January 2013
Happy New Year!
If this has been forwarded to you by someone else, you can sign up for your own copy every month here.
In this issue:
Reflections: Finding solid ground (before leaping)
A New Year's Gift
Inspiring Reading
Inspiring Listening
Reflections: Finding solid ground (before leaping)
For this New Year message I had lots of ideas: in the past I have written about doing a new year review; about looking forward with a vision board for your hopes and plans for the year ahead; about endings and new beginnings. All useful and interesting exercises.
This year I wasn't sure. As I wrote last month, I felt in that place of 'not knowing' again. How to be true to myself and still write something that will have resonance for you? A big variety of people read this newsletter, from close family and friends, through people I know quite well, to those of you I have never met or spoken to - how to offer something to all of you?
All those doubts start to creep in. As I sit here now, writing for you, the internal critic voice is piping up: "Who do you think you are, why would anyone want to read about your experiences, surely people want useful exercises and not your thoughts?"
So I turn to another voice, less shrill and piercing, the quiet still voice that says: "This isn't about you, this is about sharing truly and authentically from the heart. If people find those words speak to them they will connect.. If not, those people will find what they need elsewhere. If you listen to the doubting voice you won't have helped anyone."
This whole year, 2012, has for me been a time of finding my quiet still voice, of listening and learning to trust, of "finding solid ground" within myself thus knowing that when I leap there will be equally solid ground where ever I land.
So, I have returned to some meditation and writing I did a few days ago during which I received this message:
"Be safe in your soul, stand firm and true, not swayed by the outside world."
Years ago, at a health and well-being conference, I attended a workshop run by some people who worked with troubled children, We were introduced to cards with pictures of animals that they used to encourage the young people to talk about themselves, their worries and concerns.
To demonstrate, we were encouraged to choose one that felt significant (the cards were face up so the pictures were visible). I chose a koala bear, clinging to the trunk of a blue gum tree with one arm, eating leaves with the other hand. At the time my life and work were quite unsettled and I felt the picture represented security: the koala could hold on and be safe even when the tree was swaying in strong winds, and no harm could reach him high in the branches.
This image continued to be useful to me for some time. Eventually however I went through a very distressing and turbulent time, and I tried to return for comfort to the image of the koala safe in his tree. But I found myself seeing the eucalyptus forest on fire, the blue gum trees burning fiercely and the koala having no means of escape. I couldn't face up to this thought and for many years tried to put it out of my mind and use other methods of supporting myself.
Over this Christmas period I have spent some time reading, meditating and writing, and through this process I have been given another image. This time it is not just a picture in my mind, useful though that was for a long time. This time it feels true, a reality, solid.
Reading Anam Cara by John O'Donohue: on page 181 in my copy, he writes:
"Frequently people need to belong to an external system because they are afraid to belong to their own lives. If your soul is awakened then you realise that this is the house of your real belonging. Your longing is safe there. Belonging is related to longing. If you hyphenate belonging it yields a lovely axiom for spiritual growth: Be-your-longing."
There is much more in Anam Cara about this. (See John's website for details of his books and more about his life and work). After I had read and contemplated that chapter I wrote this message to myself:
"Be safe in your soul, stand firm and true, not swayed by the outside world. Like the koala, but your tree is spiritual so is not affected by bush fires or any other physical circumstances. Your tree is the solid Tree of Life. All healing emanates from here, from the Tree of Life, with roots in Mother Earth and branches in the blue, blue, immortal Heavens. The Tree of Life provides a home for all souls wherever they are in the cycles of the Universe."
These words, though they came through my pen, feel as if they are written for me, not by me. And as a gift to share with you.
I know that as this new year starts I am on the cusp of new ventures in my coaching and healing work. I feel I have been taking time over the last twelve months to develop a strong and true foundation from which to take that leap into the unknown, "Jump and the bridge will appear."
Now I see that my 'belonging' is internal, not reliant on other people or external circumstances. Now I know that by being-my-longing I can carry my strong and true core of solid ground with me wherever I land next.
This is not to say that I will be isolated or cut off from others, just that I can support and be supported; practise sensitive detachment, love unconditionally. And that is what I intend to do - to develop my new services for personal development and spiritual awakening to offer to you. At this moment, on 31st December 2012, I do not know what form this work will take. If you choose to keep reading these monthly missives I will treasure your company along the way to find out 'what happens next'.
In the meantime, the offer of a free telephone (or Skype) consultation to explore how a coaching session works is always open to you, just contact me to arrange a time.
For the year ahead, my wish for you is for you to truly experience what has always been the case, that you are "safe in your soul".
A New Year's Gift
The first two people to email me with their postal address will receive a gift of a personally dedicated copy of Dare to Blossom: Coaching and Creativity. I have also extended the special offer on a limited number of copies, visit the Daring to Blossom site for details of how to order.
Happy New Year!
If this has been forwarded to you by someone else, you can sign up for your own copy every month here.
In this issue:
Reflections: Finding solid ground (before leaping)
A New Year's Gift
Inspiring Reading
Inspiring Listening
Reflections: Finding solid ground (before leaping)
For this New Year message I had lots of ideas: in the past I have written about doing a new year review; about looking forward with a vision board for your hopes and plans for the year ahead; about endings and new beginnings. All useful and interesting exercises.
This year I wasn't sure. As I wrote last month, I felt in that place of 'not knowing' again. How to be true to myself and still write something that will have resonance for you? A big variety of people read this newsletter, from close family and friends, through people I know quite well, to those of you I have never met or spoken to - how to offer something to all of you?
