Mindfulness
Once, a long time ago I sat amongst saffron robes looking out over terraced rice paddies to watch the eagles soar against blue sky and white snow-capped mountains. I heard the gong summon us to the meditation hall and sat cross legged finding it easy to still my mind and arrive in the moment untroubled.… Read more
When truth is failing…
It seems to me that when truth is in short supply,
there is one place I can go to that I can rely on and it is the garden.
It has been the container of cats and dogs, toddlers and teenagers, swimming and bonfires, love, laughter, rows and tears.
Whatever has happened, the grass has … Read more
Don’t let any one make you feel small…
Don’t let anyone make you feel small.
For sure feel small by a tree
with a huge trunk to lean against
branches stretching skyward
roots to digging wide and wild.
Let this make you feel small and lean in for shelter
and a hug
Or let a rock make you feel small as it holds … Read more
Look for beauty
With this dark news
be mindful of where you head turns
your ears tune.
A diet of horror
weakens you
without strengthening them,
leaves you feeling overwhelmed
unable to help
or act
when you can.
Instead
moment by precious moment
give thanks
and turn towards
beauty
because we still can
… 
Let me not complain
If I were a pray-er, I would pray: ‘Let me not complain’
Let me not complain about my increased car diesel, heating oil, electricity costs.
Instead I will walk instead of drive
Zoom instead of travel far
Wear an extra layer of clothes to keep warm
Have shorter showers, fewer baths
appreciate the fuel I … Read more
Addiction
When I was growing up addicts did drugs.
They were the 1980s posters of heroin before it was fashionably chic, sunken, grey, skeletal with dead eyes and pin marks in their arms.
It wasn’t until later I saw that addicts also drank and smoked. I had been confused as these two drugs were so easily … Read more