sitting in your own thoughts

I recently back-packed through Roma and Napoli, which was an amazing experience filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and magnificently glorious sights...!

Each time I travel, I am usually presented with a handful of similar experiences that come with back-packing through an unfamiliar country, embracing another language, meeting new people, and immersing myself as much as possible in the local culture and way-of-life. And each time I experience these circumstances, it is beautifully refreshing to acknowledge how much I have learnt and grown from my previous adventures, as I grow into the more confident and more calm traveller that I aspire to be.

These confident and calming qualities are beautiful attributes to 'carry' when travelling for - what I have found - two glowing reasons... The first being that you will find yourself jumping more easily into conversations and relationships with fellow travellers and locals, who are drawn to this energy you have created. And the second reason being that unexpected and dauntingly unfamiliar situations are approached with faith and, when possible, much love and light, creating a shining-ly positive energy around you.

... Snow filled the streets of Roma, illustrating the magical, festive picture that I had wished for, and it was perfect. Needless to say that with snow comes public transport issues, delays, and cancellations, and when it came time to board the local train from Roma to Napoli, the energy of the crowds quickly shifted from magically festive to intense, anxious, and mad.

Squeezing my way on to the train, I could feel the energy of those around me, which was quite dark and heavy. So I 'bubbled' myself (a technique I will share with you all shortly), put on my music, and looked out the window at the beautiful, snow-covered landscape. Stop-by-stop, the locals left the train until finally there was a spare seat that I made my way to and sat down in.

I had spent the last couple of hours meditating, embracing any thoughts that flowed in and out of my head, listening to beautiful music, and had my eyes locked on the foreign, Italian landscape. I was content. And so I sat in my seat and continued with my routine that had been working so well for me...

Around me, I could feel the anxiety that comes so easily with boredom and impatience and - in this day and age - leads to the incessant checking of the mobile phone, with unnecessary text-ing and making-of calls.

I would often catch the eye of those around me, who I felt were quite intrigued by how blissful and content this foreign girl was, sitting absolutely still with nothing to do but listen to music and look out the window.

And this made me think to myself how lucky I am to carry a pocket full of meditations and an imagination that I am completely comfortable to sit with and create a special space for myself; wherever, whenever.

So relax, sit with your thoughts, learn a meditation, enjoy the journey of your beautiful imagination, and leave people to wonder...

an early christmas present... x

Merry, beautiful, joyous, loving, white-light-ed, happy Christmas, gorgeous readers!

I have just sent a special Christmas thought to a beautiful friend, and you are now my last stop before I wander my way through the white, white snow, glowing from the amazingly bright moonlight, to the bus station, to make my way up to the English countryside for Christmas this year. I am not sure when I will next have the chance to spread love and light to you all before the end of December, so I have woken up extra early this morning to send a special Christmas message that - if you like - you can evolve into a little gift for yourself, too... ;-)

Recently, I have been encouraging you to remove yourself from toxic situations, and having you trust and respect yourself enough to know that you deserve this so very much. By toxic situations, I mean situations and relationships that discourage you to shine out your beautiful gifts and thoughts, and cloud your ability to shift, grow, and positively move forward and explore your Divinely-created path to greatness.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been encouraging friends to not feel obliged in any way to commit to the various social situations that we feel we're expected to show our faces to on the lead-up to Christmas and New Year's. It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we owe it to someone to meet with them and share conversations, thoughts, and our energy. While on the one hand, this can be a fulfilling experience for everyone involved, on the other hand, it can feel draining and exhausting.

This is why I need you to think about you and surround yourself only with relationships and experiences that will enlighten you and nurture your growth in the beautiful human that you are. And this is why I have been receiving so much positive energy from these friends - who I have encouraged to limit them selves to beautiful experiences with beautiful people - telling me how good they felt about changing their mind from meeting for Christmas drinks and get-togethers, to spending time in their room, with lit candles, dark chocolate, inspiring music, and meditative thoughts.

Please, celebrate this gloriously festive time of year! But also make sure that you are selective and think about you. This is not a negatively selfish way-of-thought, and those who love you will respect and nurture your decision to be in your own space when need be.

... Which leads me to a Christmas gift that I have created for myself and would love to share with you, perhaps even inspiring you to do something similar in the sense of thinking about what's best for you and acting on this intuition...

In a recent post, I touched on embracing our Divinely-created journey, and that so easily we can drown ourselves in toxic situations because this journey can become intense, and our instinctive action is to escape. At the end of this Post, a beautiful reader suggested that I begin a journey of my own, which will encourage me to move through my Divine path with a clearer state-of-mind.

I love how perfect events align with one another, because she suggested that I move through some time alcohol- and, therefore, toxic-influence-free, which is something that I had just thought about doing, myself, and had also, actually, added the website for an amazing project that is encouraging this way-of-life, too; Hello Sunday Morning.

