If only…..

We hear the words ‘if only’ so many times but what do we really mean when we say them? There are times when the words ‘if only’ are like a wish. If only it would stop raining or if only I had more money and so on. Some of these ‘wishes’ cannot be helped. We can’t stop the rain however hard we wish to. But there are some ‘if only’s that we can do something about. If the words are said in relation to something you have done or said then perhaps it is possible to do something about them. If you said something hurtful to someone and then wish you had not said those words then at least you can apologise. If you accidentally bumped into someone and pushed them out of the way, you can apologise then as well.

But what about the ‘if only’ I had more money, a better car, better health or a larger house, for example? What can you do about those. First of all you need to think carefully about why you want these things. Do you really need them? Why do you want a better or a larger car or house? Are they something you just want or would like or are they something you actually need? In today’s world, less is better generally so think about that. Think about the effect on the environment a larger car would make. Think about the energy used to heat a larger house.

If you often say things that are hurtful to others, then look at the reason why you do this. Is it because you are insecure in your own self or do you just like to hurt others? Look at how you control your thoughts and actions so that ‘if only’ becomes a phrase you do not use.

I often think ‘if only everyone could live together in peace and harmony’. Is this wishful thinking or is it something that I can work on, helping others to see that ‘if only’ can become something that is possible even ‘if only’ in small amounts. Like the ripples in the pond, wishes can spread out to others and maybe one day we will have peace and harmony in our world. If you can make your ‘if only’ work then do so.

A vision for the future

Some time ago a friend told me about vision boards and I thought about visions of the future. What would I want on a vision board? Well, at my age the only thing I want for me is better health but there are many things I want for the world. So these are my thoughts on the future but not in any particular order but as they came into my mind. First of all I would like to see peace in our world where people worked together, respected each others ideas and thought about the community as a whole. To do this we would need to have more love in the world and more compassion for those less fortunate. Although in my future world we would all be equal so only those who became ill could be called less fortunate. We would care for them in a safe manner and make sure they were loved as well.

Happiness would be there too. I would hope that we all had a deeper understanding and connection with the natural world and that we all could see how we were all connected and how everything was connected, insects, animals, even the landscape that serves us all.

We would live simply, and wisely, speaking our truth and walking our talk. I don’t see items such as mobile phones in my future world either. They stop us from communicating face to face which is so important. It is much better to talk than to text! At the moment computers have their place but with the advent of so much fake news I wonder if we would be better without them. OK they help us to learn about things but observation and thought are so much better.

I would also see that natural ways of healing were paramount. We would learn to grow our own food in a good way and the herbs that help us to stay healthy. I see each family with its own garden plot and many living in groups sharing expertise and working together.No-one would be homeless either. Energy would be generated in a natural way harnessing the sun and water.

I feel my vision is ‘doable’ so why aren’t we starting to live this way? I would love to read about your vision for the future of our world.

Being still

Being still can be hard to do. I am often sitting quite still watching the birds outside on the feeders. But although my body is still my mind is hyperactive and buzzing with things, kind of multi-tasking. Meditate and still your mind we are told. I have tried over the years to do this using various different techniques but don’t seem to be able to manage it perfectly. I can meditate if I do the kind of meditative journey. I like these and enjoy them, but just sitting silently is hard for me to do.

I read in the news about a woman who had decided to go on silent retreats and having done this several times, she was enabled to change her job and do exactly what she really wanted to do. So she felt the silent retreats had changed her life.

Other words used for the inner silence are often ‘go within’ to find the answers. Yes, this is something I can do because it is not necessarily for a long period of time. I can listen to my inner self and take on board what comes from that.

But I know many people who seem determined to keep busy whatever. They cannot stop for even short moments but have to do something or talk or look at their phones. It is as if they are frightened of sitting doing nothing but being still. Are they frightened of what they may find out about themselves and their feelings or is it something else. Many of us keep our emotions in check and put them aside when things have hurt us badly. We store these feelings inside somewhere and don’t allow them to the surface to be dealt with and healed. Is this why so many cannot be still and listen to their hearts and inner feelings? Learning to deal with deep hurts is important if we are to fulfil our lives and be at peace with ourselves and with others. How do you manage to find the stillness within you? Maybe you can give me some hints!

Signs of Spring

Imbolc, Brighid’s Day, Candlemas or whatever you call this time of the year, all lead to the coming springtime with the same kind of thoughts and feelings behind them. For me, February 1st is also a sad time as I remember a dear friend on this day, her birthday, although she left us for the Summerlands some time ago. So a time of sadness and also joy as I see the land renewing itself.

I noticed that the flood waters have receded and some farmers have been able to plant seed for future crops. I noticed the growth of the bulbs in the garden as they push up shoots strongly from the damp earth. Some plants are also in flower, the Elephants Ears, the Aconites and some other small plants whose names I cannot remember. Of course, the snowdrops are in bloom too.

New life, new beginnings are foremost in my mind. I have made plans for things to do and make in the next few months before the longer days come into being. But there is hope as well, hope that all the divisiveness of the past few years here in the UK will be lost and we will come together and learn to work together in peace, with respect and with love. There will be changes as well but we need to accept these and look at the effect that they will have, then act accordingly. We will need to make sure that everyone, whatever colour, creed or whether ill or disabled, has the same opportunities to live their lives peacefully and without any bullying or nastiness from others.

We all come from the same source and we all share the divine spark even if we think we don’t have that spark. Find that divine spark and know that we are all one, united in our world and working together for peace and love for that lives on the planet. Blessings of the season to you all.