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Tag Archives: spirituality

For Emergencies Only?

05 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

awareness, beauty, clarity, compassion, contemplation, courage, creativity, gratitude, joy, life, meditation, spirituality, writing

meditation2image credit: www.insightmeditation.org.nz

A conversation with a dear friend yesterday, reminded of this piece I wrote over three years ago. I needed to re-read it, so thought it might have value for you too – enjoy 🙂

At the moment I meditate like I take vitamin C – in emergencies only. OK, I’ve used that word lightly, but it’s true. I find myself caught in the habit of using the preventative as cure, which works to an extent, but prevention is better. My mother once told me of a tradition where you paid your doctor every month – unless you were ill. That was the month you didn’t pay, because you doctor had not done their job well enough. Now THAT would revolutionize the NHS (our beloved National Health Service here in the UK, which itself is becoming rather sick due to government spending cuts…).

There was a time, not so long past, when I had a very regular and treasured spiritual practice. I would meditate daily for an hour, with days off being a rare exception. And there was a time, not so long past, when my diet was more balanced, when I was more aware of what my body needed and where it could get it. I didn’t need vitamin supplements

Before beginning to teach on this one month intensive English Language Course, I felt a sore throat coming and my left ear had begun to complain with an inner pain that hinted at possible infection. I bought vitamin C supplements and slept for the afternoon. I was lucky, and whatever had threatened to pay me a visit decided not to stick around. I felt well the next day. I was grateful to my body, but it made me think.

This weekend I noticed my ‘being VS doing’ scale was feeling overwhelmingly tipped in doing’s favour, so I went to our Sanctuary here. This is a dedicated silent room, with a candle in the centre and chairs arranged in circles. I went into Sanctuary with the intention of catching up on some ‘being’ time.

Oh sweetheart, it doesn’t work like that. The vegetables I’m growing can’t be drowned in water one day and left thirsty for the next three. Little and often. My children’s novel won’t get written if I wait for those times when I have a whole weekend free. Little and often. My soul will not find its way closer to God if I think I can make up for regular daily practice by sitting with great intensity and purpose for, oh, a whole hour. My mind is like a well composted garden bed; it grows weeds with as much success as flowers and veg.  If I weed it every day, the flowers will thrive. If I leave it too long, the weeds will have taken much of the nourishment for themselves, not to mention they’ll have grown tall and thick enough to hide the flowers completely. Weeds are powerful, believe me, I played tug of war with nettle roots recently and it was a closer run thing that I’d like to admit.

As I was weeding, liberating the spent daffodil bulbs from their cages of ground elder and nettle roots, my compassion began to grow for those thoughts, that light, that love and creativity that is missing out on my attention and energy, because the weeds of ‘To Do’ and ‘obligation’ have been allowed to grow out of control. When they reach this point of overwhelm, it’s already too late for ‘little and often’, and ‘one thing at a time’ must be engaged instead. To manage the overwhelm I have to focus on one task at a time, in order to be fed by the satisfaction of seeing something completed before digging for the energy to focus on the next.

I did spend a few precious moments with our sweet peas though, checking on their progress. When I saw how the delicate, finger like tendrils had perfectly and neatly curled themselves around the string of the rough frame I’d created for them, I was mesmerized. How do they know where the string is? How do they know they must wrap, and climb, and stretch towards the sun in order to flower and thrive? How many years, hundreds, thousands, of evolution has it taken to create this plant with such precision and perfection that it follows some divine inner instruction with such grace and lack of effort that we barely notice how clever it is?

How do I come to such a place of busyness that I believe I can catch up on my journey towards greater wakefulness by having a single hour of silence?

Writing this has brought me to humour, which has brought me to a more peaceful place, which has brought me to a willingness to accept what I already know – I have to give conscious attention to the important things ‘little and often’ or the unimportant things will grow to hide what really matters, and it will take much more time and effort to re-reveal those true priorities again.

Happy inner gardening folks🙂

Gardens: sweet peas  //www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/oct/19/gardens-sweet-peas

 

GLADvent Day 24

24 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, friendship, GLADvent, gratitude, poetry, spirituality

Welcome to the GLADvent finale – day Twenty-Four! Yesterday we had the word Poetry.

