Mindfulness, which is the practice of intentionally bringing one’s attention to the present moment without judgment, has been shown to offer numerous benefits for individuals. Here are some of the key benefits of mindfulness: Stress reduction: Mindfulness helps to reduce stress by allowing individuals to observe their thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed or…
What makes a fire burn is space between the logs, a breathing space. Too much of a good thing, too many logs packed in too tight can douse the flames almost as surely as a pail of water would. So building fires requires attention to the spaces in between, as much as to the wood.…
In the wake of the pandemic overall there are lower levels of mental and physical wellbeing. Levels of stress and anxiety are being exacerbated by worries about the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine and ongoing environmental degradation. In an aging population with less access to the NHS many are living with chronic…
Dhammadinna – She Who Has Given Herself to the Dhamma For so long I thought only of the river’s end. Then one morning, I set my paddle down to watch the sun rise over the eastern hills – only to find myself floating – somehow gently upstream. I promise it was not what I had…
Today it feels like the whole world is conspiring against me! Today I’m having a day! It’s such a shock to feel something not very nice stirring deep down somewhere, a surprise. I don’t like it. And yes, I do want it to go away. Everything. I want everything and everyone to go away. Well…
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…
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…