Autumn Equinox 22 September

Dear Yogis

As the autumn equinox date approaches and day and night will have approximately equal length; I trust the upheaval that some of us have been experiencing may come into balance for a still point before the tilt again as the North Pole begins moving away from the sun.  Evenings will start to become darker until the Winter Solstice in December.
If you follow the Four Corners ritual you will know that Acceptance lies in the North and you may find it helpful to concentrate on the colour blue and the quality of contentment which Acceptance brings.
Get out into nature and enjoy the autumnal colours as they burst forth.  This will help if you are particularly sensitive to the energies of the earth and feel a bit despondent at this time of the year.
Eat lightly even when the call for stodge is high!  Fill the belly with light and energy of fresh fruit and vegetables which can be lightly steamed or put in lovely soups.  Play  happy music and dance!
Love and Light

Gratitude

Another beautiful day and feeling grateful for the sunshine and the smiles as we walked and dreampt in Bushy Park.   Meeting so many babies and parents and looking forward to another addition to our family in November.   Makes one aware of the duty we have to future generations to safegurd this precious planet  not only from environmental pollution but also from the pollution of our minds with negativity .
Wear your kavacha of light and walk without fear into each new day.  Summer newsletter out soon and we do hope to see the yoga circle sometime this year for a gathering in the flesh.  Of course you are always there in the circle of light in our meditations .  Keep strong.

Summer Solstice

Sunrise in Orvietto on one of our Yogawise retreats in Italy.  Posting this to wish all a happy summer solstice in 2013.      

Winnie the Pooh said of the hums that came to him from time to time:

"Poetry and hums aren't things which you get. 

 They're things which get you and all you can do is to go where they can find you."

I hope today you will go somewhere peaceful and allow some 'hums' to find you!

OM shanti shanti shanti   Peace Peace Peace

Beauty in Nature

Glastonbury and Home

"The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels"

Hazrat Inayat Khan

This quote resonated with me after spending a week away learning, meditating and dreaming in sacred Glastonbury.   I met some very wise women who passed on their wisdom about Birth in our culture.  

How can we help prospective mothers and fathers cope with this important rite of passage in this age of isolation.for many?  The whole minefield of expectations and conflicting advice surrounds this time of transformation for the mother predominately but also for the father and the rest of the extended family.

Words used can have a big impact at this time and therefore the ones that 'enlighten' are truly valuable.

Perhaps it is better to keep quiet and listen more if we are not sure that what we are saying will be of help to those we are seeking to aid!    Perhaps even find the words of others who speak more directly to the person if our own fails to hit the mark.   

I have often found that friends, family and students will tell me something that has made them think about a subject differently upon reading a book or hearing an inspirational speaker and they will be unaware that we have covered this ground before and they did not see what seems obvious to them now.   Sometimes it is just a matter of maturity but often it is the words that are used which turn on a light bulb.   Unfortunately the turn off switch is also there!     

Enjoy these photos from the Challice Wells Gardens, the Tor and around Glastonbury.

words of wisdom

Just reading some favourite quotes and this one stood out as so very yogic.  Do you know who wrote it? Clue: Famous woman writer with equally talented sisters who were also novelists.

I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do.

 I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. 

I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.” 

Poem that heals the loss

February marks the anniversary of my wonderful father Neville's death and when I found this poem by Vikram Seth I felt him smiling.    What a surprise to find that Dad went to the same school as Vikram Seth in Patna, India on the banks of the sacred Ganges - St Michael's .  What a lot we can learn from Wikipedia!

 Princess Alice Hospice Yellow Rose of Remembrance

Gone though you have, I heard your voice today.

I tried to make out what the words might mean,

Like something seen half-clearly on a screen:

Each savoured reference, each laughing bark,

Sage comment, bad pun, indiscreet remark.

Gone since you have, grief too in time will go,

Or share space with old joy; it must be so.

Rest then in peace, but spare us some elation.

Death cannot put down every conversation.

Over and out, as you once used to say?

Not on your life. You're on this line to stay.

This month has had further deaths for our family and I know many friends who are also in early stages of grief so I trust you will find some comfort in reading this poem which was written to honour the passing of a dear friend.