Tag: writing
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The joy of creating…
I was teaching this past weekend at the Sanctuary on the Art of Rest. We were exploring day 6 out of seven, which is Creative Rest. It’s interesting how many of us don’t consider ourselves to be creative. When in all reality, all human beings have a creative streak in them. We may not be…
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Seeing the clouds…
I am currently writing a lecture for the University of Aberdeen’s Masters in Mindfulness and I wanted to include a passage from War and Peace. The passage describes a scene from the Napoleonic wars in which Prince Andrei is lying on the battlefield, and he’s wounded, and there’s chaos happening all around him, and he…
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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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Are you listening?
One of the things that I love best about summer is sleeping with my windows open. When I am home in Ireland, I don’t always feel that I can do this, as I live in a town and in a single story house. I mean, who knows what marauders are out there at night? Things…
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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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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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The song of the land
Recently, I have been stopping quite a lot on my walks. It has nothing to do with my fitness levels, rather, it’s because the land has been singing to me. In Ireland, the month of May is a month of full bloom. The hawthorn, the cow parsley, the bluebells and even the wild roses have…
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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…
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Before the world wakes…
I have been switching up my morning routine a wee bit. Almost by accident, not by virtue, I have been avoiding my phone and taking in the early morning light. I wish I could say it is because I have been cleverly and intentionally opening the blinds to let natural light reset my internal clock,…
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Take your time…
Last week was my final days of university before the summer break. We were scheduled to be on campus for three days; however, with the blockades and protests of the rising cost of fuel in Ireland, we were moved online. This meant that I was able to turn off my alarm and turn in for…
