Playing for Change

Playing For Change "War/No More Trouble" - Song Around The World from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Playing For Change - The Movement.

Learn about it.

Spread the word about it.

Live the message.

And get the CD/DVD!!!!!

http://www.playingforchange.com/

Compassion from Within, Out...

Knowing, really knowing, believing and having the experience of being loved is enough.

Enough to instantly dissolve the doubt which so easily feeds the fear or hurt out of which we respond with harshness, anger, avoidance or punishment....

We need only be in touch with the love from another momentarily to know that which we are capable of bringing into effect.

The love from a child; partner; friend; parent; sibling; colleague; pet; our dearly departed; our Creator; the stranger who smiles at us so warmly on the bus when we offer a seat - a moment of realisation which suspends doubt and lets you know you are worthy.

You are valued and valuable.

You are powerful and charged with the gifts of your many virtues.

You have so much to offer.

Everything, every thing is OK.

You are so loved.

So capable of love.

"I am compassionate, first with myself which flows through me to others. From within, out."

My Wish For You...

Merry Xmas...

xxx

Up Until Now....

Possibility; vast and unlimited.
You; your potential; your capacity; your complete authentic self.

Why let those repeating, limiting scripts get in the way?
"I am terrible at numbers and maths."
"I get so angry when the kids start bickering."
"I can't help eating junk food when I'm stressed."
"I never have time to exercise"

Time for a change.

Time to allow yourself room to grow.

Time to claim more of your marvellous, magnificent whole self.

Because the truth is, it's not just semantics. When we change our language, we are literally reprogramming ourselves.
So, acknowledge the truth of it as it has been, but honour the possibility of future change for the greater good!

"Up until now, I've been terrible at numbers and maths."
"Up until now, I get so angry when the kids start bickering."
"Up until now, I couldn't help eating junk food when I'm stressed."
"Up until now, I haven't made time to exercise"

We really do precisely what we make up our minds to do......give your mind space to be, do and have more.

Om Shanti

Silence Retreat Oct 2008

I am filled.

Power replenished.

Compassion ~

from others;

for myself;

toward others.

Restored.

Connected.

Protected.

Loved.

Loving.

Home.

Om Shanti

Silence Retreats, along with other retreats and courses, are run by the Brahma Kumaris organisation throughout Australia, and are funded by voluntary contribution. For details on location of centres, retreats, free meditation courses and a wide variety of lecture topics, visit their Australian Website here www.bkwsu.org

Courage

Be brave.

If there is good intention behind it;

If it comes from a place of love;

If it is born out of allowing;

If it is expansive;

If the mere thought of it brings a warm smile, a grateful heart or stirs a soft knowing in your being, then

do it,

say it,

give it,

share it,

write it,

sing it

and set it free!

Tears of Joy & Fat Cats

I found myself entrenched in the usual train of thought that flows every day as the water envelops me in a world of my own during shower time.....mental lists of things to do; hurry, hurry - drop kids to their first day of morning care to make it to early staff meeting, Fathers Day-Fathers Day-Fathers Day, remember this and that at work today, buy this and that at shops today, stock market-stock market-stock market, whoop - remember not to worry, not to panic - think positive - all will be well, call him and her and her today, reply to that email, post that letter, cancel that booking, get a better hair conditioner, put crock pot on, find library books, etc etc etc. And then it happened.

Come and sing a Song of Joy of freedom tell the story
Sing, sing a Song of Joy for mankind in His glory
One mighty voice that will bring a sound that will ring for-ev-er more, then
Sing a Song of Joy for love and understanding

The music my proud 7 year old son is belting out, first on the recorder, then, as if to reinforce its significance, on the piano, pierces through the wall of isolation that the steam and shower-screen were providing me, and I am plunged into a gratitude so deep that I am left shaking with tears of joy. He has learned a song he loves (what a mighty choice too, his reverence continues to astound me); and now mastered - he plays it with wild abandon...

These absolute gifts of children I have been given are stunning reminders of what matters. Of how trivial most, if not all, the daily worries and thought-trains really are.
Of how amazing and great our life is.
Of Dear Master 7's unswerving hunger for every experience, skill and talent he can enthusiastically emerge.
Of Darling Miss 5's patience, tolerance, humour and joy.
Of the good fortune that has provided me beautiful relationships with so many, near and far, living and passed.
Of my connection to all that is greater than me.

