SPRING EQUINOX 2022

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“It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.” 
― Oriah Mountain Dreamer

The Spring Equinox is always a time of emergence and awakening. This year is full of paradoxes, contradictions and uncertainty at a much wider level as the whole world is being challenged.

There is an increased sense of restlessness and collective anxiety so a good spring clean of every aspect of our lives can be very grounding and healing. The start of the equinox is the best time to undertake this mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Looking at our metaphorical tool box and learning from the past year  – what has been helpful; what doesn’t work anymore; what do we need to refine or discard; is there enough space for new tools to emerge and develop?

As days become warmer, lighter and longer, distractions can creep in – therefore it is useful to factor in time on a regular basis to reflect to avoid making snap judgments and decisions. Distractions can leave us open to coercion and lose our sense of self, being seduced by a need to be part of. Questioning our motivation for being part of groups, even if they appear to resonate including spiritually, can be helpful.

Themes for this equinox are discernment, authenticity, self-honesty and self-reflection. Allowing transformation to take place without using self-will, not forcing it to happen either ourselves or by others. It feels that throughout these three months we will be reminded that situations are not necessarily exactly what they appear to be. There are also strong reminders not to force our opinions on others. Take time to assess situations. Is this genuinely how I feel? Work towards a sense of wholeness and unity by repairing fractures within ourselves. 

What are we presenting to the outside world? Acknowledging franctures within ourselves is the beginning of the journey towards peace. Are we literally hiding, avoiding or are we taking time to reflect, build up stamina? We are being faced with wider territory than we think and for that we need stamina, learning to harness our energy. For some the sense of fight or flight will be obvious for others subtle even imaginary which will overwork our adrenals; for others there may be subtle aspects of denial and illusion. It feels important to clear any old triggers in our psyche or daily niggles before we reflect/meditate as these can effect what we perceive as our truth.

This Equinox is equally about forgiveness and loving kindness towards ourselves and others. With Spring comes rebirth

Winter Solstice 2021

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Winter Solstice 2021“Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility…without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed, or unhappy because of circumstances.” Dalai Lama 


The Winter Solstice is a time to gently celebrate, then hibernate, rest and reflect on the year gone. A very gradual rebirth stirs as the light grows. Part of this process is what do we need to let go of spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically to become “lighter”, what seeds would we like to nurture, what future do we aspire to?What gifts can we exchange and share with others? This year is fuller than others with uncertainty; how can we nurture and stabilise ourselves internally? Old emotional triggers may appear over the next few days, weeks; they are being activated so that we can release them and develop/maintain that vital sense of inner peace as well as tranquility.


There is a feeling of working on what needs to change within ourselves before the Universe “makes us” when we are unprepared. Patience, including compassion for ourselves and others, is another key this Solstice. Reserving judgement until we have a clear sense of what exactly causes us disharmony/to be triggered  and what action do we need to take – remembering not to panic; there is time throughout this part of the solstice. After 1st February we will have greater understanding of  the options we have, together with a clearer understanding of what is truly our community.


What does leadership mean to you? It is a strong theme this Solstice. Are you easily influenced by others? Do you control by being stubborn, withdrawing, gaslighting, giving your power away? Have power over? Maybe this is about a harmonious form of leadership, being open minded, knowing when to be camouflaged, when to be visible, when a situation requires authentic team work, when internal work in solitude is required.


Challenges can be questioning personal loyalties (beliefs, ideals, opinions and people) which may be misguided, not wanting to check out what is real and applicable practically, caring too deeply as a form of avoidance, being ungrounded/accident prone because of preoccupation. It will be really helpful to strengthen our spiritual practices, keeping them simple in order to ensure that we use them daily, even hourly at times, as the energies around us may be turbulent at times. A reminder that the greatest darkness can hide in the light, and light can appear in the darkness. As the Dalai Lama also says “Compassion is the radicalism of our time” this includes forgiveness. Interestingly humour can be a great strategy in order to lighten up.


Finally whatever happens we are moving towards Spring and any personal work we undertake now will prepare for then. Breathe into your very bones anything that truly feeds your soul.

