This week I have been noticing how easily I am getting distracted. It’s not surprising; I work from home which can sometimes blur the boundary between work and the demands of housekeeping; just going to get myself a cup of tea can send me down a route which involves feeding the cat, walking the dog,…
I found myself in a cabin in the woods in the middle of storm. Yes, the one we all felt the effects of last weekend. Storm Ciara. The cabin is somewhere I retreat to on a regular basis. It is in the middle of woodland surrounded by chalk streams and near a lake. It has…
I’m having one of those weeks when nothing is coming through in my mind to write about for this blog. Words are usually quite forthcoming but this week – nothing. I thought about writing about my visit to the zoo with my grandson. That was quite a mindful experience but I’m saving that for another…
This last weekend I have been teaching weekend three of our Mindfulness Level 1: Being Present course. This weekend we focus on preference and acceptance. One of the big things that comes up over this weekend is a habitual pattern that many of us have that we are not good enough. This habit can be…
I am away now to a bungalow by the sea for four weeks. I am treating myself to some solitary retreat time with two of my dogs, Holly and Nutmeg. Then I have some holiday time at Christmas and New Year with family. After the new year I have some more solitary retreat time. Then…
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…
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…