Thus, I have begun my toxic-free journey, which I am excited about, particularly after seeing the support and positive light that my beautiful friends are giving me. Already, I am needing less sleep, feel more alert, and my thoughts are mine...

The main reason behind me beginning this journey is because I know that I have some big shifts ahead of me, and I want to spend the time before, during, and after, to feel light, fresh, healthy, alert, and full of love, which is exactly what I am already feeling... x

And so, my Christmas gift to you... I have removed myself from one toxic situation in my life; a situation that will create a ripple effect for toxic situations in the future, you deserve to do the same, too. As Doreen Virtue once said,

"What‘s one thing that you’d change about your life to make it less complicated? Notice the first answer that enters your mind."

I will be having a beautifully white Christmas this year, and I want you to have one, too, so I'm sending you all radiant white light full of love and festive cheer! 

love, love, love, and light xxx

live. learn. create a lifestyle.

When I reflect on fond memories of my childhood, I am always drawn to thoughts of me, wandering through our garden, using my imagination, sharing stories and explorations with my friends... No matter how many toys or objects I had to choose from, I was at my happiest exploring our garden, getting lost amongst the trees in the park, watching plants grow - especially strawberries... - and be in my own company.

This natural drawing power that we have towards nature was painted even more clearly for me in the last class that I taught; buying each of them their own pot plant to look after and watch grow. The energy in the class was light, and positive, and filled with creative thought and fresh ideas. The class atmosphere evolved simply by having nature in the class room, which was then excelled by the children each having their own plant, nurtured by their own energy, which, in turn, reflected beautiful energy back to them.

I then began to fill the class with books about gardening, and in their free time, my class - who had developed a reputation in the school as an angry, disruptive, challenging group of children - were reading, exploring, watering, clipping, and working harmoniously, which was one of the most satisfying situations I have ever been exposed to.

Mentioning The Ringing Cedars series once again, the underlying idea that is expressed throughout the books is the importance of our connection with nature and how much we can give ourselves by, not only planting our own food and crops, but by simply being surrounded by nature itself (see YouTube clip here).

So, being a traveller and having an strong connection and appreciation for nature, I was excited when a recent conversation opened my eyes to WWOOF-ing; World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. The lovely person I spoke with about this organisation told me of their experience, volunteering on a WWOOF farm in Portugal, staying on the farm and eating their produce in exchange for his help on their farm.

He spent his mornings offering a simple yoga class to the others on the farm and spent the rest of the day either; farming, learning a sustainable way of living, and exploring Portugal. I also heard experiences of surfers from Australia, making their way around popular surf spots in the world, WWOOF-ing their way throughout. What an amazing way to travel and learn...

Travel. Nature. Growth. Sustainable living. 

Simple. Beautiful. Perfect.

see things as they really are

As mentioned on Twitter, Facebook, and any other medium that I have created to connect with as many of you as possible, I promised to share and inspire...

I have recently been blessed with conversations with creative, inspiring people, who have shared with me thoughts and ideas that resonate so beautifully with me and the frame-of-mind that is currently shaping my life. And from each of these conversations, I have grown, been inspired, and have collected resources to share with you all.

My first inspiring interaction was in Amsterdam, which has been a catalyst for my motivation after an exhausting, intense shifting process. And I shared this experience with you in my recent post, Steady Progress, wandering through nostalgic moments and music...

When we move through a shift, it can become an exhausting process, shadowing us with fatigue and feelings of sadness. The key throughout this process is for us to stay motivated, nurture ourselves with meditation, nutritional food, fresh air, and inspiration.

Needless to say, we often find ourselves caught up in toxic situations and routine, which clouds the clear state-of-mind we need to create to effectively move through this process of change and spiritual growth. I will be the first to put my hand up and admit to giving in to the escape of alcohol and any situation that will distract me from really feeling these intense feelings that are part of my journey.

Fortunately, though, the more I come into my heart and accept my thoughts and ideas, the more beautiful people come into my life, who not only understand and appreciate the ups and downs of my journey, but also share this journey with me, sharing nurturing energy with me when needed.

We still live in an influential society, and with support comes challenges; dark forces clouding and blocking our spiritual growth, usually out of uncertainty and the unknown. Which is why we may sometimes feel as though we're walking through thick mud to get to where we need to be.

I was only just sharing these thoughts with one of the most inspirational people in my life, purely due to their naturally-spiritual mentality. This person introduced me to The Ringing Cedars series, and continues to influence me to read through each book of the set. During our last conversation, they told me that Anastasia (the key character in this series) had touched on the idea that it takes us nine days, clear of external, toxic influences, to organically connect with our self, our senses, our mind, and our heart.

This then connected to a meditation I had been exposed to in another conversation just a couple of days before, which I had jotted down in my black book to share with you all; Vipassana Meditation:

" Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. 

