Monday 31 December 2012

Spacious

For the last few years I have experienced a phenomenon whereby a word appears toward the end of the year to inform, frame and guide the year to come. So far these words have included dance and freedom. For 2013 the word that seems to be appearing is SPACIOUS.



What does spacious mean to me?

It means an expansion of freedom, dance, flow and connectivity.
Spacious provides room for movement.
Spacious provides a place for the unknown, for uncertainty and for the mystery to be present.
Spacious has an open inviting feeling to it.
It suggests exploration.
It is playful.
Spacious is a deep breathe.
In hale.
Ex hale.
AAAAhhhhhhhh .... !

Spacious implies limitless opportunites.
I am looking forward to being spacious.
I am curious as to what spacious will bring.

As 2012 comes to a close, tonight seems like a night to walk the labyrinth and to sit by a fire with friends telling stories to one another and enjoying the quality of being together. This year had much to live upto with expectations of paradigm shifts, consciousness deepening moments and Mayan prophesies. In all it has been a year of preparing the soil, planting seeds, setting intentions for a life to blossom and grow. The old growth has to be redug into the land to replenish the soil for what is to come. There is a lot of letting go that has had to happen to get to this point. Emptying out of the vessel of life. To travel lighter. In the winter time mulched soil may not look like much and yet it is rich fertile ground, we underestimate it at our peril. What can't be seen underneath the surface maybe invisible to the eye yet it is doing it's magical alchemical thing creating the new that will eventually reveal itself oneday in all its glorious beauty. And that sums up what has been going on through 2012 and hints at the potential of spacious for 2013 and beyond.

2013 is for me about creating a spacious quality in my life to allow and invite the new to arrive from the dark into the light. 

Happy New Year
Everyone
Feliz Ano Novo
Para Tudo Mundo

Saturday 22 December 2012

Theory FUN!

The idea is that by making something fun we can change peoples behaviour. I seriously hope this is true and not another internet hoax. I want to believe in theory fun!. Intuitively it not only feels right, it feels good. And if it is true the question is, how can we use theory fun in so many more imaginative ways? Take a look at this to illustrate the effect of theory fun!

Friday 21 December 2012

Winter Solstice 2012

Holy cow, sometimes the cards are too spot on for my comfort, more of this later. It's been a challenging year in some ways and a blessed one in others. The challenges have been life purpose related. Having taken the step away from job security to search for a path that is more authentic and meaningful I am still waiting for a greater sense of clarity and a clearer sign of momentum. Of late it has too often felt like I have been taking two steps forward followed by one step back. To say my patience is being strecth is an understatement. Holding true is what I am trying to do, and yet the desire for the uncertainty to be over is strong. I am learning many lessons. One of which is that living with not knowing is likely to become a more normal activity and that instead of expecting the uncertainty to go away what I need to do is find better ways to live with it.

Today is the winter solstice up here in the northern hemisphere. Two years ago we were held in by waves of snow and freezing temperatures. Today it is almost balmy and quiet unseasonally warm. Today is also the long await end of the Mayan calendar. Well, the end of many epochs. A grand shift is upon us as we move to a more loving, connected and harmonious age. I surely hope this is all true. earlier today on our way from Surrey to Devon we drove passed Stonehenge. The setting was beautifully backdropped by an azure blue sky and crowds of people were thronged around the ancient stones. More people were making the long walk back to their cars having spent the earlier hours of the solstice honouring out shortest day of the year.

It's the time of year for quiet and reflection, for sitting in circle around burning fires and for intention setting now a new age is upon us. I had the honour of standing in a hand-held circle with some lovely people from Schumacher College. Afterwards I meditated alone and before me were angel cards set out in the symbol of the infinity. I chose two cards, one from each half of life. My angel from the first half of life was Grace and the second half of life was Humour. Great angels to have present.

On returning home we chose tarot cards and mine was spookily accurate. Up turned the seven of pentacles. For which the reading said the card depicts; "A farmer leaning on his spade gazing at pentacles that grow on a bush like fruit. She has done all the work, planted, planned, toiled. Now, all she can do is wait. And wait she has, for so long that she's growing impatient. She's beginning to doubt that the fruit on this tree will ever be ready to harvest and sell. In all four Sevens, the challenge presented cannot be won unless the questioner is determined to succeed and will not let themselves give up. The challenge in the solid, earthy Pents emphasizes this the most. Sometimes called "Failure" this is a card where one's patience is beginning to wear thin. You may be tempted to announce that it's all a failure and walk away. Or, weary of waiting, you could make a mistake, assume that the fruit is ripe when it's not.


This is an especially hard card (and challenge) for someone who has been out of work for a while, or has been trying to get back their health. They have to be told that, hard as it is, they must extend their patience. They must also be careful to recognize real opportunity from false opportunity. It's all too easy to act out of frustration, thinking that doing anything is better than doing nothing.But acting out of frustration can lead to failure. Real opportunity is on its way. Hang in there and use all you've learned to recognize it when you see it.

aaaahhhhh ... so more patience is called for - and the good news is that the future is about finding new ways to use my exisiting skills. Good to know writing and education are part of my future afterall. In a big way this is a relief. And patient I can be, for a little while longer.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Celebrating 12.12.12 @ 12.12pm



What a way to mark the moment of 12.12.12 @ 12.12pm !!!
Very British and very Schumacher all at once.
My favourite part is the actions some are making to match the words of the song.
A great memory.

Monday 3 December 2012

What if money didn't matter?


Alan Watts tells it how it is.
And yet why is something so simple so challenging ???
It's stupid doing things you don't like.
Oh yeah !!!

What do I desire?

Happiness
Love
Relationship
Friendship
Food
Warmth
Shelter
Poetry
Music
Play
Exercise
Trees
Dogs
Cats
Rivers
Canoeing
Mountains
Hills
Fields
Hugs
Flowers
Bees
Owls
Chocolate
Family
Bike Rides
Art