In my weekly blog, Heather’s Musings, I write about what has been happening in my life and how I am applying my mindfulness, compassion and insight practice to it. The process of writing the blog is often an opportunity for me to gain more clarity and recognise what is happening and I find it highly beneficial. My wish is that it is also helps other meditation practitioners who are on a similar journey.
The opinions and beliefs that I express in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinion of the Mindfulness Association.
This week, like many women my age, I have been pondering Brian Cox, but perhaps not in the same way as others! I have been wondering how he remains so relentlessly cheerful, despite the stick her gets for being, well, relentlessly cheerful! I like to listen to radio four, but not in the traditional way.…
This week I am delivering a teaching skills retreat at Samye Ling. It was beautiful when I arrived, the day after the snow – all sparky snow around the colourful Tibetan buildings, statues and flags, especially the hills around were clear and white against the pure blue of the sky. I love being at Samye…
This week I am back in my normal work routine. Off to Manchester on the train today to work with my colleagues in MAHQ. For many of us January can be a difficult time, short of cash after Christmas, dark nights, quite a long time until spring or our next holiday and we may have…
Those of you who read this blog regularly (thank you!) will know that I use the lojong cards from the Pema Chodron compassion box. Unfortunately, they are no longer available. However, her book ‘Start where you are’ which forms the basis of the compassion box is still available and contains a list of the lojong…
I woke this morning (Boxing Day) to the news that George Michael had died. As a teenager in the 80s I was a fan and even went to see Wham live. I’ve never been able listen to ‘Careless Whisper’ or the wonderful ‘Don’t Let the sun go down on me’ duet with Elton John without…
Fear is a limiting human emotion, which limits what we feel able to do and boxes us in within what is known and comfortable. Often the problem is fear of feeling fear, fear of failure, fear of change, fear of what others might think, or fear of strong emotions, such as anger or sadness. Often…
This week I am travelling from Venice to Florence for five days of holiday with my husband Mark before travelling back to Venice on Friday to lead the last weekend of the Level 2: Responding with Compassion training. Then back to the UK for Christmas. ‘A Room with A View’ over the River Arno It…
I write this blog sitting in the park in Mestre, Italy. I am staying with my friend Gaia, as we are just about to begin teaching the Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) teaching skills retreat in Venice for 5 days, starting Wednesday. She is at home with her mum putting up her enormous Christmas tree…
This week I am writing my blog from Cape Town in South Africa. I am here on a short visit to see my meditation teacher and founder of the Mindfulness Association, Rob Nairn. He did not visit Europe this year due to poor health and so I wanted to visit him. We have had a…