Before jumping on a train between Bristol and London, I scraffled around the only newsagents in the station, quickly searching for a magazine or book for the rest of this journey ahead. That one! Just out and it had Buddha in its title. I must have been eighteen-years-old and had had revelation after revelation. Naturally, I was curious about Buddhism, the most peaceful of religions; plus the tale took place where I grew up. I might learn something. Our church was run

Two years ago, a nurse at a local hospital whispered to another: "She's in denial." At the time, I was teaching adults Art for six hours midweek, every week, English at home alongside some work in secondary schools. These art groups were inspiring because so many people were passionate about creating art and being a part of that community. But some days, I had no strength to fold tables at the end; other days, no problem at all. When term finished, I readied myself for a

Trigger-warning: theme of loss. Grief became my good friend as soon as I realised that she was with me. I had studied 'Grief & Loss' in counselling as an adjunct many years ago, but following it, I lost someone very close and did not know myself - for years. The theory is fine but she's a very different beast to living it: dissociation (Kübler-Ross' denial perhaps) can be absolute. Everything moved on but I hadn't yet awoken to her presence. Somehow, I had managed to dise

Gently Inspiring How intimate can it be, getting to know you? In the stillness, what arises may be feared. It may be welcomed too. Either way, it is definitely worth doing. My loose intention to move from this place needs my willingness to sit with uncertainty, to unmask the performer and bravely meet you where I am / where you are. The Dance of Creation This time, I met a fluid and graceful player who danced about creating life on paper. What worked came from the uncrit

What happened today was the first revelation. Part of this work is to establish myself in real life: what is natural, wholehearted and rooted in wisdom. I need to consciously shake off any unnatural, life-defying heebie-jeebies, these days. With the help of a Toltec-inspired Warrior Heart Practice, gracefully brought into our western culture through Heatherash Amara, a woman whose writing resonates deeply with me, I found my first intention. If I can take you back to The C

What comes first, the thought or the thing? This week has seen birth and death within the same river, Little Red Riding Hood running through the forest, and a wanderlust pervading almost everything else I do. All this follows two months devoted to a conscious return to life as it is, supported by a Mindfulness course run by the NHS. Yes, that's right! The quiet power of presence brings material change soon afterwards. For me, a lump inside has gone! Not without material

Eros calls. It's Spring but, today, bitter winds blast the blossoms outside. This time last week, I was prompted by a Stars App, to venture into 'naughtiness'. On went the sunniest colours of fabric paint sinking into a welcoming cotton rag below. My attention shifted as the layers darkened. Possibility flowed - now the sublime, now the furious and now the delighted too. Halfway through, a woman appeared in red to touch her lonely friend, only to be half-consumed by o

Yesterday, we sat and it was deep. I could feel horizontal waves of energy travelling through my lower legs. My body knew that this was good, that it was reconnecting me to the earth. The will to escape from this world can be strong but through this meditation, I could ground myself again and, for that, I am grateful. It pulls me back into alignment with everything that living is all about. I stay connected and move through life in a way that is real and secure. For an