Are you a starseed believer or a ‘deluded schmuck’? Or are you just completely not triggered?

So, the mainstream media have started to report about groups of people that – gasp – believe they are ‘not from here’. Otherwise known as starseeds, these poor misguided individuals actually believe that a) we’re not alone in the multiverse and b) that the human body, miraculous as it is, is not the only form a soul might inhabit.

Clearly anyone believing in that kind of phenomena must be on drugs, looking to escape reality or just plain mad. Because, after all, the government would have told us if there were aliens. Right…? And let’s not forget the scientific evidence, that is, apparently, completely missing for any kind of life ‘out there’.

I’m afraid, despite all the colourful language and accusations flying around, I can barely elicit a yawn in response.

There is, perhaps quite rightly, hot debate amongst the new-age communities about all this. Isn’t it just another form of prejudice? ‘Starseedism’ perhaps? After all, it’s just another ‘origin theory’ if you like, along with many of the religions of the world. And, good point, but that’s actually not what interests me about all this.

What interests me is that I’m NOT triggered! Maybe they need to throw bigger insults, and question the sanity of delusional individuals such as myself? Or maybe I’m just too bored to muster up much outrage.

After all, the reaction of the non-woo parties makes sense. If you’ve never even considered the possibility of life, other than on our, quite frankly, magnificent planet (that we’re doing a good job of destroying, but that’s another story!) then it would of course, be a laughable idea that any form of non-human might exist. Laughable, crazy, impossible and even a bit frightening. ‘Mars Attacks!’ anyone? Ack! Ack! (whoops – showing my age there!)

So I can totally understand the derogatory comments. It kind of makes sense. What is doesn’t do, is change my mind, or my beliefs on the subject, or anyone else’s for that matter. So, it seems a bit pointless to argue.

It actually makes me giggle, the thought that anyone ‘down here’ can state with absolute confidence that they know actually what is and isn’t present in the vastness of the multiverse. Especially when we haven’t even been able to explore further than our own solar system.

To state that you know ‘all about something’ is also a little bit flawed in my opinion. I mean, you might have extensive and even expert knowledge in a particular area, but do you know everything there is to know? Surely you are looking at things from your own subjective lens in any case – which I’m not knocking – it is a valuable and beautiful thing to see through your own lens and then share those thoughts and ideas with others.

In some of the communities I’m a part of, they talk about the danger of coming to conclusions and while it’s a bit of a head-spinner at first (what do you mean there’s no absolute truth?!) I have to agree.

I think of it a bit more like, well, I’ve reached this point in my thinking. It’s pretty solid, I can’t get further that that, so this is my current theory. There’s probably more truth to add at a later point, but this is fine for now.

So, instead of hurling insults and abuse at one another over whether and what we believe, maybe we should all accept that there is more than one truth, and that none of us have the whole truth (and nothing but the truth!). After all, the more you know, the more you realise you DON’T know – and that in itself, can be a beautiful thing.

For all the gods are one god and all the goddesses are one goddess and to every man his own truth – and the god within.

When the bleedin obvious isn’t actually obvious after all, what do you do? Answer – listen to your body!

It has been a rather tumultuous time for us lately (great British understatement!) Hence the lack of a post last month.

Last June, a brush with Covid highlighted pre-burn out and how I really had to set boundaries and curtail my activities, even though it was the very last thing I wanted to do.

Since then, things took a nosedive, til, at the end of January, things came to a head. I have for many years, felt that I had discovered the very bottom of the barrel, however, each time, something new would come along to make me realise that no, actually, life could get worse. I’ve been pushed to the absolute limit in terms of what I could take physically, mentally and emotionally.

On my birthday (as it happened), I finally reached the end of what had been a very long rope! Less than 24 hours later, the pressure lifted and with it the circumstances that had been causing so much trauma. Yay! – except I was pretty much on the floor energetically speaking. Thinking was done through a fog. Trying to cope with simple tasks could throw me into tailspin – and as for doing two things at once…! This, despite the fact that I am, and have been, an excellent plate spinner – occasionally while doing the tango at the same time! 😉

So – when, quite by chance I came across an opportunity to attend a short course of webinars to learn a new healing modality, the obvious answer to that would be – forget it! Or would it? Because, you see, I wasn’t (given that I’m not quite that stupid) looking for that at the moment. The healing modality had been on my radar for a while, but I hadn’t felt drawn to explore it. Until now, that is.

Given the bonkers timing it seemed logical to draw up a list of questions to ask myself. Like:

Have I gone mad? (good opener!)
What makes me think I’ll be able to have the brain power and focus to take it in?
Am I just looking to ‘collect’ another healing modality; learning for the sake of learning?
Can I afford the time and money?
Shouldn’t I wait and see if the opportunity comes up again at a more convenient time?

By the next morning, however, I was suddenly very clear that this course was drawing me like a magnet. Forget the dos and don’ts, the shoulds and should nots. My instinct was telling me in no uncertain terms that this was something I needed to do. Now. Not at an unspecified future time.

I’ve had a lot of experience of listening to my intuition so I know when it’s yelling at me. Hence, I signed up.

So, what happened? Did I fall over? Could I possibility fit anything more into my overcrowded head? Well, yes, as it turns out. The course was exactly what I needed – needed to know and needed to do. Perfect! But at the maddest time imaginable for me, personally. Which brings me to my point.

Logic and common sense are great. Thinking before you act can be important, but there are times when you have to do the wild thing (no – not THAT wild thing!) 😉 even though it might seem ridiculous.

Our brains are very clever and they’re used to being in charge but they don’t know everything. So, at the end of the day, don’t assume that what looks good on paper will be good in real life, or, that just because something was true once it will be true again.

