Create Space for you

Look, there is sunshine in the trees.
(Respnding to the call to find beauty.)

The is no small joy
Small joy is a spark
That can grow, spread and light a flame

Give oxygen to small joys
They lighr your heart and build a fire
Brings a glow that warms your hands
and burns brightly, radiates around you

Give gratitude to small joys
to amplify their rays
Appreciate their being
and bring them into more life

Give thanks for small joys and the joy of being grateful.

It wasn’t until I reached the wattle,
Halfway in and
Stretched out my hand
That I felt it.

Call it presence,
Call it connected
Call it peaceful
Call it beautiful

Call it no words,
it was a shift in states.

As I breathed in it told me,
some things take time.

and I smiled.

Sometimes our breath is not the gateway
Sometimes it does not flow easily
Some times it hurts from inside and the rhythm is messy and halted.

But there is this.
A blossom on a branch
That has reached out into life.
Her delicate name, starts with Hope.

Then notice, how the all trees seem greener.

A note of thanks, always for this.

This wattle bursts brightly into bloom in winter. As if to say I am here!

See me brightest among the contrast.

Tonight I sit under the cloud covered almost full moon listening to this.

Poetry has a way of speaking to us, to me, which is more full than other writing, especially when spoken by the author like this. Although I don’t have the tounge to write these beautiful words myself, I seem to have the ears to receive them fully.

There are too many lines that stand out, to call out and maybe we each catch our own anyway. So here is to sharing with one another some jewels that could find a home with you.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZxRFLFAnZP9XrqtvVnUiP?si=egIKQ0gEQee7I4IFZyC7Zg&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A5DxVkTDXe7wIphPZMd4AvF

Episode 6: Thoughts on giving ourselves grace and compassion. Listen to this episode from Liezel Graham on Spotify. Join me at my kitchen table for a poem, 'You might want to read this as a blessing', and some thoughts on giving ourselves grace and compassion. You are welcome here. As always, all my work is a very personal, ongoing conversation with myself. No...

Practicing softening, even when it’s cold. Especially when it’s cold.

For me, to watch the day gently glide into night is to curve sharp edges from the day. So I can be kinder than I was just before.

Inspired by Rita Lloyd Nurturing art.

Mindful drawing, with love.

Sunset eyes, slow me down enough to notice a wallaby in the periphery of my sight.

Breath in nature. Breath out hurry.

One of my favourite favourite things is to create space for people to have experience and revelation, and I love the sharing in intimate groups where the combined energy and thoughts sparks each other.

This week I have been discussing assumptions on meditations: what gets in the way, what works, and why we would do it. You see, as much as we can be guided and do practices together, I believe individualising is important too - we get to know what works for us and what we want in the moment, rather than imposing a practice on ourselves; we can create our own ways to unwind outside of a meditation class.

I enjoyed hearing about spontanous moments of mindfulness: catching the feeling of sun on your skin as you walk to the car, spontaneous phrases that are calming and grounding, bringing awareness into daily life like lingering with the infusion of a tea bag in a cup, and a common delight of cultivating a more delicious breath by breathing in fragrance of an essential oil. These micro-doses add up, and take the pressure off, so we can feel a sense of stability as we move through our day (and show up with others) instead of waiting until our to-do list is completed to take the time to unwind (likely it will never end, or we will have quite a build up of tension to process by the time we do stop).

Also, it was great to hear the encouragement from each other to step outside the rational mind and permission to take a moment.

I like to linger with words in poems and shared the one below because it is a wonderful environment to meditate in: The most important thing, by Julia Fehrenbacher.

I hope some of these thoughts will inspire you to take a moment for yourself, and if you are in Brisbane this weekend you may like to join me at Bulimba Inna Bliss Yoga for a session on Gateways to meditation.