The music stops.

My thought-train resumes, but less hurried, less restricted and more aware of the vast nature of it all.

.....Must remember to add cat food to the list.....

Spring Time...

Today I lay in the Spring-time sun
The cool earth rose up to support me
Grass poked gently through my outstretched fingers
The carport creaked with delight in the warmth
Birds chirped and cheeped and twittered
Wind chimes gently tinkled
Leaves flittered and fluttered and rustled
The giant Gum tree rose up above me and reached out to caress the outstretched arm of the Jacaranda
The palm fronds shimmied and swayed
Even the clothes line joined the new season dance with a gentle spin and a squeak
My skin drank every drop of life-giving regenerative sunshine
And, for a moment, time stopped its ticking and allowed nature to simply proceed unhurried..

Going Home...

A few years ago, during my carefree preschool-mummy days, I found myself at a park with the kids having yet another fabulous playtime...almost a daily event back then.

On this particular day, my bag with car keys disappeared and I was left with no way to get the kids home once the cold storm-front hit.
My saving grace was a gorgeous woman with fantastic long, red, wild and curly hair and her older primary school son who kindly drove us home to collect the spare car keys and return us to collect the car....

We spoke briefly as old friends on our first and only meeting.

She offered her unsolicited soul-quenching wisdom...

Maybe she sensed my desperation to hold on to the "little kid" years; my deep fear of "losing" my kids to school life - and perhaps she saw the sadness in my eyes that I was going to be unable to recall every drop of sweetness of our ordinary everyday extraordinary adventures....

"It just keeps getting better," she offered, "I know its hard to believe, but every age and every stage just gets better and better, richer and richer. It seems impossible, but you will find the love only grows and deepens"

And then she was gone out of my life, never to be seen again.

It's not often I've reflected on that chance meeting years ago, but I guess I have often revisited her philosophy and the beautiful, simple truth of it.

Sometimes we feel the deepening in a magical moment, sometimes it creeps up on us and takes our breath away.....

During the past few days, I have stood in awe and witnessed both the beautiful souls who are my children expand so much further out into the world.

I have observed their gift of joy reach out and touch others, and my heart has sung as I have watched them drink and savour the joys of others.


Their interactions grow in complexity while their hearts, minds and bodies develop and mature.

And the warm-hearted red-headed woman couldn't be more right....

Existential Crisis versus Melancholy ... The Spiral of Life

Could our mental health be precariously balanced between the pull of our ego identity and the deep rooted ancient self that some refer to as soul? A swing too far either way rendering us not only off balance, but between worlds?
How often does an existential crisis have a label of melancholy, depression or other dis-ease placed upon it?

Everywhere I turn lately the question is screaming to be heard, "What part of depression is spiritual crisis?"
Where in a melancholic episode is the "I" of "I am that".
Could the line between hopelessness and hope be the colour of faith?
Faith in something greater, more natural, or authentic, or simpler, or, dare we say - eternal?

I dig and I dig and I dig, "Who am I?". Delighted to find that within each and every layer is another layer. Woven together with a golden thread of oneness......

The Triple Spiral or The Spiral of Life - Drawn in one continuous line - Contained herein is the light and dark; the ebb and flow that I swirl in and out of...

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"The Spiral of Life - The tri-spiral, otherwise known as the "Spiral of Life", is found on many ancient Irish stone carvings - the most famous of which is Newgrange, found in County Meath, Ireland, which dates back to 2500 BC.
Most scholars believe the spiral of life represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Others say this deeply mystical symbol represents the male, female, and child on the path of life. Another interpretation is that it also represents the Triple Goddess......" http://www.fantasy-ireland.com/Celtic-spirals.html

77 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga

That's right, a remarkable collection of Yoga Health Benefits by Alisa Miller, in fact, 77 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga. Click and be amazed, or not!

And during this, my Emerald City's "Week in the World Youth Day Spotlight", I am reminded of my fundamental nature. Yes, comforting is the presence of so many who have come to celebrate that in which they are so strongly anchored and uplifted by all at once. I may not share their exact method, however, there is something about the reverence within the fanfare that brings me back to my own internal pilgrimage, best articulated here by Swami Jnaneshvara...

