Points of view

                                                                        Views

When I took this photo,I was intending to share the spectacular and glorious colours of the sunset as I arrived in Oban,Scotland .15 minutes earlier,fiery reds,exuberant orange,schiaparelli pink,violet and golden glows had lit up the horizon and cities of clouds beyond.
In the time it took to find my phone disembark and cross the road with my luggage to take a memorable photo to share,this is the result!Ah well,a little more mellow and a lot of blue!
What's your best view today?

Making Ends Meet (part 1)

       This phrase has been around for quite a while historically,and there doesn't seem to be a clear answer on exactly where it originates from.But when people talk about trying to make ends meet,they want to make sure they have earned more than they have spent,and paid their dues.This suggests that they have the good sense to live within their means.And it suggests that the circle of trust may or may not be intact with the people they love,and with all those who are helping them succeed on the road of life.
       The phrase speaks of integrity,or the intention of it,anyway.A willow hoop is a great example of this.It starts out as a slender and flexible branch on a willow tree,and is bent to form a circle,to create a dreamcatcher.This creates a circle of trust,and is a fine example of making ends meet.So,too is a wedding or engagement ring.The happy couple hope to always keep the circle of trust strong.The gifts of a watch,bracelet,earrings,necklace may also be seen as sacred circles within the hoop of life.And a drum is a fine example.

       Every time we drink from a cup,we're nourishing ourselves within the circle of life (depending on what and how much we're drinking,of course!)So much in the natural world is round,and of course,our planet.So it stands to reason that it must be natural and easy to make ends meet.
       We all have a tendency to overcomplicate our lives.But if we make our lives simpler, more loving and truthful,then we would strengthen our ability to" make ends meet" more often than not,I believe.

     " All life is a circle"

Meditation

Meditation

A calm mind,emotions in balance,my body at ease and relaxed,and my spirit connected to the divine is how I would describe myself when meditating twice a day,every day.In other words,happy,relaxed, and loving my life. 

                          However,yesterday,I read an article about meditation that I found quite troubling.It made me realise how lucky I am to have learnt TM.There's a lot of hype about meditation these days,and the choices on offer would be enough to make me feel stressed!

Forgive me if I sound like an advert ,but TM is absolutely effortless.It's a relief from all the stresses of daily life.You sit for 20 minutes in a comfortable place,close your eyes and silently say the word of wisdom you have been given.You can feel worry and stress dissolving there and then,and you reach a level of calm,sometimes bliss which is completely effortless.You don't "try" to do anything.All you have to do is to find the time to practise twice a day in a comfortable place.

The result is a natural unfolding of your day where ease and joy are present in every moment,and you are truly thankful for your life.For me,the hardest part is remembering to meditate regularly,but if you are connected to a group,then life becomes easy,joyful,effortless,and fun.

Safe Emotional Expression

             
                                   A safe way to express bottled up emotions

        This is a wonderfully effective practice from Ataana,especially when your work involves being with other people who are very stressed.Or when you are experiencing a difficult family situation,and don't know how to handle all the conflicting emotions.
       All you need is the willingness to keep on practising it whenever you can.