Letting Go Meditation...

Sit comfortably with your feet flat on the floor. Close your eyes. Notice your breath. Notice the feeling of each breath in… and each breath out…
Feel yourself relaxing more and more as you notice each breath coming in… each breath going out… grounding you… centring you…
Noticing the connection between you, your breath, your mind, body and spirit…
Noticing the connection between you and the universe, as you exchange the same air… a beautiful connection taking place with each breath in and each breath out…

Picture yourself now in a small red boat on a river… As you row downstream, notice how strong your arms feel as they pull the oars backwards and forwards through the water. You notice the green grassy banks on either side of the river, the orange glow of the sunshine, the blue sky… You hear birds singing and the soothing sound of the water flowing steadily along…
After a while, the water becomes quite turbulent. You are being tossed around a bit as the river flows on, so full of energy. You try to row over to the side, to escape from the turbulence, but the current keeps pulling you back…
Notice how you feel…
Tired of struggling, you stop trying to battle against the current, and instead you put the oars down and go with the flow. It feels a bit scary at first, but then, as you calm down and take a few deep breaths, you find yourself enjoying the experience. It is quite exciting, in fact. You trust the water to guide you and your boat onwards. You enjoy the refreshing splash of water on your face as you flow along. You like the roaring sound of the water as it weaves along, strong and determined. It knows where it’s going, and nothing will stop it! Its attitude invigorates you. Breathe in the fresh smells coming from the damp green grass on the river banks. Taste the fresh air on your lips. Feel the energy flow through you as you, the river and your little red boat feel like one interconnected stream of life. Look around as you flow along – what do you see? What does it feel like to have the fresh air in your face? How do you feel?
After a little while, the pace slows down and your boat drifts over to the side.
It’s time to leave now, but you’ll never forget the feeling of exhilaration as you let yourself let go of control for a little while and you trusted the universe to guide you. You have learnt a valuable lesson. Step out of the boat now and up onto the river bank. Take a moment to adjust to being back on the earth again. Feel the earth’s energy flow up through your feet and around your body. Grounding you. Connecting you. Notice your breath again.
Breathe in … and out… in… and out….
Wiggle your toes a little…
And your fingers…
Take a few more breaths and when you’re ready, open your eyes again….
How do you feel now?
….

Earth Day #Meditation...

Today is Earth Day, so I wrote a little meditation that I thought I'd share via my various blogs.

If I had time I'd record it so that you can listen to it, but I'm a bit busy at the moment. Hopefully I'll have a bit of spare time sometime soon so that I can make a recording, but in the meantime you'll have to try it out for yourself. Maybe read it through first, then close your eyes and visualise it all. If you have any feedback, please share  it! 

Namaste.



Take some nice deep breaths; in and out...
Let go... Relax... Breathe... In... Out... Breathe... Let go... Breathe...
If any thoughts come into your mind, let them go; let them drift by like clouds in the sky.
Breathe... Let go...
Enjoy the feeling of your body relaxing as your muscles relax and any tension slips away....
It feels good...

You are walking towards an old wooden gate...
You are feeling very calm and peaceful...
You can feel the warm earth beneath your bare feet...
You are part of the earth; connected to each other like threads of a beautiful tapestry... Feel the connection... Feel the earth grounding you... Feel the earth's energy flowing through you like a beautiful river of love and peace...
Pause at the gate for a moment... Feel the smooth wood underneath your fingertips...
Breathe... Smile...
Open the gate now and look around you... What can you see?
Breathe in the scent of the pine trees...
Notice the earthy smell of the forest floor...
Listen to the beautiful birds singing; so happy and carefree...
Taste the crystal clear air brushing against your lips...
Feel the gentle breeze caressing your hair...
Look up at the tall pine trees reaching so high into the sky... Sunlight is streaming through the branches, sending warmth and energy round you and through you and into every cell of your body...
How does it feel?
Enjoy the new energy flowing through you...
Breathe... Smile...
Walking along the winding path between the trees you feel such a deep sense of connection with mother earth... Gratitude flows through you... It is so good to be part of this beautiful world...
The birds are singing, the sun is shining and life is good...
Sit down for a moment or two, and lean your back against a tree... Feel the strength and wisdom flowing into you as you lean back into the trunk... Let the tree support you for a moment... Breathe... You and the tree are one... You are the tree...
How do you feel?
Your roots reach deep down into the earth, drawing up the energy from the earth's core, spreading up through the trunk and flowing along every branch, every leaf, and out into the air we breathe...
Breathe... Smile...
Place your hands flat on the ground now and feel the connection...
Thank you mother earth for all you give us, so generously...
You are always there for us, providing us with the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water of life... Thank you...
We are all one... Connected with every breath we take...
Stand up now and place your hands against the bark...
Feel the energy flow...
Thank the tree for being there for you. For supporting you. For sharing the energy and the gift of life... Wiggle your toes and feel the soft mossy green grass under your feet... Walk back towards the gate now, enjoying the birds singing and breathing in the scent of the pine trees...
How do you feel?
Look around you for a moment before you go back through the gate...
Smile...Breathe...
Close the gate behind you as you say goodbye... You'll come back again soon...
Take a few more breaths in and out... Notice your body...
Notice each breath...
Gently wiggle your toes...
Wiggle your fingers...
Smile...
Stretch...
How do you feel now?
When you're ready, open your eyes...
Take your time...
Have a drink of water and return to the here and now...