There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit. "

The perfect opportunity, I thought, to aide us in becoming the spiritually-connected, inspiring beings that we deserve to be... ;-)

You never create a situation that you don't have faith that you can handle, learn, and grow from... Trust yourself.

the rhythm of your heart

I recently began some journal jottings like so...

Sitting at the end of a group's table in one of the most popular spaces on Gloucester Road. I chose to - instead of riding my bike home and to bed at what seemingly could have been concluded as "the end of an evening" - buy myself a glass of wine and enjoy my own company in writing a message to you all. A message of hope, strength, and integrity.

In an earlier post I sent to you all - and I have continued to 'link' you all to through previous posts - I was inspired and amazed by a beautiful girl's quest and message to be completely content, and find joy, in being on her own.

Sitting here, on my own, writing to you all, I am feeling the energy of others who seem to be drawn to me by the simple fact that I am content in my own company, writing words of mystery into a black book; words that - assuming-ly - they could only imagine to write, feel, and act out on their own accord...

And yet my words here a so simple, straight from the heart, and if these others felt connected enough to their own heart, they, too, could write these messages of love, light, and inspiration.

These people surrounding me, like you, have a gift embedded within their very own heart to think and feel freely, yet - when we feel less highly of ourselves than we Divinely should - we feel the need to envelope our amazing thoughts and ideas, particularly when these thoughts and ideas clash with those who we chose to surround our self with.

This is O.K., though, because the person who we once were felt comforted and at ease with this energy; this energy was real and known and all said and done before. But it is perfectly normal for you to begin to feel distanced and disconnected from what once felt so familiar and sensible.

Don't be scared and don't feel intimidated if you are beginning to feel this was - you feel as though you could never express your new thoughts, ideas, and way-of-life to those who you've established your most closest relationships with. But that's fine. Everything is perfect...

Before you know it, you will begin to attract relationships with people who share and appreciate the new thoughts and this new wave-length that you are travelling (have faith in this). Please don't ever feel as though you are a bad person for feeling this way; feeling as though you have outgrown these gorgeous, amazing friends who have been there for you throughout the past events and successes in your life. You haven't outgrown, you are now just on a different journey.

 

You, I, and everyone else who loves you, know that you hold absolutely no negative intentions in your heart. You're amazing, and you must believe this. You. Are. Amazing.

Follow your heart - follow your Divinely-created path - as it will take you very far indeed...

love, love, love and light xx

dear diary...

Some recent journal jottings to share, inspire, motivate, and calm... xx

23rd November... Pink Sunset

After an exhausting week, shadowed with fatigue and feeling ungrounded, I took the time to acknowledge and appreciate my shift. My angels then rewarded me this morning with a beautiful, pink sunset.

Thank you, angels xx

25th November... Sign-Language

A beautiful, easy bike ride to the train station this morning. Mp3 on 'Shuffle', being showered with beautiful, uplifting music. Moved through my chakra meditation, my head naturally began to tilt upward and a smile gently grew across my face - "Everything is O.K.", my angels are telling me.

It was as though they were physically positioning me in a way that beautifully resembles my most favourite quote, that I always carry around with me, but seemed to have forgotten to take on-board, myself,

"When you realise how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back an laugh at the sky." - Buddha

nostalgia

As I look forward to my future self, and am letting go and enjoying my journey, I have been blessed to have spent the weekend surrounded by nostalgic moments that have reminded me of how I felt in mid-2009, when I was first introduced to magicmaree, who opened my eyes, my heart, and my soul to the beautiful life that I am here to experience.

She shared with me stories and ideas of things to come, and I floated through my life on a complete high, blissfully excited about this amazing feeling I was carrying, knowing that I had found my true self. During this time, a beautiful friend of mine showered me with the most perfect music that I am now listening to, remembering that amazing feeling that I felt not-so-long ago, and taking it on board once again as I move through a similar phase in my life; a phase of new beginnings and steady progress...

Perhaps this may inspire you to begin your journey, too... xx

steady progress...

I am slowly being exposed to beautiful, inspiring experiences, which are steadily influencing me to grow, ground myself, and become the person I have chosen to be, spreading my love and light. I have learned, though, that while I would absolutely love to push myself, go against the grain, and simply write, write, write to you, it is not blending with the natural course of my progression.

I have just reflected back on my most recent posts, and the words that have been scattered into these posts just don't sound like me... I have created this space to inspire you and trigger happiness, creativity, and joy, and I am coming to realise that it is more important for me - and you - to take time-out and give myself space when I need to, and to only write messages to you all when I feel it is right.

Everything is perfect, and I am not going to pull these recent Posts down from Spreading Love and Light, but from now on, I am going to shower you only with beautiful, inspiring posts. And if that means that SL&L is untouched for a few weeks every now and then, then so be it. We all deserve the most purest, clean love and light to be shared and spread amongst us xx