Poetry has long been precious to me, and most recently the experience of writing three minute poems to order has been a wonderful way of keeping that love alive and vibrant, as I end up writing about topics, and in a style, outside of more familiar terrain, which kick starts the flow and prevents me from going stale. Hopefully, it also means I’ve contaminated others with verse love! It brings a powerful sense of play too, which creative muses thrive on!

Poetry is teacher, friend and entertainer. Poetry uplifts me, guides me and connects me more deeply with life and the feelings being alive involves. I really do think poetry says the big stuff best, because it uses words in a magical musical way that has enough flexibility to stretch to invoking the intangible that exists beyond our everyday lives in this dualistic world. Personally, I think it’s that ‘intangible’ stuff that gives meaning and interest to life.

 

And now, for the last stocking!

day-24-friendship

FRIENDSHIP: “Walking with a friend in the dark is better

than walking alone in the night.”

– Helen Keller

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Friendship has shown up in your life recently. What are the qualities you value most in a friend? Who has been there for you this past year? What do you/will you do to cultivate new and existing  friendships in the new year?

day-24-whole

 

And so GLADvent comes to an end! Thank you all for joining in, and have a wonderful Christmas Day, however you choose to spend it.

Love and blessings of friendship and gratitude,

 

Harula xxx

GLADvent Day 23

23 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, gratitude, plants, poetry, spirituality

Welcome to GLADvent day Twenty-Three! Yesterday we had the word Plants.

 

I’ve never been patient or gentle enough to develop green fingers, and have been known to wholly unintentionally kill houseplants, mainly through over-watering. However, woods and forests are places of great nourishment and fascination for me.

I am never so aware of NOT being alone than when I’m walking among trees, and I receive my greatest inspiration on these adventures. Trees have even been known to almost directly talk to me; it really feels that way because suddenly I download/access wisdom I am very much in need of at that moment, and the sense is both of care and detachment. There is such freedom in that.

And now, for the twenty third stocking!

day-22-whole

And let’s turn it over…

day-23-poetry

POETRY: “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”

– Leonardo Da Vinci

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Poetry has shown up in your life recently. Do you have a favorite poem you turn to when you are in need of soul food? Do you write poetry, even if you never show it to anyone else…and if so, what drives you? What do you think is poetry’s place, if indeed you feel it has one, in modern life?

day-23-whole

See you tomorrow for the final post in this series….

GLADvent Day 22: Plants

22 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, christmas, clothes, GLADvent, gratitude, plants, spirituality

Welcome to GLADvent day Twenty-Two! Yesterday we had the word Clothes.

The first piece of clothing I remember clearly is a light white cotton dress with blue dots on. There’s a photo of me in Greece, wearing the dress whilst standing at the top of concrete steps leading down to the beach, looking wistfully at the sea because I had measles at the time and wasn’t allowed to swim.

I remember the tiny little super smart navy blue hacking jacket I wore to compete in my first gymkhana.

I remember the multi-coloured coat my mother made for my birthday when my Dad took me to see my first musical in London, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

I remember the gorgeous wide sleeved warm coloured cardigan my sister crocheted that I wore until there were so many holes it just wouldn’t stay on any more.

I remember the clothes my Mum made for me to take to Rwanda so I’d look smart enough to match the standards of my immaculately turned out colleagues in the classrooms there.

I remember the dramatic boots; green, warmly lined, zipping neatly over my calves and up just below my knee, fitting like gloves – except they were never originally meant for me. They were generously gifted to me by a friend who one day decided she could no longer wear green. They started letting the rain in through holey soles earlier this year, but I can’t quite bring myself to throw them away, and so they crowd the shoe shelf in the corridor.

I will remember forever the long red evening dress I bought about 8 months ago in a second hand shop, knowing the moment I started pulling it over my head that I’d found the dress I needed to look the part for performances with the choir.