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 2020

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“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing
myself.” – Rumi

 The autumn as ever is a time to bring in the harvest and take stock, prepare for the winter; balance the books. More than ever this applies to all aspects of our lives – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. At this time of year the weather is notoriously unpredictable which in turn can be mirror uncertainty in our day to day living.

There may be a restlessness to change our world, but however challenging the outside world is, we are equally being given a chance to continue working on ourselves, our personal relationships and what community means to us at the moment. What can we carry forward from the last autumnal equinox, what can we let go of, what are we unsure about? Are we living in the past or are we projecting too far into the future? What did we learn about Truth and how we discerned our personal truth during the Spring Equinox/Summer Solstice? What is your intuition telling you as opposed to your instinct or the influence of others which can lead to us losing a sense of self?

Some of the challenges of this equinox will be about balance with adherence to convention one moment then tilting out of balance the next which may be influenced by misplaced loyalties, misunderstandings, power struggles, a desire to be perverse/hedonistic. Taking time to reflect, to be still, and not overreact will be essential. Finding glimmers of joy within the chaos will help overcoming toxicity such as overwhelming frustration, fear and anger. If we can identify the source of our personal chaos, it can gives us something concrete to work through, taking personal responsibility where we can and digging deeply to respond with clarity. 

We are going through an individual and collective grief process, whether we are aware of it or not. This grief process effects everyone in different ways and is certainly not linear. Loving kindness, respect and compassion are the best tools to offer others as well as giving them to ourselves.

Autumnal Equinox 2018

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‘Collaboration has no hierarchy. The sun collaborates with soil to bring flowers on the earth. ‘ Amit Ray

The Autumnal Equinox is always about bringing in the harvest and gathering seeds. The weather is often unpredictable. This applies not only physically but spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Collaboration and clear communication is vital to timing. Timing is vital to positive outcomes. Collaboration is the main focus of this Equinox whether it is within the family, friends, communities and in the wider world.

We are living in turbulent times and there can be a sense of inconsistency, indecision and misunderstanding leading to arguments and discord, especially when fear and anger are out of balance. There is a deep desire to change the world we live in but this Equinox there is definitely a message that this needs to be tempered with grounded logic – not easy when high emotions are evoked and a love of power within the ego can be sometimes disguised as “being right”.The paradox is using visionary skills through peaceful contemplation and being practical at the same time.

This time of year is about balance and as Leonard Cohen said “There is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in”. Throughout the day we can find that crack, disappear for a few minutes, release any overwhelm, and recharge spiritual batteries through our spiritual practice. By doing this we can see things with more clarity, flexibility and perspective. Again a paradox regarding our discernment over our passions and spontaneity when taking action.

There is a strong sense that we are at a tipping point in the rite of passage we have been experiencing for quite some time and change is inevitable. What that change will be is our responsibility individually and collectively. Forgiveness, respect and collaboration seem to be the keys to loving resolutions.

Spring Equinox 2018

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Spring Equinox 2018

“One of the basic rules of the Universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist. Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” Stephen Hawking.

Spring always brings with it rebirth in every aspect of our lives and, as with the birthing process, change as well as joy. This year in particular, an element of unpredictability and chaos which is mirrored in the weather. The need to spring clean and declutter extends to the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives not just the physical.

In order to manage the possible chaos, it is important to find time to be still, even reclusive to rebalance our energies and focus. For those of us who have specific spiritual practices it is helpful to ask the question: am I seeking perfection and over complicating my practice? Be aware of acting out of shoulds and possibly superstition, this can be very subtle at times. It is equally important not to judge others over the choices they make regarding spirituality. Some people already practice seamlessly which is the message of this Equinox rather than striving for public perfection.

The Spring Equinox brings with it potential, a sense that everything is possible. We can learn from our creative abilities and how we use them. The theme of self-care and reflection continues from the winter and will help us to stay focused. Where do we need to be teachable and where do we need to step out of our comfort zones? There will be the challenge of paradoxes – on the one hand being organised and on the other easy going, being diplomatic versus pedantic, creative freedom versus limiting self-expression. Alongside this will be a desire to be a pacifist, be of service to humanity against ambition, possessiveness and intrigue. Interestingly self righteous outrage can be very destructive when believing we are doing the right thing.