Circumstances change, people change, energies fluctuate. Even what your body needs, or can tolerate, in regard to food and drink can change daily. So, it’s always wise to check in with the part of you that might know things your brain doesn’t. And if that intuitive knowing seems ridiculous, then question it by all means, but let it have its say, because sometimes the thing you least expect is exactly what you need.

How to stay in the present moment when it feels unbearable

A few days ago it was the anniversary of the ‘continuation’ of Thich Nhat Hanh — affectionately known as ‘Thay’, (teacher) — Zen Master to some, Ascended Master to others. In any case, a very significant being whose whole life was a teaching – both in his books and talks and in the way he lived.

I thought it was an appropriate time to post this video — one of many thankyou Age of You Tube! — that reminds us that power is in the present moment. Thay shows us that just by taking one mindful breath we can arrive ‘home’ to ourselves. Much as the technological age is useful in many ways (like being able to listen to Thay’s teachings) it is also a thief of consciousness.

If you are glued to a screen, then you are not in the present moment and you have lost the chance to be aware of yourself, what is happening round you and, more importantly, what you can do about it!

There are so many reasons to be out of it these days, but if we are to have a chance at taking back the world then we need to be in it – and, more particularly, in our bodies.

It might seem all very well to advise people to be in their bodies and in the moment when that moment is horribly painful. I acknowledge that this may very well seem impossible to some, so I’d like to offer an alternative.

For me, just watching Thay and hearing him speaking puts me into a very calm, relaxed and more mindful state. So, if you can’t be in your body and experiencing that painful moment right now, why not find Thay on You Tube instead?

His presence is still available through these talks and interviews and, as his followers would tell you, in many other places! We’re damn lucky to have it – so exploit that free resource. You’ll feel a lot better right in that moment — and that’s what it’s all about!

Silver on the Tree

A few powerful words, to see out the old year and welcome in the new. Not of my own this time, mind. This is a quote (for those of you that don’t know) from a book called Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper, last in a sequence called The Dark is Rising. If you have seen the film however, delete it from your mind – it has no relevance here – no relevance at all, some might say, but that’s another discussion!

So, this rhyme refers back to the events in the books, which are, of course, fictional. Maybe it’s just because I read the books (and I recommend The Dark is Rising especially, it is full of information in between the lines!) but this really resonates for me – it always has. Especially the last two lines.

When the dark comes rising, six shall turn it back;

Three from the circle, three from the track

Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone,

Five will return, and one go alone.

Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;

Wood from the burning, stone out of song;

Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw

Six Signs the circle, and the grail gone before.

Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold

Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old;

Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea;

All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.

Perhaps 2023 will be more of a Silver on the Tree year… Here’s hoping!

Why we stopped offering healing sessions – and how to avoid burn-out

Back in August we stopped offered healing sessions to clients with the idea that we needed a break and could recommence in September, but it is now nearly the end of October and we’re still out of commission. Out for the count more like!

Particularly for me, my body got to the stage where it ‘refused to cooperate’ in terms of doing energy work on other people. After all, if you want to give energy, you have to have some first! Which is, rather, the moral of this story! If you’re constantly giving out, whether it’s looking after your family and friends, or being run ragged at work. If you never give yourself a break, always put yourself and your needs last, then — eventually — however fit and healthy you are, however strong-willed, there will come a point where your body will make its feelings known. And when you ignore those feelings or those physical symptoms then your body will try something else.

Now, I hate to be negative and I don’t like people who proclaim that certain things will happen to you, as though it is ordained from on high, so please don’t take it like that! I am just talking from my belief and my experience.

If you’re the exception to this great — keep going if that’s what you want — but otherwise, please pay attention to the signals that your body is giving you that it has had enough and you need to make some changes. Otherwise, it will just start shouting louder and eventually, as with me, it may take over completely and make the decision for you!

Which, of course, is where I am now, and I am fortunately in a position that we can still keep going even without the income from clients. Phew! It’s not ideal though, especially since the energy work is really my raison d’etre — my ‘prime directive’ if you like — and NOT doing it feels very strange, as though part of me is missing. However, I got myself into this — gotta put my hands up here! — and so I’ll have to do the work to get myself out.

In this case, the ‘work’ is ‘no work’ and I have been listening hard to what my body wants, whether it is doing more exercise and getting out in the fresh air, growing things in the garden or taking up a new creative hobby. In fact, it is sobering to think that I have so many hobbies that I don’t ever indulge in!

So maybe it’s time to learn from my mistakes and ask yourself what do you like to do outside of work, whether work is looking after your family, or a different career. And do you do it?

Just from a basic self-care point of view, are you (at least trying) to eat right, exercise enough, get a reasonable night’s sleep, limit your screen time and do things to keep yourself grounded? Any of those would be a great start.

And before you start with the ‘oh, buts’, think about how you’d have to make it work if you didn’t have a choice, or what advice you’d give to someone else in your position.

Multi-tasking is good, like listening to a podcast in the car, or on the bus, going to bed half an hour later to give you time for some self-care or getting up half an hour earlier (not my personal favourite I have to say!)

What are you doing that you don’t really HAVE to do, or you feel obliged to do, or you feel others would criticise you for giving up? What do you do that really makes your heart sink and drains your energy for the rest of the day? And what would happen if you stopped doing it?

Would the world REALLY end? Do the sheets really have to be washed every week? Can you let the garden go wild for a bit? Just because you’ve always done something for someone, does that mean you have to do it for ever?

And all the time, ask yourself the question — what if you really couldn’t do it anymore and the choice was out of your hands? Of course, that’s a cop out. Some of us would rather wait for our bodies to pack up, and make the decision for us as it takes away the responsibility, but, as always, it’s your decision.

You’re in charge. I know it might not always feel like it but, not making a decision is still making a decision. And with the world the way it is, now would be a very sensible time to take extra care of yourself.