Enjoy the rest of the day...

Writing for Wellbeing...

Where the poems are

There is a long curved pathway
which runs between sanity and madness:
I have walked it many times,

searching

in wrong places
for solutions
to wrong problems;

destined

to walk for ever
until, exhausted,
I came close to death.

Whoever is responsible for miracles

chose that moment
to open up my eyes,
let me see the light,
which lit a different path.

That is where I found the poems.

by David Agnew (Belfast David)

-------------------------------------------------------

I read this poem by my friend David, today and I immediately wanted to share it. It offers hope that however bad things may seem, there is always the possiblity for change, for making different choices. It is never to late to take a different path.

Please do have a look at David's poetry; his words always have something special about them, whether it's gentleness, humour, wisdom, something to ponder upon, or something a little bit silly to smile about; his words never disappoint! Take a look at his blog:  http://belfastdavid.wordpress.com/posts/
and details of his books (that I can thoroughly recommend) can be found here: http://belfastdavid.wordpress.com/books/

Keep on moving...

If you want to succeed in the world you must make your own opportunities as you go on.

The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a coming.

You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until someone comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence.

John B. Gough

Another reminder about the importance of taking responsibility for ourselves and the path we chose to take through life...

Reaching out...

'There is a phenomenological difference in experiencing pain yourself and sharing someone else’s pain and suffering. 
Your own pain is involuntary; you feel overwhelmed and have no control. 
When feeling the pain of others, there is an element of discomfort, but there also is a level of stability because you are voluntarily accepting pain. 
It gives you a sense of confidence.'

Dalai Lama


I read this quote today and to me, it really sums up the role of the counsellor in counselling. As a counsellor, I share my clients' pain; I really feel their suffering. I shed tears of pain and loss and grief along with their tears; my tears give their tears permission to fall...
But all the while, I am aware that it is their pain, not mine. I am there to 'hold' them and support them, and be with them in their suffering. Sometimes it is too much for one person to bear the weight of their pain single-handedly, so that is where I step in. In being alongside someone in their suffering, it makes the process a little less lonely. In offering a space filled with support and compassion, my clients are able to explore, understand, express and release their feelings of pain and sorrow. This can be a difficult process, but it is so necessary for our growth and development as living, breathing, feeling human beings...In me having a sense of confidence in facing painful emotions, it enables my clients to develop confidence in their ability to face these emotions too...
♥

#Guidance for this week

23-366   
 

Keep on keepin' on...

 

“As long as you're actively pursuing your dream with a practical plan, you're still achieving, even if it feels as though you're going nowhere fast.

It's been my experience that at the very moment I feel like giving up, I'm only one step from a breakthrough.

Hang on long enough and circumstances will change, too.

Trust in yourself, your dream and spirit.”

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Sometimes, as we travel along the path towards acheiving our dreams, it feels as if we aren't making much progress.

However, as the above quote points out, it's a case of carying on, one step at a time; trusting, and having faith.

Even if you've strayed off the path, you WILL get there eventually - and you will sometimes discover things that you wouldn't have discovered if you'd continued along the original path, with your eyes firmly on the goal ahead...

Don't worry if it feels like you've ground to a halt.

It's ok to pause and take a break.

However, if it feels impossible to find the motivation to keep on going then maybe it's worth reflecting upon whether the dream you're 'supposed' to be working towards still holds true.

It's ok to change your mind and choose another path!

 

Trust...

 

Hello and happy new year! 

The start of a new year is a good time of year to decide upon a mantra or affirmation for the year; a simple phrase or saying that you can repeat to yourself regularly; maybe at the start and end of each day. 'Trust', for example, might be a good theme to choose. Even that one word would do. Trust. 

One of the essential ingredients of a good relationships is trust. Our relationships with others are based on the relationship that we have with ourselves, so if you trust yourself, it goes to follow that you'll trust others in your life; therefore the relationships you have with others will also be based on the firm foundation of trust. 

I trust...

I trust life...

I trust myself...

I trust the process;

I trust the journey...

I trust my inner wisdom; my inner voice... 

I trust my inner guidance.

I trust the universe...

I trust.

I have patience...

I trust.

All will be well;

I know.

I trust.