Articles and blog posts written by team members, tutors and supervisors of the Mindfulness Association about how they bring mindfulness into their lives.
There is a ruined old farmhouse in Northumberland called Blawearie. The name, apparently, means “tired of the wind”. Living on the North Yorkshire coast, I understand the sentiment behind this name and use if frequently, when day after day there is a relentless wind that rattles my bones, frazzles my energy and is a real…
Once when the lawn was golden green And the marbled moonlit trees rose like fresh memorials In the scented air, and the whole countryside pulsed With the chirr and murmer of insects, I lay in the grass Feeling the great distances open above me, and wondered What I would become and where I would find…
Don’t recall / Let go of what has passed Don’t imagine / Let go of what may come Don’t think / Let go of what is happening now Don’t examine / Don’t try to figure anything out Don’t control / Don’t try to make anything happen Rest / Relax right now and rest “Six…
I have been pondering on all that is invisible. Having recently considered and reflected on the concept of space whilst taking part in the Wisdom course, it has triggered many insights which are just popping up of their own accord. At the moment, every day I am hearing that someone I know has…
Taking Down the Decorations after Christmas, I found to be a ritual. Perhaps Part 2 of the whole midwinter ritual of Christmas Decorations – Part one being Putting Up the decorations. We like marking occasions with decorations and elaboration, don’t we? And the action of placing carefully is a beautiful time for mindfulness practice. Where…
Recently I have been thinking about the energies we put out into the world and how this affects us and those around us. I think in this post-Christmas period which I always think is a strange time of year for everyone, emotions can be quite high. I find there to be a sense of ‘what…
A few years ago I found myself in hospital in a ward on my own, with wires attached to me. Nobody came to see me and the nurses avoided me. It was really strange but I think they knew something I didn’t. There I was – with nothing to do, and nowhere to go. Does…
It’s coming on Christmas, they’re cutting down trees They’re putting up reindeer And singing songs of joy and peace Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on… (From Joni Mitchell, River) Joni Mitchell it seems has accompanied me and my ups and downs since I was introduced to her as…
Among all the definitions of mindfulness, the one that I particularly like I came across years ago in one of Pema Chodron‘s many books (and I can’t remember which one!). It says that mindfulness is loving all the details of our lives. I guess that’s at the heart of my motivation to practice bringing mindfulness…