Echoes...

Echoes...

As the leaves rustle softly,
Distant memories
whisper
Songs of love
and echoes
from another life,
another time...
A seagull cries out
overhead
while my soul
cries of pain
and
lost love,
but most of all
of hope...

There is always 
hope...

© AB 2011

 

simple sundays...

this morning...

There was only a hint of sunshine behind the clouds ...

I like the way that sea thrift looks nice even when it's finished flowering...

The air smelled of seaweed and salt

and the breeze was fresh and gentle...

seagulls were calling out encouragement to their youngsters, 

who are becoming more independent with each day that goes by...

I'm always amazed that each time I wander along, nothing looks the same...

but there again, nothing ever stays the same!

Minute by minute, everything changes - and there's no going back...

That's why every moment is so precious 

- it's unique and will never be repeated, 

in the same way that every living thing is unique...

it really is a miracle...

let the caged bird sing...

(draft - in progress)

The song of my heart...

My heart sings

of love

and hope;

peace and 

joy.

Acceptance 

of what is now

and of what once was.

It sings of compassion

wisdom and strength.

Courage and

passion. 

It guides me forward

towards the light

like the songbird singing

at the end of the night.

Sometimes it whispers

Sometimes it roars

But it's always a voice that

can't be ignored...

it can't be ignored...

 

notes to self...



I just need to write this down to prompt my memory for when I write in my journal later...

Over the last week or so, I have been in a heightened state of spiritual awareness, whereby lots of flashes of insight and/or inspiration keep coming to me, as well as messages and other synchronicities.

I have been told of 3 significant deaths in as many days, and so much has fallen into place; to the point whereby it almost felt scary. 

I have had some really deep conversations and connections, and feel as if something within me is really shifting to a deeper level of consciousness and spiritual awareness.

After a particularly deep and insightful session with  a client this morning, I cleansed the room afterwards using reiki symbols, and the energy within the room felt very  profound. All of a sudden, I felt a deep sense of peace and two new symbols came to me. It was all very spiritual and I feel very calm, serene and peaceful...

... everything in life happens for a reason, but it takes time for the reason to become clear...

sweet...

The smell of damp earth 

underneath trees

mingles with honeysuckle and 

wild roses

life tastes 
sweet

 

blackbird fly, blackbird fly...

“I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.” 

Joseph Addison

'Morning has broken Like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken Like the first bird.'

'All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise'

“The wild Bee reels from bough to bough With his furry coat and his gauzy wing, Now in a lily cup, and now Setting a jacinth bell a-swing, In his wandering.”
Oscar Wilde 

After the rain...

 Hello again! 

Here's something I wrote earlier today when I was sitting on my bench, enjoying the sunshine for a few moments...

After the rain...

Summertime rain brings flowers

 and life

To once parched and barren

ground.

Gardens are alive

With a blaze of colour

Lifting spirits high...

Sitting for a while

I soak it all up

With gratitude and

 love.

Refreshed and 

renewed

Tranquility returns.

What was lost

Is found.

(24th June 2011)

 

 

Letting Go...

 Learning to 'let go' is surely one of the most important lessons of life. It is a difficult, painful, overwhelming and frustrating process. Yet it is also surely one of the most liberating, empowering and healing experiences of life too...

We cling on so hard, afraid to let go, but letting go is a necessary part of life and is essential for our personal development, fulfillment and growth...

What are you holding onto? How would it feel to let go, even just for a moment?

Tips

 

Meditation / relaxation and mindfulness helps, as does journalling, talking things over, exercising, and living life in a meaningful, authentic and responsible way. In taking full responsibility for our life, we choose to let go of that which we no longer need, so that we can create space to let in what we do need. 

It is a case of living life in a fluid, flowing way, whereby nothing is permanent or fixed, but is constantly moving and changing, as is nature's way. We are all part of nature and the natural processes of life. We can learn a lot from observing nature... nature doesn't cling onto what it no longer needs - trees let go of their leaves, to be replaced by new ones; flowers die and regrow, and so the cycle of life goes on... Anyway; time to stop - I seem to be digressing! ...

More tips for letting go are in this blog (not mine) link below: 

http://bit.ly/lwGFyS

 Quotes

'The Tao Te Ching says, When I let go of what I am,
I become what I might be.  When I let go of what I have,
I receive what I need.  