All those doubts start to creep in. As I sit here now, writing for you, the internal critic voice is piping up: "Who do you think you are, why would anyone want to read about your experiences, surely people want useful exercises and not your thoughts?"
So I turn to another voice, less shrill and piercing, the quiet still voice that says: "This isn't about you, this is about sharing truly and authentically from the heart. If people find those words speak to them they will connect.. If not, those people will find what they need elsewhere. If you listen to the doubting voice you won't have helped anyone."
This whole year, 2012, has for me been a time of finding my quiet still voice, of listening and learning to trust, of "finding solid ground" within myself thus knowing that when I leap there will be equally solid ground where ever I land.
So, I have returned to some meditation and writing I did a few days ago during which I received this message:
"Be safe in your soul, stand firm and true, not swayed by the outside world."
Years ago, at a health and well-being conference, I attended a workshop run by some people who worked with troubled children, We were introduced to cards with pictures of animals that they used to encourage the young people to talk about themselves, their worries and concerns.
To demonstrate, we were encouraged to choose one that felt significant (the cards were face up so the pictures were visible). I chose a koala bear, clinging to the trunk of a blue gum tree with one arm, eating leaves with the other hand. At the time my life and work were quite unsettled and I felt the picture represented security: the koala could hold on and be safe even when the tree was swaying in strong winds, and no harm could reach him high in the branches.
This image continued to be useful to me for some time. Eventually however I went through a very distressing and turbulent time, and I tried to return for comfort to the image of the koala safe in his tree. But I found myself seeing the eucalyptus forest on fire, the blue gum trees burning fiercely and the koala having no means of escape. I couldn't face up to this thought and for many years tried to put it out of my mind and use other methods of supporting myself.
Over this Christmas period I have spent some time reading, meditating and writing, and through this process I have been given another image. This time it is not just a picture in my mind, useful though that was for a long time. This time it feels true, a reality, solid.
Reading Anam Cara by John O'Donohue: on page 181 in my copy, he writes:
"Frequently people need to belong to an external system because they are afraid to belong to their own lives. If your soul is awakened then you realise that this is the house of your real belonging. Your longing is safe there. Belonging is related to longing. If you hyphenate belonging it yields a lovely axiom for spiritual growth: Be-your-longing."
There is much more in Anam Cara about this. (See John's website for details of his books and more about his life and work). After I had read and contemplated that chapter I wrote this message to myself:
"Be safe in your soul, stand firm and true, not swayed by the outside world. Like the koala, but your tree is spiritual so is not affected by bush fires or any other physical circumstances. Your tree is the solid Tree of Life. All healing emanates from here, from the Tree of Life, with roots in Mother Earth and branches in the blue, blue, immortal Heavens. The Tree of Life provides a home for all souls wherever they are in the cycles of the Universe."
These words, though they came through my pen, feel as if they are written for me, not by me. And as a gift to share with you.
I know that as this new year starts I am on the cusp of new ventures in my coaching and healing work. I feel I have been taking time over the last twelve months to develop a strong and true foundation from which to take that leap into the unknown, "Jump and the bridge will appear."
Now I see that my 'belonging' is internal, not reliant on other people or external circumstances. Now I know that by being-my-longing I can carry my strong and true core of solid ground with me wherever I land next.
This is not to say that I will be isolated or cut off from others, just that I can support and be supported; practise sensitive detachment, love unconditionally. And that is what I intend to do - to develop my new services for personal development and spiritual awakening to offer to you. At this moment, on 31st December 2012, I do not know what form this work will take. If you choose to keep reading these monthly missives I will treasure your company along the way to find out 'what happens next'.
In the meantime, the offer of a free telephone (or Skype) consultation to explore how a coaching session works is always open to you, just contact me to arrange a time.
For the year ahead, my wish for you is for you to truly experience what has always been the case, that you are "safe in your soul".
A New Year's Gift
The first two people to email me with their postal address will receive a gift of a personally dedicated copy of Dare to Blossom: Coaching and Creativity. I have also extended the special offer on a limited number of copies, visit the Daring to Blossom site for details of how to order.
Blog note: the two free copies have now been snapped up - the special offer (£7.00 and free p&p, instead oof £8.95 plus p&p) is still open using the link above.
Inspiring Reading
I love this familiar and always inspiring piece. (Note: if the word 'God' is not comfortable for you, simply substitute one that is, 'source', .'nature', or 'the universe' perhaps)
Inspiring Reading
I love this familiar and always inspiring piece. (Note: if the word 'God' is not comfortable for you, simply substitute one that is, 'source', .'nature', or 'the universe' perhaps)
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves:
‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people around you don’t feel insecure.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone.
And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically releases others.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves:
‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people around you don’t feel insecure.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone.
And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically releases others.
Variously attributed to Nelson Mandela's inaugural
speech, and Marianne Williamson ("Return to
Love")
Inspiring Listening
A musical link to the latest single from the Military Wives Choir, Stronger Together, an amazing example of what can be achieved by 'ordinary' people.
Inspiring Listening
A musical link to the latest single from the Military Wives Choir, Stronger Together, an amazing example of what can be achieved by 'ordinary' people.
Thank you for reading. If you would like to read past
issues you can do so by visiting the Newsletter page at Dare to Blossom. Feel free to leave any comments or feedback here. It is always so good to
know that people do read and enjoy.
all best
wishes
Mary
Mary
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