Something to try.....

Start with making some sound, no, REALLY making these sounds, right now!

• Crow like the Lost Boys in Never Land from Peter Pan..
  Trill like a Belly Dancer......
  Click your tongue while you click your fingers and stamp a foot...........
  Whisper a long, soft, loving "Yeahhhhh".........

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Remember, thoughts are like puffy white clouds, let yours gently drift by on a soft breeze.........
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Create new clouds..........

If I'm stuck, there is ALWAYS another way.
I am lightness and ease.
I am ALWAYS OK.
No matter what is happening around me, I am always loved.
I give great benefit.
I deserve to reach my potential - I REALLY deserve it.
I can reach any and ALL of my goals.
It is my Divine duty to live my Destiny.
I am magnificent.

May these fluffy white clouds keep drifting through YOUR day.....
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Now, make those sounds again!

Laundromat Ramblings...

During this current phase of sustained yoga I find myself floating through (Yoga: awareness of connection with that which is Eternal, ever loving and Divine), I stop to reflect on what transpired to bring my awareness back to this place of heart connection.

Notwithstanding a lifetime of experiences has brought me to this point, I arrived (this time) via a series of what I like to call "mini-wake ups", starting with a slide of hopelessness and stagnation; the restlessness before action if you will, as captured in Blog post "No Thanks" Saturday June 14 2008.
Following hot on the heels of that mini meltdown was a visit by Nan from the other side disguised at first as a communicating water cooler, and then such a vivid Divine conversation followed as recorded in part in Blog post "Heavenly Wisdom" June 17 2008.

There is in progress a loosening grip on the identification of myself as a "role" or a name or an activity. There is an opening to something softer, more fluid.

There is a Shiatsu therapist working on cooling my yang and stoking my yin; there is hypnotherapist working to deeply affirm who I am; there is a psychologist bringing a couple back into balance.

At the same time, my physical Yoga practice continues to develop with more intensity and yet more ease and flow. Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2 pose) has assisted me (and continues too) in becoming empowered to "move in" in so many regards from a place of stagnation.

There is a new wave of family pleasure and joy.
A copy of Eat Pray Love fell into my lap and was devoured in a few days of glorious reading, filled with reminders and provocation.
Even the washing machine is cooperating by breaking down to give me more reading/reflection time at the Laundromat!

There are glimpses of bliss, and I am filled with a deep sense of awe and wonder during this prolonged glance in Its direction....

In gratitude, with grace..

Eat Pray Love - If You Loved It....

What hasn't been said about it already?

1 Woman, 12 months, 3 countries. A journey of exploration of being human.

Italy - Indulgence of the senses.

India - Withdrawal of the senses.

"...Your job, then, should you choose to accept it, is to keep searching for the metaphors, rituals and teachers that will help you move ever closer to divinity. The Yogic scriptures say that God responds to sacred prayers and efforts of human beings in any way whatsoever that mortals choose to worship-just so long as those prayers are sincere. As one line from the Upanishads suggests: 'People follow different paths, straight or crooked, according to their temperament, depending on which they consider best, or most appropriate-and all reach You, just as rivers enter the ocean.' ...Thats me in the corner, in other words. That's me in the spotlight. Choosing my religion."

Bali - Heart connection.

What an enchanting author. Thankyou Elizabeth Gilbert for this sensitive, raw, witty, honest, insightful, thought provoking, sincere glimpse of life through your eyes. I loved it.

And if you loved it too, then you'll also love The Mastery Club, by Liliane Grace. A delightful twist on the "You are What You Think" theme. Aimed at kids, perfect for adults!

Click here to read FOUR CHAPTERS FREE!!!

Microphone Hog...

Emily keeping up the family tradition of being a microphone hog....mummy keeping up the family tradition of techno-inhibited by recording with a shaky hand!!!!!!!!!

Kindy Cowgirl...

Emily performed her first official duty at school today as Kindy spokeswoman for their Grandparents Day performance.
Emily couldn't be happier! Mummy couldn't be prouder!