My mother asked me many years ago if she could please have the privilege of making my wedding dress when I get married. I wonder if maybe one day I’ll be able to say – Mum, I need that dress…

So, the twenty second stocking.

day-21-whole

And let’s see what focus for reflection this day brings…

day-22-plants

PLANTS: “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”

– John Muir

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Plants have shown up in your life recently. Do you have green fingers? Are you a houseplant lover, or do you prefer your vegetation wild? Have you had the chance to walk through woods, or forest recently?

 

day-22-whole

Twenty-two stockings turned – we’re almost there! And I reckon we’ve saved a couple of the best till last 😉 Hope to see you tomorrow for number 23.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

 

GLADvent Day 21

21 Wednesday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, clothes, gratitude, spirituality

Welcome to GLADvent day Twenty-One, and happy solstice all! Yesterday our word was Food.

I arrived at my father’s house this evening in preparation for Christmas, and my mum welcomed me with a bowl of soup, bread and little bowls of chocolate and nuts dotted around the place, just like my grandmother used to do (although with her it was all year round, not just at Christmas). Food is one of the ‘glues’ in our family, we talk about it a lot, enjoy preparing and eating it together, and always make more than enough in case someone extra and unexpected turns up.

So, the twenty first stocking.

day-20-whole

And what’s on the back?

day-21-clothes

CLOTHES: “If you were to gather all the clothes you have ever owned in all your life, you would have your autobiography.”

– Linda Grant

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Clothes have shown up in your life recently. Do you prefer your clothes  comfy and practical, or do you follow fashion trends? Do you have any special memories of a particular piece of clothing? Have you always been able to wear whatever you wanted, or has something limited your choices?

day-21-whole

Twenty-one stockings turned – only three more left! 🙂 Hope to see you tomorrow for number 22.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

 

GLADvent Day 20

20 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, christmas, food, gratitude, love, poem, poetry, spirituality

Welcome to GLADvent day Twenty! Yesterday we had the word Love.

 

Oh my word – it would turn up now, wouldn’t it! I’m feeling a little tender,  and though Love is the perfect word (well, it always is isn’t it….), I don’t feel like digging up my own response right now… so I’m going to share with you one of the poems I wrote this weekend.

This was for a woman who wanted to have a poem about…

 

Being in love with a grumpy old man

It’s not always easy

to laugh at jokes

that at times

seem older than you

(and that’s saying something)

but it’s true

that the grumpy old man wrapping

hides a gift

you only show

when we’re at home

that kind, soft, sensitive side

is why I love

that grumpy old man

who wraps his warmth

in sarcastic cynicism

and refuses to imbibe

of the sweetly mulled

Christmas cheer

and yet

when no one else is near

the smile comes out

the loving words

the tender looks

yes, I’m hooked

on my grumpy old man

 

Ok, onward – to 20!

day-19-whole

Roll over, roll over…

day-20-food

FOOD: “After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.”

– Oscar Wilde

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Food has shown up in your life recently. Is there a particular favourite food, for you or your family, at this time of year? Do you like to cook? What does sharing a meal mean to you? Have you ever gone without, by choice or otherwise?

day-20-whole

Twenty stockings turned! Only Four more left until the big day! 🙂 Hope to see you tomorrow for number 21.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

GLADvent Day 19

19 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, christmas, gratitude, hope, love, spirituality

Welcome to GLADvent day Nineteen! Yesterday we had the word Hope.

So I’d like to share this video of two young boys singing a song called ‘Hopeful’ because:

-: singing gives me hope

-: young people filled with courage, creativity, kindness and friendship give me hope

-: remembering that life is at times hard and challenging, but that we make it through and continue …if we’re lucky, a little stronger and wiser – to find new moments of joy and success gives me hope

Bear with it, I don’t like this format of talent show either, but really – these boys are amazing!

 

And so, to the nineteenth stocking.

day-18-whole

And let’s turn it over…

day-19-love

LOVE: “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”

– Shakespeare

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Love has shown up in your life recently. What different forms does it take? What defines love? What cultivates it?

day-19-whole

Nineteen stockings turned! 🙂 Hope to see you tomorrow for number 20.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

GLADvent Day 18

18 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, blessings, gratitude, hope, shelter, spirituality

Welcome to GLADvent day Eighteen! Yesterday we had the word Shelter.

