The Field
‘Strictly speaking, nobody has ever ‘healed’ anyone else. A true ‘healer’ simply remains present, providing a safe field in which unfamiliar and intense energies can be felt, bound-up emotions can be released, and we can come out of time, out of the drama and chaos of ‘My Life’, and breathe into our bodies, fall into our own presence, simplify.
Healing is not a destination, nor a special power in the hands of a few, it is the re-contacting of that which is already healed, already whole, beyond the healer and the healed – our true nature.’
- Jeff Foster
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The Presence Process
I have just completed Michael Brown’s ‘The Presence Process – A Journey into Present Moment Awareness’ It wasn’t all plain-sailing – my resistance manifested in many ways; forgetfulness, not bothering, feeling uncomfortable and creating all manner of plausible excuses why I can’t face something that’s clearly a block for me! According to Brown, ‘it’s the mind struggling to give up it’s God-like control and grip on my experience of life’. I know the games I play are the same ones I played when I was a child; not wanting to do my home-work, avoiding being found-out, playing up to get attention. Nothing’s new, it’s all a repeating pattern, ‘driven by unintegrated emotional charge’. I now realise that decades have past, and opportunities have been squandered as I allowed myself to be distracted by the symphony of discomfort and pain. The time was right for me to get some clarity, focus my energy and accelerate the process of integrating my past and the ancient feelings from childhood into my adult experience of life. The proof is in the eating. Read, follow the simple instructions and the rest is down to you. Only you can feel your unintegrated charge. Only you can face your fear, anger and grief. No one else, not even Michael Brown can do it for you.
A Prayer to the Universe
I wrote a poem today!
Dash to pieces the structures I’ve built,
Destroy my dreams to conquer my plight,
Show me how to love more deeply,
Wherever I hide, shine in your light.
Whatever I’ve fought, may I fully embrace,
And soften towards my one time foe.
Where my heart is closed, may it be open,
Where I still hold on, may I let it go.
Despatch your infinite supply of agents,
That I may trust the vibration of life.
Help me laugh at my serious thinking,
Humour amidst my trouble and strife.
Be my stillness in the violent storms,
Spare not the truth although I grieve.
Hold me tight when I stumble and falter,
Be my breath when I cannot breathe.
Let me experience the joy of living,
May presence be my resting place.
As I learn to feel, not just to feel better,
I gracefully decline this human race.
Amen
8 Week Mindfulness Course
Rediscover your natural inner-peace. Register for this course and embark on a journey where the destination is the starting point. You.
You will learn how the triangle of compassion (consistentcy / unconditional self love / responsibility) forms the basis of authentic present moment awareness – a way of being that transforms your experience of life.
Use the link below to book your place:
http://www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk/
and click ‘Book Classes’
MINDSTOCK DAY RETREAT
So excited about co-hosting a day retreat on Saturday 27 June in Little Baddow, Chelmsford. There will be yoga. Meditation, workshops, a great lunch and a beautiful setting that is The Retreat Farm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1606279789617851/
Book tickets here:
http://www.mindfulness-unltd.com/learning-shop/-mindfulness-unltd-in-daisy-chains
Mindful Eating
Mindful eating – intentionally eating consciously, is a great way to develop an awareness of the present moment. When we slow right down and really appreciate the tastes and smells of the food we eat rather than rushing it down to get somewhere else, we suddenly notice how being in the here now, is a totally different experience.
What is mindful eating?
Mindful eating is being fully attentive to the experience of eating and taste, being aware of the flavour, texture, colour, and aroma of the food or drink we consume. We become aware of the whole process of eating, paying attention to all the sensations involved avoiding any tendency to criticise or judge ourselves in any way. When our mind becomes distracted, we gently redirect our attention back to the sensations of eating.
Simple steps
- Avoid distractions such as watching TV or looking at your phone at the same time as eating
- Hold the food – touch it if practical, feels its texture, notice its colour, its density, its properties – is it sticky, smooth or hard? Really be with the food as opposed to being distracted by what’s going on in your head.
- As soon as you notice your mind wander, gently redirect it’s attention back to being aware of the food
- Bring the food towards your mouth and your nose. Notice any aroma. Notice your digestive system creating saliva in readiness for the food. Take your time – don’t rush it.
- Take a bite or a mouthful and savour its taste. Again, take your time, move it around your mouth. Notice its texture, its properties. Be with the taste as if you have never tasted this food before. Allow curiosity, avoid association, be with the food in the present moment.
- Notice the whole process of swallowing the food, the feel of it passing down your oesophagus into your stomach. Notice the feeling of satisfaction. Does your mind want more? Observe your thoughts but let them go.
- Now, eat the rest of the food in a similar way, taking your time and being wholly with the experience of eating.
| The Centre For Mindful Eating | http://www.thecenterformindfuleating.org/ |
| The Guardian Article | http://gu.com/p/3q84t/sbl |
| Am I Hungry? | http://amihungry.com/what-is-mindful-eating/ |
| Huffington Post | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/12/mindful-eating-tips_n_3941528.html |
Please feel free to like this post (or not!) and I would love to read and reply to any comments you may wish to leave
Practice: One thing at a time
Attributed to Devin Maroney at the One Heart blog
Some people think of meditation as something we do sitting on the floor (or in a chair) with our legs crossed and our eyes closed, but much of the wonder of mindfulness is experienced as it works its way into all aspects of our lives. We come to realize that we can be awake and present for everything: the joy of cooking, the way it feels to make a bed, the sadness and tenderness of truly listening to a friend in need.
We also may come to find how little we’ve actually experienced up until now. We may be consumed by making plans at breakfast, only to find that the meal is over and we weren’t really aware of eating it. Or we may start to see that when we walk in the cold or ride on the train, rather than feeling the air on our face or hearing the rumbling of the wheels on the tracks, we are stuck…
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Practice Pieces: Commit to Sit
In Contemplation by P Bibler
Fitting something else into our already over-stuffed lives can be a real challenge. The will might be there, but life gets in the way and sweeps us along. This can be even more the case with meditation. We still might not be absolutely sure it’s worth making the time for – that it’s a worthwhile endeavour. But like getting regular exercise, the benefits are definitely felt if we stick with it, to the point where you may feel like something’s missing when you haven’t done it. So here are a few tips on establishing a regular meditation routine.
- It’s worth setting a firm intention to practice. You could write this down, including all the reasons why you want to commit to this. You might also like to keep an ongoing journal to record your experiences of mindfulness practice. Looking back over it later you may…
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Unconditional Love
We cannot unconditionally love one another if we impose conditions on ourselves. We cannot give what we don’t have. To love yourself unconditionally is a selfless act – the ego will never allow it. This quality of love doesn’t abide in the dualistic world of right or wrong, good or bad, worthy or unworthy. Unconditional love just is. It’s way beyond our concept of justice, goodness or sprirituality and far beyond blame or righteousness. We won’t be able to appreciate this love if we try to work it out, think about it or set some criteria for it. There is no key performance indicator, no yardstick to judge it by. Unconditional love is all around and within us – but often we find it hard to see. We can practice feeling it. We can practice being still enough to feel it’s vibration. It’s subtle but very powerful. It powers the universe. Sooner or later we will hear the still-small-voice and then we realise we were always love.
Please feel free to like this post (or not!) and I would love to read and reply to any comments you may wish to leave – Andy
