At the end of November I was out for an impromptu dinner in a local restaurant. An elderly couple on another table caught my eye. I noticed them because they were wearing party hats. You know, the coloured paper ones you get in Christmas crackers. For some reason I couldn’t explain, it brought tears to…
I have had the great good fortune this week to be teaching at Samye Ling with Choden on the new Access to Insight retreat. During the retreat, it was a great chance for me to practice along with the participants. We practiced acceptance, self-compassion, the four immeasurable qualities of loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity…
Weekly Challenge – Entangled Support It is a cold winter December morning and the sun is out, which I always find is a superb contrast. I don’t have a typical festival feeling at the moment and minimal spark of anticipation for the weeks ahead. Although, I do feel lucky and grateful for the quality time…
We had our annual Board meeting for the Mindfulness Association in Edinburgh yesterday. I travelled over there with Choden from Lockerbie and Norton travelled down from Aberdeen for the day. Kristine, who lives locally, and who is going to be taking on half of my management role in the new year joined us in the…
I am a feather on the bright sky I am the blue horse that runs in the plain I am the fish that rolls, shining, in the water I am the shadow that follows a child I am the evening light, the lustre of meadows I am an eagle playing with the wind I am…
We have 2 NEW opportunities to join our Online Mindfulness Retreat Days! Midwinter Practice In the lull between Christmas and New Year, there is the opportunity to rest and replenish with mindful practice days, to return to our internal heart space that is always ready to welcome us home with open arms. Together, in these…
Weekly Challenge – Winter Panic Buying Winter moods and conversions are around us all the time at the moment, the discussions of shorter days, darker nights, colder evenings seem to be regular and often repeated at this time of year. Those short daylight hours, thoughts of festive get-togethers, the push for purchasing the must-have gifts…
The last few months have felt like living in a kaleidoscope. With each new possible outcome, my mind has imagined a future in full colour. Then as the causes and conditions changed again, another potential future was imagined, also in full colour. While this has been fascinating to observe, it has taken up a lot…
At the weekend I attended the Engaged Mindfulness Course at the beautiful venue of Samye Ling deep in the Dumfriesshire countryside. It was a wonderful weekend reconnecting with my practice, nature and this planet earth. During the weekend Kristine, one of the lead tutors, asked us to recall a recent moment when we felt fully…