For today's meditation, I have selected two passages from William Wordsworth's 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' (1798) which to me describe perfectly the experience of meditation. It seems that Wordsworth had a mind naturally given to meditation. I recommend reading the whole poem, but these two passages will serve as today's guide:... Continue Reading →
I have never been very good at the everyday. For me, the whole of life needs to be a challenge: I don't tidy up, I 'revolutionise my living space.' I don't want to go for a relaxing stroll in the park, I want to climb a mountain. I don't just wash the dishes, I...well, I... Continue Reading →
I'm honoured to have my work included in this beautiful publication from Dixie State University. 'Route 7 Review' is an annual literary journal including short fiction, non-fiction, poetry, visual art and current affairs. My non-fiction entry is included in the 'Current Events' section which contains writers' and artists' responses to the Covid crisis. I turned... Continue Reading →
Today's poem has been chosen to appear in the Anthology Poetry in the Time of Coronavirus, Volume 2. I'm very proud to be part of this wonderful project, which is raising money for Doctors without Borders and Partners in Health. Copies are available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. The Anthology contains 100 poems composed in response... Continue Reading →
'Shift your attitude towards gratitude.' That's what my online yoga teacher, SaraBethYoga teaches in her fantastic online yoga videos. I highly recommend these to anyone who loves yoga or is interested in trying it out. She has videos for all levels and abilities in a variety of different styles. In current circumstances, I think it's... Continue Reading →
I. In order to maintain focus, choose your drishti:Hold your hands up to the skyIn mountainFocus on your thumbAnd balance: breatheThe stillnessFeel the calmnessBalance peace, release, serenity. II. Focus on your browboneLet your gaze sink backInto skull-socketsSee the colour at the edge of lightBehind your eyelids:Spiritual eyes openPhysical eyes closedTo glimpse the light which brings... Continue Reading →
If my sobriety were a baby, I should be giving birth today, to a Brand New Me. Or perhaps just to the Old Me, which would be the Young Me, before I started drinking. Unfortunately, I've been through a tough time over the last few days, and all the old behaviours are coming back: shouting... Continue Reading →
I was doing pretty well in quarantine. You might have seen my earlier entries: they were all about 'finding balance', staying calm and facing our fears. Then my body threw me a curve ball. It's the same curve ball it throws me every month, but right now I'm finding it particularly difficult to deal with.... Continue Reading →
Poem of the Day: Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798 By William Wordsworth. I've chosen this poem because to me it describes most perfectly the experience of meditation, of switching off the mind and making contact with the Divine. The... Continue Reading →
With the level of societal anxiety running high, today I'm taking a different approach and offering some tips for staying calm in quarantine. I'm no expert: I'm very much learning as I go along, but I find that some of the work I've done on mindfulness and mental grounding prior to being confined is helping... Continue Reading →
