A Walk in Moreton, Dorset

 

On a recent walk in Moreton, Dorset, I was struck by the way this tree, despite being devasted by some unknown force (lightning? wildfire? disease? vandalism?) still stood solidly with its carved Green Man, such a beautiful hope-filled symbol for the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Not too far from the tree is the beautiful church of St Nicholas (originally St. Magnus). It was devasted by a bomb from the second world war, has been repaired and rebuilt, beautifully reimagined with etched glass windows, one carved with the hope-filled Chi-Rho symbol, again that cycle of life, death and rebirth in Christ's life.

Focus words for Meditation and Contemplation

Honesty ~ honest appraisal of our inner self and acceptance of our true self.

Helpfulness ~ Finding inner strength to help our self and others, caring can be our most courageous gift.

Hope ~ Is an optimism that makes our hearts sing.

Happiness ~ Is a strength. Exercise a smile, practise a laugh, build up a store of contentment to obtain it.

All shall be well

 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'

Revelations of Divine Love
Julian of Norwich

Hope

 Steer a new course under the bright star of Hope and you will find your heart already knows the way.

The Heart Whisperer

You won't notice the difference at first

Just the smallest of change

Quieter than the breath of a candle

A ripple across a pool

Nothing to see here

But you will see it

Later rather than sooner

Long time later

It will be clear

I was there with you in that midnight place

Though you don't remember

I will always be there for you

Now, in the sunlight you laugh

Putting it all behind you

Moving forward, stronger than before

A bright bowl full of hope

There was something someone once said...

And you will wonder who it was

And I will smile and say

It must have been the heart whisperer

Be More Jesus

Here was a person who drew people to him with compassion and loving kindness. Who eased pain and suffering and offered hope to everyone. He was kind, friendly, caring and happy, what more could you want to be? Prescribe yourself a dose of happiness and be more Jesus.

Looking for Inspiration?

The other week I was looking for a little creative inspiration and this fragment of a mystic poem found its way to me. I had almost forgotten that, we are, of course, all inspiration for each other. So I shall pass it forward here.  Thank you!

'Be a lamp, or a lifeboat or a ladder.
Help someone's soul heal.
Walk out of your house like a shepherd.'
Rumi

I am human and I am here

The other day I heard someone say their faith described everyone as broken. What a terrible burden of worthlessness to be laid on every shoulder. And I felt moved at the thought of this to try and find an understanding of what we are.

What  am I?

I am a part of everything, everything is interconnected and I house a great sense of belonging to all things and being of all things. So I am reminded at all times of how we are all here, together, here and now on this planet and while all things pass, nothing is ever lost. It is simply part of the ebb and flow of the universe pouring through all of us, this precious gift of life. 

And with this gift we have a way to find hope, nurture love, practise kindness and keep the divine in our hearts as best we can. We are not broken. We are human. Don't waste time waiting for a miracle, be the miracle that your life is.

A little Festival of Hope

Next year I am making 2018 a little Festival of Hope. You are welcome to join me.

Love not Hate

As Valentine's Day approaches, I was searching round for a poem to celebrate the day when I found this one I wrote in 2006. Sadly, it still seems relevant to the world today.

Love not Hate

Sometimes the news is hard enough to hear

Let alone live through

We have let hate win

If we allow for one minute, these borders of fear

To run among us

Dividing our hearts, separating our minds

The truth is this

The dogmatic mindset that brings violence, distrust

Fear and hate to every doorstep is no weapon at all

Against love

The sanctuary you crave is the human heart

And it beats in every one of us

Violence cannot win

Because it cannot see

How blind it is

To the truth

The walls of hate it builds

Only serve to imprison it

The human heart will always fly free

Hope for a Happy New Year

Hoping next year will be a kinder year to all and the world will take a collective step back from plunging into the abyss of war, hatred and internecine anger which seems to be becoming political currency. And if it you think it's slightly bonkers that some housewife in Kent is writing that, then you can see how far the world has already marched towards that brink...

We are given a life

The best gift we will be given

And with it the gift of love and hope

A living prayer

Let go of despair

Let go of hatred

Let go of violence

Unwrap your heart from fear

And embrace life

A living prayer

Living Prayer

We are given a life

The best gift we will be given

And with it the gift of love and hope

A living prayer

Let go of despair

Let go of hatred

Let go of violence

Unwrap your heart from fear

And embrace life

A living prayer

The Call

The breeze lifts on the lake
And the leaves do not hesitate
To echo the call
Trembling breath

I am on the mountain
And the flags are praying
And the breeze is saying
Find this love
Open your heart
And I lift my life to the sky
And catch the light of the world in my eyes
The key is always in me
With all my love
With all my love

If you have forgotten, I will find
If you are uncertain, I will reassure
If you are sad, I will comfort
With all my love
With all my love

The breeze lifts on the lake
And the leaves do not hesitate
To echo the call
Trembling breath

Hope

Life without hope is a river without water.

Hope

Keep the flame of hope safe in your heart. There, no ill wind can extinguish it and it will always light your way.

happiness

~

a smile is a light from the heart to illuminate the world with



~

love

~

the heart is a vaulted cathedral where angels sing


~

Peace is...

~

Peace is a hope you can fill your heart with
So there's no room for violence, hate and anger

Peace is a feeling you can share with everyone
All it takes is a happy, loving and honest attitude

Peace is a gift I would love to give to you
But I will need your help to build a world
Where we can celebrate peace every day
Until then

Peace is a smile you can wear for me
On World Peace Day



~
(21st September 2007)
~

balance, growth, hope, love

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~

Balance:~
Harmony in our natural and manmade environments and in our relationships with each other.

Growth:~
Internal (spirtual) and external (hobbies, work, family) growth and progression. An open mind is the door to the future.

Hope:~
A positive mental attitude. The belief that change can come from within us and that we can be involved in our envornment and society.

Love:~
A love of life (joie de vivre). If we cannot love our life, we are living it the wrong the way.