That’s IT!
No more of this
Looking back through
2016’s murk.Pundits say
gone, (not forgotten)
deceptions winning smiles
2016’s ‘antics’.I say:
let go the dualities
For or Against
2016’s legacy?
That said:
A moment to remember
those who hurt,
hunger, suffer.
And cry out.That said:
Listen, hear, act.
Together let us create
a flourishing year.
Along the Median Way.
And do our part to tackle sufferings cause.
At the very least that.
And there she is, the lovely Bess up there on the tops in snow on the 10th November. You can see how popular she is if you follow the link text to a Facebook page edited by her ‘person’, an equally wonderful person. (My mother always talked to dogs by saying something like ‘what a lovely person’!) Anyway dear Bess, and all who know her and Rachael, were is a bit of a concerned state following news that Bess had ‘a lump’. Turned out to be a consequence of something that happened during her routine procedure to be spayed. Not go into the details enough to say Bess has nothing life threatening and now sports a fast healing scare on her belly. (Cousin Jess in the US, no stress please. All is well, your vet hat can remain happy on your head.)
The other day there was a bit of a gathering in the place where I am staying at the moment. There is always a space for Bess, and a bowl of water for refreshments too. We had a few quiet moments together and, unusual for her with relative strangers, rolled over to reveal her wound patch. Just a small window of opportunity to hold the palm of my hand over the wound to ‘bless’ it. We are taught in our tradition to do this. Bit of love offered to the lovely Bess and also to seal up the hole created my the surgery. Similar to making sure the door is closed and locked when you leave a building, only this works on a subtle (spiritual) level.
Yep. Bess is best. Collie dogs are very loyal and Bess is no exception joined as she is to Rachael.
SAD. Slowly as the light of the world dims, starting around about now, Seasonal Affective Disorder settles in for the long haul towards Spring. That’s April for the fortunate.
The leaves fall from the trees in profusion and at first all seems fine. It’s Autumn, the colours are brilliant – red, gold, orange, browns of every hue. But the sun rays are weak and for those who are prone to SAD need to supplement with extra light to keep away those all too familiar Winter Blues. For some the situation moves past feeling low to being more or less dysfunctional.
This post is for a friend in Canada who is heading into the SAD season vowing to keep up a regular meditation practice every day and to supplement with light each morning. One can get lonely in the low light time. Depression is isolating. Pain is isolating. Know you are not alone. I for one will be drinking in extra light each morning and offering merit for all who suffer.
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
Walking down from Wansfell into Troutbeck on Saturday, the sheep. The orange sheep. That way to deter sheep rustlers. ‘Don’t mock the flock’ repeated in my mind to the rhythm of my striding. No, Don’t mock the flock! I guess we are all part of a flock, one way or another.
You are not to know
The story behind this
or this
or this
And I do wonder if that actually matters. The story that is. Four images taken at different times and places and all have much to say. Or rather I’ve, potentially much to say.
What they have in common is a path, one that I’ve walked and probably others too. All with their own unique tale to tell, even the sheep! That’s now faded into the past yet the images remain in my mind and they too will fade. Given half the chance.
The path though? The multi dimensional path, on the ground, in ones mind and where that path leads. Up a hill,….and there goes my alarm telling me I have to go and catch a train to London.
Somebody suggested to me the other day that walking was a creative act in that it is making manifest an intention. I’ve been doing quite a bit of creative work recently!