Echoes of Summer

Echoes of summer

I dreamt for a while

Of a white bird

That Touched the summer blue.

Floating on high

Above field and meadow

Then for a moment

Rested in God’s palm.

Before disappearing upward

In jubilant song  
Through the Gates of Heaven

It's a Dog's Life

                                                                              It's a Dog's Life

                           It's a Dog's Life,

                         When chasing your tail

                          With no end in sight

                          Only an endless whirl

                     Of disappearing sticks and bones

                       Until home and safe at last

                           A good stretch.....

                          And Pam's CD to help

                           To chill and relax

                              Tai the Dog

I AM

I AM

I am the dawn that lights the sky.

   The soft night air, the bedewed grass,

     A lonely flower in distant pass

      A Mother’s love.  A baby’s cry.

 I am the strong and the straight.

      The winding and turning of devious way,

     The vaulted sky and secluded bay,

     A ploughed field. A wicket gate

I am the silent and the free.

      The infinite depth in an empty church,

   The light of the morning Sun,

      A loving heart. The knowing Now

 I AM

                                                                                   

Self Healing

Self Healing becomes a possibility with the practice of yoga techniques of realignment.  This realignment is the union between purusha, that is the individual soul in its purest form and its primordial nature (prakrt); that is the subtle template that patterns the nature of each in the temporal world. The main cause of break down is stress from a variety of causes and yoga goes a long way in alleviating that stress, with relaxation techniques and exercises that rebalance and coordinate Mind, Feeling and Will. 

The ‘Self’ healing that occurs when there is harmony between soul and nature is further enhanced by yoga meditation and breathing techniques. The way we breathe is influenced by variety of factors, as we constantly adjust to life in the world. Soul or Solar breathing is the return to the natural and untroubled rhythm of the breath, when the mind is still and we are at peace and in harmony with our surroundings.

Most of us have experimented with, or have seen, that when particles are vibrated on a flat surface, they form patterns; which is not dissimilar to the energy patterns that characterise all things in nature. In a well toned body we are in tune with the energy pattern that ensures perfect health and if we include the sound geometry of the entire universe and beyond, we express this with the all inclusive sound of the mystical AUM...

Sound vibrations can be extremely subtle, well below the range of normal hearing. The word of God; that is the sound vibrations that order creation are intuited rather then heard. They are the impulses that stimulate the heart beat, the breath, and form the foundation that patterns life. The yogi and yogini who is able to attune to their own unique energy pattern will go a long way in ensuring their own good health, and possibly be able turn the tide against the onset of illness.

The following ‘Self’ healing meditation technique, is far from dramatic and could not be simpler, as it requires sitting for meditation in a manner that is most appropriate to your ability, and then watching and allowing the breath to guide you to deeper and more subtle levels of consciousness. First we quieten the breath in order to quieten the mind; we are reminded of a library reading room and the words Quiet Please; only this time it is inner Quiet that we seek; each breath soothing and quietening the mind.  The next step is the experience of Calm, that occurs when the nervous system stops responding to mental impulses, and calm extends throughout the body. Once calm we are closer to a growing sense of detachment and a feeling of Peace and a level in which all life is able to work in harmonious inter-function. It is only when we become Still that the breath is at its most subtle and we can sense the subtle life enhancing rhythms conducive to our well being. It is at the level of the still Mind that we are able to stand between the two worlds of time and eternity and compare the stress related body that exists in time, with the pristine purity that exists in the timeless. 

It is by making real and re-adjusting to what is experienced at these subtle levels of meditation that brings change, so that in a sense we begin the process of exchanging new lamps for old. Quiet, Calm, Peace and Stillness are representative of different levels of consciousness and are stepping stones into more profound levels of ‘Self’ understanding.                           

Walk On The Sunny Side

Walk on the Sunny Side

Walking on the sunny side is a question of choice and represents a positive wakefulness that enables us to make choices in a spirit of optimism. To make pessimistic choices is like walking on the dark side, without any clear sense of direction, unclear choices, made like stabs in the dark, invokes unwanted responses that we have to deal with.

The sunny side represents the clear light of consciousness and a clear untroubled mind. A side to be enjoyed and immersed in, not unlike a clear summers day, when sunlight supports and upholds life, so does the catalytic light of consciousness have the power to make positive and supportive changes in one’s life. This light can be obscured by troublesome thoughts, like as when clouds move across the face of the sun, yet the clear light, although hidden, ever remains.  We have to learn to meditate, still the mind and rediscover the refreshing clarity that lies within.

There are practical benefits to walking on the sunny side, as when making a conscious evaluation of one’s life. To be aware when walking, also improves the efficiency of action, as consciousness has close links with feeling, so that movement becomes stress free. Meeting other people in a spirit of openness, makes for better relationship, as there for the grace of God go I. Breathing with awareness of the breath and becoming conscious of the breath, can imbue the lungs with life and light, so that each breath becomes more  peaceful and charged with life giving energy. These are but the first steps toward a body of light.

Take every opportunity to meditate in sunlight and carry the light inward toward the centre of one’s being. The Sun is energising and life giving; each spring, bringing forth new life from the earth, as it fulfils God’s purpose. There is a close link between the Sun and the centre of our own will. Meditate during the light of the day and carry the light inward and feel that the light of the world is your light, so that you feel inwardly refreshed and your inmost will becomes a centre of joyful initiative.

Wood Smoke

Wood Smoke

Wood smoke drifts on air

From I know not where

A fire of burning wood

Of trees which firmly stood

Essence of Oak, Ash and Pine

Now a fragrance sublime

Each Tree filled soul

Now airborne and free

 

Touching hearts on scented air

Each free, now to share

In timeless moments

Their nature so rare

 

Dreamtime

Dreamtime and Dreaming is an important part of sleep patterns; as dreaming is a safety valve that helps relieve stress; by dramatising and forming new relationships, between deeply hidden fears and emotions. Without the release of tension and anxiety during dreams, the hidden stress would manifest in illness and many stress related conditions. A stress driven mind is not conducive to sleep, and one way in which to induce dreaming and restful sleep, is with eyes closed, practise peaceful relaxed breathing, at the same time watching with interest the images that drift through the mind. These images can arise from different levels, from day to day emotional attachments, to hidden anxieties carried to us from childhood. If you observe these images without attachment, as they drift idly bye, sleep will soon follow.

Occasionally we may need to make a more positive impact upon dreamtime, such as when disturbed by stress or a mind struggling with an unresolved problem. This is where sincere heartfelt prayer can be of help, such as the ‘Lord’s Prayer’, with focus on its meaning and its relevance to you. The Yogi can also use words in the form of a repetitive mantra, such as mentally repeating “Let all that is irrelevant to the healing of this being, be banished”, or “Let all that is contrary to my peace of mind and tranquillity be banished”. Whatever the form of words, it is important that you feel comfortable with them and then carry the associated feeling into sleep.

Words and sentences can help influence the energy of dreamtime, such as those which include Truth, Love, Goodness, Happiness, Strength and many similar words representing important functions that give rise to a feeling of stability. Many of the words and images that appear on TV prior to retiring can adversely influence our dreams, therefore before sleep, take control and allow a little time, either to count your blessing, listen to music and enjoy the space which is your own.