Tag: mindfulness
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Mind the hooks…
Recently, I was reminded of a teaching by the renowned Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron on the Buddhist concept of Shenpa. Shenpa is what she calls ‘the hooks’. These are the triggers in our lives that can send the mind into a spin. It’s almost as if they tap the ego on the shoulder and say,…
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Working the edge…
I want to talk about tolerating discomfort. And how oftentimes we perpetuate unhealthy loops, unhealthy patterns, unhealthy behaviours, all because we can’t, or should I say won’t, tolerate discomfort. And I think this is what our struggles boil down to. All of our knee jerk reactions are in place so that we move away from…
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Living within my psychological means…
Last week I was having a conversation with a friend in which we were detailing all the summertime comings and goings, including family visits, holiday adventures, and the day job. Summertime is a funny one- unless you are a school teacher, or are incredibly fortunate with your annual leave, working through the dog days of…
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Forest lessons…
As part of my working day, I have been taking my coffee breaks outside. And while I am currently at my cabin in Canada, this means that I have been sitting and watching the forest. Only, I am not the only one doing the watching. There is a wee squirrel who has been slowly moving…
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Our inner wilderness
I have arrived! I am at my cabin in Northern Canada where I will spend the next few weeks writing manuals for the Sanctuary’s brand new Nature and Healing programme. Where I am is a wild space. And no, I do not mean that I am feeling out of control- well at least not all…
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Embracing change…
Yesterday, I was in the Sanctuary recording my practices for the October 31 day meditation challenge (if you’ve never taken part, make sure to keep an eye out for it). One of the topics that I was given was ‘embracing change’. I had been teaching on the Art of Rest all day and delivering various…
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The choices we make…
I am just back from the Festival of Writing and Ideas, which is a festival that brings together some of the leading minds, authors and artists of our time. Over three days, I soaked up conversations and inspiration, as well as the very wet landscape of Borris, County Carlow. My mind and my heart feel…
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Thank you, no thank you…
Two of my oldest Canadian friends have been with me for the past week and it has been absolutely delightful. We have traversed the Wicklow hills, roamed the halls of Kilkenny castle, explored Dublin’s fair city and ventured to the most sun soaked spot we could find: Inch beach in county Kerry. It has been…
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The joy club…
Along with a couple of my friends, I belong to a joy club. It’s a club that exists in Shambhalic form (we may not always be able to see it, but it’s there). It also acts as a beacon of steadiness. What I mean by that is whenever I am making a decision on whether…
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Searching, only to be found
This past weekend, I was up in Ards, Donegal. I had a few days of meetings as the Joy farm readies itself to embark on a social farming venture. As well, we all woke for the Dawn Chorus as our declaration of peace. It was inspirational to see some of you rising at 4.45am to…