Have you ever struggled to find
work or love, only to find them after you have given up?
This is the paradox of letting go. Let go, in order to achieve'

~ Mary Manin Morrissey

 ~~~ 

We must learn to let go, to give up, to make room for the things we have prayed for and desired.

Charles Fillmore

Affirmations:

In letting go, my life can flow...

I release and let go of all the baggage!

I let go of all expectations and I am free....

April's Loveliness...

 

"April's rare capricious loveliness." ~  Julia Dorr

Hello again, sorry for the lack of blog updates recently - this has been due to a combination of computer and internet problems, a busy spell at work, and probably mainly because of being outdoors enjoying the sunshine a lot!

I was at the allotment by 8.30 this morning, and pottered around digging, weeding, planting out my runner and borlotti beans, and generally enjoying the birds singing, bees buzzing and tadpoles darting around the pond... and I also wrote some haikus (below)...

spot the tadpoles...

Sitting in sunshine

Drinking coffee by the pond

While the tadpoles play...

 Blossom on the tree

Floating down like confetti.

A bluetit's the bride...

30 day photo challenge... Day 5...

Day 5 - Red

 

'Call me, call me any anytime
Call me, my love, you can call me any day or night
Call me... ' (Blondie)

 

 

There is something really special about mornings. I love that peaceful feeling when I first wake up, and then I sit for a while with my cup of coffee, gradually waking up and watching the world outside start to unfold and wake up too...

 I took these photos yesterday morning ....

 

 

 

'Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift ...another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your
entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail'

 

 ~ Og Mandino

 

 

30 day photo challenge... Day 4

If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it...
Twelfth Night - Shakespeare

Day 4 - music

Music is what feelings sound like  ~ Author Unknown

 

30 day photo challenge... Day 3

Day 3 - Sunshine

There's something so satisfying about hanging washing on the line to dry in the sunshine - I love that lovely fresh smell...

every day i write the book...

" Life is like a book with many chapters we call seasons. 

Some chapters tell the story of love, drama, comedy, mystery, loss, adversity, growth, disappointment, triumph, etc. Some chapters are dull and ordinary, others intense and exciting. 

The key to enduring, persevering and being hopeful is to never stop on a difficult page, to never quit on a book or a chapter that seems too long. 

Some chapters may be sweet but too short. 

Your words, thoughts, actions, non-action and choices are the pens that write the pages in your book. 

Have the courage and faith to keep turning the pages believing better chapters lie ahead. 

... Trust. Listen. Believe. ... 

Activate your gifts and talents. 

Be creative. Be kind. Be patient. Be faithful. Be grateful. Be fruitful."
 

~ Diamond Taylor 

30 day photo challenge... Day 2

Day 2: 'Today'

 It's nice to have my cake and eat it!...

The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce. 

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr

Photo Challenge - Day 1

Day 1: Reflection / Shadow

This is a reflection in the mirror in Iona's bedroom. 

Her room is bursting with light, life & creativity - just like she is! x

30 day photo challenge...

... I'm enjoying doing the '30 day song challenge' on facebook so much that I decided to set myself a photo challenge too...
Anyone is welcome to join in, but you'll probably have to post the photos into your own blog, then share them via a link in a comment - have fun!

Here are my categories
Day:

1. Reflection / shadow
2.  ‘Today’
3. Sunshine
4. Music
5. Red
6. Cloud
7. Home
8. Day trip
9. Sunrise or sunset or night or moon
10. Nature - plant, tree,  bird, animal, etc
11. Rainy day
12. Yellow
13. Fun, laughter, carefree, play, pleasure, etc
14. Picture within a picture / picture that tells a story
15. Words
16. People / a person
17. Loss / lost
18.  Me / identity
19. Blue
20. Risk / fear
21. Purple
22. Broken / derelict / abandoned...
23. A picture from, or of, childhood
24. Black
25. Somewhere outside today
26. Green
27. Something I made / did / drew / etc
28. Travel. transport / journeys
29. Fashion, culture, making a statement, art, graffiti, etc
30. Peace, tranquillity 

spring in my step...

More signs of spring in my backyard...

'In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.'  ~ Margaret
Atwood

Bee in spring...

Despite being terrified of them when I was younger, I really love bees.

I was delighted to spot this little fellow in my back yard just now.

Spring is in the air - although it is a lot cooler today... 

♥



being mindful...

"At the moment of waking up,

before getting out of bed,

get in touch with your breath,

feel the various sensations in your body,

note any thoughts and feeling that maybe present,

let mindfulness touch this moment,

Can you feel your breath?

Can you perceive the dawning of each in-breath?

Can you enjoy the feeling of the breath freely

entering your body in this moment?

“Breathe-in: I smile,

breathe-out: I calm my body,

dwelling in the present moment,

it is a wonderful moment.”

Thich Nhat Hanh