell myself,
As I drifted,

Faltered,

Mourned

And grieved….

Feeling lost.

All the while ignoring my inner guide’s call

As my soul wailed a mournful song that went

Unheard…

But now with rueful smile I find that all along
It was me I’ve missed most of all…

Hello stranger; your lament is done!
Come; step out of the shadows
Back into the sun.

Step forward
Come on;
Come

Into the sun…

Stepping forward, I shiver

And feel
The ice start to melt…
The ice starts to melt.
It feels
Good.

3^rd Feb 2012

Lost and Found...

Lost and Found...

If you click on the 'Lost and Found' link above, it will hopefully take you to a recording of something I've just written and recorded... I'll post the words in the next blog...

Project 366 - Day 33 #video

33-366 
 I love the sound of trickling water...