Energy Awareness

"We assumed that living in the Now meant living in a very calm and blissful state, and it does mean that – but until we get used to it it’s a bit like living without a watch after a lifetime of having one attached to your wrist. You don’t have your usual point of reference to anchor you. We are connecting to a new point of reference, an inner point. Until we get used to that, it can sometimes feel like we’re floating in a bubble not attached to anything in particular. This simultaneously feels really blissful and yet a little bit scary because we’re used to having anchors and attachments and something to hold our reality together. At first we may interpret it as ‘My brain has disappeared’, ‘I can’t focus or concentrate on anything’, ‘I can’t hold my thoughts together/string a sentence together’ and ‘Everything feels so vague and foggy’. This ‘no time’ business is like being an astronaut who has to get used to zero gravity – it’s cool but strange." This is a very powerful message that struck a cord with me very strongly, especially the bubble bit! There are many energies knocking about at the moment, and they're not all great. Keeping your own clear and understanding your own energy, can at least help you determine whether a change in energy is yours or an influx of energy from another source. To some this all might sound a little airy fairy, yet, deep down they do sense there is something 'off' and 'happening'...and can't argue that they do feel it. I have had a lot of conversations with people that wouldn't normally be open to alternative ways of seeing the world, and yet they're talking in terms of energy shifts! In light of all these changes it is good to keep yourself informed as much as possible. Sites that I have found very helpful over the years are www.mindfulhealing.org and the extract above can be found in it's full message on the site http://spiritlibrary.com/dana-mrkich/july-2012-monthly-visions-the-deconstruction-of-who-we-thought-ourselves-to-be by Dana Mrklich. Linda from the mindfulhealing site sends a wonderful newsletter to keep you informed on changes, which is what alerted me to Danas message, so it is well worth signing up for it. I just wanted to share this case anyone out there is feeling a tad off centre and wondering what is going on at the minute. The weather in Ireland is definitely an indicator of odd energy shifts, particularly in the strange temperature drops and heavy rain in July! Anyway, it's good to get a lot of perspectives on it all, then you can form your own opinion and get a sense of what is true for you in all this.

Changes

Over the last little while I've had David Bowies 'changes' song in my head. So with this prompting of a song the internet was searched over a period of days in order to get any insights on what energies are currently effecting us. What I found was a fantastic range of websites offering up various forms of the same message. We're changing. We're evolving out of the ego, whether we want to or not. It started a while back and this year is effectively the time where we begin to fully integrate all these changes and live as a more enlightened and evolved being. Everyone is going to read it differently, simply because we are all experiencing the journey differently. No one is going through the same experience because in this we are truly unique. One strong message however is that the change is happening with our without our consent! Any emotion or belief you've been holding on to that prevents you from moving or becoming enlightened, will be challenged...and finally released. For some this will be completely obvious and a liberating experience, one where they fully engage with what is occuring even though it might be challenging. For others it will sound like hippy talk and the resistance to it can be expressed as anger, frustration and lashing out at others. Whatever way you find yourself experiencing this energy, it's something that is happening to everyone. Its purpose is to remind us that we are all connected and that connection needs to be reset. We need to remember our connection to one another and realise that we all count. No one person is special or better than another. As the new you emerges during this phase, be kind to yourself and realise that we are all on this journey. Be kind to others without taking on their energy, as it prevents them from learning their own truth and the lessons to help them make change happen.

Mind over matter and Beliefs

Image courtesy of Firetongue81 on google images search Over the last few weeks I've noticed that various videos and youtube clips are appearing, demonstrating the sheer strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity. There are plenty of such stories out there but the two in particular that reached out and spoke to me this week were Claire Lomas & Arthur Boorman. Claire is paralysed from the chest down after a riding accident and finished the London Marathon after 16days. Arthur a disabled veteran from the Gulf War, began embarking on a yoga practice that helped him walk and run without crutches. I'm going to speak from my own personal truth here as everyone is going to have a different connection or experience with it. What struck me about both stories was the sheer determination to overcome their challenges and the way that a belief can change and inspire them to act. Claires belief in being able to complete it led to others believing in her and her family and team around her supported her in this belief. At the end of the marathon, as she hadn't completed it on the day the organisers didn't offer up a medal to her. However, a runner that did complete on the day came forward and offered his. This type of generosity coupled with an against the odds story of overcoming a massive challenge was extremely moving. It completely got to me and I was moved to act in some way. All I felt I could do at that moment was donate to charity, so I did. The second story of Arthur however, comes at a time when I got up to another rainy day in May, wondering when could I get out and go for a walk and felt decidedly groggy and fed up. Yoga has been an on/off practice for a couple of years and despite feeling good after doing it, it's always last on my list to do. So here is Arthur Boorman. An overweight disabled veteran with damaged legs, who accepted the diagnosis of not being able to walk without support again as 'fact'. He sought help. He didn't get it as no one believed that he could do yoga with his condition. Finally, one yoga teacher who met him felt compelled to help although he wasn't sure how. It wasn't easy, but the results in the video are amazing. Here, once again, is a demonstration of how belief in yourself can move mountains. What really stood out for me was that it only took 1 person to show a belief in Arthur for him to become inspired to change. Louise Hay has many books about being able to heal yourself, and how supressed unexpressed emotional pain can lead to physical problems,illnesses and disease. I think both the stories above, for me anyway, wake me up to the power of a belief and the true strength of the human spirit. It's easy to forget how strong we actually are when limbs are working fine and the challenges in our lives are few. Wouldn't it make sense to wake up now, and use these wonderful gifts to change around anything that isn't working? In the meantime, I am eternally grateful for those facing challenges that are willing to share their journey to assist with the worlds awakening. It is not only a gift but it is a true testament and timely reminder of what the human spirit can be and can do. I for one get humbled by it everytime and get inspired to drop my limiting beliefs. (Arthurs video is in the side bar section for youtube)