At this time of year, there are surges of energy and therefore it is helpful to set our intentions for when they happen as this is often when boundaries are pushed back. It is also when a desire to resolve injustices and subsequently to find lasting solutions manifests. Taking space to reflect and practicing when to be seen/heard or not, will enhance our ability to discern whether we are reacting with a purely emotional response or with integrity.

Despite the challenges of this Equinox and a need to simplify our lives, there is great joy this Spring.

Autumnal Equinox 2017

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There is nothing permanent except change. Heraclitus

The seasons inevitably bring change with them and the autumn is about bringing in the harvest, taking stock as well as providing for the winter. Sometimes it can feel like being one step ahead of the weather and constantly paying attention to detail. This can also be a metaphor for other aspects of our lives. This year’s Autumnal Equinox is no different and that “paying attention to detail” is vital. In order to do that, we need to be extra grounded and present.

Staying focused can be a challenge so it is a good idea to have a simple grounding routine that you can keep to. Walking on the earth barefoot (even for a few seconds), connecting with any trees around you in parks or the countryside, putting earthing images on your screensavers, eating lots of root vegetables and earthy food – all these help. Notice healing opportunities, whether they are physical, emotional, mental or spiritual, and take advantage of them. It is also a good time to let go of old resentments and fears. Forgiveness exercises and Gratitude practices are very helpful at this time. A simple practice is think of three small things you are genuinely grateful for each morning and again in the evening.

Challenges that may come up are fault finding with partners, keeping good boundaries, our own moodiness and that of others as well as control issues. A particularly confronting aspect of this Equinox is being aware of the “charmer/gushing sycophant” and false praise in others or ourselves. All of these can act as deflections from our sense of purpose and moving forwards. To counterbalance these challenges, we can concentrate on authenticity/self-honesty and connect with like minded people, meditate and tap into the spiritual wisdom of our “elders”. There is always a golden opportunity to do this mid-Equinox at Samhain around 31st October.

The planet, the earth, the animal kingdom and all humanity are crying out this Equinox for respect and kindness – asking us to make the changes we need to in order to survive and thrive. We can only challenge and change our own internal attitudes that in turn will flow out and join those of others. Although this is a tough Equinox, there is a sense of being part of a supportive energy and coming out the other side with joy and gentleness – resisting the urge to give in and give up. There is still a lot of inspiration available.

 

Dealing with emotional and information overload

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Sometimes I want to hide under the duvet until “it” passes over? It is usually to do with overload – too much information, too many feelings, and not enough time to process it. My mind and my feelings collide and my real higher intuition flies out the window. It can feel that I have lost my firewall against my reactions to life, the news – is it fake or not, political spin, social media bending and distorting the facts? Opinions of others leaking into my brain – good or bad, right or wrong … I would love to say this never happens to me but it does especially if I am tired or have allowed myself to become too busy. What is more, definitely if my filters are not in place and my auric egg is not in good shape. More about that further down.

It is a human trait that we want to believe what we want to believe. We think we can somehow control the “truth” and this in turn can make us vulnerable to misinformation. There seems to be a lot of manipulation of the truth and misinformation around in the collective at the moment, let alone what might be happening in our own lives. I love the Leonard Cohen song Anthem and it seems very relevant right now.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.

There is a crack in everything and certainly in information and emotional overload. The effects of the overload can be really subtle until we are not sure what we believe – a crack. Interestingly living off the grid, in an ideal world, and away from other humans can also enable us to become “opinionated” and stuck in our beliefs – nurturing a judgement of “them and us”.

 

Thank goodness for that crack. The trick is recognising the crack and using the light as well as we can.

How can I use the light well and put my filters of discernment and growth back? One of the ways that works for me is taking some time to empty my mind. One of the easiest ways I can do that is as I am showering, standing under the water and feeling it washing away what is no longer of service to me, then as I dry myself imagine a cloak of light going around my body. We can use a mantra or chant. Find a way that suits you.

