The Miracles of Life

Breathe in the miracles of life
as stardust, snowflakes and raindrops.
Breathe out a wish
for peace in the world.

Breathe in the miracles of life
as green grass, rotting leaves, bare branches.
Breathe out a wish
for contentment and rest in the world.

Breathe in the miracles of life
as hibernating seeds, plants and animals.
Breathe out a wish
for harmony in the world.

Breathe in the miracles of life
as frosty mornings, moonlit nights and skies full of stars.
Breathe out a wish
for recognition of the miracles of life throughout the world.

Breathe in the miracles of life
as a newborn baby, a reluctant teenager, a dying elder.
Breathe out a wish
for all to rest in deep sleep.
Breathe out a wish
for all to know peace.
Breathe out a wish
for all to be at peace.

© 18 Dec 16

What gift can I give myself?

What gift can I give myself?
What will most nourish me now?
I give myself permission to be me
just me, good enough as I am and
doing my best.
I let go of worrying over
what others will think.
I let go of trying to anticipate
the outcome of each situation.
I let go of trying to answer
all the ‘what if’s”
I give myself permission
to dwell in presence
with its uncertainty and unknowing and
be ok with watching life unfold
heading on its own path
without me needing to know
every step of the way.
I give myself the greatest gift
which is called the present moment.

© 23 Nov 16

Be Calm, Be Happy Mindfulness course

A new 6-session mindfulness course rooted in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

Be Calm, Be Happy provides a gradual introduction to mindfulness and meditation and key teachings on positive happy living over six weekly classes.  Each class includes guided mindfulness exercises and meditations, group discussions and practical exercises led by two experienced facilitators in a warm, friendly atmosphere with a maximum of 14 participants.  

I'm very happy to be offering this along with my colleague Clare Belbin-Carlile in 2017.

We offer the course in 2 North Yorkshire venues, York and Kirkbymoorside.

Course content includes: 

Session 1: Stopping and calming

Session 2: Turning to the positive

Session 3: Loving communication

Session 4: Nourishing happiness

Session 5: Interdependence and community

Session 6: Guidelines for a happier life

Reported benefits of attending this course include:

Increased enjoyment of life

Increased ability to be calm and relaxed

Increased control of emotions such as anger and anxiety

Improved sleep quality

Fewer feelings of anxiety and depression

Who Should Attend 

This course is suitable for beginners, as well as those wishing to refresh their mindfulness practice. It is suitable for those of all faiths and none. Our course participants come from a wide range of backgrounds. Many of our participants are keen to learn new ways to look after their own well being and to identify positive responses to challenging situations. 

York

10th January - 21st February (Tuesday evenings, 6.30 - 9.00pm)

6 consecutive sessions at

Acomb Quaker Meeting House, The Green, Acomb.
York, YO26 5LR.

Kirkbymoorside

Saturdays 11th, 25th February and 11th March (10am - 3.30pm)

3 days (2 sessions per day) at

Kirkbymoorside Natural Health Centre, The Bethel Chapel, Tinley Garth. 

Kirkbymoorside YO62 6AR

 Cost: £95/£60 concessions

Please book via Eventbrite: coimindful.eventbrite.co.uk

For enquiries please email: bcbhmindful@gmail.com

A carpet

I wished to lay a carpet

of beauty and delight

at the feet of my beloved

yet my attempts fell short.

"Let me help," whispered the tree

scattering all her gorgeous leaves

around your form

coating the ground with a

dazzling display of beauty and delight

in pure simplicity.

Four lines, five words

In Thich Nhat Hanh's latest book At Home in the World  I read that the gathas - four line verses Thay uses to express the teaching in all aspects of life - in the original Chinese were four lines and only 5 words per line. This delighted my aim for brevity and I have been playing with this as I often find a poem comes as a whole idea or a distinct image rather than particular words.

Here are some I have written so far - enjoy!

Tonight a super moon rises
closer to earth than usual.

Go into the darkness, see

what beauties are lit there.

............

Oneness, birthplace of all movement.

Stars sing moon into beauty

river and pebbles clash harmoniously

leaves chant farewell to trees.

............

Desire for succinctness and brevity
yet words spill onto page
in an uncontained, chaotic joyfulness
that somehow makes perfect sense.

..........

Light shines brightest in darkness
right, left cannot be separated.
You in me in you
a divided world made whole.

...........

Sufi artists embrace imperfection, knowing
God alone as perfect, pure.
I also adopt this knowledge

letting go of never complete.

..........

It only needed a seed

the whole tree was there

you and I in shade

enjoying an unsought for peace.

..........

Red sky glinting in river

water reflecting colour of trees.

Which is more real, more

true? Mind enraptured by both.

..........

I saw a single leaf

suspended between heaven and earth

caught on invisible spider's web

delightfully unmoving despite autumn flurries.

..........

Misty morning on the river

snow dripping off the trees

light diffused through soft filters

winter not quite yet arrived.

© 16 Nov 16

Space to notice

Space to notice
what I am caught up with
where the mind has gone
what paths or daydreams
the thoughts have wandered into.
Space to notice
the reality I create for myself and
the far greater, infinite reality
dwelling just outside the door.
Space to notice
the limits I impose upon myself and
the unending freedom available
if I allow myself.
Space to notice
and care for the body’s needs but
not to be over-cautious or fearful.
Space to notice
all movements originate here
including those in the mind.
Space to notice
space
here is all knowledge, all joy, all wonder.
Stay with the space.

© 14 Nov16

The ebook is free this weekend!

This weekend Amazon are offering a promotion where the ebook of In the Tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh: Mindfulness and Engaged Buddhism is FREE.
The idea is you tell all your family and friends how amazing it is and they all buy it! :)
Just a word of warning if you take up this option - viewing it on a phone the text is very small and needs zooming in, which means you have to scroll across for the end of each sentence.
This doesn't apply to kindles and larger devices.
If you do get it please leave a review when you have read it, preferably on all of them if you can!
You can also get it on Wordery and Lulu.com
Enjoy! :)