The Art of being Organised

Image courtesy of www.present&correct.com Over the last while I have slowly, and I mean very very slowly, been getting things organised again. It feels like it all just slid away over the last few months and despite some half attempts to put it right it just never felt sorted. So today, having found myself awake since 4am due to fits of coughing as a sticky cold and throat infection loses it's grip, I am finding an energy returning. It feels alien, and yet it feels oh so good. So one of the first things I tend to do in a bid to organise my space, is to change my space. This can have mixed results and takes effort. Luckily the heavy lifting and moving about occurred before the cold, so at least that moving chore is over and done with. What did get left aside was a massive pile of papers, tons of pencils and oversized folders with no home. As an artist, it is amazing how much paper you can accumulate and it really takes time to go through and edit it down properly. Some bits of paper are throw away scribbles and warm ups, but there are some gems that help you see your progress and development, and my version of tidy can sometimes mean chucking everything. In my early morning internet browse I came across this site called www.present&correct.com. It was like a rainbow shone straight into my room and onto the screen. It is a nerdtastic site for all things to do with being organised. One item in particular is what has sparked this new revolution to set my files in order. It is the tiered pencil case which holds 4 levels of compartments and keeps things in their place. It spoke to me and reminded me how much calmer and balanced I am when my space is in order. That goes for the files on my computer too, they're in need of a revamp and the hard drive wouldn't mind the clean up probably. So in light of my return to some energy, I am aiming to clean, organise and put files in order. Perhaps it might be good use of your time to look around and see what mess you're putting up with. What drain on your energy is occurring that could be fixed with some time and attention? What type of space are you working in right now? Is it clean, clear and uncluttered? Do you know what's on your PC? All I do know is that there is an art to being organised, and it is worth practising it.

Holistic Fair, Kettle Hotel, Swords

Just a heads up that Katie Burtons Flower Remedies will be featuring at the above event, and will be promoting a range of remedies as well as other products infused with various remedies. I highly recommend that you take some time to go visit this if you can, as it looks like it's going to be a really varied and interesting fair. You can check out her facebook page here - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flower-Remedies/143670662390938 and her website is www.flowerremedies.ie (for some reason bloggers links are not working so please copy and paste links into your browser)

What are you forgetting about yourself?

As we get older and more responsibility appears at our feet, it is very easy to start sacrificing aspects of what you do or enjoy in order to get other tasks done. I can only imagine what this must feel like having a family to contend with as childrens needs will almost always come first.
One thing that interests me however, is how certain aspects of ourselves are dropped without us even knowing it. When was the last time you read a good book or listened to your favourite music? How much would you consider this a frivolous time waste or a luxury of spending time in a way that you don't have?
It amazes me how many times we allow this to happen, until one day we wake up so to speak, and find ourselves with a lost sense of self. It happens. It then takes effort to revisit what made us excited about the world, and in doing this we see how many small pockets of joy we discarded in order to look after someone else or just get the job done.
I've attached a link which reminded me very strongly of the importance of retaining aspects of ourselves that bring us joy. In this case it is music, and the simple act of hearing some songs that were from a mans youth, puts him back in that state of happiness.
It's very easy to let things slide and give up joyous things unconsciously. It's even more important to salvage these jems and ensure they're part of your every day being so you remember who you really are.
LINK - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDXuCE7LeQ (and if that doesn't work check out the side bar for the youtube video of 'Old Man in nursing home reacts to music from his era'.

My Tree is NOT for sale

(Image taken from http://coilltefarmforestryinvest.ie/Coillte_Investment_Schemes/146)

Facebook is normally a good place to catch up with friends while avoiding some hard work...but this morning I found a message calling me to join a cause in relation to Trees.

Ireland used to be full of wonderful green trees which unfortunately were not kept as a valuable part of our country. They were in the way of ESB poles & housing estates...removed in the name of progress.

In the period of growth brought on by the Celtic Tiger, mindless culling of trees to make way for dull, souless apartment blocks or toytown housing estates became something of a sore point for me. I felt helpless watching it and also felt decidedly heartbroken as some of the trees being cut down could have been avoided.

Our remaining forests and woodlands are currently being used as currency by the government. In 2000 the people of Ireland were given a tree to celebrate the Millenium. Now it appears that this gift is being taken back.

On this occassion I don't want to roll over and play dead about it. I want my tree to remain in place, with its roots firmly in the soil and with it's branches providing a home possibly to any number of creatures.
So today I'm asking people to go visit http://www.causes.com/causes/654077-my-tree-is-not-for-sale/about and if possible JOIN.

Being able to take a stand on this when so much of what has happened in this country feels like its beyond your control or grasp, makes me feel good. IT's a small stand, granted..but it is still a stand.

I want to see a positive impact from this cause because, well simply put...
I LOVE TREES.