There are lots of different techniques of visualising filters and there are some suggestions in  the Smell the Roses workbook. We have an auric egg made up of different layers of filters. It can get a bit battered and damaged by overloads. However, it can be repaired through visualisation. Sometimes doing this as simply as imagining pure light going through the layers, allowing your egg to be realigned. Once those filters are back in place, we can start again from a more manageable place. Willingness and intent can contribute to a lot of the work. A consequence of taking responsibility for my auric egg is I am also open to my beliefs being challenged, that is where I can grow – changing  my mind in positive ways rather than being influenced by others. One of my teachers said belief, when rigid or fed by fear, can stand for: being in the lie. That in turn can feel a trap. It feels more comfortable in the end to “egg up” and be in touch with my higher intuition. There are times when overwhelm can come back but thank goodness for the cracks and noticing them.

Summer Solstice 2017

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“Without Forgiveness we are lost; with Forgiveness we find our way home”
Anonymous
The Summer Solstice is about celebrating all the hard work and  achievements of the past year. It is about spending time with friends and family, then half way through, around 1st August, taking time to pause, reflect and think about what next. However, for many, this Solstice is more acutely tinged with a sense of chaos, confusion and uncertainty. There may also be a profound sense of loss and grief. To balance these challenges, there will be and have been extraordinary acts of selfless courage and human kindness.
Anger and frustration will be like a tinder box this Summer. It is important not to allow ourselves or others to fan those flames. Pontification leads nowhere. Forgiveness is one of the keys of this Solstice. There are many effective ways of achieving this and I have made a very simple meditation that you are welcome to use. Somehow continuous forgiveness of ourselves and others can bring us back to our center, especially at challenging times.

You may have a sense of overwhelm during this Solstice combined with a desire to be left undisturbed – “leave me alone to get on with …”.  Perhaps a tension between speaking out and withdrawing from “others”. One of the solutions is to meditate and reflect on what action, however small, we can take  for ourselves, our family and/or our community. We can do this by using our own personal challenges and how we overcame them as inspiration and motivation. A natural reserve rather than lack of expression can serve us well.
If we trust the timing, and at times finding that patience will be difficult, we stand a chance of finding ourselves in synchronicity with the Universe using clear forms of communication. We have a collective voice that can bring about positive change and resolution. We have witnessed and experienced what happens when we allow the voice of a few to dominate us. We now have access to an intense desire for life – a fresh start, let’s use it.

My first experiences of meditation

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Last Sunday I had what I call a “grandfather” moment and became aware again what a wonderful source of inspiration he has been to me all my life. As the memories flooded back, I thought about the different ways we would “meditate” together especially as I have dedicated the Smell the Roses workbook to him as well as my grandchildren.

Bobo brought me up as my mother had died when I was very small. He came from an army family and became a soldier himself. He was a very young soldier in World War I and, the moment it was over, he left the army and trained to be an actor, which was where his true vocation lay. By the time I came along, he was a very established actor. He managed, as if by magic, to be home in time to read my night time story. His beautifully ever changing voice would transport me to wonderful places and invite me to become part of the story, rather than a spectator. These were my first experiences of guided meditations and, in ideal circumstances, as there were no distractions.

Although he had been brought up in the country and had a deep love for horses, he equally loved London where we lived. As soon as I could go for long walks, we would explore London together. This time, they were mutual meditations. We would often find a bench or flight of steps and sit in companionable silence connecting to the world around us. Sometimes he would take me to Lords or the Oval to watch cricket. I didn’t totally share his passion for cricket but at Lords I was allowed to wander off to the Rose Garden. This was where I learned to literally smell the roses fascinated by their different scents. At the Oval, I just immersed myself in the atmosphere particularly if the West Indies were playing – all the bright colours of people’s clothes, the music of drums and the general enthusiasm for the game. All these experiences taught me about being fully present in the moment. When I was bored at school, I would remember a day at the Oval and feel happy inside, no longer bored.

We lived near Kensington gardens and from an early age, I used to escape there. Like a homing pigeon, I would head for the Peter Pan statue. My greatest pleasure was to explore it with my hands until I knew every nook and cranny. If I close my eyes now, I can feel the little mouse hidden in one of the folds of the statue and for some reason smell freshly mown grass. A very soothing memory that I can breath in if I am feeling agitated. Just as my grandfather taught me when we went for our walks – “Just breath that atmosphere in” he would say.

Who has been your inspiration? We meditate more than we think …