 

I’m pushed for time so I want to share very briefly that I spent the last two days, out under an unheated marquee sitting at a table writing poems, and it was cold. It made me a: extremely grateful for a warm, safe, peaceful home; and b: very aware that there are many who will not have this very basic need met, as winter continues, and that I am part of the collective that has a responsibility to see that this need is met.

And so, to the eighteenth stocking.

day-18-hope

HOPE: “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.”

– Robert H. Schuller

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Hope has shown up in your life recently. What do you do to cultivate this essential quality? Who or what inspires you to stay hopeful?

day-18-whole

Eighteen stockings turned! 🙂 Hope to see you tomorrow for number 19.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

GLADvent Day 17

17 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, gratitude, magic, shelter, spirit, spirituality

Welcome to GLADvent day Seventeen! Yesterday we had the word Magic.

Today has been utterly magical! I wrote thirteen poems today (on demand, at a Christmas fair), for everyone from a 70+ year old man who insisted on paying me £20 for a single poem (I was charging £1) and asked if he could read it on the radio, to a young boy of about 9 or 10 who wanted a poem about Minecraft, and when I’d read it to him, smiled as he and his parents walked away and said “I’m going to read my poem again tonight when I’m in bed.” Why was it magic? Because people were surprised, I was surprised, because people were moved, touched, open, tender. I had an 80 year old woman I’d never met before ask me to write her a poem for her funeral. She gave me some background, and her email address (I’m not writing that poem in 3 minutes….)

Poetry is magic. Poetry moves and connects, and I’ve been blessed with opportunities to allow it to move through me in order for it to do its magic in the world. Magic!

 

And now for number 17.

day-16-whole

Let’s turn it over…

day-17-shelter

SHELTER: “Each evening I ached for the shelter of my tent, for the smallest sense that something was shielding me from the entire rest of the world.”

– Cheryl Strayed

Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Shelter has shown up in your life recently. Where do you rest your head and retreat from the world? Do you offer Shelter to others? Have you ever been caught in a situation where you were exposed to the elements for a while and took shelter somewhere less conventional?

day-17-whole

Seventeen stockings turned! 🙂 Hope to see you tomorrow for number 18.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

GLADvent Day 16

16 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by harulawordsthatserve in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

advent, advent calendar, christmas, gratitude, magic, spirituality, work

Welcome to GLADvent day Sixteen! Yesterday we had the word Work.

 

Gosh, this is a BIG word for me right now, as I gave up my conventional job a couple of months ago and have launched myself as … well, what exactly? A poet, freelance writer and creative writing workshop facilitator! With a bit of cleaning, and other bits and pieces on the side to try and keep the sums adding up, because I live in this world too and need to pay my way and it’s early days for creative work me…but the point is…for the first time in a very long time I feel like I’m doing MY work, work that I LOVE and that nobody else can do, at least not in the same way as I do it, because it comes from the very heart of me, that part of me that the creator made unique, and that I want to honour, celebrate and share…

So today I facilitated another writing workshop, and tomorrow and Sunday I am poet in residence at a local Christmas fair! I will be writing poetry to order and am VERY excited about it 🙂 Sunday night I sing with the choir! And then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I’ll be cleaning, and that’s totally fine…because I choose too, and it’s facilitating my growth and freedom as a freelance creative!

There were 24 on the line, and the 16th one cried…

day-15-whole

Turn me over! Turn me over!

day-16-magic

MAGIC: “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

– Roald Dahl

OOOhhhh – one of my favouritest quotes ever! Now take a moment to pause and reflect upon how Magic has shown up in your life recently. Do you believe in it? Are you able to create/do Magic? How does Magic make you feel?

day-16-whole

Sixteen stockings turned and we’re two thirds through! 🙂 Hope to see you tomorrow for number 17.

Do continue to share your thoughts and reflections in the comments section below as you wish…

 

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