Gratitude as always to our amazingly wonderful and loved grandparents who enrich the kids lives more than they know.

YeeeeeHAAAHHH!!!!

"Hello, This is the school calling about Daniel..."

So you get the call....its the school.

"Hi, Its Millie from the office at school. I've got Daniel in the office with me"

(Inhale. Hold breath. Brace oneself wondering whats bleeding, whats been broken, or what hospital he is at....)

"He is pretty distressed"

(OK, rule out hospital. Distressed - good, at least he is conscious...)

"He is afraid his alien is going to die....."

..........

The test tube Alien went to school for news today.

Evidently it lost some of its water, but I am happy to report I rescued it from the school office, sent Daniel back to class, brought it home, fed it, watered it, and its little green light is flashing with delight! Near disaster averted.....Guess it doesn't like school....

Ahh well, off to de rust a bike, attach spoke decorations / basket and handle bar ribbons, research the possible negative impact of proton pump inhibitors on nutrient absorption, attend parent teacher interview, prepare dinner, go to football training, and drink coffee!!!!!

And Daniel is not injured and all appendages are intact - you have to call it a great day! :-)

Ready, Set, Go!!!!

My second and last born 5 year old daughter announced she had figured out how to ride her bike without training wheels, and asked me to head on outside and give her a "push off" please.

She figured it out "in her mind" you see.

(Background check, training wheels had been off for a little while, replaced by adult human training wheels who were completely supporting her by awkwardly jogging alongside her while she wobbled wildly. Not much practice had been taking place due to fear perhaps from both parties, poor weather, and lack of interest.....)

"Only push me off mummy, don't hold on."

PUSH..........

And in that moment, as in all those moments before, (sending her off to her first day of kindergarten, dropping her to preschool the first time, moving her into her own "big girl" bed, watching her first toddler walking success ) - right inside that moment I hear the familiar ping of exhilaration at her new found skill and independence, metered by the twang of letting go just that tiny little bit more to make way for the older, less dependant, spirited, capable young girl who has taken the place of my precious baby.

Riding a bike, so much more than a physical milestone......

Dear Universe,

Thank You.
I think i get it.
Time to reinvent myself.
Apparently this control freak version isn't working for anyone here, and its time to let her go..

To her credit, she did manage to get stuff done, in an explosive-yang kind of way.
And her stubbornness has afforded her children plenty of stay at home mummy time.
She manifested some tremendous healing opportunities by inflicting on herself an identity crisis-hold-it-together-at-all-costs-mental rigidity related depression roller coaster ride.
And lets remember her domineering personality has afforded shelter for those seeking a back seat...

But such a contrived existence must now be shed like snakeskin to make way for a new chapter.

Start fresh.

The waters of the stuck kidney energy can remain frozen no more.

There is a calm, mentally flexible, yeilding, flowing acquiescent blossom ready to unfurl.
The nurturing soil of support and advocacy is now in place and releasing its nutritive and invigorating wisdom to fuel the new growth.

She is called forward from within.
She is connecting once more to her Source.

The ease is neither permissive nor bushido.
Compassion cradles the heart of her frankness.
The gentle veil of Forgiveness falls over internal and external disturbances of spirit.

Infused with vitality.
Grateful.
Resiliant.
Assured.
Authentic.

Content.

Heavenly Wisdom

What was the most important thing you learned from your life?

"To appreciate what I have, versus noticing what I don't have or don't want. Really FULLY appreciate every tiny morsel of goodness."

Can that appreciation of "What Is" restrict us from moving on - moving forward, gaining /doing/being more?

"By NOT striving/yearning/pushing for it - but by TRUSTING that you are going to be given more and more (experiences, growth opportunities, material gains etc) then it WILL come. It has too. It has been coming all along, if you trust the process and allow it."

"Forgive the mistakes.
Forgive every one's mistakes.
Forgive your own and start fresh.
Tell them you are starting fresh.
There is peace in everything and anything, you may not have exclusive rights to it, you may be instrumental in providing opportunities for someone elses peace, but, always, the peace is there somewhere in it."

"You are my grandchild - I felt honoured just to spend time with you. You don't need me with you, but I'm close by. And you'll find me whenever you allow it"